_A.M. 3294. B.C. 710._ The prophecy contained in this chapter is two-fold. The first part describes the evils which should happen to Egypt. These are enumerated, Isaiah 19:1. The consequence of them is set forth, Isaiah 19:5. The immediate causes of those evils, Isaiah 19:11. The latter part exhibi... [ Continue Reading ]
_The burden of Egypt_ Concerning the term _burden_, see on chap. 13:1. “Not many years after the destruction of Sennacherib's army before Jerusalem, by which the Egyptians were freed from the yoke with which they were threatened by so powerful an enemy, who had carried on a successful war of three y... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will set the Egyptians against the Egyptians_ Two principal calamities to befall Egypt are foretold in this prophecy; the first of which is here described: civil wars should arise among them. _They shall fight every one against his brother and neighbour_ Whom he ought to love as himself. _City ag... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Egyptians will I give into the hand of a cruel lord_, &c. This is the second calamity here threatened, and the most essential part of the prophecy; and “it may with great truth and propriety be understood of Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians, whose dominion was very grievous to the conquered n... [ Continue Reading ]
_The waters shall fail from the sea_, &c. The river Nile shall cease to pour its usual quantity of water into the sea, _being wasted and dried up_, as it follows. “Tremellius,” says Lowth, “shows out of Herodotus, that this was literally fulfilled under the government of the twelve petty tyrants who... [ Continue Reading ]
_Surely the princes of Zoan are fools_, &c. Zoan was the chief city, in which the king and court frequently resided. In these verses the prophet describes “the immediate causes of these evils; 1st, The folly of the princes and rulers, who valued themselves upon their Wisdom,, 2 d, The cowardice and... [ Continue Reading ]
_In that day shall Egypt be like unto women_ Feeble and fearful, as it follows. The cowardice and effeminacy of the people in general, joined with their fear and trepidation, are here set forth as a second cause of their calamity; and the reason of this, among other things, is drawn from a sense of... [ Continue Reading ]
_In that day_ After that time, as this phrase is often used; that is, in the times of the gospel. This latter part of the prophecy contains an account of the salutary benefits which God would bestow on Egypt after the above-mentioned calamities. “Isaiah, to whom God had most clearly revealed the mys... [ Continue Reading ]
_In that day shall there be an altar_ For God's worship; not a Levitical, but a spiritual and evangelical altar, as appears from hence, that the Levitical altar was confined to one place, Deuteronomy 12:13. The altar is here put for the worship of God, as it is in many places, both of the Old and Ne... [ Continue Reading ]
_And it shall be for a sign_ Namely, the altar or pillar, last mentioned; _and for a witness unto the Lord of hosts_ To testify that they own the Lord for their God. _For they shall cry unto the Lord because of their oppressors_ Being sorely distressed, and finding that their idols are unable to hel... [ Continue Reading ]
_In that day_, &c. Here the prophet proceeds to show the effect of this benefit of divine grace toward the Egyptians, namely, their spiritual alliance with the Assyrians and Israelites, with a great abundance of the divine blessings. _There shall be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria_ A happy corresp... [ Continue Reading ]