Commentary on Prov Ecc SoS Isa Jer Lam Eze Dan, Isaiah · Chapter 19
CHAP. XIX.
Ver. 1. THe burden of Egypt] See chap. 13.1.
Behold the Lord rideth] Heb. riding: ſc. as a Judge, or General of an Army.
Ʋpon a ſwift cloud] i. e. Speedily, ſuddenly, and irreſiſtibly: Clouds are rarely ſeen in Egypt where it raineth not, but Ezek. 30.18. we read of a Cloud that ſhould cover Egypt. By ſwift cloud here ſome underſtand the Virgin Mary, others our Saviours body, or humane nature. And they further tell us that aſſoon as the child Jeſus was brought into Egypt, down fell all the Idols there,Hiſt. Scholaſt. as Dagon did before the Ark. This they ground upon the following words.
And the Idols of Egypt ſhall be moved at his preſence] Whereby I conceive is only meant that rheir gods ſhould not be able to help them, and ſhould therefore loſe their Authority, be diſcredited and decryed.
And the heart of Egypt ſhall melt] As it did firſt when Sennacherib, and then when Nebuchadnezzar came againſt it.
Ver. 2. And I will ſet the Egyptians againſt the Egyptians] Commiſcebo Egyptios inter ſc. I will embroil them in a civil War. This fell out, ſaith Junius, Herod. lib. 2. Diod. Sic. l. 1.under King Pſammeticus after the death of Sethon, about the end of Hezekiahs Raign, or the beginning of Manaſſeh's, whileſt Iſaiah was yet alive.
And Kingdom againſt Kingdom] Or, Rectory againſt Rectory; for as here in the Heptarchy, ſo there the Land was divided into many Provinces or Juriſdictions, even 66. ſaith Ortelius.
Ver. 3. And the ſpirit of Egypt ſhall fail] Fail and falter; their wits ſhall not ſerve them, but be drained and emptied, as the Hebrew word here ſignifieth. By ſpirit here underſtand their Wiſdom, Learning and Sharpneſs, for the which they were famous among, and frequented by other Nations. Moſes was skilled in their Learning, Acts 7.23. Pythagoras, Plato, Solon, Anaxagoras, and other Philoſophers gat much by them. Mercurius Triſmegiſt ſaith of Egypt, that it was the Image of Heaven, Aug. de C. D. lib. 8. cap. 14.and the Temple of the whole world. By spirit here, ſome underſtand their familiar ſpirits. See Levit. 19.31.
And they ſhall ſeek to the Idols] Whereof they had great ſtore (ſo that they were derided by other Idolaters) but their chief Deity was Latona, ſaith Herodotus.
And to the charmers] Who have their name in Hebrew from their low or ſlow ſpeaking.
Ver. 4. And the Egyptians will I give over] Heb. ſhut up, ſc. as fiſhes in a pond.
Into the hand of a cruel Lord] Heb. Lords, Herodot.viz. thoſe twelve Tyrants that raigned after Sethon, and were put down by Pſammetichus one of their own number, who afterwards raigned alone, and with rigour.
And a fierce King] viz. Pſammetichus, the Father of that Pharaoh Necho, who ſlew Joſiah, 2 King. 23.29. This fierce King raigned fifty four years: and by his harſhneſs cauſed 200000. of his men of War to leave him, and to go into Ethiopia.
Ver. 5. And the waters ſhall fail from the ſea] i. e. Their Sea-traffick ſhall be taken from them, to their very great loſs. Hiſtorians teſtifie, that by frequent Navigation out of the Bay of Arabia into India and Trogloditice, the revenue of Egypt was ſo encreaſed, that Auletes the father of Cleopatra received thence yearly twelve thouſand and five hundred Talents.
And the River ſhall be waſted and dryed up] i. e. The River Nilus, which watereth Egypt and maketh it fruitful: See Deut. 11.9, 10. Ezek. 29.3, 9.
Creditur Aegyptus caruiſſe juvantibus arvaOvid. Arf; lib. 1.
Imbribus, at que annis ſicca fuiſſe novem.
