THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET
ISAIAH

Isaiah 19

1The confusion of Egypt. 11The foolishness of her princes. 18The calling of Egypt into the church; 23and God's blessing upon her in union with Israel and Assyria.


1THE1 burden of Egypt. Behold, 2the LORD rideth upon a 3swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt: and the idols of Egypt 4shall be moved 5at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it.

1 See Isa. 15:1.

2 Intimating that the Lord would suddenly and unawares seize upon the Egyptians; compare Psalm 18:10; 104:3.

3 Hebr. light. Clouds are very seldom seen in Egypt, since it does not rain there. Therefore it is somewhat strange and fearful to see clouds there.

4 Here unto idols, which are nothing, motion is described. The meaning is this: The idols shall lose their authority with the Egyptians because they were not able to deliver them from the hands of their enemies.

5 That is, by reason of His coming and presence.

2And 6I will set the Egyptians against the Egyptians: and they shall fight 7every one against his brother, and every one against his neighbour; city against city, and 8kingdom against kingdom.

6 The sense is: I will raise up an internal war in Egypt so that they shall destroy one another. See similar history 2 Chron. 20:23.

7 Hebr. the man against his brother, and the man against his companion.

8 That is, region against region, province against province. It seems that the prophet has respect here unto what happened in Egypt after the death of king Sethon, when twelve petty kings rose up and rent the kingdom of Egypt asunder, and each of them drew a part of it unto themselves.

3And the 9spirit of Egypt 10shall fail in the midst thereof; and I will 11destroy the 12counsel thereof: and they shall seek to the idols, and to the charmers, and to them that have familiar spirits, and to the wizards.

9 That is, their valor, or courage, or understanding. See Prov. 15 on verse 13.

10 Namely, by those long-lasting domestic wars.

11 That is, bring to nought.

12 That is, their enterprises, purposes, designs. The sense is: I will vex them in such a manner that they shall not be able to find any counsel, or way of escape.

4And the Egyptians will I give over into the hand 13of a cruel lord; and 14a fierce king shall rule over them, saith the Lord, the LORD of hosts.

13 Or, of hard lords. Understand by these hard lords, those twelve tyrants, who intruded themselves as kings in Egypt after the death of Sethon. Other, of a cruel lord, and understand this so, as if the prophet here spoke of king Nebuchadnezzar, and they apply this unto that which is written in Jer. 46:26.

14 That is, a cruel, hard, fierce king, Psammetichus to be understood, one of the twelve tyrants, who, being first expelled and chased out of the land by the other eleven but afterward getting into Egypt again by force and ruling alone without any co-partners in the government, committed great tyranny.

515And the 16waters shall fail 17from the sea, and 18the river shall be wasted and dried up.

15 Or, And they shall cause the waters to cease, etc., namely, those twelve tyrants, but some apply it to Nebuchadnezzar and his successors.

16 Namely by this means: They dug a great ditch, into which they carried the river Nile, which channel and gathering of waters is called by the ancient writers the Sea Mærios, so that the prophet will here intimate that they would carry away the waters from the Nile, and would lay the channel thereof dry.

17 That is, from the Nile river. The Hebrews call all great gatherings of water seas. Other, they shall cause the waters to perish, that they run not into the sea.

18 If here by the river is understood the Nile, then is here expressed by another word that which immediately before was called the sea.

6And they shall turn 19the rivers far away; and 20the brooks of defence shall be emptied and dried up: the reeds and flagsa shall wither.

19 Or, streams, or, brooks, namely, which run from the Nile, and which here and there were guided through the land to moisten and water the land by running through it.

20 Hebr. the streams of keeping, shutting up, made strong, understanding thereby the waters which were shut in with dams or dikes, and were carried through the land.

a marshland plant, such as reed or rush

721The paper reeds by the brooks, by the mouth of the brooks, and every thing sown by the brooks, shall wither, be driven away, and be no more.

21 The Hebrew word signifies properly little thin skins or rinds. Here is to be noted that among the Greeks and Latines papyrus signifies a plant which chiefly grows in boggy areas in Egypt, about ten cubits high, which with a needle may be parted and divided into thin broad leaves, which, being dried and prepared, makes very fit writing paper. From this sort of paper has ours (and does still retain to this very day) its name, although it does not grow, as the other did, but is made of linen rags.

8The fishers also 22shall mourn, and all they that cast angleb into the brooks shall lament, and they that spread nets 23upon the waters shall languish.

22 Because they can catch no more fish, for want of water, and that therefore their gain and way of getting their living shall cease. There was great store of fish eaten in Egypt, in regard they did out of superstition kill and eat but few animals.

b to fish with a hook and line

23 Hebr. upon the face, that is, upon the upper-most part of the waters.

9Moreover they that work 24in fine flax, and they that weave 25networks, shall be 26confounded.

