Chapter 19
19:1 The burden of Egypt. Behold the Lord will ascend upon a light cloud, and will enter into Egypt, and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst thereof.
19:2 And I will set the Egyptians to fight against the Egyptians: and they shall fight brother against brother, and friend against friend, city against city, kingdom against kingdom.
19:3 And the spirit of Egypt shall be broken in the bowels thereof, and I will cast down their counsel: and they shall consult their idols, and their diviners, and their wizards, and soothsayers.
19:4 And I will deliver Egypt into the hand of cruel masters, and a strong king shall rule over them, says the Lord the God of hosts.
19:5 And the water of the sea shall be dried up, and the river shall be wasted and dry.
19:6 And the rivers shall fail: the streams of the banks shall be diminished, and be dried up. The reed and the bulrush shall wither away.
19:7 The channel of the river shall be laid bare from its fountain, and every thing sown by the water shall be dried up, it shall wither away, and shall be no more.
19:8 The fishers also shall mourn, and all that cast a hook into the river shall lament, and they that spread nets upon the waters shall languish away.
19:9 They shall be confounded that wrought in flax, combing and weaving fine linen.
19:10 And its watery places shall be flaccid, all they shall mourn that made pools to take fishes.
19:11 The princes of Tanis are become fools, the wise counsellors of Pharaoh have given foolish counsel: how will you say to Pharaoh: I am the son of the wise, the son of ancient kings?
19:12 Where are now your wise men? Let them tell you, and show what the Lord of hosts has purposed upon Egypt.
19:13 The princes of Tanis are become fools, the princes of Memphis have withered away; they have deceived Egypt, the angle of the people thereof.
19:14 The Lord has mingled in the midst thereof the spirit of giddiness: and they have caused Egypt to err in all its works, as a drunken man staggers and vomits.
19:15 And there shall be no work for Egypt, to make head or tail, him that bends down, or that holds back.
19:16 In that day Egypt shall be like unto women, and they shall be amazed, and afraid, because of the moving of the hand of the Lord of hosts, which he shall move over it.
19:17 And the land of Judah shall be a terror to Egypt: everyone that shall remember it shall tremble because of the counsel of the Lord of hosts, which he has determined concerning it.
19:18 In that day there shall be five cities in the land of Egypt, speaking the language of Chanaan, and swearing by the Lord of hosts: one shall be called the city of the sun.
19:19 In that day there shall be an altar of the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a monument of the Lord at the borders thereof:
19:20 It shall be for a sign, and for a testimony to the Lord of hosts in the land of Egypt. For they shall cry to the Lord because of the oppressor, and he shall send them a Savior and a defender to deliver them.
19:21 And the Lord shall be known by Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know the Lord in that day, and shall worship him with sacrifices and offerings: and they shall make vows to the Lord, and perform them.
19:22 And the Lord shall strike Egypt with a scourge, and shall heal it, and they shall return to the Lord, and he shall be pacified towards them, and heal them.
19:23 In that day there shall be a way from Egypt to the Assyrians, and the Assyrian shall enter into Egypt, and the Egyptian to the Assyrians, and the Egyptians shall serve the Assyrian.
19:24 In that day shall Israel be the third to the Egyptian and the Assyrian: a blessing in the midst of the land,
19:25 which the Lord of hosts has blessed, saying: blessed be my people of Egypt, and the work of my hands to the Assyrian: but Israel is my inheritance.
485 . The burden of Egypt . In this part, he threatens the destruction of the Egyptians, describing the manner and the order. And this is divided into three parts:
in the first, the preparation of the punishment is described;
in the second, the destruction itself: and I will deliver Egypt (Isa 19:4);
in the third, the attainment of advantage, where it says, in that day there shall be five cities (Isa 19:18).
The preparation of the punishment is described as to four things.
First, as to the disposition of the enemy: he will ascend , inspiring, upon a cloud , from which comes a storm, light , because of his agility and promptness: clouds and darkness are round about him (Ps 96[97]:2).
486 . Second, as to the stupor of the gods that govern them: and the idols of Egypt shall be moved , because they were shattered by the Assyrians, or because they could not give an answer, or because they did not appear on that day: your idols shall be broken in pieces (Ezek 6:4); and of the men that govern them, the heart of Egypt , that is, the king and princes, from whom came all the vigor of Egypt, above: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart is sad (Isa 1:5).