Ver. 6. And they ſhall turn the Rivers far away] The Aſſyrians ſhall: or ſome of their own fond and vain glorious Princes ſhall drain the River Nilus at ſeveral paſſages and in ſeveral places, to the impairing of the River,Herodot. l. 2. and the impeaching of the State.
The reeds and flags ſhall wither] Theſe were of great uſe there: for of flags they made their barks and boats,Plin. lib. 13. cap. 11. matts alſo, wheels, baskets, &c. of reeds they made their Sails, ropes, paper, and a kind of juyce ſerving them for food, &c. As therefore the Palm-tree is to the Indians a Cornu-copia, yielding ſundry commodities, ſo are Reeds and Flags to the Egyptians.
Ver. 7. The paper-reeds by the brooks] i. e. By the ſtreams of Nilus: for where this River arriveth not, is nothing but a whitiſh ſand bearing no graſs, but two little weeds called Suhit and Gazul, which burnt to aſhes maketh the fineſt Chryſtal-glaſſes.
And every thing ſown by the brooks] As far as Nilus ouer-floweth, is a black mould, ſo fruitful as they do but throw in the ſeed, and have four rich Harveſts in leſs then four moneths.
Ver. 8. The Fiſhers alſo ſhall mourn] Becauſe their Trade decayeth, or they take pains to no purpoſe, ver. 10.
Ver. 9. They that work in fine flax—ſhall be confounded] ſc. For want of materials; ſuch as were wont to be ſown by the brooks, ver. 7. See 1 King. 10.28. Prov. 7.16. Ezek. 27.7. Plin. lib. 9. cap. 1.
They that weave net-works] Or, rather white-works, that is, white garments made of the fine-flax of Egypt. Theſe were much worn by Nobles, Eſth. 8.16. Dan. 7.9. Whence alſo in Hebrew they have their name. 1 King. 21.8. Neh. 2.16. Eccl. 10.17, &c.
foreign Albi ſeu candidati.Ver. 10. And they ſhall be broken in the purpoſes thereof] Heb. In the foundations, as Pſal. 21.3. Purpoſes are the foundation of Practices: but are oft diſappointed.
Berecha.And ponds for fiſh] Heb. ponds of fowl, ſtagna voluptaria (Tremellius) ſtanding pools of deſire. In Hebrew, the word uſed elſwhere for a pond or fiſh-pool, ſignifieth a bleſſing alſo.
Ver. 11. Surely the Princes of Zoan are fools] Otherwiſe they would never have ſo ill-adviſed their King, ſo to drain the River for his pleaſure, to the publick detriment. Zoan was an ancient City in Egypt, Numb. 13.22. The Septuagint and Vulgar verſions call it Tanis. Here it was that Moſes did all his Wonders, Pſalm, 78.12. Exod. 7.8, 9. Here Pharaohs Princes took counſel, but not of God, and covered with a covering, but not of his Spirit, that they might add ſin to ſin, Chap. 30.1.
The counſel of the wiſe Counſellours is become brutiſh] Such as was that of Machiavel the Florentine Secretary,De principe pag. 185. who propoſeth Ceſar Borgia (notwithſtanding all his villanies) as the only Example for a Prince to imitate.
How ſay ye unto Pharaoh?] How can ye for ſhame ſay ſo of your ſelves. Or quomodo dictatis Pharaoni? How can ye dictate or put ſuch words as theſe into your Kings mouth? What groſs flattery is this?
Herod. lib 2. foreign Luclan. Plato in Timaeo.I am the ſon of the wiſe] Or, a ſon of wiſe ones: as if Wiſdom were proper to you, and hereditary. The Egyptians cracked much of their wiſdom, yet more of their Antiquity, as if they were long before other people, yea before the Moon (as the Arcadians alſo boaſted) and that their Philoſophy was very ancient.
Ver. 12. Where are they? where are thy wiſe men?] q. d. Vile latens virtus: if they have that wiſdom they pretend to, let them predict thy calamities, and help to prevent them. Mihi hominum prudentia ſimilis videtur talparum labori non ſine dexteritate ſub terra fodientium, Gaſp. Ens.ſed ad lumen ſolis coecutienttium. The worlds Wizzards are like children alwayes ſtanding on their heads, and ſhaking their heels againſt Heaven.
