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ISAIAH 19

PARAGRAPH DIVISIONS OF MODERN TRANSLATIONS

READING CYCLE THREE (see "Bible Interpretation Seminar")

FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S INTENT AT PARAGRAPH LEVEL

This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects (reading cycle #3). Compare your subject divisions with the five translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is the key to following the original author's intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one subject.

WORD AND PHRASE STUDY

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: ISAIAH 19:1-4
¹The oracle concerning Egypt.
Behold, the Lord is riding on a swift cloud and is about to come to Egypt;
The idols of Egypt will tremble at His presence,
And the heart of the Egyptians will melt within them.
²"So I will incite Egyptians against Egyptians;
And they will each fight against his brother and each against his neighbor,
City against city and kingdom against kingdom.
³Then the spirit of the Egyptians will be demoralized within them;
And I will confound their strategy,
So that they will resort to idols and ghosts of the dead
And to mediums and spiritists.
⁴Moreover, I will deliver the Egyptians into the hand of a cruel master,
And a mighty king will rule over them," declares the Lord God of hosts.

19:1 "the Lord is riding on a swift cloud" This is imagery describing YHWH as

1. controller of nature
2. director of nature's power
3. swift in His coming

See Ps. 18:10; 104:3. The phrase has Messianic connections in Dan. 7:13 and Matt. 26:64; Mark 14:62.

As with many OT phrases that describe YHWH we find that similar ones are used of pagan deities or rulers of the ANE. Riding on clouds is used of Ba'al in Ugaritic poems. As God's people encountered the hyperbolic statements/claims of the surrounding nations, she attributed them to her God, the only God, the one in whom they may truly find their fulfillment. This is true of phrases such as "King of kings and Lord of lords" and so many other popular titles of YHWH.

SPECIAL TOPIC: COMING ON THE CLOUDS

▣ "and is about to come to Egypt" YHWH's presence again is both a judgment (Isa. 19:1-15) and a salvation (Isa. 19:16-23). It is this double meaning that runs through much of Hebrew prophecy. The literary technique known as "reversal" dominates this genre. It is like antithetical parallelism taken to a larger piece of writing (as is paradox).

Egypt will be judged to be cleansed and prepared to worship YHWH. He will come to her in deliverance as He has to Judah. YHWH's heart is directed at humans made in His image (cf. Gen. 1:26-27), not just a select group of humans (i.e., Israel). He uses Abraham's seed to accomplish a larger purpose (cf. Gen. 3:15)!

SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN

SPECIAL TOPIC: EASTERN LITERATURE (biblical paradoxes)

▣ "The idols of Egypt" Egypt had many gods (Exod. 12:12; Num. 33:4). Her idolatry and spiritism are delineated in Isa. 19:3.

1. idols (BDB 47)
2. ghosts of the dead (BDB 31, found only here)
3. mediums (BDB 15, "necromancers," cf. Deut. 18:11)
4. spiritists (BDB 396, "wizards," "familiar spirits," cf. Deut. 18:11)

See note at Isa. 8:19.

The plagues of the Exodus purposefully depreciated many of the Egyptian gods for the purposes of producing faith in both Israelites and Egyptians (i.e., "mixed multitude," cf. Exod. 12:38).

In this text the people claimed to have the power or spiritual connection (i.e., familiar spirit) to communicate with the dead (cf. Lev. 19:31; 20:6,27; Deut. 18:11; 1 Sam. 28:8; 2 Kgs. 21:6; 2 Chr. 33:6; Isa. 8:19; 19:3). They were seeking information about and control of the future, but apart from YHWH. This is caused by

1. the fallen nature of humanity
2. self-deceived priests/prophets
3. demon activity
4. search for spiritual power over our lives and the lives of others

▣ The last two lines of Isa. 19:1 are parallel.

