THE ALLIANCE WITH EGYPT OPENLY REBUKED . In the preceding chapter ( Isaiah 30:15 ) the design of the Jewish rulers to seek the alliance of Egypt was covertly glanced at and condemned; now it is openly declared and rebuked. The rulers are warned that no good can possibly come of it, even in a worldly sense. The Egyptians will give no aid, or at any rate no effectual aid. The sums expended in purchasing their friendship will be utterly thrown away. read more
A godless policy issues in disaster, however seemingly wise. In the sight of man there was no more prudent course for the Jews to take than to ally themselves with Egypt. Egypt was the only power in their neighborhood that could possibly make head against Assyria. Egypt had a standing army, trained warriors, an ancient military system, numerous chariots and horses, ample siege material, and abundant appliances of war. She was at the time closely connected with Ethiopia, and could bring into... read more
The embassy to Egypt. The embassy to Egypt has been sent, and the prophet's object is to show that the policy of it is false, as all policy must be false which does not rest upon religion. I. The POLICY CHARACTERIZED . It is that of " unruly sons," and they "carry out a purpose which is not from Jehovah." So in Hosea we read, "They have set up kings, but not by me; they have made princes, and I knew it not" ( Hosea 8:4 ). They "weave a net" or "plait alliances" without his... read more
Going down into Egypt. The prophet of Jehovah utters another "woe," he denounces another sin; for the people of the Lord, in the day of their difficulty, have looked, not to their Divine Redeemer, but to that arm of flesh in which they should not have trusted, and by which they will be abandoned. We see— I. THEIR SIN . It is threefold. 1. Desertion of God . They take counsel, but not now of God, as in better days ( Joshua 7:6 ; 20:27 ; 1 Samuel 23:2 ; 1 Samuel 30:8 );... read more
That walk ; or, are on their way (comp. Isaiah 31:1 ). Either the Jewish ambassadors have already started, or the anticipatory vision of the prophet sees them as if starting. In the history ( 2 Kings 18:13-37 ; Isaiah 36:1-22 ) it is not expressly said that Hezekiah made application to Egypt for aid; but the reproaches of Rabshakeh ( 2 Kings 18:21 , 2 Kings 18:24 ) would be pointless if he had not done so. Have not asked at my mouth . As they ought to have done (see Numbers... read more
Trusting others than Jehovah. "Relying upon human aid, involving a distrust of the Divine promises, was a crying sin of the ancient Church, not at one time only, but throughout her history." It is quite as truly the crying sin of the modern Church, and of the Christian individual. In every time of pressure and need we first fly to some form of human help. It is either the expression of "first simplicity," or else of "cultured sanctity," to act on the words, "Our help is in the Lord our God."... read more
His princes were at Zoan . "Zoan" is undoubtedly Tanis, which is now "San," a heap of ruins in the Delta, where some interesting remains of the shepherd-kings have been discovered. It was a favorite capital of the monarchs of the nineteenth dynasty, and seems to have been the scene of the struggle between Moses and the Pharaoh of the Exodus ( Psalms 78:12 , Psalms 78:43 ). It then declined, but is said to have been the birthplace of the first king of the twenty-first dynasty. In the... read more
They were all ashamed ; rather, all are ashamed . The reference is not to the ambassadors, who felt no shame in their embassy, and probably returned elated by the promises made them; but to the subsequent feelings of the Jewish nation, when it was discovered by sad experience that no reliance was to be placed on "the strength of Pharaoh." A people that could not profit them . Mr. Cheyne compares, very pertinently, an inscription of Sargon's, where he says of the people of Philistia,... read more
Burden of the beasts of the south . Delitzsch thinks that the Egyptians are intended by the "beasts of the south"—the expression pointing primarily to the hippopotamus, which was an apt emblem of the slow-moving Egyptians. But most commentators regard the "beasts" of this clause as equivalent to the " young asses and camels" mentioned towards the end of the verse. (On the sense of the word "burden," see the introductory paragraph to Isaiah 13:1-22 .) Into the land of trouble and anguish... read more
Get Bible verse every day in your inbox
Read on Mobile
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 30:7
Their strength is to sit still "Rahab the Inactive" - The two last words, שבת הם hem shabeth , joined into one, make the participle pihel המשבת hammeshabbeth . I find the learned Professor Doederlein, in his version of Isaiah, and note on this place, has given the same conjecture; which he speaks of as having been formerly published by him. A concurrence of different persons in the same conjecture adds to it a greater degree of probability. read more