487 . Third, as to the dissension of those who resist, as to external contact: and I will set , as to strangers: the Egyptians to fight against the Egyptians ; as to kindred, they shall fight brother against brother ; as to acquaintances and friends: and friend against friend ; as to different peoples, city against city . He sets out the diversity of wills: the spirit , that is, the will, shall be broken , that is, divided, in the bowels thereof , that is, in the inhabitants of the land: every kingdom divided against itself shall be made desolate (Matt 12:25).
488 . Fourth, as to the error of taking counsel from men: and I will cast down their counsel : he catches the wise in their craftiness, and disappoints the counsel of the wicked (Job 5:13); and from demons: and they shall consult , in vain, above: and when they shall say to you: seek of pythons, and of diviners, who mutter in their enchantments (Isa 8:19).
489 . Note on the words, the Lord will ascend upon a cloud (Isa 19:1), that the cloud is manifold.
First, the cloud of the flesh he assumed: where were you when I made a cloud the garment thereof, and wrapped it in a mist as in swaddling bands? (Job 38:9);
second, is the cloud of the virginal womb: behold a little cloud arose out of the sea (1 Kgs 18:44);
third, is the cloud of the devout mind: his magnificence, and his power is in the clouds (Ps 67:35[68:34]);
fourth, is the cloud of the judicial seat: clouds and darkness are round about him: justice and judgment are the establishment of his throne (Ps 96[97]:2).
490 . Likewise, note that
from the first cloud proceeds sacramental rain or the rain of sanctification: from the side of the Lord immediately there came out blood and water (John 19:34);
from the second cloud proceeds the bread of consolation: a cloud overshadowed their camps and where water was before, dry land appeared (Wis 19:7); and below this: seeing your miracles and wonders: for they fed on their food like horses (Wis 19:8–9);
from the third cloud proceeds the lightning of preaching: corn desires clouds, and the clouds spread their light (Job 37:11);
from the fourth cloud proceeds the storm of damnation: behold he shall come up as a cloud (Num 5); his power is in the clouds (Ps 67:35[68:34]).
491 . Likewise, note on the words, a light cloud (Isa 19:1),
that the first cloud is called light because of eminence of dignity: lo, one like the Son of man came in the clouds of heaven (Dan 7:13);
the second cloud is called light because of purity of virginity: behold a white cloud and upon the cloud one sitting like to the Son of man (Rev 14:14);
the third cloud is called light because of swiftness of obedience, below: who are these, that fly as clouds? (Isa 60:8);
the fourth cloud is called light because of ease of execution: by his greatness he has fixed the clouds, and the hailstones are broken (Sir 43:16).
492 . And I will deliver Egypt . Here he describes the destruction itself;
and first, as to the slavery of the people;
second, as to the desolation of the land: and the water of the sea shall be dried up (Isa 19:5);
third, as to the stupidity of their wise men: the princes of Tanis are become fools (Isa 19:11).
Into the hand of cruel masters : the Assyrians, the Chaldeans, and the Romans: you shall serve your enemy (Deut 28:48).
The destruction of the land he designates by the drought of the waters in which Egypt is well-endowed and rich; because the wrath of God goes before so that their waters are dried up and their animals die; or he speaks hyperbolically, as if to say: so great will be the tribulation that it will seem even to dry up the waters.
493 . Therefore, he sets out three things.
First, the manner of the drought, the water of the sea shall be dried up : that is, shall be diminished, and the river , the Nile. And the rivers , other rivers: I will make the channels of the rivers dry (Ezek 30:12).
Second, he sets out the sign of the drought: the reed and the bulrush , which are raised in the water, below: shall rise up the verdure of the reed and the bulrush (Isa 35:7).
Third, he sets out the ruin from the drought, shall be laid bare :
first, the ruin of agriculture, from its fountain , that is, from its beginning, or this to the end: he has turned rivers into a wilderness: and the sources of waters into dry ground (Ps 106[107]:33);
second, the ruin of fishers: the fishers also shall mourn : I will cast you forth into the desert, and all the fish of your river (Ezek 29:5);
third, the ruin of various craftsmen, they shall be confounded that wrought in flax , which is raised in wet places. Flaccid , that is, parched, pools , fish ponds.
494 . The princes of Tanis are become fools . Here he sets out the stupidity of their men;
and first, as to error in their counsels;
second, as to fear in wars, where it says, in that day Egypt shall be like unto women (Isa 19:16).
Concerning the first, he does three things.
