Introduction to chapter 19. 

In verses 1 – 17, Isaiah gives a proclamation against Egypt. 

The immediate judgment of Egypt by Adonai would come through the agency of the Assyrians. Egypt’s punishment would include civil war (verses 2 and 3), drought (verses 5 – 10) and internal confusion (verses 11 – 15). 

Egypt’s punishment will be because of her mistreatment of Israel. The problem was her leadership. In her past Egypt had been fearsome and often passed through Israel. There was great fear of Egypt in Israel. 

However, verses 18 – 25, see Egypt blessed along with Assyria and Israel. 

In the messianic kingdom, peace will come between Israel and Egypt, initially by destruction and later by conversion. The end-time destruction of Egypt will be temporary; it is only to last for the first 40 years of the kingdom. It will not however return as a powerful nation. 

Ezekiel 29: 13 – 14. 

“Yet thus says the Lord God: “At the end of forty years I will gather the Egyptians from the peoples among whom they were scattered. I will bring back the captives of Egypt and cause them to return to the land of Pathros, the land of their origin, and there they shall be a lowly kingdom.” 

Eventually peace will come between Israel and Egypt. Initially the peace is a political one, when the Hebrew language will be spoken in five Egyptian cities (verse 18).  This in turn will pave the for Egypt’s conversion (verses 19 – 22). 

An altar to the Holy One of Israel will be built as a sign and a witness to the power of Adonai to save the land of Egypt (Isaiah 19:19,20). 

Egypt will be greatly oppressed by “the Beast”/” the coming world leader”. 

Daniel 11: 42,43. 

“(the king of the North) shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape. He shall have power over the treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt …” 

But Adonai will save Egypt from the domination of their oppressors (verse 20). 

The Egyptians will realize that only the Holy One of Israel can save them, and this will to the national conversion of the remnant. They will serve Adonai with oblations, sacrifices and vows (verse 21). The same God who brought about their destruction, will bring about their regeneration and healing, when they turn to Him in faith. 

In conjunction with the latter days of the Tribulation and the campaign of Armageddon, will occur this national conversion of Egypt. In this manner they will take their place among the “sheep” nations of Matthew 25:32 – 40. Egypt will be one of the nations that will move against the Satanic forces. 

Daniel 11:45. 

“… yet he (the king of the north) shall come to his end, and no one will help him.” 

Chapter 19:1 –3. 

“The burden against Egypt. Behold the Lord rides on a swift cloud, and will come into Egypt; the idols of Egypt will totter at His presence, and the heart of Egypt will melt in its midst. I will set Egyptians against Egyptians; everyone will fight against his brother, and everyone against his neighbour; city against city, kingdom against kingdom. The spirit of Egypt will fail in its midst; I will destroy their counsel, and they will consult the idols and the charmers, the mediums and the sorcerers.” 

Verse 1. Adonai is going to take action against Egypt. Idolatry and action against Israel will bring out the wrath of Adonai; “the Lord rides on a swift cloud.” “Clouds” are often figurative vehicles for the Lord coming in judgment. 

Psalm 104: 3. 

“… (He) who makes the clouds His chariot …” 

Daniel 7:13. 

“… and behold, One like the Son of Man coming with the clouds of heaven!” 

Matthew 26: 64. 

“… hereafter you will see the Son of Man siting at the right hand of power, and coming as the clouds of heaven.” 

Verse 2. Egypt has been known for its internal strife through the centuries. The nation will experience even worse under the judgment of Adonai. This political anarchy of “Egyptians against Egyptians” may have religious roots as their many gods fail them. 

Verse 3. Internal strife will lead to devastation, disorientation and depression.  

The key to understanding ancient Egypt is the concept of “ma ’at”, which means “order”. When Adonai brought Moshe to confront Pharoah (Exodus chapters 5 – 13), it was “ma ’at” that was under attack. Adonai would attack Egypt in the future as He had done in the past. 

Jeremiah 43:12. 

“I will kindle a fire in the houses of the gods of Egypt.” 

