Reading Plan · Day 207
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Isaiah 19-21
Day 207
Previously · Day 206 · Isaiah 16-18
The previous day's reading covered more end time events and specifically focused on the Moabites and Ethiopians. Isaiah continued expressing burdens for other countries...
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Where You Stopped
Isaiah 19
1The burden of Egypt. Behold, Jehovah rideth upon a swift cloud, and cometh unto Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall tremble at his presence; and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it.
1The burden of Egypt. Behold, the LORD rideth upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it.
Commentary · verse 1
2And I will stir up the Egyptians against the Egyptians: and they shall fight every one against his brother, and every one against his neighbor; city against city, and kingdom against kingdom.
2And I will set the Egyptians against the Egyptians: and they shall fight every one against his brother, and every one against his neighbour; city against city, and kingdom against kingdom.
Commentary · verse 2
Egypt will be fighting against itself (civil war) because they will be so confused during the Tribulation.
3And the spirit of Egypt shall fail in the midst of it; and I will destroy the counsel thereof: and they shall seek unto the idols, and to the charmers, and to them that have familiar spirits, and to the wizards.
3And the spirit of Egypt shall fail in the midst thereof; and I will destroy the counsel thereof: and they shall seek to the idols, and to the charmers, and to them that have familiar spirits, and to the wizards.
Commentary · verse 3
The Egyptians' confused response to this judgment will be to seek out their idols and idol worshippers.
4And I will give over the Egyptians into the hand of a cruel lord; and a fierce king shall rule over them, saith the Lord, Jehovah of hosts.
4And the Egyptians will I give over into the hand of a cruel lord; and a fierce king shall rule over them, saith the Lord, the LORD of hosts.
Commentary · verse 4
A fierce (harsh, cruel, hard) king will rule over Egypt as part of their judgment, which will be the Antichrist.
5And the waters shall fail from the sea, and the river shall be wasted and become dry.
5And the waters shall fail from the sea, and the river shall be wasted and dried up.
Commentary · verse 5
The river (Nile) being wasted and dried up will lead to famine…
6And the rivers shall become foul; the streams of Egypt shall be diminished and dried up; the reeds and flags shall wither away.
7The meadows by the Nile, by the brink of the Nile, and all the sown fields of the Nile, shall become dry, be driven away, and be no more.
8And the fishers shall lament, and all they that cast angle into the Nile shall mourn, and they that spread nets upon the waters shall languish.
6And they shall turn the rivers far away; and the brooks of defence shall be emptied and dried up: the reeds and flags shall wither.
7The paper reeds by the brooks, by the mouth of the brooks, and every thing sown by the brooks, shall wither, be driven away, and be no more.
8The fishers also shall mourn, and all they that cast angle into the brooks shall lament, and they that spread nets upon the waters shall languish.
Commentary · verses 6-8
The forthcoming famine will include fishermen not being able to do their job: no water = no fish.
9Moreover they that work in combed flax, and they that weave white cloth, shall be confounded.
10And the pillars of Egypt shall be broken in pieces; all they that work for hire shall be grieved in soul.
9Moreover they that work in fine flax, and they that weave networks, shall be confounded.
10And they shall be broken in the purposes thereof, all that make sluices and ponds for fish.
Commentary · verses 11-15
Verses 11-15: the eight causes of Egypt's judgment.
11The princes of Zoan are utterly foolish; the counsel of the wisest counsellors of Pharaoh is become brutish: how say ye unto Pharaoh, I am the son of the wise, the son of ancient kings?
11Surely the princes of Zoan are fools, the counsel of the wise counsellors of Pharaoh is become brutish: how say ye unto Pharaoh, I am the son of the wise, the son of ancient kings?
Commentary · verse 11
Zoan was a city in lower Egypt located on the eastern bank of the Nile. This was believed to have been the city that the Pharaoh in the time of the Exodus lived. The princes of Zoan were foolish, even their most wise counselors were men who thought as animals: without understanding.
12Where then are thy wise men? and let them tell thee now; and let them know what Jehovah of hosts hath purposed concerning Egypt.
12Where are they? where are thy wise men? and let them tell thee now, and let them know what the LORD of hosts hath purposed upon Egypt.
Commentary · verse 12
Wise men would know God's cause for bringing judgment on Egypt. The Egyptians would not be wise and therefore would not know the cause. This may be why they will seek out idols during this time and not God.
13The princes of Zoan are become fools, the princes of Memphis are deceived; they have caused Egypt to go astray, that are the corner-stone of her tribes.
13The princes of Zoan are become fools, the princes of Noph are deceived; they have also seduced Egypt, even they that are the stay of the tribes thereof.
Commentary · verse 13
Memphis was the capital city of Egypt. The leaders in this city will be deceived and cause their followers to go astray.
14Jehovah hath mingled a spirit of perverseness in the midst of her; and they have caused Egypt to go astray in every work thereof, as a drunken man staggereth in his vomit.
14The LORD hath mingled a perverse spirit in the midst thereof: and they have caused Egypt to err in every work thereof, as a drunken man staggereth in his vomit.
