View Isaiah 19 in the note window.
The confusion of Egypt, their intestine dissention, their idols
deceive them, cruel lords over them, waters fail them, their trade
dead, their princes and counselors made foolish, their terror before
the Lord, ver. 1 - 17.
The calling of Egypt to the church, ver. 18 - 22.
The covenant of Egypt, Assyria and Israel, ver. 23 - 25.
1: Rideth - As a general in the head of his army. A swift
cloud - This phrase shews that the judgment should come speedily,
unexpectedly, and unavoidably. Shall be moved - So far shall they be
from helping the Egyptians, that they shall tremble for themselves.
2: I will set - Egypt was now one kingdom, but not many years
after this time it was divided into twelve kingdoms, between whom
there were many and cruel wars.
3: The spirit - Their courage.
4: A fierce king - Psammetichus, who being at first one of those
twelve kings, waged war with the rest, and subdued them, and conquered
all the land of Egypt and ruled it with rigour.
5: The waters - Which may be understood either,
- Metaphorically, of the taking away of their dominion or commerce, &c.
or rather,
- Properly, as may be gathered from the following words. For as the
river Nile, when it had a full stream, and free course, did pour
forth a vast quantity of waters by its seven famous mouths into the
sea, so when that was dried up, which is expressed in the next clause,
those waters did truly and properly fail from the sea.
So there is no need of understanding by sea either the river Nile,
or the great lake of Maeris, which, after the manner of the Hebrews,
might be so called. The river - Nile: upon whose fulness and overflow
both the safety and the wealth of the land depended; and therefore this
was a very terrible judgment. Dried up - Not totally, but in a very great
measure.
6: Rivers - The rivers (those rivulets by which the waters of
Nile were distributed into several parts of the land) shall be turned
far away, as they must needs be, when the river which fed them was dried
up. Brooks - The several branches of the river Nile, which were a
great defence to Egypt. Reeds - Which were useful to them for making
their boats. Whither - As they commonly do for want of water.
7: Paper - reeds - These by a needle, or other fit instrument, were
divided into thin and broad leaves, which being dried and fitted, were
used at that time for writing; and consequently was a very good commodity.
By brooks - And much more what was sown in more dry and unfruitful places.
8: Mourn - Because they could catch no fish; which was a great loss
to the people, whose common diet this was.
9: They - That make fine linen, which was one of their best
commodities.
10: Thereof - Of Egypt, or of the Egyptians. They shall lose
their hopes; for the fishes in them shall die for want of water.
11: Zoan - The chief city, in which the king and court frequently
resided. How - Why do you put such foolish words into Pharaoh's mouth?
I am the son - Wisdom is heredity and natural to me.
13: Noph - Another chief city, and one of the kings seats, called
also Moph, and by latter authors, Memphis. The stay - Their chief
counsellors. Tribes - Of the provinces, which he calls by a title
borrowed from the Hebrews, in whose language he spake and wrote
this prophecy.
14: Mingled - Or, hath poured out or given them to drink.
To err - In all their designs and undertakings. Staggereth - When
he is so drunk, that he reels to and fro, and vomits up his drink.
15: Head, &c. - All people, both high and low, shall be at their wits
end.
16: Women - Feeble and fearful. Because - Because they shall
perceive that they do not fight with men only, but with the Lord of hosts,
who now lifts up his hand against them, as he did against their forefathers.
17: A terror - Because of their manifold injuries against Judah,
for which they now apprehend God is calling them to account.
Determined - Because God is now about to execute his appointed judgments.
It - Against Egypt.
18: In that day - After that time. In the times of the gospel.
Five - A considerable number of their chief cities: a certain number
being put for an uncertain. Speak - Profess the Jewish religion, agree
with them in the same mind; which is fitly signified by speaking the
same language. Swear - This implies the dedication, and yielding up of a
person or thing to the Lord, by a solemn vow, or covenant. One - Not one
of the five, but another city, the sixth city. As divers cities shall
be converted and saved, so some other cities shall continue in their
impenitency, and be destroyed.
19: An altar - The altar is put for the worship of God, as it is
in many places both of the Old and New Testament. And nothing is more
common in the prophets than to speak of gospel - worship in the phrases
of the law. Pillar - A monument of the true religion. Here also he
alludes to the ancient custom of erecting pillars to God. The border - As
before, in the midst of it. The meaning is, There shall be evidences
of their piety in all places.
20: It - The altar or pillar last mentioned. A witness - To testify
that they own the Lord for their God. Cry - Being sorely distressed, they
shall turn unto the true God. A great one - A great or mighty Saviour,
even Christ.
21: Shall sacrifice - Shall worship God spiritually; which yet is
signified by typical phrases.
22: Smite - God will afflict them and by those afflictions will
convert and save them.
23: Assyria - They who were implacable enemies one to another, and
both to the church of God, shall now be reconciled and united together
in the service of God, and love to his church. Serve - The Lord.
24: The third - The third party, in that sacred league, whereby all
of them oblige themselves to serve God. Egypt - These are named, because
they were the most obstinate enemies to God's church, but they are here
put for all the Gentiles. A blessing - This is peculiar to Israel,
who is not only a third party, but is the most eminent of the three,
as being the fountain, by which the blessing is conveyed to the other
two; because Christ was to be born of them, and the gospel - church and
ordinances were first established among them, and from them derived
to the Gentiles. The land - Or, of those lands, Egypt and
Assyria, between which Israel lay.
25: Whom - That is, which people, Israel, Egypt, and Assyria;
of whom he speaks as of one people, because they are all united into
one church. My people - This title, and those which follow, that were
peculiar to the people of Israel, shall now be given to these and all
other nations.