1. the idols of Egypt will tremble, BDB 631, KB 681, Qal PERFECT with waw, cf. Isa. 6:4; 7:2 (twice); 19:1; 24:20 (twice); 29:9; 37:22
2. the heart of the Egyptians will melt within them, BDB 587, KB 606, Niphal IMPERFECT, cf. Isa. 13:7; Jos. 2:11; 5:1; 7:5 (i.e., "holy war" terminology)

19:2 One wonders if this relates to

1. the military advance of the Nubian rulers against the native Egyptians of the Delta region of the Nile
2. the conflicts between the different cities of Egypt, each with their special gods

This internal conflict between the same people and their armies is another example of "holy war" (i.e., Jdg. 7:22; 1 Sam. 14:20; 2 Chr. 20:23).

▣ "I will. . ." Isaiah is speaking directly for YHWH (Isa. 19:2,3,4). YHWH causes

1. civil war, Isa. 19:2
2. demoralization, Isa. 19:3a
3. confused counsel/strategy, Isa. 19:3b
4. reliance on false gods, Isa. 19:3,c,d
5. the coming of a cruel master, a mighty king, Isa. 19:4

He is in control of the nations and their destinies.

SPECIAL TOPIC: ONE CAUSALITY

This uncertain VERB (possibly BDB 696 I or BDB 1127) is used twice in the Pilpel stem (Isa. 9:11 and here). In context it seems to mean

1. stir up
2. provoke
3. incite (Ethiopian root)
4. cause to stink (an Arabic root, cf. NIDOTTE, vol. 3, p. 233)

19:3 "confound" This Hebrew root (BDB 118 I, KB 134, Piel IMPERFECT) normally means "to swallow." Many scholars assume a second meaning for the same root, "confound" or "confuse" (BDB 118, Piel, #2a, cf. Isa. 3:12; 9:15; 28:7).

19:4 In context (cf. Isa. 20:4) this could refer to (1) Assyria (cf. chap. 20) or (2) Nubian invaders (cf. chap. 18). The same terminology is used for Babylon in Jer. 46:26; Ezek. 29:19. YHWH directs world empires for His purposes.

You must decide if this is typical ANE royal hyperbole, so common in the ancient world (see D Brent Sandy, Plowshares and Pruning Hooks), or reality (i.e., a biblical world view). Inspired authors take the terminology of the ANE and apply it to YHWH. Its validity is a faith issue! Is the Bible a unique, inspired, self-revelation of the one true God? This is the issue! See my sermons on "Why I Trust the OT" and "Why I Trust the NT" online at www.freebiblecommentary.org in the first paragraph).

▣ "I will deliver" This VERB (BDB 698, KB 755, Piel PERFECT with waw) means "hand over to" (cf. Targums, LXX, Peshitta). The Piel appears only here. The VERB does appear in the Niphal in Gen. 8:2 and Ps. 63:11, where it means "be stopped." The Piel connotation comes from an old Aramaic root. Therefore, there may be two separate Hebrew roots.

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: ISAIAH 19:5-10
⁵The waters from the sea will dry up,
And the river will be parched and dry.
⁶The canals will emit a stench,
The streams of Egypt will thin out and dry up;
The reeds and rushes will rot away.
⁷The bulrushes by the Nile, by the edge of the Nile
And all the sown fields by the Nile
Will become dry, be driven away, and be no more.
⁸And the fishermen will lament,
And all those who cast a line into the Nile will mourn,
And those who spread nets on the waters will pine away.
⁹Moreover, the manufacturers of linen made from combed flax
And the weavers of white cloth will be utterly dejected.
¹⁰And the pillars of Egypt will be crushed;
All the hired laborers will be grieved in soul.

19:5-10 This strophe describes YHWH's judgment on Egypt.

1. their abundant water from the Nile dries up.
2. with its loss the river vegetation dies.
3. with its loss irrigated crops die.
4. with its loss the fishing industry will lament and languish.
5. with the loss the clothing industry stops.
6. Egyptian society comes to a crushing, grinding stop.
7. all hired laborers will grieve.

