Commentaries:
Barnes' Notes
God shall rebuke them - The word ' God' is not here in the original, but is evidently to be supplied. The word ' rebuke' means that he would disarrange their plans, prevent their success, and defeat their purposes. It shows the great power of God, that he can thus by a "rebuke" - a word - arrest mighty nations, and discomfit thom when they are tumultuously hastening onward in the confidence of victory. This discomfiture refers, doubtless, to the overthrow of Sennacherib and his army by the pestilence (II Kings 19:35; see the notes at Isaiah 37:36).
And they shall flee far off - The whole army of Sennacherib was not destroyed, but a part with himself returned to Assyria II Kings 19:36.
And shall be chased as the chaff ... - Denoting the case with which God would do it, and the certain and entire discomfiture of the army. The figure is one that is very striking in describing an army that is routed, and that flees in disorder (compare Job 21:18; Psalms 1:4; Psalms 35:5; Isaiah 29:5; Hosea 13:3).
And like a rolling thing - Margin, ' Thistle-down.' It means, literally, anything that "rolls" ( galgal , from gâlal , to roll). It is applied to chaff, stubble, or anything that is driven about by a whirlwind Psalms 83:14.
Other Barnes' Notes entries containing Isaiah 17:13:
Job 21:18
Psalms 1:4
Psalms 46:4
Psalms 65:7
Psalms 77:18
Psalms 83:13
Psalms 92:9
Psalms 119:118
Isaiah 7:1
Isaiah 10:9
Isaiah 29:5
Isaiah 41:2
Ezekiel 10:13
Micah 4:11
Zechariah 3:2
Matthew 3:12
Acts 17:13
Revelation 17:15
Revelation 19:6
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