Isaiah 19:1-4 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 19:1-17

Though the land of Egypt had of old been a house of bondage to the people of God, where they had been ruled with rigour, yet among the unbelieving Jews there still remained much of the humour of their fathers, who said, Let us make us a captain and return into Egypt. Upon all occasions they trusted to Egypt for help (Isa. 30:2), and thither they fled, in disobedience to God's express command, when things were brought to the last extremity in their own country, Jer. 43:7. Rabshakeh upbraided... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 19:1

The burden of Egypt ;.... Or a prophecy concerning Egypt, as the Arabic version; a very grievous one, declaring many calamities that should come upon them. The Targum is, "the burden of the cup of cursing, to make the Egyptians drink.' The people of the Jews reposed great confidence in the Egyptians their allies; wherefore, in order to break this confidence, it was necessary they should be acquainted with the destruction that was coming upon them, which is the design of this prophecy. ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 19:2

And I will set the Egyptians against the Egyptians ,.... Or mingle and confound them together; in which confusion they should fall upon and destroy one another, as the Midianites did: the phrase is expressive of rebellions and civil wars, as the following words explain it; and which show, that the calamities of Egypt should be brought upon them, not by means of a foreign invasion, but by internal quarrels, and other means, which the Lord would in judgment send among them: and they shall... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 19:3

And the spirit of Egypt shall fail in the midst thereof ,.... Meaning not the spirit of valour and courage, that is expressed before, but of wisdom, prudence, and understanding; the wisdom of Egypt, in which Moses is said to be brought up, Acts 7:22 was famous all the world over; hither men of learning, as the ancient philosophers, Pythagoras, Plato, and others, travelled, to improve in knowledge, and gain a larger acquaintance with things human and divine; it was the mother and mistress... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 19:4

And the Egyptians will I give over into the hands of a cruel lord ,.... Not of Sennacherib king of Assyria, which way go many interpreters, both Christian and Jewish, as Aben Ezra, Jarchi, and Kimchi; nor of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, as in Jeremiah 46:25 but either of the twelve tyrants that rose up after the death of Sethon above mentioned; for the word is in the plural number, "lords", though the adjective rendered "cruel" is singular; or else Psammiticus, the father of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 19:1

The burden of Egypt - That is, the prophet's declaration concerning Egypt. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 19:3

They shall seek to the idols, and to the charmers, and to them that have familiar spirits, and to the wizards - And thei schul asken their symulacres, and their debynouris, and their devyl clepers, and their devyl sacristers. - Old Bible. The import of the original words has already been given where they occur in the Pentateuch. See Deuteronomy 18:10 , etc. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 19:4

A cruel lord "Cruel lords" - Nebuchadnezzar in the first place, and afterwards the whole succession of Persian kings, who in general were hard masters, and grievously oppressed the country. Note, that for קשה kasheh , lord, a MS. reads קשים kashim , lords, agreeable to which is the rendering of the Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 19:1

The Lord rideth upon a swift cloud . Natural imagery to express the rapidity of Divine visitations (comp. Psalms 104:3 ). God, being about to visit Egypt with a judgment of extreme severity, is represented as entering the land in person (so in Isaiah 13:5 ). The idols of Egypt shall be moved. Neither Piankhi nor any other Ethiopian conqueror made war on the Egyptian idols; but the Assyrians were always bent on humbling the gods of the hostile countries (see above, Isaiah 10:10 ; and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 19:1

God's presence a trouble. "Behold the Lord … shall come into Egypt … and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it." The presence of God would produce consternation among the people. This is significant enough. It need excite no wonder, indeed, that the coming of the holy and righteous One into the midst of those who had provoked him by their idolatries would result in quaking of spirit, in liveliest agitation. What could await such guilty ones but the most serious rebuke, the most... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 19:1-17

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 19:1

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 19:2

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 19:3

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 19:4

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 19:1

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 19:3

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 19:4

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 19:1

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 19:1

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