When the Lord descends upon Egypt, “the idols … will totter” and the people will panic. Even the best brains will resort to various idols and forms of spiritualism – all of which shall fail! 

Chapter 19:4. 

““And the Egyptians I will give into the hand of a cruel master, and a fierce king will rule over them.” says the Lord, the Lord of hosts.” 

Egypt will be subject to foreign rule; firstly, by Assyria and then by the Babylonians. 

Isaiah 20:4. 

“… so shall the king of Assyria lead away the Egyptians as prisoners, and the Ethiopians as captives, young and old, naked and barefoot, with their buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt.” 

Jeremiah 46:25,26. 

“… Pharoah and those who trust in him … I will deliver them … into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon …” 

The Assyrian conquest came in the middle of the seventh century BC, and the Babylonians the following century. 

The “fierce king” may refer to these conquerors or to the Pharoah who ruled after the Babylonians retreated. Either way a cruel despot will rule the land. 

Isaiah 19:5,6. 

“The waters will fail from the sea, and the river will be wasted and dried up. The rivers will turn foul; the brooks of defence will be emptied and dried up; the reeds and rushes will wither.” 

This is surely the end-times judgment on Egypt, mirroring the destruction done by Nebuchadnezzar. 

When Adonai acts against Egypt, He will take away the country’s only water supply, the Nile and its tributaries. This will cause severe drought and ultimately crop failures. The “brooks of defence” may be canals or other channels to deal with the Nile’s flood waters. 

Ezekiel 30:6 – 8. 

“Thus says the Lord: “Those who uphold Egypt will fail, and the pride of her power shall come down … they shall be desolate in the midst of the desolate countries, and her cities shall be in the midst of cities that are laid waste. Then they will know that I am the Lord when I have set a fire in Egypt and all her helpers are destroyed.” 

Chapter 19:7,8. 

“The papyrus reeds by the River, by the mouth of the River, and everything sown by the River, will wither, be driven away, and be no more. The fishermen also will mourn; all those will lament who cast hooks into the River, and they will languish who spread nets on the waters.” 

The alluvial deposits left by the flooding of the Nile yielded rich agricultural crops, permitting Egypt to export grain to the rest of the region. But Adonai’s attack on nature, produces disruption to the waters and all that depends on them. The severe drought caused by the drying-up of the water supplies causes crop failures; all the sown fields of the Nile region will dry up and be blown away. Also, the wiping-out of the fishing industry will mark a great loss to Egypt’s population. 

Ruin will come to all sectors of the population both leaders and common people. 

Chapter 19:9,10. 

“Moreover those who work in fine flax and those who weave fine fabric will be ashamed; and its foundations will be broken. All who make wages will be troubled of soul.” 

Egypt was renowned for its production of fine linen from flax. Ezekiel 27:7 mentions as a luxury “fine embroidered linen from Egypt.” Solomon imported many goods from Egypt (1 Kings 10:28). It was a powerhouse of production. It was also known for its fine white cotton cloth. 

But the growing of the plants for flax and the manufacture of the cloth required a ready supply of water. The collapse of the textile mills will bring ruin to all sectors of the community. 

The reference in verse 10 to the “foundations” and to those “who make wages”, speaks of the whole economic spectrum from wealthy mangers to day labourers. All who work for hire in the textile industry or build dams will be grieved and left destitute. 

Chapter 19:11. 

“Surely the princes of Zoan are fools; Pharoah’s wise counsellors give foolish counsel. “How do you say to Pharaoh, “I am the son of the wise, the son of ancient kings.”” 

Zoan was the ancient capital of city of the Pharaohs and was so in Isaiah’s time. 

Ancient Egypt was renowned for its “wise men”; their wisdom being comparable to that of Solomon. 

1 Kings 4:30. 

“Thus Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the men of the East and all the wisdom of Egypt”. 

The “wise men” of Egypt learned the wisdom of “ancient kings”. 

Acts 7:22. 

“And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and deeds.” 