Ver. 13. The Princes of Zoan are become fools] Wilful fools: this they are told twice over, becauſe hardly perſwaded to it. See ver. 11.
The Princes of Noph] Called alſo Moph, Hoſ. 9.6. and therehence Memphis, now Grand-Cairo, famous once for the Pyramides and Monuments of the Egyptian Kings.
Even they that are the ſtay of the Tribes thereof] Heb. The corners of the Tribes or Rectories: The free States of Switſerland are called Cantons, l. e. corners.that is, either the King and Chieftaines, as ſome ſenſe it; Or, as others, all the Inhabitants of the Countrey from one corner thereof unto another. How theſe wiſe men of Egypt deceived others, is not expreſſed: but probably they did it by approving and cheriſhing the ſuperſtition, impiety and carnal ſecurity of the Princes and people.
Ver. 14. The Lord hath mingled a perverſe ſpirit] Or, given them to drink a ſpirit of giddineſs. Heb. a ſpirit of extream perverſities: He hath ſtupified and as it were intoxicated them with the efficacy of errour.
And they have cauſed Egypt to err in every work] Pſammetichus their King was twenty eight years in beſieging Azotus, ere he could take it:Herod. Euterp. and other things went on with them accordingly.
Ver. 15. Neither ſhall there be any work] See on ver. 14.
Ver. 16. In that day ſhall Egypt be like unto women] Feeble and faint-hearted, nihil maſculè aut fortiter facturi, ſed mulieribus meticuloſiores. See Prov. 28.1. with the Note.
Becauſe of the ſhaking of the hand of the Lord] When as yet he threateneth only: how much more when he ſtriketh in good earneſt? See Chap. 30.32.
Ver. 17. And the Land of Judah ſtall be a terrour unto Egypt] For how ſhould Egypt hope to ſpeed better then Judea had done? How Sethon King of Egypt was put to hir trumps, as we ſay, when Sennacherib invaded Egypt, imploring the ayd of his God Vulcan, whoſe Prieſt he was, ſee Herodot. lib. 2.
Ver. 18. In that day] When the Goſpel ſhall be there preached, whether by Mark the Evangeliſt or others, as Clement, Origen, Didymus.
Five Cities] A conſiderable number of Aegyptians.
Speak the Language of Canaan] Called the Jews language, chap. 35.11, 13. the Hebrew tongue wherein were written the lively Oracles of God. This Language therefore the Elect Egyptians ſhall learn, and labour for that pure lip, Zeph. 3.9. to ſpeak as the Oracles of God, 1 Pet 4.11. Wholſom words, 2 Tim. 1.13. Right words. Job 6.25. Words of wiſdom, Prov. 1.6. Of truth and ſoberneſs, Act. 26.25. to be Examples to others, not only in faith and converſation, but alſo in words and communication, 1 Tim. 4.12.
And ſwear to the Lord of hoſts] Devote themſelves to his fear and ſervice,Nempe ſuſceptione baptiſmi. Piſcat. taking a corporal oath for that purpoſe as in baptiſme, and other holy covenants: whereupon haply they might be inabled to ſpeak with tongues, the holy tongue eſpecially, as moſt neceſſary for Chriſtians. Here then we have a deſcription of a true Chriſtian, not ſuch as the Jeſuites in their Catechiſme give us, viz. A Chriſtian is he who believeth whatſoever the Church of Rome commandeth to be believed, ſwearing fealty to Her.
One ſhall be called the City of deſtruction] i. e. Nevertheleſs there ſhall be a few cities that ſhall deſpiſe Chriſtian Religion; and ſhall therefore be deſtroyed for neglecting ſo great ſalvation: It ſhall be eaſier for Sodom one day then for ſuch. Others render the text, Heliopolis or the city of the Sun ſhall be accounted one, ſc. of thoſe 5 converted cities; and become conſecrated to the Sun of righteouſneſs.Joſeph. Ant. l…b. 13. cap. 6.
Ver. 19. In that day ſhall there be an altar to the Lord] A ſpiritual altar for ſpiritual ſacrifices, as ver. 20. Heb. 13.10. Onias the Jewiſh Prieſt who hereupon went and built an altar at Heliopolis in Egypt, and ſacrificed to God there, was as much miſtaken as the Anabaptiſts of Germany were in their Munſter which they termed new Jeruſalem and acted accordingly, ſending forth Apoſtles, caſting out orthodox Miniſters, &c.
