Isaiah 19

1 onus Aegypti ecce Dominus ascendet super nubem levem et ingredietur Aegyptum et movebuntur simulacra Aegypti a facie eius et cor Aegypti tabescet in medio eius

2 et concurrere faciam Aegyptios adversum Aegyptios et pugnabit vir contra fratrem suum et vir contra amicum suum civitas adversus civitatem regnum adversus regnum

3 et disrumpetur spiritus Aegypti in visceribus eius et consilium eius praecipitabo et interrogabunt simulacra sua et divinos suos et pythones et ariolos

4 et tradam Aegyptum in manu dominorum crudelium et rex fortis dominabitur eorum ait Dominus Deus exercituum

5 et arescet aqua de mari et fluvius desolabitur atque siccabitur

6 et deficient flumina adtenuabuntur et siccabuntur rivi aggerum calamus et iuncus marcescet

7 nudabitur alveus rivi a fonte suo et omnis sementis inrigua siccabitur arescet et non erit

8 et maerebunt piscatores et lugebunt omnes mittentes in flumen hamum et expandentes rete super faciem aquae marcescent

9 confundentur qui operabantur linum pectentes et texentes subtilia

10 et erunt inrigua eius flaccentia omnes qui faciebant lacunas ad capiendos pisces

11 stulti principes Taneos sapientes consiliarii Pharao dederunt consilium insipiens quomodo dicetis Pharaoni filius sapientium ego filius regum antiquorum

12 ubi sunt nunc sapientes tui adnuntient tibi et indicent quid cogitaverit Dominus exercituum super Aegyptum

13 stulti facti sunt principes Taneos emarcuerunt principes Mempheos deceperunt Aegyptum angulum populorum eius

14 Dominus miscuit in medio eius spiritum vertiginis et errare fecerunt Aegyptum in omni opere suo sicut errat ebrius et vomens

15 et non erit Aegypto opus quod faciat caput et caudam incurvantem et refrenantem

16 in die illa erit Aegyptus quasi mulieres et stupebunt et timebunt a facie commotionis manus Domini exercituum quam ipse movebit super eam

17 et erit terra Iuda Aegypto in festivitatem omnis qui illius fuerit recordatus pavebit a facie consilii Domini exercituum quod ipse cogitavit super eam

18 in die illa erunt quinque civitates in terra Aegypti loquentes lingua Chanaan et iurantes per Dominum exercituum civitas Solis vocabitur una

19 in die illa erit altare Domini in medio terrae Aegypti et titulus iuxta terminum eius Domini

20 et erit in signum et in testimonium Domino exercituum in terra Aegypti clamabunt enim ad Dominum a facie tribulantis et mittet eis salvatorem et propugnatorem qui liberet eos

21 et cognoscetur Dominus ab Aegypto et cognoscent Aegyptii Dominum in die illa et colent eum in hostiis et muneribus et vota vovebunt Domino et solvent

22 et percutiet Dominus Aegyptum plaga et sanabit eam et revertentur ad Dominum et placabitur eis et sanabit eos

23 in die illa erit via de Aegypto in Assyrios et intrabit Assyrius Aegyptum et Aegyptius in Assyrios et servient Aegyptii Assur

24 in die illa erit Israhel tertius Aegyptio et Assyrio benedictio in medio terrae

25 cui benedixit Dominus exercituum dicens benedictus populus meus Aegypti et opus manuum mearum Assyrio hereditas autem mea Israhel

Isaiah 19 Commentary

Chapter 19

Judgments upon Egypt. (1-17) Its deliverance, and the conversion of the people. (18-25)

Verses 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.

Verses 18-25 The words, "In that day," do not always refer to the passage just before. At a time which was to come, the Egyptians shall speak the holy language, the Scripture language; not only understand it, but use it. Converting grace, by changing the heart, changes the language; for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. So many Jews shall come to Egypt, that they shall soon fill five cities. Where the sun was worshipped, a place infamous for idolatry, even there shall be a wonderful reformation. Christ, the great Altar, who sanctifies every gift, shall be owned, and the gospel sacrifices of prayer and praise shall be offered up. Let the broken-hearted and afflicted, whom the Lord has wounded, and thus taught to return to, and call upon him, take courage; for He will heal their souls, and turn their sorrowing supplications into joyful praises. The Gentile nations shall not only unite with each other in the gospel fold under Christ, the great Shepherd, but they shall all be united with the Jews. They shall be owned together by him; they shall all share in one and the same blessing. Meeting at the same throne of grace, and serving with each other in the same business of religion, should end all disputes, and unite the hearts of believers to each other in holy love.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 19

This chapter contains prophecies of various calamities that should come upon Egypt in a short time, and of the conversion of many of them to Christ in Gospel times. The calamities are many; the Lord's coming unto them, which their gods cannot prevent, nor stand before, nor save them, and at which the hearts of the Egyptians are dispirited, Isa 19:1 civil wars among themselves, Isa 19:2 want of counsel, which sends them to idols and wizards, but in vain, Isa 19:3 subjection to a cruel lord, Isa 19:4 drying up of their rivers and waters, so that the paper reeds wither, and fishes die; and hence no business for fishermen, nor for workers in flax, or weavers of nets, Isa 19:5-10,15 the stupidity of their princes and wise counsellors, given up by the Lord to a perverse spirit, so that they concerted wrong measures, and deceived the people, Isa 19:11-14 a general consternation among them, because of the hand and counsel of the Lord; and because of the Lord's people, the Jews, who were a terror to them, Isa 19:16,17 and then follows the prophecy of their conversion in later times, which is signified by their speaking the language of Canaan, and swearing to the Lord, Isa 19:18 by their erecting an altar, and a pillar to the Lord, which should be a sign and witness to him; and by their crying to him, and his sending them a Saviour, and a great one, Isa 19:19,20 by his being known unto them, by their offering sacrifice to him, and by his smiting and healing them Isa 19:21,22 and the chapter is concluded with a prophecy of that harmony, and agreement, and fellowship, that shall be between Jew and Gentile, between Egypt, Assyria, and Israel; and that the blessing of God should be upon them all, Isa 19:23-25.