The historical context of Isaiah 31
The basic thrust of Isaiah 31:1-3 is plenty clear: "Trust in God, not in military might." The whole chapter becomes even more vivid, though, when connected with its most probable historical background.
You can get at some of that background by reading Isaiah 36-37, then "rewinding" the clock just a bit. Isaiah 36-37, set in 701 BC, narrates the climax of King Hezekiah's rebellion against his political overlord, King Sennacherib of Assyria. The preaching in chapter 31 seems to come from an earlier period in the rebellion. God's promise of protection, delivered by Isaiah, occupies Isaiah 31:4-5 and 31:8-9. However, Isaiah 31:1-3 makes it clear that King Hezekiah and/or some his advisers in the government of Judah were looking to Egypt as an ally in the Judeans' rebellion against Assyria. Even the Assyrians recognized this, as Sennacherib's messenger, the "field commander" (TNIV), says in Isaiah 36:5-6. Isaiah warned against these alliances, too!
With this background in mind, you might be able to see the wordplay in Isaiah 31:6-8. "Return, you Israelites, to the one you have so greatly revolted against." TNIV and other English versions capitalize the "one," but Hebrew doesn't have any distinction between capital and lower case letters, and even in English there's no way to discern capital letters when someone (like a prophet) is speaking out loud. At first, Isaiah's audience may have thought he was advising them to cancel the rebellion against Assyria, and surrender—until he got to the lines now preserve in verses 8ff.! Then it would be crystal-clear that Isaiah did not endorse an alliance with Assyria any more than he endorsed an alliance with Egypt. The only acceptable alliance for Judah would be an alliance with—better to say "reliance on"—God.
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