23. highway—free communication, resting on the highest basis, the common faith of both (Isaiah 19:18; Isaiah 11:16). Assyria and Egypt were joined under Alexander as parts of his empire: Jews and proselytes from both met at the feasts of Jerusalem. A type of gospel times to come. serve with—serve Jehovah with the Assyrians. So "serve" is used absolutely (Job 36:11). read more
24. third—The three shall be joined as one nation. blessing—the source of blessings to other nations, and the object of their benedictions. in the midst of the land—rather, "earth" ( :-). Judah is designed to be the grand center of the whole earth (Jeremiah 3:17). read more
25. Whom—rather, "Which," namely, "the land," or "earth," that is, the people of it [MAURER]. my people—the peculiar designation of Israel, the elect people, here applied to Egypt to express its entire admission to religious privileges (Romans 9:24-26; 1 Peter 2:9; 1 Peter 2:10). work of my hands—spiritually (Hosea 2:23; Ephesians 2:10). read more
Abraham built an altar to express his gratitude and commitment to the Lord (Genesis 12:8; cf. Joshua 22:34; Joshua 24:26-27), and Jacob erected a pillar when he memorialized God’s covenant to him (Genesis 28:22). The Egyptians will do these things throughout their land to express those things in that day (Isaiah 19:19). Israelites during the Judges Period cried out to God because of their oppressors, and He sent them deliverers (Judges 3:9; Judges 3:15; Judges 6:7; Judges 10:10). Their great... read more
Human reconciliation between the major powers of the world will also characterize that day. Note the spread of peace from a few cities (Isaiah 19:18), to a whole country (Isaiah 19:19), and now to the whole world (Isaiah 19:23). In Isaiah’s day, Israel found herself caught between Egypt and Assyria, but in the future both of these enemies would join in worshipping Israel’s God. A highway between these superpowers existed in the prophet’s day, but marching armies often used it. read more
Finally, equality between Israel and its former enemies would prevail in that great day. Through Israel all the nations of the earth will be blessed (Genesis 12:3), but blessed equally with Israel. God applied some of His favorite terms for Israel to Egypt and Assyria: "My people" (cf. Isaiah 10:24; Isaiah 43:6-7; Exodus 5:1; Jeremiah 11:4; Hosea 1:10; Hosea 2:23), and "the work of My hands" (cf. Isaiah 60:12; Isaiah 64:8; Psalms 119:73; Psalms 138:8). He reserved "My inheritance" for Israel... read more
The Judgment, on EgyptA prophecy concerning Egypt, probably belonging to the same period as Isaiah 18, and designed to show the speedy collapse of Egypt’s power, on which a strong political party in Judah in Hezekiah’s reign had placed their hopes (see Intro.). Sargon defeated the Egyptians at Raphia in 720 b.c., and the prophet in Isaiah 19:2-3 may refer to the anarchy and confusion consequent upon that overthrow. At any rate, he shows a remarkable acquaintance both with the country and the... read more
(21) The Egyptians shall know the Lord . . .—Here also we note what we may venture to call the catholicity of Isaiah’s mind. The highest of all blessings, the knowledge of God as He is (John 17:3), was not to be the exclusive inheritance of Israel, but was to be shared even by the nation whom she had reason to regard as her hereditary enemy.Sacrifice and oblation.—The two words describe respectively the slain victims and the meat, or rather, meal, offerings of the Law. Did the prophet, we ask,... read more
(22) And the Lord shall smite Egypt . . .—The tone of the preceding verses seems at first at variance with the stern prophecies of disaster with which the chapter opened. The prophet, however, is no eater of his words. What he has learnt is to look beyond the chastisement, and to see that it is as true of Egypt as of Israel, that “whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth.” The sword of Jehovah smote but to heal, and the healing could not come without the smiting. Through it they would be led to pray,... read more
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Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 19:22
22. return—for heathen sin and idolatry are an apostasy from primitive truth. heal—as described ( :-). read more