But Pharaoh’s best counsellors have no wisdom to cope with what Egypt will face when Adonai acts against the nation; they are like “fools”. Adonai’s judgment has rendered any expertise they may previously have had, as useless. They are helpless to deal with the crisis because they are ignorant of the Lord’s judgment against Egypt.  

Chapter 19:12,13. 

“Where are they? Where are your wise men? Let them tell you now, and let them know what the Lord of hosts has purposed against Egypt. The princes of Zoan have become fools; the princes of Noph are deceived; they have also deluded Egypt, those who are the mainstay of the tribes.” 

Noph (aka Memphis) was an ancient capital of Egypt and was still a major northern city. 

Adonai taunts those who consider themselves to be wise and learned. They don’t understand what is happening because true knowledge comes from the fear of the Lord. 

Proverbs 1:7. 

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge …” 

The city leaders in Zoan and Noph are in a state of panic and confusion, lacking a true perspective on Egypt’s crisis. And they were “the mainstream of the tribes”. If the cornerstones of a society suffer from delusions, they can do nothing else but delude the people they lead. 

The Lord’s plan: – 

Ezekiel 30:14. 

“I will make Pathros (in southern Egypt) desolate, set fire to Zoan, and execute judgment in No (ancient Thebes – also in southern Egypt).” 

Chapter 19:14,15. 

“The Lord has mingled a perverse spirit in her midst; and they have caused Egypt to err in all her work, as a drunken man staggers in his vomit. Neither will there be any work for Egypt; which the head or tail, palm or bulrush, may do.” 

The Lord has caused a sort of dizziness (“the Lord has mingled a perverse spirit”) that resulted in a complete loss of productivity. There will be perverseness, error and confusion in the leadership. They cannot achieve anything for Egypt. The rest of society is helpless also. 

Chapter 19: 16, 17. 

“In that day Egypt will be like a woman, and will be afraid and fear because of the waving of the hand of the Lord of hosts, which He waves over it. And the land of Judah will be a terror to Egypt; everyone who makes mention of it will be afraid in himself, because of the counsel of the Lord of hosts which He has determined against it.” 

The reference to being “like a woman” would perhaps be better translated as “timid and helpless”. 

These verses still seem to be a reference to the end-times. Adonai’s judgment will immobilise Egypt to the point that the nation recognises that it is defenceless and without hope. 

Isaiah 11:15. 

“The Lord will utterly destroy the tongue of the Sea of Egypt; with His mighty wind He will shake His fist over the River, and strike it in the seven streams, and make men cross over dry-shod.” 

When Adonai shakes His fist, the populace will shake with fear. Instead of Judah fearing Egypt, the reverse will be true. The mere mention of Judah will cause the hearts of the Egyptians to sink. Adonai’s great power on behalf of Israel will cause this to occur at the Lord Yesua’s Second Coming. 

Chapter 19:18. 

“In that day five cities in the land of Egypt will speak the language of Canaan and swear by the Lord of hosts; one will be called the city of Destruction.”  

The “language of Canaan” is of course, Hebrew.  

The “city of Destruction” is also known as the city of Sun (in Greek, Heliopolis). In this city was the temple of the sun god, Ra. 

So, after the previously mentioned period of destruction, Egypt is promised restoration. Five cities will speak the language of Judah, and, more importantly, in a dramatic fashion their populations will turn to Adonai and “swear by the Lord of Hosts.” They will swear an oath of allegiance to the Holy One of Israel.  

This amazing change arises from a miracle of regeneration and radical transformation. 

Zephaniah 3:9. 

“For then I will restore to the peoples a pure language, that they may all call on the name of the Lord, to serve Him with one accord.” 

Chapter 19: 19, 20. 

“In that day there will be an altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to the Lord at its border. And it will be for a sign and for a witness to the Lord of hosts in the land of Egypt; for they will cry to the Lord because of the oppression, and He will send them a Saviour and a Mighty One, and He will deliver them.” 