24 Or, in carded flax, that is, those who make costly, precious or fine linen cloth.

25 Namely, made of Egyptian flax, of which kind the princes and noblemen had their garments made, as appears Esther 8:15, who from this were called chorim, that is, white ones.

26 Or, be put to shame, namely, because they shall fall into poverty, their trading with foreign nations ceasing, and that for want of flax, which otherwise was wont to grow very fair, and in great quantity by the brooks in Egypt.

10And 27they shall be broken 28in the purposes thereof, all that make 29sluices and ponds for fish.

27 As if he said: They hire unto themselves for great wages laborers to make pleasant and delightful fishponds, but the foundations of the earth shall in many places collapse in Egypt, so that all those who labor in and about those ponds, shall by the collapsing of the foundations be bruised and broken to pieces.

28 Other, with their counsels. Other, with their nets.

29 Hebr. pools of the soul, that is, of delight, that is, pleasant, delightful pools, ponds or great waters as lakes, which the tyrants caused to be made (pour plaisir) for their own pleasure and delight. Other, ponds or pools of fishes, or, of living things. It is perceived that the prophet in this verse speaks of that great task, which the tyrants, who ruled in Egypt, laid upon their subjects, causing them both by money and compulsion to dig a lake, pool, channel or depth, being 3600 furlongs in compass, from which they could carry the water out of the Nile, and could carry it in again, which was called the pool, gulf, or the Sea Mærios. To the digging hereof, those kings used or employed some thousands of their subjects.

11¶Surely the princes of 30Zoan are fools, the counsel of the wise counsellors of Pharaoh is become brutish: 31how say ye unto Pharaoh, 32I am the son of the wise, the son of ancient kings?

30 This city is called by the Greeks and Latines Tanis, closely situated by the river Nile. Hence the mouth of the river Nile is called Ostium Tanicum. In this city the counselors of the king of Egypt held their college. Of Zoan is also mention made in Num. 13:22; Psalm 78:12.

31 This is a speech made to the counselors of Sethon, who is called Pharaoh in this place, Pharaoh being a common name of all the kings of Egypt. Yea, some are of the opinion that Pharaoh in the Egyptian language signifies a king. See Gen. 12 on verse 15. Other, how speak ye in the person of Pharaoh? As if the prophet said: How do ye act the person of the king, and teach him to speak so proudly? Whereas indeed this same Sethon was a mere fool, as Herodotus testifies.

32 Other take these words thus: how can ye (that is, every one of you) say unto Pharaoh and speak it in a boasting manner: I am a son of the wise, that is, a disciple of the wise and learned men; a son of ancient kings art thou, O king, that is, a son descended from kings of ancient times.

1233Where are they? where are 34thy wise men? and let them tell thee now, and let them know what the LORD of hosts hath purposed upon Egypt.

33 Other, Where are they now? Where are now thy wise men?

34 Namely, O king.

1335The princes of Zoan are become 36fools, the princes of 37Noph are deceived; they have also seduced Egypt, even they that are 38the stay of the tribes thereof.

35 That is, the most important ones.

36 This came to pass by the judgment of God, Who turned their wisdom into folly.

37 Hebr. Moph. In the histories of the Gentiles this city is called Memphis, (see Hosea 9:6), and nowadays Alcair or Cairo, which at this day is a famous city in Egypt.

38 Or, the uttermost corner, or stay. The sense is: They shall set all Egypt in an uproar, so that no corner of it shall be free. Others take it thus: Yea, even the most important ones among the rulers, who are called corners or cornerstones, because the commonwealth rests upon them as upon cornerstones.

14The LORD 39hath mingled 40a perverse spirit in the midst thereof: and they have caused Egypt to err in every work thereof, as a drunken man 41staggereth in his vomit.

39 Other, shall pour in, and later in the text, they shall cause Egypt, etc.

40 Or, a spirit of error, a spirit of madness. Hebr. a spirit of perversenesses, or frowardnesses. The sense is: God has deprived them of all wisdom and understanding, in order that they cannot give good counsel, nor know whence or wither to turn themselves.

41 Or, casteth himself to and fro in his vomit. Hebr. strayeth in his vomit. The more a drunkard, when he lies in his vomit, stirs and turns, the more he defiles himself. Likewise, the prophet wants to say, the more these perverse counselors go on in giving counsel, the more harm and mischief they do. Therefore it were better that they would keep themselves quiet.

15Neither shall 42there be any work for Egypt, which thec head or tail, branch or rush, may do.

42 The prophet intimates by these words that all things would be in such a confusion in Egypt, as that neither persons of high or low degree would have their wits or senses about them, so that no business would prosper, or be brought to satisfactory closure. Herodotus writes in Euterpe, that Psammetychus, king of Egypt, was stationed 29 years long with a mighty army before the city of Azotus.

c Isa. 9:13.

16In that day shall Egypt be 43like unto women: and it shall be afraid and fear 44because of the shaking of the hand of the LORD of hosts, which he shaketh 45over it.

