Isaiah 19:10

And they shall be broken in the purposes thereof, all that make sluices and ponds for fish. THEY SHALL BE BROKEN IN THE PURPOSES THEREOF - i:e., of Egypt (the Hebrew suffix is feminine). Hebrew, shaatoteyhaa (H8356), from shiyt (H7896), 'a foundation'-literally, the foundations; i:e., 'the nobles shall be broken' or brought low. So Isaiah 3:1; Psalms 11:3: cf. Isaiah 19:13, "The princes ... the stay of the tribes." The Arabs call a prince 'a pillar of the people' (Maurer). 'Their weaving-frames' (Horsley). 'Dykes' (Barnes)....

10._And all that make ponds. _As to the word שכר, (_secher,_) there is no absolute necessity, in my opinion, for translating it _a net; _for the derivation shews it, on the contrary, to denote a lucrative occupation. (34) Where fishes are very abundant, they are also preserved in pools and ponds; because the fishers would otherwise be constrained to sell them at a very low price. Besides, when they throw a net, they are not always successful. He therefore follows out the same subject, “It will not be possible either to take or to preserve fishes. Pools will be of no use.”...

1-17 God shall come into Egypt with his judgments. He will raise up the causes of their destruction from among themselves. When ungodly men escape danger, they are apt to think themselves secure; but evil pursues sinners, and will speedily overtake them, except they repent. The Egyptians will be given over into the hand of one who shall rule them with rigour, as was shortly after fulfilled. The Egyptians were renowned for wisdom and science; yet the Lord would give them up to their own perverse schemes, and to quarrel, till their land would be brought by their contests to become an object of contempt and pity. He renders sinners afraid of those whom they have despised and oppressed; and the Lord of hosts will make the workers of iniquity a terror to themselves, and to each other; and every object around a terror to them....

Verse Isaiah 19:10. _AND THEY SHALL BE BROKEN_, c. - "Her stores"] שתתיה _shathotheyha_, αποθηκαι, _granaries_. - _Aquila_. _ALL THAT MAKE SLUICES AND PONDS FOR FISH_ - "All that make a gain of pools for fish."] This obscure line is rendered by different interpreters in very different manners. _Kimchi_ explains אגמי _agmey_ as if it were the same with אגמה _agemah_, from Job 30:25, in which he is followed by some of the rabbins, and supported by the _Septuagint_: and שכר _secher_, which I translate _gain_, and which some take for _nets_ or _inclosures_, the _Septuagint_ render by ζυθον, _strong drink_ or _beer_, which it is well known was much used in Egypt and so likewise the _Syriac_, retaining the He

AND THEY SHALL BE BROKEN - There has been a great variety of opinion in regard to the interpretation of this verse, and much difficulty in the construction of the Hebrew words. The Vulgate renders it, ‘And its wet places shall fail; all who make ponds to take fish.’ The Septuagint, ‘And all who make beer (ζύθον _zuthon_) shall lament, and shall afflict their souls.’ This ζύθον _zuthon_ was a sort of malt liquor made of fruits by fermentation, and was used in Egypt in the place of wine, since the grape did not flourish there. Jerome on this place says, that this was much used also in Dalmatia and Pannonia, and was commonly called “Sabaium.” The Chaldee renders this, ‘And the place where they weave cloth shall be trodden down, and the place where they make fish ponds, and where they collect waters, each one for his own life.’ Th

EXPOSITION ISAIAH 19:1 THE BURDEN OF EGYPT. It has been doubted whether this prophecy refers to the conquest of Egypt by Piankhi, as related in the monument which he set up at Napata, or to that by Esarhaddon, of which we gain our knowledge from the inscriptions of his son, Asshur-bani-pal. In the former case, we must suppose it written as early as B.C. 735; in the latter, its date might be as late as B.C. 690. The division of Egypt, "kingdom against kingdom," is a circumstance rather in favor of the earlier date; but the "cruel lord," and the mention of the "princes of Zoan and Noph," are decisive for the later. Piankhi is anything rather than a "cruel lord," being particularly mild and clement; Napata (Noph) is under him, and cannot be said to have been "deceived" or to have "seduced

AND THEY SHALL BE BROKEN IN THE PURPOSES THEREOF,.... Meaning either the persons that work in flax, or in making nets; who shall be disappointed in their views, expectations, and designs, in bringing them to a good market, since there will be no buyers. The word for "purposes" signifies foundations, as in Psalms 11:3 and may design dams and banks, that are made to keep in the water, which shall be broken down, and be of no service to answer the end; but Kimchi observes, that the word in the Talmudic language signifies "nets", as it does n; and this seems to be most agreeable to the context; and then the words may be rendered, "and its nets shall be broken" o; shall lie and rot for want of use: ALL THAT MAKE SLUICES [AND] PONDS FOR FISH; or, "all that make an enclosure of ponds of soul" p; or for delight and pleasure; that is, not only such shall be broken in their purposes,

CHAPTER 19 The Burden of Egypt 1. _The judgment announced (Isaiah 19:1)_ 2. _Egypt blest with Israel in the last days (Isaiah 19:16) _ Egypt has passed through many judgments. Hundreds of years after the divine predictions had been given the Word of the Lord was accomplished. The final judgment upon Egypt comes in that day when the Lord appears in visible glory. Egypt will come, like other nations, to the front once more at the close of the times of the Gentiles. But mercy is also in store for Egypt. Egypt will be called “His people.” When the Lord smites Egypt that land will return to Him. It will then be lifted out of the dust and receive a place of blessing only second to that which Israel will enjoy....

ISAIAH 19. ORACLE ON EGYPT. This is one of the most difficult Chapter s in the book. It falls into two sections, Isaiah 19:1 and Isaiah 19:18. If Isaiah 19:1 is in the main from Isaiah, it probably refers to an anticipated conquest of Egypt by Assyria. Three possibilities are then open: (_a_) the defeat of Egypt by Sargon at Raphia in 720 B.C. (pp. 59, 71); (_b_) the occasion which called forth the similar prophecy in Isaiah 20; (_c_) the early part of Sennacherib's reign, when Judah was planning an alliance with Egypt. It is true that no Assyrian king ruled over Egypt till 672, when Esarhaddon did so (p. 60). But it is better to regard the cruel lord and fierce king, into whose power Egypt is to be deliv

PURPOSES: or, foundations. Compare Psalms 11:3. MAKE SLUICES. FISH: or, work for wages shall be grieved in soul. FISH. souls Hebrew. _nephesh,_ App-13. margin, "living things"....