We are still talking about the end-times. The Egyptians will construct “an altar to the Lord in the midst of the land” and “a pillar to the Lord at its border”. These would seem likely to have been created as a sign of opposition to the forces of “the Beast/ the coming world leader”. 

Because of their stance, Adonai will rescue them as He has in the past delivered Israel. Although of this occasion, it will not be by Judges but through Messiah Himself. 

Chapter 19:21. 

“Then the Lord will be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians will know the Lord in that day, and will make a vow to the Lord and perform it.” 

Adonai’s judgment on Egypt will succeed in bringing a remnant to worship Him. The future kingdom will be a time when everyone will know the Lord because the New Covenant will be dominant. 

Isaiah 56: 7. Salvation for the Gentiles. 

“Even them I will bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be acceptable on My altar; for My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.” 

Malachi 1:11. 

““For from the rising of the sun, even to its going down, My name shall be great among the Gentiles; in every place incense shall be offered to My name, and a pure offering; for My name shall be great among the nations,” says the Lord of hosts.”” 

Chapter 19:22. 

“And the Lord will strike Egypt, He will strike and heal it; they will return to the Lord, and He will be entreated by them and heal them.” 

This verse seems to be summarising what we have just been told. Adonai’s judgment will bring people to worship Him. When they turn to Him, He heals them. 

Deuteronomy 32:39. 

“Now see that I, even I, am He, and there is no God besides Me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; nor is there any who can deliver from My hand.” 

Hosea 6:1. 

“Come, and let us return to the Lord; for He has torn, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but He will bind us up.”  

Just as a parent disciplines a child for the purpose of improvement, so the Lord will deal with Egypt.  

Chapter 19:23. 

“In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian will come into Egypt and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians will serve with the Assyrians.” 

We saw the “highway” previously when we were looking at Assyria in the end-times. The co-operation between Egypt and Assyria must have sounded extraordinary in Isaiah’s day. The two great warring enemies coming together in peace and harmony. 

The “highway” signifies the removal of alienation and separation. It will pass from Egypt through Israel to Assyria, with unrestricted passage for economic co-operation. These nations will be united in the worship of Adonai. 

Isaiah 27:13. 

“So it shall be in that day; the great trumpet will be blown; they will come, who are about to perish in the land of Assyria, and they who are outcasts in the land of Egypt, and shall worship the Lord in the holy mount of Jerusalem.”  

Chapter 19:24,25. 

“In that day Israel will be one of three with Egypt and Assyria – a blessing in the midst of the land, whom the Lord of hosts shall bless, saying “Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance.”” 

In the future Israel is to be Adonai’s instrument in drawing the nations into His fold. This triple alliance will enjoy the blessings of the kingdom. 

The title “My people” we find in Isaiah 10:24 but referring to Israel.  The description “the work of My hands” we find in Isaiah 29:23 but again referring to Israel. But these designations here refer to converted Gentiles, symbolised by Egypt and Assyria. 

Hosea 2: 23. 

“Then I will sow her for Myself on the earth, and I will have mercy on her who had not received mercy; then I will say to those who were not My people, “You are My people!” and they shall say, “You are my God!” 

Introduction to Chapter 20. 

Having, in chapter 19, followed Egypt’s judgment and restoration, chapter 20 returns to the judgment on Egypt in Isaiah’s near future. 

Verses 1 – 6, give the specific fulfilment of the collapse of Egypt at the time of Sargon, king of Assyria (722 – 705 BC).  Because of its longstanding hatred of Israel, the wrath of Adonai will come upon Egypt as in the outworking of the Abrahamic covenant. Egypt will suffer a desolation like that of Edom. 

Joel 3:19. 

“Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom a wilderness, because of violence against the people of Judah, for they have shed innocent blood in their land.” 

The sin of Egypt was the same as that of Edom; mistreatment of Israel. And so, its punishment will come. For Edom it will be total and permanent, but for Egypt it will be temporary. 