Commentary · verse 14
Wow, what a picture! The foolish Egyptian leaders were compared to a drunken man who walks in his own vomit. You would have to be very far off course (astray) to be compared to this.
15Neither shall there be for Egypt any work, which head or tail, palm-branch or rush, may do.
15Neither shall there be any work for Egypt, which the head or tail, branch or rush, may do.
Commentary · verse 15
Egypt's economy will collapse.
Next, the focus became the physical Day of the Lord, the end of the Tribulation.
There were two "days of the Lord/Jehovah":
- One was a spiritual day that will occur at the end of our current dispensation (6th) with the Rapture of the Church.
- The second "day of Jehovah" was a physical day that will occur at the end of the dispensation of the Law (5th), which is at the end of the Tribulation and the beginning of the Millennium.
16In that day shall the Egyptians be like unto women; and they shall tremble and fear because of the shaking of the hand of Jehovah of hosts, which he shaketh over them.
17And the land of Judah shall become a terror unto Egypt; every one to whom mention is made thereof shall be afraid, because of the purpose of Jehovah of hosts, which he purposeth against it.
18In that day there shall be five cities in the land of Egypt that speak the language of Canaan, and swear to Jehovah of hosts; one shall be called The city of destruction.
16In that day shall Egypt be like unto women: and it shall be afraid and fear because of the shaking of the hand of the LORD of hosts, which he shaketh over it.
17And the land of Judah shall be a terror unto Egypt, every one that maketh mention thereof shall be afraid in himself, because of the counsel of the LORD of hosts, which he hath determined against it.
18In that day shall five cities in the land of Egypt speak the language of Canaan, and swear to the LORD of hosts; one shall be called, The city of destruction.
Commentary · verses 16-18
"In that day" five cities in Egypt will swear (take an oath) to Jehovah of hosts (God's Army) and will speak the language of Canaan (Hebrew). Egypt will be converted in response to the terror they will experience.
Commentary · verses 19-22
Verses 19-22: some blessings during the Millennium.
19In that day shall there be an altar to Jehovah in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar at the border thereof to Jehovah.
20And it shall be for a sign and for a witness unto Jehovah of hosts in the land of Egypt; for they shall cry unto Jehovah because of oppressors, and he will send them a saviour, and a defender, and he will deliver them.
19In that day shall there be an altar to the LORD in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar at the border thereof to the LORD.
20And it shall be for a sign and for a witness unto the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt: for they shall cry unto the LORD because of the oppressors, and he shall send them a saviour, and a great one, and he shall deliver them.
Commentary · verse 20
The "saviour and defender" will be Christ.
21And Jehovah shall be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know Jehovah in that day; yea, they shall worship with sacrifice and oblation, and shall vow a vow unto Jehovah, and shall perform it.
22And Jehovah will smite Egypt, smiting and healing; and they shall return unto Jehovah, and he will be entreated of them, and will heal them.
21And the LORD shall be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know the LORD in that day, and shall do sacrifice and oblation; yea, they shall vow a vow unto the LORD, and perform it.
22And the LORD shall smite Egypt: he shall smite and heal it: and they shall return even to the LORD, and he shall be intreated of them, and shall heal them.
23In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria; and the Egyptians shall worship with the Assyrians.
24In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth;
23In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians.
24In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land:
Commentary · verses 23-24
In that day Israel, Egypt, and Assyria will become allies and Israel will be a blessing to them all.
25for that Jehovah of hosts hath blessed them, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance.
25Whom the LORD of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance.
Commentary · verse 25
God will bless all of these nations during the Millennium.
Where You Stopped
Isaiah 20
1In the year that Tartan came unto Ashdod, when Sargon the king of Assyria sent him, and he fought against Ashdod and took it;
1In the year that Tartan came unto Ashdod, (when Sargon the king of Assyria sent him,) and fought against Ashdod, and took it;
Commentary · verse 1
Tartan was one of the generals of Assyria. The purpose of this chapter was to warn Israel not to depend on the nations spoken to in the previous two chapters (Ethiopia and Egypt) when Assyria attacked Israel.
2at that time Jehovah spake by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, Go, and loose the sackcloth from off thy loins, and put thy shoe from off thy foot. And he did so, walking naked and barefoot.
2At the same time spake the LORD by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, Go and loose the sackcloth from off thy loins, and put off thy shoe from thy foot. And he did so, walking naked and barefoot.
Commentary · verse 2
Isaiah walking naked was symbolic of Egypt losing its possessions and was a call to repentance.
3And Jehovah said, Like as my servant Isaiah hath walked naked and barefoot three years for a sign and a wonder concerning Egypt and concerning Ethiopia; 4so shall the king of Assyria lead away the captives of Egypt, and the exiles of Ethiopia, young and old, naked and barefoot, and with buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt.
3And the LORD said, Like as my servant Isaiah hath walked naked and barefoot three years for a sign and wonder upon Egypt and upon Ethiopia;
4So shall the king of Assyria lead away the Egyptians prisoners, and the Ethiopians captives, young and old, naked and barefoot, even with their buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt.
