1 The burden of Egypt. Behold, the LORD rideth upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it.
2 And I will set the Egyptians against the Egyptians: and they shall fight every one against his brother, and every one against his neighbour; city against city, and kingdom against kingdom.
3 And the spirit of Egypt shall fail in the midst thereof; and I will destroy the counsel thereof: and they shall seek to the idols, and to the charmers, and to them that have familiar spirits, and to the wizards.
4 And the Egyptians will I give over into the hand of a cruel lord; and a fierce king shall rule over them, saith the Lord, the LORD of hosts.
5 And the waters shall fail from the sea, and the river shall be wasted and dried up.
6 And they shall turn the rivers far away; and the brooks of defence shall be emptied and dried up: the reeds and flags shall wither.
7 The paper reeds by the brooks, by the mouth of the brooks, and every thing sown by the brooks, shall wither, be driven away, and be no more.
8 The fishers also shall mourn, and all they that cast angle into the brooks shall lament, and they that spread nets upon the waters shall languish.
9 Moreover they that work in fine flax, and they that weave networks, shall be confounded.
10 And they shall be broken in the purposes thereof, all that make sluices and ponds for fish.
11 Surely the princes of Zoan are fools, the counsel of the wise counsellors of Pharaoh is become brutish: how say ye unto Pharaoh, I am the son of the wise, the son of ancient kings?
12 Where are they? where are thy wise men? and let them tell thee now, and let them know what the LORD of hosts hath purposed upon Egypt.
13 The princes of Zoan are become fools, the princes of Noph are deceived; they have also seduced Egypt, even they that are the stay of the tribes thereof.
14 The LORD hath mingled a perverse spirit in the midst thereof: and they have caused Egypt to err in every work thereof, as a drunken man staggereth in his vomit.
15 Neither shall there be any work for Egypt, which the head or tail, branch or rush, may do.
16 In that day shall Egypt be like unto women: and it shall be afraid and fear because of the shaking of the hand of the LORD of hosts, which he shaketh over it.
17 And the land of Judah shall be a terror unto Egypt, every one that maketh mention thereof shall be afraid in himself, because of the counsel of the LORD of hosts, which he hath determined against it.
18 In that day shall five cities in the land of Egypt speak the language of Canaan, and swear to the LORD of hosts; one shall be called, The city of destruction.
19 In that day shall there be an altar to the LORD in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar at the border thereof to the LORD.
20 And it shall be for a sign and for a witness unto the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt: for they shall cry unto the LORD because of the oppressors, and he shall send them a saviour, and a great one, and he shall deliver them.
21 And the LORD shall be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know the LORD in that day, and shall do sacrifice and oblation; yea, they shall vow a vow unto the LORD, and perform it.
22 And the LORD shall smite Egypt: he shall smite and heal it: and they shall return even to the LORD, and he shall be intreated of them, and shall heal them.
23 In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians.
24 In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land:
25 Whom the LORD of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance.
Isaiah Chapter 19 is a prophecy against Egypt, a prominent nation in the ancient Near East. The chapter is a part of the Book of Isaiah, one of the major prophetical books in the Old Testament of the King James Version (KJV) of the Holy Bible. The themes of this chapter revolve around divine judgment, transformation, and redemption. The chapter is divided into two main sections: the oracle of judgment against Egypt (Isaiah 19:1-15) and the promise of future blessing (Isaiah 19:16-25). These sections portray a dramatic shift from doom to hope, from judgment to salvation, demonstrating the transformative power of divine intervention.
The chapter opens with a vivid depiction of the Lord's judgment on Egypt. “The burden of Egypt. Behold, the Lord rideth upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it.” (Isaiah 19:1 KJV) Here, the Lord is seen as a divine warrior riding on a swift cloud, a symbol of divine judgment. The idols of Egypt, representing the nation's religious and political systems, are shaken, indicating the imminent collapse of Egyptian power and authority. The heart of Egypt melting signifies the fear and despair that will engulf the nation.
The text goes on to describe the chaos that will ensue in Egypt: civil war, economic collapse, and social disorder. The Nile River, the lifeblood of Egypt, will dry up, leading to the failure of crops and industries. The nation's wise men will be shown to be fools, incapable of offering any solution to the crisis. Egypt, once a powerful and prosperous nation, will be reduced to a state of helplessness and despair. This judgment is a consequence of Egypt's rebellion against God and reliance on human wisdom and power.
The tone of the chapter shifts dramatically in verse 16. The doom and judgment give way to a message of hope and redemption. The prophecy foresees a time when Egypt will turn to the Lord in their distress and find salvation. “And the Lord shall be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know the Lord in that day, and shall do sacrifice and oblation; yea, they shall vow a vow unto the Lord, and perform it.” (Isaiah 19:21 KJV) This verse indicates a radical transformation in Egypt's relationship with God. The nation that once worshipped idols will come to acknowledge and worship the one true God.
The prophecy also envisions a time of peace and unity among the nations. Egypt, Assyria, and Israel, once bitter enemies, will live together in harmony. The Lord will bless these nations, calling them "my people," "my handiwork," and "my inheritance." This vision of international peace and unity reflects the universal scope of God's salvation plan. It underscores the biblical theme that God's love and mercy extend to all nations, not just Israel.
Isaiah Chapter 19 carries a profound message about divine judgment and redemption. The judgment on Egypt serves as a warning against rebellion against God and reliance on human wisdom and power. It shows that even the most powerful and prosperous nations cannot withstand God's judgment. However, the chapter also carries a message of hope. It shows that God's judgment is not the end but a means to bring about transformation and redemption. It reassures that God's mercy and salvation are available to all who turn to Him, regardless of their past.
Furthermore, the chapter reveals God's ultimate plan for the world: a world where nations live in peace and unity under God's rule. This vision challenges us to look beyond our national and cultural boundaries and see ourselves as part of a global community under God. It invites us to participate in God's mission to bring peace, justice, and salvation to all nations.
In conclusion, Isaiah Chapter 19 is a powerful testament to God's sovereignty, justice, and mercy. It shows that God's purposes will be fulfilled, no matter how bleak the present circumstances may seem. It encourages us to trust in God's promises and live in anticipation of His future kingdom.
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