Isaiah 19:19 - Exposition

There shall be an altar to the Lord . An altar to the Lord was undoubtedly erected by Onias in the temple which he obtained leave to build from Ptolemy Philometor. Josephus says that he persuaded Ptolemy by showing him this passage of Isaiah ('Ant. Jud.,' 13.3; 'Bell. Jud.,' 7.10). And a pillar at the border thereof . It is not clear that any "pillar" was ever actually erected. The erection of pillars for religious purposes was forbidden by the Law ( Deuteronomy 16:22 ). But this would be a pillar of witness ( Genesis 31:52 ), and would mark that the land was Jehovah's. Dr. Kay suggests that "the Jewish synagogue first, and afterwards the Christian Church at Alexandria, standing like a lofty obelisk, with the name of Jehovah inscribed upon it, at the entrance of Egypt," sufficiently fulfilled the prophecy.