Tanak Foundations-Concepts in Isaiah-Chapter 19

Isa 19.1-25 continues a prophecy started in Isa 18 and continues to Isa 20.6 about Egypt (eschatologically Europe). Tribulation and distress is coming but many will believe in Yehovah. The message is, “Don’t flee there when Assyria comes-Isa 30.31; 52.4.” Eschatologically, Egypt is Europe, and think of Europe in terms of what Nazi Europe was like, because under the False Messiah it will be worse. This prophecy has allusions to the day of the Lord, the False Messiah and deliverance for God’s people and a promise of peace between Egypt, Assyria and Israel.

v 1…The oracle (prophecy, word) concerning Egypt (others will include Jer 46.1-28; Ezek 29.1-8, 32.1-8). Behold, Yehovah is riding on a swift cloud (see Ezek 1 and the Maaseh Merkavah; Heb 11.1; Isa 60.8; Rev 1.7-8; Zech 14.5; Jude 14; Dan 7.13-14 for example), and is about to come to Egypt (for judgment), the idols of Egypt will tremble at his presence (like in the Egyptian or First Redemption with Moses), and the heart of the Egyptians will melt within them (lose courage and strength; remember Egypt alludes to Europe during the birth-pains).

v 2…So it will incite Egyptians against Egyptians; and they will each fight against his brother, and each against his neighbor (Europe has always been this way, as in World War I and II, England, Scotland, Ireland, and France each fighting each other, etc), city against city, and kingdom against kingdom.

v 3…Then the spirit of the Egyptians will be demoralized within them (no will to fight) and I will confound their strategy (the plan to win the war and politics), so that they will resort to idols and the ghosts of the dead, and to mediums and spiritists (their divinations will be empty as they reject Yehovah).

v 4…Moreover, I will deliver the Egyptians into the hand of a cruel master (a bad Pharaoh; and in the birth-pains this will be the False Messiah-Rev 17.2; Dan 3.2-6; Zech 11.4-7; Dan 11.36-39; Isa 30.6-8; Lev 24.10-14; Mic 2.4) and a mighty king will rule over them,” declares the Lord God of hosts.

v 5…And the waters from the sea will dry up, and the river will be parched dry.

v 6… And the canals (for irrigation) will emit a stench, the streams of Egypt will thin out and dry up; the reeds and rushes will rot away.

v 7…The bulrushes by the Nile, by the edge of the Nile, and all the sown fields by the Nile will become dry, be driven away, and be no more.

v 8…And the fishermen will lament (no fish to catch), and all those who cast a line (hook) into the Nile will mourn, and those who spread nets on the waters will pine away (because there is no fish to eat or trade).

v 9…Moreover, the manufacturers (work) of linen made from combed flax and the weavers of white cloth will be utterly rejected (no need to buy their nets).

v 10…And the pillars of Egypt (the upper class) and the hired laborers will be grieved in soul.

v 11…The princes of Zoan (or Tanis, once the capital) are mere fools; the advice of Pharaoh’s wisest advisors has become stupid (lost their wisdom). How can you say to Pharaoh, “I am a son of the wise, a son of ancient kings (despite their pedigree, they could not offer good advice)?”

v 12…Well then, where are your wise men? Please let them tell you. And let them understand that the Lord of hosts has purposed against Egypt (with a prophetic word).

v 13…The princes of Zoan have acted foolishly, and the princes of Memphis (capital of the lower Nile; these are major cities) are deluded; those who are the cornerstone of her tribes (the people depended on them) have led Egypt astray (by false claims and bad counsel).

v 14…Yehovah has mixed within her a spirit of distortion (intoxicated with their false wisdom); they have led Egypt astray in all that it does (like Hitler at the end of World War II; the Europeans will also do this under the False Messiah), as a drunken man staggers in his vomit (can’t walk or find their way).

v 15…And there will be no work for Egypt which its head or tail, its palm branch or bulrush, may do (different classes of people won’t be able to change anything).

v 16…In that day (a double reference prophecy for the historical and alluding to the day of the Lord; when Messiah comes) the Egyptians (Europeans) will become like women (timid, fearful), and they will tremble and be in dread because of the waving of the hand of the Lord of hosts, which he is going to wave over them (his judgments and punishments).

v 17…And the land of Judah will become a terror to Egypt (after hearing what the Assyrians were doing to them), everyone to whom it is mentioned will be in dread of it (the news), because of the purposes of the Lord of hosts (Yehovah of the armies) which he is purposing against them (figuring they were next; in the birth-pains Russia will be winning a war against Europe and will invade Israel. Seeing how easy it was to defeat Israel, Europe will also be in a panic).

v 18…In that day (in the historical or literal; the day of the Lord, when Messiah comes eschatologically) five cities in the land of Egypt will be speaking the language of Canaan (speak Hebrew; believe in Yehovah, have the same “lip” or confession in the future) and swearing allegiance to the Lord of hosts; one will be called the city of destruction (because Yehovah will demolish the idols there).

v 19…In that day there will be an altar to Yehovah in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar (mazavah) to Yehovah at its border (this merely means that the conversion of the Egyptians was coming and the establishment of a Torah-based faith in Yeshua).

v 20…And it will become a sign and a witness (the altar and pillar) to the Lord of hosts in the land of Egypt; for they will cry to Yehovah (turn to the true God and not their idols) because of oppressors (the False Messiah in the birth-pains), and he will send them a Saviour and a Champion (Yeshua ultimately), and he will deliver them (when he returns to set up the kingdom).

v 21…Then Yehovah will make himself known to Egypt, and the Egyptians will know Yehovah in that day (when Messiah comes in the day of the Lord). They will even worship with sacrifice and offering (in Jerusalem-Zech 14.18), and will make a vow to Yehovah and perform it.

v 22…And Yehovah will strike Egypt, striking and healing (bringing the Messianic Redemption); so they will return to Yehovah (by emunah and worship according to the Torah), and he will hear them (their cries to him in repentance) and will heal them (forgiving them).

v 23…In that day (when Messiah comes in the day of the Lord) there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria (peace has come); and the Assyrians will come into Egypt and the Egyptians into Assyria (harmonic interaction), and the Egyptians will worship with the Assyrians (in the Temple at Jerusalem-Zech 14.16-21).

v 24…In that day Israel will be the third party with Egypt and Assyria (these three are mentioned because they were the most obstinate against Yehovah, and this symbolizes the unity between Jews and non-Jews-Eph 2.11-22), and a blessing in the midst of the earth (the world being made peaceful through the Messiah),

v 25…Whom the Lord of hosts (Yehovah of the armies) has blessed, saying, “Blessed is Egypt, my people, and Assyria the work of my hands; and Israel my inheritance (elected as his particular portion and treasure; these terms were once reserved for Israel alone, but in the kingdom they will apply to all Torah-based believers in Yeshua).

Posted in All Teachings, Articles, Idioms, Phrases and Concepts, Prophecy/Eschatology, The Festivals of the Lord, The Tanak, Tying into the New Testament

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