Isaiah 19

“The first fifteen verses describe judgement as ready to fall upon the land of the Pharaohs. The last ten speak of the religious results to Egypt of that prophecy, and they form the most universal and ‘missionary’ of all Isaiah’s prophecies” (G. A. Smith).

2. I will set, etc. Or, “stir up.” History tells us that on the death of the king now on the throne of Egypt (Tirhakah) there ensued a time of anarchy, followed by the breaking up of Egypt into twelve petty kingdoms, subject to Assyria, after which Psammetichus re-established for a time the independence of the country, 664 B.C.

3 to the charmers, etc. The Egyptians have been, in all ages, much addicted to the arts of divination.

5 from the sea. That is, from the Nile; which, during its annual inundation, has all the appearance of a sea, and is still called by the people of Egypt by that name.

6. And they shall turn the rivers, etc. Rather, “And the streams shall become putrid, the canals of Egypt shall be emptied and dried up,”: alluding to the offensive miasma exhaled by the half-dried canals: comp. R.V.

7. The paper reeds, etc. Rather, as R.V., “The meadows by the Nile, by the brink of the Nile, and all that is sown by the Nile, shall become dry,” etc. These places would naturally be the last to suffer from a drought.

8. The fishers also shall mourn. The Nile has always been celebrated for the quantity, variety, and excellence of its fish.

9 they that work in fine flax. Both flax and cotton (“networks”) abounded and still abound in Egypt, and their cultivation and manufacture afforded support to many of its inhabitants.

10. And they shall be broken, etc. Rather, “And her pillars shall be broken in pieces, all they that work for hire shall be grieved,” R.V. The distress affects all classes, both the nobles (or “pillars”) and the poor.

11 the princes of Zoan. See note on Psa. lxxviii. 12.

12. Where are the? This form of challenge characterises the later chapters of Isaiah (xli. 22, 26; xliii. 9; xlv. 21; xlviii. 14).

13. Noph. In Egyptian Men-nophri, and in modern Coptic Men-nouf. Hence it was called by the Hebrews Noph or Moph (Hos. ix. 6), and by the Greeks Memphis. It was the capital first of Lower Egypt, and then of the whole country, until superseded by Alexandria. Little now remains but vast ruins; much of the materials having been used to build other cities. But the famous recumbent Colossi of Rameses, mentioned by Herodotus, are to be seen there. It is reached from Bedrashen, which is about an hour by train from Cairo. Not far from it is the Serapeum, or burial-place of the sacred bulls.

seduced. Or, “caused to go astray” (R.V.); as in the next verse.

14 hath mingled. The land is compared to a vessel in which an intoxicating draught is mingled.

15 branch. “Palm-branch,” as R.V. The labours of the higher and the lower alike shall fail.

16 the language of Canaan. The reception of a language implies the adoption of the customs of a people; and to speak the language of Canaan, i.e., the sacred language used in the worship of Jehovah, denotes conversion to Him. Some interpret the numbers in this verse definitely, but apply them to different cities; others regard “five” as put for an indefinite number.

The city of destruction. Most commentators, following some ancient MSS., which have one Hebrew letter slightly changed (י"ד for י"ד) read “the city of the Sun,” i.e., Heliopolis (the On of Gen. xli. 45), where a temple was erected, 149 B.C., after the model of that at Jerusalem. It was here that “Cleopatra’s Needle” once stood, and that its twin obelisk still stands.

19 an altar to the Lord. The honours which they once paid to their idols shall now be paid to the Eternal.

23 a highway. Free communication and intimate union. The way between Egypt and Assyria lay through the land of Israel, which often suffered disastrously in the conflict between the two empires. Now it should be a bond of reconciliation between them.

shall serve. That is, shall serve God.

24 shall Israel be the third. That is, the three nations shall be united as one people. The prophecy must be considered as referring rather to the spread of the true religion and the worship of the true God, than to a political or civil alliance.

25. My people . . . the works of My hands . . . Mine inheritance. Egypt and Assyria having been chief among the enemies of God’s people, represent the world-powers in conflict with His true Israel; and the prophecy seems to intimate, not the destruction, but the conversion of those who have opposed God’s kingdom, and their admission to the full enjoyment of Gospel blessings.