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.
He shall pass over to his strong hold for fear - rather, 'he shall pass beyond his strongholds;' he shall not stop to take refuge in it through fear (Jeremiah 48:28) (Gesenius); Literally, 'and through fear he shall pass his rock'-namely, his border strongholds in his own land, on the line of march from Judea to Nineveh (Judges 20:47). The English version makes Nineveh "his strong hold." Margin, as the Septuagint, Vulgate, Chaldaic, and Syriac make, "his rock' - i:e., his army, which was his rock-like dependence-`shall pass away through fear;' or, as the Chaldaic, by a fearful miracle.
And his princes shall be afraid of the ensign - the banner of Yahweh protecting the Jews. Saith the Lord, whose fire (is) in Zion, and his furnace in Jerusalem - light and fire; namely, of Yahweh's altar at Jerusalem (Isaiah 29:1). Perhaps "furnace," as distinguished from "fire," may mean that His dwelling place (His hearth) was at Jerusalem (cf. Isaiah 4:5); He shah be as a fiery furnace awaiting all the enemies who shall attack Jerusalem.
Remarks: The strength of "horsemen" in battle is but a poor substitute for the strength and "help" of Yahweh. Yet men will look to earthly helps, while they will 'not look unto the Holy One of Israel, nor seek the Lord.' They forget, with all their worldly wisdom, that not to have the Lord for them is to have Him against them. He has 'wisdom' which will convict all "evil-doers" of the most utter folly. Once that He hath spoken against them, He "will not call back his words;" "when the Lord shall stretch out His hand" to punish, what can sinners, who are but "flesh," do against Him who is the Almighty "Spirit."