One thousand shall flee at the rebuke of one; at the rebuke of five shall ye flee: till ye be left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain, and as an ensign on an hill.
One thousand of you will run away when just one enemy threatens you. When five enemies come against you, all of you will flee, until you are left alone like a signal pole on a mountaintop or like a banner standing by itself on a hill.
This verse warns that when God's people turn away from Him, they will become so weak that even small threats will cause them to scatter and flee in fear.
📚 Historical Context
Isaiah spoke this warning to the kingdom of Judah around 700 BC when they were making political alliances with Egypt instead of trusting in God for protection against the Assyrian threat. The imagery of fleeing from small numbers of enemies would have been particularly shameful in ancient warfare culture, where courage and strength in battle were highly valued.
Ask the AI Assistant
Have a question about this chapter or verse? Ask below for a clear explanation.