There are three related VERBS which denote the loss of water.

1. "dry up," BDB 677, KB 732, Niphal PERFECT with waw, Isa. 19:5; 41:17;
2. "be parched," BDB 351, KB 349, Qal IMPERFECT, Isa. 19:5,6; 11:15; 37:25; 44:27; 50:2; 51:10
3. "be dry," BDB 386, KB 384, Qal PERFECT with waw, Isa. 19:5,7; 15:6; 27:11; 40:7,8,24; 42:15 (twice); 44:27

God's ability to control water (the only physical material that God does not audibly create in Genesis 1) is recurrent in the OT.

1. separated water above and water below, Gen. 1:7
2. gathered the waters so dry land could appear, Gen. 1:9-10
3. sent the flood, Gen. 7:4,7
4. dried up the flood, Gen. 8:2-3
5. provided a well of water for Hagar, Gen. 21:19
6. split and restored the Sea of Reeds, Exod. 14:16,27
7. purified the water at Marah, Exod. 15:22-25
8. provided water that came from rocks in the wilderness, Num. 20:8,11
9. promised agricultural abundance if covenant was obeyed, Deuteronomy 27-28
10. split the Jordan River, Jos. 3:14-17; 4:23-24
11. dried up the Nile and its tributaries, Isa. 19:5
12. will dry up the Euphrates, Rev. 16:12
13. water flows from the new temple (Ezek. 47:1) from Jerusalem (Zech. 14:8) and the new heavenly city, Rev. 22:1

For desert people these were truly mighty miracles and proof of God's power because water was a symbol of life itself. Remember, the Nile was viewed as one of the main deities of Egypt (as was Re, the sun god, cf. Isa. 19:18).

SPECIAL TOPIC: WATERS

9:6 "will emit a stench" "This VERB (BDB 276 II, Kb 276, Hiphil PERFECT with waw) occurs only here. It seems to reflect an Arabic root. The abundant dead vegation begins to rot!

The MT has חורי, "white cloth" (BDB 301. for Aramaic parallel see Dan. 7:9), but the parallelism fits better with חורו, "grow pale" (BDB 301, cf. Isa. 29:22 only and DSS of this text; UBS Text Project, p. 13, gives this a "C" rating). There is obviously an intended play on "white" (חור, BDB 301).

The MT (BDB 1011, only here) has "foundation" or "stay" (of society), which would refer to the upper class leaders. "Weavers" comes from those who are looking for a balanced parallelism to "hired laborers" (DSS, Targums from Aramaic root, "weavers"; UBS Text Project, p. 43, gives this a "C" rating) in the second line. The question is, "Is the parallelism synonymous (weavers) or antithetical (upper class and lower class)?" The Hebrew text remains ambiguous (cf. LXX and Peshitta are very different).

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: ISAIAH 19:11-15
¹¹The princes of Zoan are mere fools;
The advice of Pharaoh's wisest advisers has become stupid.
How can you men say to Pharaoh,
"I am a son of the wise, a son of ancient kings"?
¹²Well then, where are your wise men?
Please let them tell you,
And let them understand what the Lord of hosts
Has purposed against Egypt.
¹³The princes of Zoan have acted foolishly,
The princes of Memphis are deluded;
Those who are the cornerstone of her tribes
Have led Egypt astray.
¹⁴The Lord has mixed within her a spirit of distortion;
They have led Egypt astray in all that it does,
As a drunken man staggers in his vomit.
¹⁵There will be no work for Egypt
Which its head or tail, its palm branch or bulrush, may do.

19:11-15 This strophe is an elaboration of Isa. 19:3.

