| Barnes' Notes on the Bible From the infantry the prophet proceeds to the chariots, in which the Egyptians placed great confidence. Get up, ye horsemen - Or, "mount the steeds." Furbish - i. e., polish, sharpen. Brigandines - In old times brigand meant a soldier, and we still call a division of an army a brigade, and a commander a brigadier, i. e., a brigandier, or captain of brigands. Similarly a brigandine means a soldier's equipment, and is put here for a coat of mail.
Clarke's Commentary on the BibleFurbish the spears - Cleanse, brighten, and sharpen them; from the Franco-Gallic fourbir, to polish, brighten. Brigandines - A coat of mail, especially that which was made scale fashion; one plate overlapping the other, like the scales of fish.
Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleHarness the horses,.... Put on their bridles and saddles and gird them: or, "bind the horses" (r); that is, to the chariots; put them to, as we commonly express it: Egypt abounded in horses, and so no doubt brought a large cavalry, and a multitude of chariots, into the field of battle: and get up, ye horsemen; upon the horses, or into the chariots, and so be ready to receive the enemy, or to attack him: and stand forth with your helmets; present themselves on horseback, or in their chariots, with their helmets on their heads, to cover them in the day of battle: furbish the spears; that they may be sharp and piercing, and look bright and glittering, and strike terror in the enemy: and put on the brigandines; coats of mail, to cover the whole body, which were made of iron, consisting of rings, as Kimchi observes. (r) "ligate equos", Montanus, Calvin; "alligate", Schmidt.
Geneva Study BibleHarness the horses; and get up, ye horsemen, and stand forth with your helmets; furbish the spears, and put on the brigandines.
Wesley's Notes 46:4 Brigandines - Coats of mail.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary4. Harness the horses-namely, to the war chariots, for which Egypt was famed (Ex 14:7; 15:4). get up, ye horsemen-get up into the chariots. Maurer, because of the parallel "horses," translates, "Mount the steeds." But it is rather describing the successive steps in equipping the war chariots; first harness the horses to them, then let the horsemen mount them. brigandines-cuirasses, or coats of mail.
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary46:1-12 The whole word of God is against those who obey not the gospel of Christ; but it is for those, even of the Gentiles, who turn to Him. The prophecy begins with Egypt. Let them strengthen themselves with all the art and interest they have, yet it shall be all in vain. The wounds God inflicts on his enemies, cannot be healed by medicines. Power and prosperity soon pass from one to another in this changing world. | 