And a pillar in the border thereof] that is, ſaith One, the Goſpels and writings of the Apoſtles, that pillar and ground of truth: Or a publike confeſſion of the Chriſtian faith, Rom. 10 9. An alluſion to Joſh. 22.10, 25. See Zech. 14.9 20, 21.
Ver. 20. And it ſhall be for a ſign and for a witneſs] The doctrine of Chriſts death is a clear teſtimony of Gods great love and kindneſs to mankind, Rom. 5. and 8.
For they ſhall cry unto the Lord for their oppreſſours] As the Iſraelites ſometimes had done, under the Egyptian ſervitude, Exod. 3.9.
And he ſhall ſend them a Saviour] not Moſes, but Meſſias, that great Saviour: Servatorem & magnatem, vel magiſtrum.for God hath laid his peoples help on One that is mighty, Pſal. 89.19. See Tit. 2, 13.
Ver. 21. And the Lord ſhall be known to Egypt] They ſhall both know the Lord Chriſt, and be known of him, as Gal. 4.9. See Rom. 10.20.
And ſhall do ſacrifice and oblation] Perform reaſonable ſervice, Rom 12.1. ſuch as whereof they can render a reaſon. Not a Samaritan ſervice, Joh. 4.22. or Athenian, Act. 17.23. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worſhip, &c. God will have no ſuch blind ſacrifices, Mal. 1.8.
Yea they ſhall vow a vow, &c.] That in baptiſme eſpecially.
Facit opus a…tenum ut faciat proprium. Iſa: 28.Ver. 22. And the Lord ſhall ſmite Egypt] That he may bring it into the bond of the covenant, Ezek. 20.37. Heb. 12.9. Hoſ. 6.1.
He ſhall ſmite and heal it] Heb. ſmiting and healing. Ʋna eademque manus, &c. Ʋna gerit bellum monſtrat manus altera pacew, as it was ſaid of Charles 5.
And ſhall heal them] Pardon their ſins, heal their natures, and make up all breaches in their outward eſtates.
Ver. 23. In that day there ſhall be an highway &c.] All hoſtility ſhall ceaſe, and a bleſſed unanimity be ſettled amongſt Chriſts ſubjects of ſeveral nations: Hereunto way was made by the Roman Empire, reducing both theſe great countries into Provinces.
And the Egyptiant ſhall ſerve] Serve the Lord with one ſhoulder, as Zeph. 3.9.
Ver. 24. In that day ſhall Iſrael be the third with Egypt] The poſterity of Sem, Ham, and Japh…t, ſhall concur in the communion of Saints; the pale and partition-wall being taken away.
Even a bleſſing in the middeſt of the earth] The Saints are ſo. Abſque ſtationibus non ſtaret mundus. If it were not for them, the world would ſoon ſhatter and fall in pieces.
Jun.Ver. 25. Whom the Lord of hoſtes ſhall bleſs] Or, For the Lord of hoſtes ſhall bleſs, and then he ſhall be bleſſed; as Iſaac ſaid of Jacob, Gen. 27.33.
Bleſſed be Egypt my people] A new title to Egypt, and no leſs honorable. Vide quantum profecerit Aegyptus flagellis, ſaith Oecolampad. here, i e. See how Egypt hath got by her ſufferings: See ver. 22. She who was not a people, but a rabble of rebels conſpiring againſt heaven, is now owned and taken into covenant.
And Aſſyria the work of my hands] For we are his workmanſhip created in Chriſt Jeſus unto good works, Eph. 2.10.
And Iſrael mine Inheritance] This is upon the matter, one and the ſame with the former: every regenerate perſon, whether Jew or Gentile, is all theſe three in conjunction. O the foreign, the heaped up happineſs of all ſuch! Let Iſrael rejoyce in him that made him; let the children of Zion be joyful in their King, Pſalm 149.2. For the Lord her God in the midſt of her is mighty: he will ſave, he will rejoyce over her with joy, he will reſt in his love, he will joy over her with ſinging, Zeph. 3.17.