Bible Study Lesson for Isaiah 19:11-17: Egypt Judged (Part II)

(When I taught my two year long Bible study on Isaiah, I used The Pulpit Commentary Volume 10: Isaiah edited by H.D.M. Spence and Joseph S. Exell to give me a starting point and rough outline of the material covered in the chapters. In this article, when you read the phrase "my commentary", I am referring to this volume. I also used supplementary books and materials when I originally taught this study; these I've noted in {}s.)

Read Isaiah 19:11-12 Zoan was the northern capital of Egypt during the 25th dynasty (when the Cushites ruled Egypt.) The Israelites were familiar with this area from during their time in Egypt. Read Psalm 78:12-13. This may have been another name for Tanis. { Show map of Egypt "The Egyptian News", page 2 }

Isaiah, clearly, is unimpressed by the "wise men" of Zoan; perhaps the bad advice they are giving Pharaoh is that he should resist the Assyrians when they attack. He makes it clear that it is the one true God who is coming against Egypt. If they were truly wise and knew how to seek His face, they would know what was coming, rather than going to their idols and sorcery for answers.

Read Isaiah 19:13 Memphis was another important city, probably the second most important city of Lower Egypt at this time. (In the Old Kingdom, this was the capital of Lower Egypt.) { Show Memphis on map of Egypt, "The Egyptian News", page 2 } "the cornerstones of her peoples" Egypt was a society of classes, as we have already seen. { Show picture of pyramid of power from "The Egyptian News" page 10 } Those who were in power, the advisors, governors, etc. were leading all of Egypt astray. It makes one sad to think of how the farmers and craftworks suffered because of the poor leadership over them.

Read Isaiah 19:14 What a graphic image! We even have another picture from the Egyptian News that we can relate to. { Show partying picture from "The Egyptian News" page 27} "The Lord has poured" tells us that it is God who is in control, who has allowed this. The officials are affected and they in turn affect Egypt. I have never been drunk, but from what I understand your perception of reality is greatly altered. You aren't really aware of what is going on, you don't care that you are throwing up, and you probably feel pretty good and happy from the wine. The Egyptians were in a state of intoxication from her past prosperity and successes - they did not see where their false leaders were leading them.

Read Isaiah 19:15. None of the Egyptians, from any class or position will be able to do anything to help. Remember the "palm branch" represents the upper classes and the "reed" represents the lower classes.

Read Isaiah 19:16 "be like women" means they were be terrified, whimpering cowards. Not a very flattering image of woman-kind! "The uplifted hand that the Lord Almighty raises against them." This is believed to be the coming Assyrians.

Read Isaiah 19:17. This verse is going to be confusing unless you understand the political climate of the time. At first read it sounds like it is primarily Judah that is coming against Egypt or threatening to, but the reality it is Assyria. My commentary states that at the time of the prophecy's fulfillment, Judah was subject to Assyria, and that any attacks on Egypt by the Assyrians would have been done through Judah. { Read commentary description on verse 17, Pulpit Commentary page 314 }

To be continued...

Sources
H.D.M. Spence and Joseph S. Exell (editors). The Pulpit Commentary Volume 10: Isaiah
Philip Yancey and Tim Stafford (notes). The Student Bible. NIV Version
Editors. The Egyptian News