43 Namely, fearful, as follows.

44 Hebr. from the face of the moving, etc., that is, because of the threatening of the Lord, which He signifies by the lifting up and moving of His hands.

45 Namely, against the Egyptians.

17And 46the land of Judah shall be a terror unto Egypt, every one that maketh mention thereof shall be afraid in himself, because of the counsel of the LORD of hosts, which he hath determined against it.

46 The prophet intimates that those of the Egyptians, hearing that Sennacherib had marched through the land of Judah, shall be terrified and afraid, fearing that he shall come and take their land likewise, as it also happened, as Herodotus writes in Euterpe; thereby relating that Sethon, king of Egypt, being void of counsel, fell down before his idol complaining to it in what danger and distress he was. Others understand these words thus: The Egyptians shall fear God, they shall also be afraid of the people of Israel when they shall see that they are so miraculously preserved and protected by God. Compare Exod. 14:25.

18¶In that day shall 47five cities in the land of Egypt 48speak the language of Canaan, and 49sweard to the LORD of hosts; 50one shall be called, The city of destruction.

47 That is, certain cities, that is, men dwelling in certain cities, namely, such as by the determinate counsel of God are chosen or ordained unto eternal life.

48 Hebr. which shall speak with the lip of Canaan, as Gen. 11:1; that is, they shall speak of God’s Word, which is written in the language of Canaan, that is, in the Hebrew tongue, and they shall allow themselves to be instructed by the believing Jews in the way of salvation.

49 That is, they shall engage themselves to the true God by oath, forsaking and foreswearing false gods. The meaning is: they shall receive and embrace the true religion.

d Deut. 10:20; Jer. 12:16.

50 Namely, because it had been destroyed aforetime, or was nigh to be destroyed, but was saved by the mercy of God. Other, everyone, as Isa. 6:2.

19In that day 51shall there be an altar to the LORD in the midst of the land of Egypt, and 52a pillar 53at the border thereof to the LORD.

51 That is, the true worship of God shall be exercised there, which in the time of the prophet was wont to be done nigh or upon the altar.

52 That is, they shall publicly accept and confess the Lord for their God; unto a sign whereof they shall set up this sign publicly. Compare herewith Gen. 28:18; Exod. 24:4; Joshua 4:8, 20; 22:10.

53At their border, namely, of the Egyptians, or at her border, namely, Egypt’s border.

20And 54it shall be for a sign and for a witness unto 55the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt: for 56they shall cry unto the LORD because of the oppressors, and he shall send them 57a saviour, and 58a great one, and he shall deliver them.

54 Or, that, namely, altar.

55 That is, that the Lord is honored of the Egyptians. See Joshua 24:27.

56 Namely, the Egyptians.

57 Namely, the Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Other, a Master, or Ruler, Captain.

21And the LORD shall be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know the LORD in that day, and shalle do sacrifice and oblation; yea, they shall vow a vow unto the LORD, and perform it.

e Mal. 1:11.

22And the LORD shall 59smite Egypt: he shall smite 60and heal it: and they shall return even to the LORD, and 61he shall be intreated of them, and shall heal them.

59 Hebr. smiting smite.

60 Or, yet heal them, that is, He shall smite them, yet not to their destruction, but He shall heal them again, giving them faith in Christ, and the spirit of sanctification.

61 See Gen. 25:21; 2 Sam. 24:25.

23¶In that day 62shall there be 63a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall 64serve with the Assyrians.

62 The meaning is: The believers of the Assyrians and the Egyptians shall show love and friendship to one another when they both shall have embraced the christian religion; for, the prophet speaks here of the calling of the Gentiles to Christ.

63 That is, a common road or passage.

64 Or, shall do service, namely, unto God, the true God, with an upright heart and affection. Other, the Egyptians shall serve the Assyrians, or, be at their service, embracing each other in christian love, whereas formerly they were enemies one to another, and made war one against another.

24In that day 65shall Israel be 66the third with 67Egypt and with 68Assyria, even 69a blessing in the midst of the land:

65 The prophet shows further in this verse that the believing Jews would keep good friendship and brotherly fellowship with the Gentiles who would be converted unto the true God.

66 Or, even the third.

67 Under these two nations are also understood and comprehended other Gentiles.

68 Under these two nations are also understood and comprehended other Gentiles.

69 Or, in the midst of the earth, that is, throughout the entire world, namely, when the Gospel shall be preached throughout the entire world.

2570Whom the LORD of hosts 71shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria 72the work of my hands, and Israel 73mine inheritance.

70 Other, Whom the LORD of hosts shall bless, saying, Be blessed my people of Egypt, and O Assyria the work of mine hands, and O Israel mine inheritance.

71 Namely, shall bless the Israelites, or the Egyptians, or the Assyrians. Other, shall bless it, namely, the land, or, shall bless it, namely, the people.

72 Born again through the Holy Spirit, and being therefore new creatures.

73 That is, My dearly beloved, whom of old I possess as Mine inheritance.