Their arrows are sharp, and all their bows are bent. The hoofs of their horses shall be like the flint, and their wheels like the violence of a tempest.
אֲשֶׁ֤ר חִצָּיו֙ שְׁנוּנִ֔ים וְכָל־קַשְּׁתֹתָ֖יו דְּרֻכ֑וֹת פַּרְס֤וֹת סוּסָיו֙ כַּצַּ֣ר נֶחְשָׁ֔בוּ וְגַלְגִּלָּ֖יו כַּסּוּפָֽה׃
4 Church Fathers comment on this verse
In light of all this, the prophet conveyed his message and amplified the dread, detailing each situation distinctly. He spoke of the characteristics of the adversaries, their might, armaments, steeds, and chariots, intending, through the richness of his words, to plunge the listeners into profound anxiety and, by the vividness of the imagery, draw the realities closer to their understanding.
In all these matters, His anger is not quenched, and His hand remains raised. He will establish a signal for the nations from afar, and they will see it from the ends of the earth. Behold, they will come swiftly, without complaint or fatigue, and they will not loosen their armor or let their boots fall apart. Their arrows will be sharp, their bows straightened, their horses' hooves will be hard as stone, and their chariot wheels will move like a whirlwind. They will be fierce like lions and appear as lionesses; they will roar and cry out like wild beasts, yet they will leave no darkness behind them. He will call out for their sake on that day, stirring like the sound of the ocean; and they will look upon the earth and see that darkness is severe amid their confusion.
The consequences of the righteous Judge's wrath against them will not be limited to this alone, as will be evident from what is about to be revealed. For although these miserable ones endured great ruin, faced the pangs of hunger and thirst, and suffered the devastation of war, they remained in rebellion against God, consequently under His wrath. This is what He implies when stating that His hand remains raised against those who have sinned, as the hand of a striker is always lifted high.
What then will be the vexation of the mountains as executors of their wrath, and with what courage and unusual fierceness will they advance? This is made clear when it is said that He will raise a sign among those who speak different tongues. Those who ravaged Judah and set Jerusalem and its cities ablaze were not nearby, but rather gathered from distant lands. The sign will be given as one expects in battles, as generals often raise banners high to gather their troops. The prophet Isaiah references this, stating, "He will be seized like a flag on the mountain, and like a banner carried on the hill" (Isaiah 30:17). Those who raise banners do so upright or inclined, so that the fighting forces can see what the commander desires.
He shall raise a sign and will behold them. This notion evokes the behavior of beekeepers, who whistle to draw bees from their hives toward flowers and then guide them back home. In a similar manner, it is said that they will gather quickly and easily, like birds. They will disregard hunger, fear of toil, or the need for rest, fully prepared for battle, riding resilient horses, rushing forth like a tempest, and consuming like beasts. They will be so formidable that even without any conflict, they will prevail, as none will withstand them or offer sufficient resistance.
In that time, there will be weeping and mixed cries, perceived as nothing less than the sound of the sea overtaking the land of Judah. There will also be a dire darkness, not one that arises from fog or night, but a darkness born from fear and confusion. Severe calamities do indeed cloud the mind; thus, the Almighty benefits us through all things. He does not foretell events in vain, revealing the magnitude of impending trials. He does this so that we, often resistant to warnings, might recognize the gravity of our plight and, fearful of severe punishment, internalize the reverence of God. This fear may lead us to eschew evil and ultimately direct our hearts toward goodness.
In a straightforward interpretation, this term appears to foretell the arrival of the Roman legions during the final siege of Jerusalem. On this occasion, the ranks of the army were filled with troops from distant lands, including Syria, Arabia, and various neighboring nations who were enlisted in the Roman forces. Thus, a signal was raised among the Gentiles—the emblem of the Cross that became manifest. The Gentiles are summoned to embrace faith, while Jerusalem is handed over to ruin. They advance swiftly and fervently, consumed by their eagerness for battle, forgetting sustenance, neglecting provisions, eschewing rest, and remaining clad in their battle attire (refer to Isaiah 5:27). They are unyielding like stone, with their chariots reminiscent of a tempest (see Isaiah 5:28). In their might and agility, they resemble lions; their roar echoes like the tumult of the sea. Consequently, those encamped with the army will witness nothing but an overwhelming darkness enveloping the land (cf. Isaiah 5:29-30).
His arrows are sharpened, and his bows are fully drawn; the hooves of his steeds are as hard as flint, and his wheels move with the rapidity of a storm. This imagery illustrates the multitude of archers, the divisions of cavalry, the speed of lightning, and the chariots pulled by four horses; it conveys that the army, akin to a lion, approaches not merely for combat, but primarily for plunder and devastation. The triumphant cries of the soldiers echo like the crashing waves of the sea. From this, we should reflect on the significance of the sea's tumult as it appears in Scripture. Thus, as the Roman legions advance, seizing the spoils with no one to gather them, the prophet, moved by compassion, joins in with the people, exclaiming, Let us gaze upon the earth and witness the shadows of suffering.
Passages read together with this verse.
THEOSIS