First, he mocks the foolishness of their wise men as to deliberation: the princes , that is, the philosophers, of Tanis , where study flourished, are become fools : every man is become foolish by his knowledge (Jer 51:17); as to the promulgation of counsel: wise counselors ; as to their commendation for themselves: how will you say to Pharaoh , that is, how will you be able to speak, when you know that you have counseled badly, because each of you is accustomed to speak to his own commendation, so that his counsel may be believed; I am the son of the wise , as if to say: I possess wisdom by inheritance; or the disciple of kings , who were philosophers in ancient times: there are with us also aged and ancient men, much elder than your fathers (Job 15:10).
495 . Second, he mocks the confidence of the king: where now ,
and first, the question, below: there is none that can save you (Isa 47:15);
second, the answer: fools have withered away , that is, have failed, as above.
496 . Third, he mocks the laziness of the deceived people: they have deceived . Here he does three things.
First, he sets out the deception of the wise: they have deceived the angle , that is, the kingdom, in which many are joined together like walls in an angle, below: your wisdom, and, your knowledge, has deceived you (Isa 47:10).
Second, the permission of God: the Lord has mingled , often said metaphorically, the spirit of giddiness , that is, the spirit of error, like one who suffers giddiness: the Lord has given a lying spirit in the mouth of all your prophets (1 Kgs 22:23).
Third, the error of the people themselves: and they have caused Egypt to err . Head , namely, neither with respect to the beginning; tail , nor the end; that bends down , in respect to the old man; that holds back , in respect to the youth, who lacks restraint, or to the lascivious: but evil men and seducers shall grow worse and worse (2 Tim 3:13).
497 . In that day . Here he threatens fear of the strong.
And first, he places the fear itself, like unto women , feeble and weak: their strength has failed, and they are become as women (Jer 51:30).
Second, the reason for the fear, and the land of Judah shall be a terror to Egypt , namely, the memory of the evils which they did to them, turning them from the worship of God, for which they will know that the wrath of God has befallen them: now I remember the evils that I did in Jerusalem (1 Macc 6:12).
498 . In that day . Here the consequence or the consolation is set out, namely their conversion.
And first, the threefold sign of their conversion;
the first of which is an oath: swearing , below: he shall swear by God, amen: because the former distresses are forgotten (Isa 65:16); the city of the sun , Heliopolis, the language of Chanaan , which is close to the language of the Jews, so that even in language they will agree with the people of God; for some Syrians, who kept their own language, were transplanted in these cities by Nabuchodonosor.
499 . The second sign is a sacred building: an altar of the Lord ; and a monument , for they worshipped many gods, as it says in Acts 17. Some say that this was fulfilled in the time of the Maccabees, when many Jews were fleeing into Egypt, and Onias, wishing to fulfill this prophecy, built an altar against the precept of the law. Which is against Deuteronomy 12: you shall not build an altar to me ; and which is denounced in Daniel 11:14, and the children of prevaricators of your people shall lift up themselves to fulfill the vision, and they shall fall ; hence it is clear that this can only be understood of the building of altars for Christian worship.
500 . The third sign is that they call on the help of God, they shall cry to the Lord ; a Savior , Jesus: he shall cry to me, and I will hear him (Ps 90[91]:15).
501 . Second, he sets out the manner of their conversion.
And first, as to the undertaking of faith: and the Lord shall be known : all shall know me from the least of them even to the greatest, says the Lord (Jer 31:34);
second, as to the offering of sacrifices and vows: and they shall worship : in every place there is offered to my name a clean oblation (Mal 1:11);
third, as to the remission of sins: and the Lord shall strike , first, through many punishments, and shall heal from sin: he wounds, and cures: he strikes, and his hands shall heal (Job 5:18).
502 . Third, he sets out the threefold effect of their conversion, namely,
peace: in that day there shall be a way , which could not exist before because of the various kingdoms, which, when the Lord was born, were joined under the Romans; they shall serve , each other in trade; or because Syrian soldiers were in the Roman legions that guarded Egypt, above: nation shall not lift up sword against nation (Isa 2:4).
Second, he promises the second effect, the truth of faith: in that day shall Israel be the third to the Egyptian and the Assyrian , at the same time and equally serving the Romans, and in unity of faith: there shall be one fold and one shepherd (John 10:16); there is no distinction of the Jew and the Greek (Rom 10:12).
Third, he sets out the third effect, namely, divine blessing: it , namely, Israel, shall be a blessing , for, through the apostles, the whole world received the blessing of God; Israel is my inheritance , for it was there that he was born and fulfilled the mysteries of our salvation: he has blessed the house of Israel (Ps 113:20[115:12]).