Isaiah 19:13 - Exposition

The princes of Noph . There are no grounds for changing "Noph" into "Moph." "Noph" is probably "Napata," known as "Nap" in the hieroglyphic inscriptions—the original capital of the Ethiopian kings, and, when Memphis had become their capital, still probably regarded as the second city of the empire. The "princes of Noph" would be Tirhakah's counselors. They have also , etc. Translate, Even they have led Egypt astray , who are the corner-stone of her tribes . Strictly speaking, there were no "tribes" in Egypt, much less "castes," but only classes, marked out by strong lines of demarcation the one from the other. Herodotus gives seven of them—priests, soldiers, herdsmen, swineherds, tradesmen, interpreters, and boatmen. But there were several others also, e . g . agricultural laborers, fishermen, artisans, official employee , etc.