Their land is filled with silver and gold, and there is no end to their treasures; their land is filled with horses, and there is no end to their chariots.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage isn't just listing riches and military might; it's highlighting sins specifically forbidden by the Law for Israel's kings, pointing to a deep-seated reliance on human power and wealth rather than God. The emphasis on "no end" suggests an insatiable, corrupting greed that directly contrasts with the humble trust in God that He desires for His people.
Their land is filled with silver and gold, and there is no end to their treasures; their land is filled with horses, and there is no end to their chariots.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage comes right after Isaiah's vision of God's future glory and peace, but before the judgment he foretells. The prophet is describing the current state of Judah, which is filled with material wealth and military might—things God's law actually warned against accumulating excessively. This focus on earthly treasures and power sets the stage for the coming judgment where these very things will prove useless.
Isaiah points to abundant silver, gold, horses, and chariots. While these can be signs of blessing, the prophet warns they can also become dangerous traps.
When Abundance Becomes a Problem
The Law of Moses had specific warnings for Israel's kings: "He shall not greatly multiply to himself silver and gold... Neither shall he multiply horses for himself... lest your heart be turned aside" (Deuteronomy 17:16-17).
Isaiah's charge in verse 7 isn't simply that these things existed, but that their land was filled with them, with no end to their treasures and chariots. This suggests an immoderate pursuit and an unhealthy attachment, turning what could be blessings into idols.
The prophet Isaiah doesn't stop at listing Israel's wealth and military power. He connects these earthly possessions directly to their spiritual state, revealing a dangerous progression.
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The Slippery Slope to Idolatry
The abundance of silver, gold, horses, and chariots, while not inherently sinful, created a fertile ground for deeper spiritual compromise. The commentators highlight a clear progression:
Isaiah sees the accumulation of wealth and might not just as a societal trend, but as a symptom and a catalyst for a profound spiritual decay, leading them away from the LORD their God.
This prophecy arises from a specific historical context where Judah, despite outward prosperity and wealth amassed through trade and strong leadership, was deeply compromised by idolatry, luxury, and a misplaced trust in material resources rather than in God, directly violating Mosaic laws.
c. 970-931 BC
Solomon's Reign and Wealth
King Solomon's reign marked a period of immense prosperity, trade, and accumulation of silver and gold, a trend that would later be emulated by subsequent kings.
c. 790-739 BC
Prosperous Reign of Uzziah
King Uzziah's long and successful reign saw significant economic growth through trade and military expansion, leading to a land filled with treasures, horses, and chariots.
c. 740 BC
Reign of Ahaz
The reign of King Ahaz, immediately preceding Isaiah's prophecy, was characterized by weakness, military defeat, and a turning towards foreign alliances and idolatry, contrasting sharply with the material wealth described.
c. 739-715 BC— this verse
Isaiah's Prophetic Ministry Amidst Political Instability
Isaiah prophesied during a time of increasing Assyrian influence and internal moral decay in Judah, a period marked by the accumulation of wealth but a departure from faithfulness to God.
701 BC
Sennacherib's Invasion
The Assyrian king Sennacherib invaded Judah, receiving a large tribute from King Hezekiah, which, though significant, highlights the material wealth of the kingdom in contrast to its spiritual state.
This passage explicitly forbids multiplying horses, a practice directly condemned in Isaiah 2:7, highlighting the nation's disobedience to God's specific commands.
Isaiah 31:1This verse directly critiques reliance on horses and chariots from Egypt, reinforcing the theme in Isaiah 2:7 that trusting in military might and worldly wealth is a dangerous departure from trusting God.
Micah 1:13Micah, a contemporary prophet, echoes Isaiah's concern about horses and chariots, labeling them as a 'sin of Judah,' showing a consistent prophetic critique of these symbols of power and wealth.
Luke 21:34Jesus warns His followers about being weighed down by 'dissipation and drunkenness and the cares of this life,' a spiritual parallel to the Israelites' over-accumulation of wealth and military strength that distracted them from God.
1 Timothy 6:10The Apostle Paul's statement that 'the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils' directly relates to Isaiah 2:7, where overflowing wealth and treasures are presented as a sign of spiritual decay and a departure from God.
gillIsaiah 2:7: "Their land also is full of silver and gold, neither is there any end of their treasures; their land is also full of horses, neither is there any end of their chariots:"
Their land also is full of silver and gold,.... Procured by pardons, indulgences, masses, praying souls out of purgatory, tithes, annates, Peter's pence, &c. neither is there any end of their treasures; laid up in the pope's coffers, in their churches, monasteries, and convents: their land is also full of horses, ne…
jfbIsaiah 2:7: "Their land also is full of silver and gold, neither is there any end of their treasures; their land is also full of horses, neither is there any end of their chariots:"
- gold—forbidden to be heaped together (De 17:17). Solomon disobeyed (1Ki 10:21, 27).horses … chariots—forbidden (De 17:16). But Solomon disobeyed (1Ki 20:26). Horses could be used effectively for war in the plains of Egypt; not so in the hilly Judea. God designed there should be as wide as possible a distinction b…
This passage isn't just listing riches and military might; it's highlighting sins specifically forbidden by the Law for Israel's kings, pointing to a deep-seated reliance on human power and wealth rather than God. The emphasis on "no end" suggests an insatiable, corrupting greed that directly contrasts with the humble trust in God that He desires for His people.
This passage comes right after Isaiah's vision of God's future glory and peace, but before the judgment he foretells. The prophet is describing the current state of Judah, which is filled with material wealth and military might—things God's law actually warned against accumulating excessively. This focus on earthly treasures and power sets the stage for the coming judgment where these very things will prove useless.
This passage comes right after Isaiah's vision of God's future glory and peace, but before the judgment he foretells. The prophet is describing the current state of Judah, which is filled with material wealth and military might—things God's law actually warned against accumulating excessively. This focus on earthly treasures and power sets the stage for the coming judgment where these very things will prove useless.
"Their land is filled with silver and gold, and there is no end to their treasures; their land is filled with horses, and there is no end to their chariots." — This passage isn't just listing riches and military might; it's highlighting sins specifically forbidden by the Law for Israel's kings, pointing to a deep-seated reliance on human power and wealth ra…
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Last reviewed October 2026