Isaiah19chapter 19

Chapter summary

Egypt receives its burden as Jehovah rides on a swift cloud into the land: idols tremble, Egyptian fights Egyptian, and a cruel lord takes the throne. The Nile itself fails — rivers foul, reeds wither, fishers lament, flax workers are confounded — while the princes of Zoan and Memphis, Pharaoh's vaunted counselors, prove fools under a spirit of perverseness Jehovah has mingled in her midst. Then six "in that day" oracles reverse the picture: Judah becomes a terror to Egypt, five Egyptian cities speak the language of Canaan, an altar to Jehovah stands in Egypt's midst, a saviour delivers those who cry to him, and Jehovah smites in order to heal. A highway joins Egypt to Assyria, and Israel stands third with both — "Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance."

Drafted from Matthew Henry, Calvin, Gill, Clarke, JFB, and Barnes.