Following the death of Tirhakah, who was the ruler of Egypt at the time of Isaiah’s prophecy, the country was torn by civil war. Egypt was devastated by Assyria, and the country was split into twelve kingdoms, all subject to Assyria.  Eventually the country was reunited under Psammetichus who deserved the title “cruel master” (Chapter 19 verse 4). 

At its height, the Assyrian empire covered the entire region except for one pocket of resistance around Jerusalem. 

Chapter 20:1,2. 

“In the year that Tartan came to Ashdod, when Sargon the king of Assyria sent him, and he fought against Ashdod and took it, at the same time the Lord spoke by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, “Go, and remove the sackcloth from your body, and take your sandals off your feet.” And he did so, walking naked and barefoot.” 

“Tartan” (possibly a title, rather than a personal name) was one of the three commanders of the Assyrian empire. He was one of the leaders of Sennacherib’s forces involved in the siege of Jerusalem (2 Kings 18:17) in the reign of Hezekiah of Judah (715 – 699 BC); during Isaiah’s lifetime. 

“Ashdod”, as we know, was one of the principal cities of Philistia. The Assyrians captured Ashdod in 711 BC in the process of capturing all the land of the Philistines. This so frightened the Egyptians that they retreated leaving Judah in greater danger. This taught Judah of the folly of relying on foreign powers such as Egypt for protection. 

“Naked” here does not mean completely unclothed. Isaiah was to remove his sandals and his rough outer garment of sackcloth. He would keep on his undergarment or loincloth. 

The minimal clothing worn by Isaiah was a sign of deep humiliation of being captured and forced into exile; a sign for Egypt of their coming humiliation by Assyria. 

The term “stripped and naked” is found in Michal 1:8. He describes mourning rites in which outer garments are laid aside in deep humility. The mourning person thinks no longer about himself but only about the calamity which has befallen him. 

Chapter 20: 3,4. 

“Then the lord said, “Just as My servant Isaiah has walked naked and barefoot three years for a sign and a wonder against Egypt and Ethiopia, so shall the king of Assyria lead away the Egyptians as prisoners and the Ethiopians as captives, young and old, naked and barefoot, with their buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt.”   

Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, completed the conquest of Egypt and fulfilled this prophecy in 671 BC.  

The humiliation to be experienced by the Egyptian prisoners reminds us of the treatment of David’s envoys to Ammon which resulted in war (2 Samuel 10:4). 

Isaiah 19:4. 

““And the Egyptians I will give into the hand of a cruel master, and a fierce king will rule over them,” says the Lord of hosts.” 

Chapter 20:5. 

“Then they shall be afraid and ashamed of Ethiopia their expectation and Egypt their glory.” 

The “they” referred to here probably concerns the nations bordering the northern shore of the Mediterranean which had looked to Egypt to save them from Assyria. This would include Judah. 

2 Kings 18:21. The words of the Assyrian commander to Hezekiah in Jerusalem. 

“Now Look! You are trusting in the staff of this broken reed, Egypt, on which if a man leans, it will go into his hand and pierce it. So is Pharoah king of Egypt to all who trust in him.” 

Isaiah 30: 3. 

“Therefore the strength of Pharoah shall be your shame, and trust in the shadow of Egypt shall be your humiliation.” 

Isaiah 31:1. 

“Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help …” 

In scripture, Egypt is a symbol of the world of the unsaved – which we should never rely on! 

Chapter 20:6. 

“And the inhabitant of this territory will say in that day, “Surely such is our expectation, wherever we flee for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria; and how shall we escape?” 

So, Judah is left feeling isolated, friendless and doomed. How shall they escape? 

The answer is found in 2 Kings 19:1 – 35. 

2 kings 19:20. 

“Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel; “Because you have prayed to Me against Sennacherib king of Assyria, I have heard.” 

And the result is found in 2 Kings 19:35. 

“And it came to pass on a certain night that the angel of the Lord went out, and killed in the camp of the Assyrians one hundred and eighty-five thousand; and when people arose early in the morning there were the corpses.” 

Not Egypt! Not the world! But the Holy One of Israel and His Messiah!