1. v. 11, "the princes of Zoan" (Tanis, capital of the Delta region) are mere fools (BDB 17, used of Judah in Jer. 4:22)
2. v. 11, "the advice of Pharaoh's wisest advisers has become stupid" (lit. "brutish," BDB 129 II, KB 146, Niphal PARTICIPLE, cf. Jer. 10:14,21; 51:17)
3. v. 13, "the princes of Zoan have acted foolishly" (BDB 383, KB 381, Niphal PARTICIPLE, cf. Jer. 5:4; 50:36)
4. v. 13, "the princes of Memphis (Noph, another Egyptian capital) are deluded" (BDB 674, KB 728, Niphal PERFECT; Hiphil PERFECT used in Gen. 3:13)
5. v. 13, "have led Egypt astray" (BDB 1073, KB 1766, Hiphil PERFECT, cf. Isa. 19:14; 3:12; 9:16; Jer. 23:13,32; Hos. 4:12; Micah 3:5)
6. v. 14, "led astray. . .staggers" (same VERB as #5, here denoting drunkenness)

19:11 Line 4 is idiomatic for a group of wise men, similar to which Daniel was a part in Babylon. The JPSOA has "A scion of Kedomite king."

The word "son" functions as "member of a group."

SPECIAL TOPIC: "SONS OF. . ."

19:12 YHWH asks a sarcastic rhetorical question. It is structured as two IMPERFECTS (BDB 616, KB 615, and BDB 393, KB 390) used in a JUSSIVE sense (i.e., "let them. . .").

They claimed to be wise (Isa. 19:11d; 1 Kgs. 4:30; Acts 7:22). They claimed to have plans (Isa. 19:3b), but their wisdom and plans are negated in YHWH's purposes (Isa. 19:12a).

19:13 "Those who are the cornerstone of her tribes" Here "cornerstone" (BDB 819) denotes leaders (cf. Jdg. 20:2; 1 Sam. 14:38).

The MT has the VERB "mixed" (מסך, BDB 587, KB 605, Qal PERFECT), which denotes a strong drink (cf. Isa. 5:22). However, because of Isa. 29:10 it is possible the VERB should be נסך ("poured out," BDB 650, KB 703, Qal PERFECT), which is found in the DSS. In either case the point is drunkenness as imagery for confusion and instability.

19:15 The second line has two idioms which denote all levels of society (cf. Isa. 9:14-15).

1. head ‒ tail
2. palm ‒ bulrush

There will be a God-sent (cf. Isa. 19:14a) total inability! Those who claimed to be wise (cf. Isa. 19:11d, 12a, 13c) have proven to be unwise because they trusted in

1. false gods
2. false religionists
3. poor plans (cf. Isa. 19:3)

All of Egypt's leadership (cf. Isa. 19:11-12), civil and religious, are out of a job, as are all her laborers (cf. Isa. 19:8-10).

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: ISAIAH 19:16-17
¹⁶In that day the Egyptians will become like women, and they will tremble and be in dread because of the waving of the hand of the Lord of hosts, which He is going to wave over them. ¹⁷The land of Judah will become a terror to Egypt; everyone to whom it is mentioned will be in dread of it, because of the purpose of the Lord of hosts which He is purposing against them.

19:16-17 This describes what YHWH's actions (i.e., "the waving of the hand of the Lord of hosts") will do. His purpose (Isa. 19:17b, BDB 420) is that

1. Egyptians will become like women, Isa. 19:16
2. they will tremble, Isa. 19:16 (BDB 353, KB 350, Qal PERFECT with waw)
3. they will be in dread, Isa. 19:16 (BDB 808, KB 922, Qal PERFECT with waw)
4. Judah will become a terror to Egypt, Isa. 19:17 (NOUN, "terror" or "reeling," BDB 291, found only here)
5. they will be in dread, Isa. 19:17 (BDB 808, KB 922, Qal IMPERFECT, same as #3)

19:16 "the Lord of hosts" As the phrase "in that day" links these last five strophes (cf. Isa. 19:16, 18, 19, 23, 24), so does this recurrent title for YHWH (cf. Isa. 19:16, 17, 18, 20, 25 and Lord alone in Isa. 19:19, 20, 21, 22). The covenant God is very active in these wonderfully redemptive strophes for the nations!

