[1] Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the Lord!

[2] Yet he also is wise, and will bring evil, and will not call back his words: but will arise against the house of the evildoers, and against the help of them that work iniquity.

[3] Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit. When the Lord shall stretch out his hand, both he that helpeth shall fall, and he that is holpen shall fall down, and they all shall fail together.

[4] For thus hath the Lord spoken unto me, Like as the lion and the young lion roaring on his prey, when a multitude of shepherds is called forth against him, he will not be afraid of their voice, nor abase himself for the noise of them: so shall the Lord of hosts come down to fight for mount Zion, and for the hill thereof.

[5] As birds flying, so will the Lord of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also he will deliver it; and passing over he will preserve it.

[6] Turn ye unto him from whom the children of Israel have deeply revolted.

[7] For in that day every man shall cast away his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which your own hands have made unto you for a sin.

[8] Then shall the Assyrian fall with the sword, not of a mighty man; and the sword, not of a mean man, shall devour him: but he shall flee from the sword, and his young men shall be discomfited.

[9] And he shall pass over to his strong hold for fear, and his princes shall be afraid of the ensign, saith the Lord, whose fire is in Zion, and his furnace in Jerusalem.

This is a continuation of the message in the previous chapter. Israel is being warned against relying on Egypt for assistance against the Assyrian army. See notes below.

• Verse 1: Woe to those who go to Egypt for help and rely on horses and chariots. The Egyptian army may be strong, but they are not people who look to the Lord.
• Verse 2: God will work against this type of alliance.
• Verse 3: Egyptians are men, not God. Their horses are flesh, not spirit. When the Lord moves, both the helper and those who seek help will fall and fail together.

After saying in the earlier verses that Israel should not rely on Egypt to defend them, these verses are saying that the Lord is capable of defending Jerusalem. He is able to defeat any army as a lion attacking its prey and is able to arrive swiftly, as birds flying.

Just as when the Israelites were told to put blood on their doors to indicate that they were trusting the Lord, when Israel trusts God in this instance, He will again “pass over” Israel, preserving it while smiting the enemy.

“For the Lord will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the Lord will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you.” (Exodus 12:23)

They could also apply to Zion, as God will protect that gathering from any enemies as well. The verses do mention Mount Zion (and the hill of Zion), as well as defending (New) Jerusalem.

Israel is being told to look to God and to repent of sins that they have committed (such as worshipping idols). This can also be applied in the short term (leading up to attack from Assyria) but can also be applied long-term (leading up to Zion), in which case the repentance of Israel is for any sin that they have committed.

These verses are saying that when Israel repents (as described in the previous verses), then the Assyrian army will be defeated — not by swords, but by the Lord. The fulfillment of this is described in 2 Kings 19:35-36.

“And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the Lord went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses. So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh.” (2 Kings 19:35-36)

It’s most likely saying that the fire of the Lord’s wrath is based in Jerusalem, such that he will be right there to provide protection from the enemy.

Yes, as long as the reference to the Assyrian represents sin or evil in general. Then these verses can mean that God will protect Zion from any enemies and that the enemy would be fearful when seeing the ensign associated with the gathering of Israel.