SPECIAL TOPIC: LORD OF HOSTS

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: ISAIAH 19:18
¹⁸In that day five cities in the land of Egypt will be speaking the language of Canaan and swearing allegiance to the Lord of hosts; one will be called the City of Destruction.

19:18 This is a separate paragraph. It denotes a conversion from idol worship to the worship of YWHH. The "language of Canaan" would denote Hebrew (BDB 488 I). This may be an allusion to Isa. 6:5 or even Gen. 11:1.

The phrase "swearing allegiance" (BDB 989, KB 1396, Niphal PARTICIPLE) denotes a new relationship with Judah's God (cf. Isa. 19:19-22, 23, 24-25). This has always been the purpose of divine judgment!

▣ "In that day" Notice the recurrent phrase, "in that day," Isa. 19:16, 18, 19, 23, 24. This points toward specific future days.

1. one of judgment and dread, Isa. 19:16-17
2. one of conversion (Isa. 19:18, 19-22) and worldwide worship (Isa. 19:23, 24-25)

Again, a current crisis (cf. Isa. 19:20) in the ANE reflects an eschatological event. Judgment has a redemptive purpose (cf. Isa. 19:22). Evil, rebellion, and ignorance will not be the last word! YHWH has an eternal redemptive plan and purpose for the whole world (cf. Isa. 19:24b).

SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN

▣ "five cities" The reason for this specific number is uncertain. It denotes a conversion, but not a complete (i.e., half of ten, see SPECIAL TOPIC: SYMBOLIC NUMBERS IN SCRIPTURE, #5) conversion. The question remains, "To whom does it refer?"

1. cities of Jewish settlers
2. cities of Egyptian deities

Because of Isa. 19:19-22, 23, 24-25 I choose option #2. This context is not addressing Jews, but Egyptians.

The MT's "destruction" (BDB 249) appears only here. The VERB of the same root (BDB 248) means "to throw down," "break," or "tear down." It may be a play on the Egyptian city that worshiped the "Sun" god (On, Heliopolis) or the Jewish temple founded on an island in the Nile River by priests in 162 B.C.

1. חרס, city of the Sun (BDB 357, cf. DSS, Targums, Vulgate)
2. הרס, city of destruction (BDB 249)

The implication is that the temples to Re (Sun god) have been torn down.

The Hebrew word sun has the same consonants as "ban" (i.e. devoted to destruction). There may be a double wordplay.

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE TWO "CITIES" IN ISAIAH

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: ISAIAH 19:19-22
¹⁹In that day there will be an altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to the Lord near its border. ²⁰It will become a sign and a witness to the Lord of hosts in the land of Egypt; for they will cry to the Lord because of oppressors, and He will send them a Savior and a Champion, and He will deliver them. ²¹Thus the Lord will make Himself known to Egypt, and the Egyptians will know the Lord in that day. They will even worship with sacrifice and offering, and will make a vow to the Lord and perform it. ²²The Lord will strike Egypt, striking but healing; so they will return to the Lord, and He will respond to them and will heal them.

Because of the use of this term (BDB 1063) in Jos. 3:17; 4:3,9,10,18 should be understood as "brink," not "middle." This is the origin of "by its border" in the LXX.

When does this event occur?

1. the small Jewish temple built by Jewish mercenaries on an island in the Nile (Elephantine, modern Aswan, at the first cataract of the Nile), sometime before 525 B.C.
2. the Jewish temple (modeled after the temple in Jerusalem) built at Leontopolis by Onias IV, an outcast Jewish high priest from Jerusalem, about 160 B.C. (cf. Josephus, Antiq. 12.9.7; 13.3.3)
3. an eschatological event

▣ "a sign" See SPECIAL TOPIC: SIGN (OT)

19:19-20 What a wonderful, but surprising event that a physical presence of YHWH will be established in Egypt. YHWH loves the people of the nations! They are made in His image. He seeks them. He wants to know them!

SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN

19:20 This process is comparable to how YHWH dealt with Israel in the book of Judges. The cruel judgment of invasion and occupation (cf. Isa. 19:4) brings repentance and faith in God and His ability and willingness to act in deliverance. Egypt has come to that spiritual moment and YHWH responds.

What a great witness this context is about the character of Israel's God. He is willing to forgive and fully accept His covenant people's enemies. He is truly the God of the nations, the Savior of the world (cf. John 3:16; Titus 1:3; 2:10; 3:4).

SPECIAL TOPIC: OUR SAVIOR (title)

▣ "a Savior and a Champion" In context this refers to one who will defeat the cruel master and mighty king of Isa. 19:4, but ultimately it has Messianic implications. In Isaiah this "Savior" is YHWH Himself and no other (cf. Isa. 43:3,11; 45:15,21), but from the NT we know it was the Messiah acting as YHWH's representative (i.e., Isa. 28:16; Rom. 9:30-33; 10:9-13; 1 Pet. 2:6-10).

1. a Savior, BDB 446, KB 448, Hiphil PARTICIPLE
2. a defender, BDB 936, KB 1224, Qal PARTICIPLE
3. a deliverer, BDB 664, KB 717, Hiphil PERFECT with waw

19:21 "the Lord will make Himself known to Egypt, and the Egyptians will know the Lord" This is a play on the Hebrew word "know" (BDB 393, KB 390), which denotes both knowledge of and personal relationship with.

SPECIAL TOPIC: KNOW (using mostly Deuteronomy as a paradigm)

▣ "worship" Notice the elements of worship (BDB 712, KB 773, Qal PERFECT with waw) mentioned.

1. sacrifice, BDB 257
2. offering, BDB 585
3. vow, BDB 623, KB 674, Qal PERFECT

They will not only do the rituals of worship, but will live out (BDB 1022, KB 1532, Piel PERFECT with waw, lit. "perform") those rituals (i.e., vows).

SPECIAL TOPIC: WORSHIP

19:22 YHWH's actions toward Egypt mimic His actions toward the covenant people.

1. He strikes them (twice, BDB 619, KB 669)
2. they cry out to Him, Isa. 19:20
3. He heals them (twice, BDB 950, KB 1272)
4. they return to Him (BDB 996, KB 1427, this is the Hebrew term for repentance)
5. He responds to them (BDB 801 I, KB 905, Niphal PERFECT with waw, see IMPERFECT in Gen. 25:21; 2 Chr. 33:13; Ezra 8:23. YHWH hears and responds to repentance supplication).

Be sure to note that judgment (i.e., striking) was for the purpose of establishing (or for Israel, restoring) a relationship with YHWH.

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: ISAIAH 19:23
²³In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrians will come into Egypt and the Egyptians into Assyria, and the Egyptians will worship with the Assyrians.

19:23 There will be a free-flowing movement between nations for the purpose of worshiping YHWH. The nations have come!

It is interesting how many times Isaiah uses the imagery of a highway.

1. a highway for the exiled Jews to return, Isa. 11:16; 57:14
2. a highway for Gentile worshipers to come, Isa. 19:23
3. a highway of holiness, Isa. 26:7; 35:8; 43:19; 49:11; 51:10
4. a Messianic highway, Isa. 40:3; 42:16

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: ISAIAH 19:24-25
²⁴In that day Israel will be the third party with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth, ²⁵whom the Lord of hosts has blessed, saying, "Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance."

19:25 These are covenant phrases now used for the hated Egyptians and Assyrians.

Compare this with Isa. 45:14-17. What a contrast. It is so hard to hold these together (i.e., the nations loved, the nations judged). I choose Isa. 19:22! I choose Isa. 19:20!

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