Commentary · verses 3-4
God used the symbolism of Isaiah's nakedness to express His Word. The three years appeared to be the same three years spoken to Moab in Isaiah 16:14.
5And they shall be dismayed and confounded, because of Ethiopia their expectation, and of Egypt their glory.
6And the inhabitant of this coast-land shall say in that day, Behold, such is our expectation, whither we fled for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria: and we, how shall we escape?
5And they shall be afraid and ashamed of Ethiopia their expectation, and of Egypt their glory.
6And the inhabitant of this isle shall say in that day, Behold, such is our expectation, whither we flee for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria: and how shall we escape?
Commentary · verses 5-6
The "coast-land" applied to Palestine on the Mediterranean.
Where You Stopped
Isaiah 21
1The burden of the wilderness of the sea. As whirlwinds in the South sweep through, it cometh from the wilderness, from a terrible land.
1The burden of the desert of the sea. As whirlwinds in the south pass through; so it cometh from the desert, from a terrible land.
Commentary · verse 1
The burden (a weighty or mournful prophecy) of the wilderness of the sea which was the land between Babylon and Persia. The main focus being Babylon and its people.
2A grievous vision is declared unto me; the treacherous man dealeth treacherously, and the destroyer destroyeth. Go up, O Elam; besiege, O Media; all the sighing thereof have I made to cease.
2A grievous vision is declared unto me; the treacherous dealer dealeth treacherously, and the spoiler spoileth. Go up, O Elam: besiege, O Media; all the sighing thereof have I made to cease.
Commentary · verse 2
Elam was the name of the country originally possessed by the Persians. Elam was a son of Shem: Genesis 10:22. Babylon being overthrown occurred in Daniel 5.
3Therefore are my loins filled with anguish; pangs have taken hold upon me, as the pangs of a woman in travail: I am pained so that I cannot hear; I am dismayed so that I cannot see.
3Therefore are my loins filled with pain: pangs have taken hold upon me, as the pangs of a woman that travaileth: I was bowed down at the hearing of it; I was dismayed at the seeing of it.
Commentary · verse 3
The treachery and destruction caused Isaiah to personally feel immense pain because of what he saw.
4My heart fluttereth, horror hath affrighted me; the twilight that I desired hath been turned into trembling unto me.
5They prepare the table, they set the watch, they eat, they drink: rise up, ye princes, anoint the shield.
4My heart panted, fearfulness affrighted me: the night of my pleasure hath he turned into fear unto me.
5Prepare the table, watch in the watchtower, eat, drink: arise, ye princes, and anoint the shield.
Commentary · verses 4-5
In the KJV, "the twilight that I desired" was translated as "the night of my pleasure." This may be a reference to the night of Belshazzar's feast (Daniel 5) when God's Hand appeared to all and wrote a judgment on the wall.
Commentary · verse 5
Many shields in those days were made of metal with leather upon them. Anointing the leather caused the life of the shield to increase.
6For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Go, set a watchman; let him declare what he seeth: 7and when he seeth a troop, horsemen in pairs, a troop of asses, a troop of camels, he shall hearken diligently with much heed.
6For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Go, set a watchman, let him declare what he seeth.
7And he saw a chariot with a couple of horsemen, a chariot of asses, and a chariot of camels; and he hearkened diligently with much heed:
Commentary · verses 6-7
God told Isaiah to have watchmen set up who would listen intently and watch for the coming troops against Babylon, instead of attending a drunken feast.
8And he cried as a lion: O Lord, I stand continually upon the watch-tower in the day-time, and am set in my ward whole nights; 9and, behold, here cometh a troop of men, horsemen in pairs. And he answered and said, Fallen, fallen is Babylon; and all the graven images of her gods are broken unto the ground.
8And he cried, A lion: My lord, I stand continually upon the watchtower in the daytime, and I am set in my ward whole nights:
9And, behold, here cometh a chariot of men, with a couple of horsemen. And he answered and said, Babylon is fallen, is fallen; and all the graven images of her gods he hath broken unto the ground.
Commentary · verses 8-9
"Fallen" used in repetition added emphasis to the certainty of this event.
10O thou my threshing, and the grain of my floor! that which I have heard from Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, have I declared unto you.
10O my threshing, and the corn of my floor: that which I have heard of the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, have I declared unto you.
Commentary · verse 10
The destruction of Babylon was compared to a threshing floor. The rest of this chapter focused on other nations that were descendants of Abraham through wives other than Sarah.
11The burden of Dumah. One calleth unto me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?
12The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will inquire, inquire ye: turn ye, come.
11The burden of Dumah. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?
12The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will enquire, enquire ye: return, come.
Commentary · verses 11-12
The burden of Dumah which was a tribe and region of Ishmael (Abram's son from Hagar) in Arabia.
13The burden upon Arabia. In the forest in Arabia shall ye lodge, O ye caravans of Dedanites.
13The burden upon Arabia. In the forest in Arabia shall ye lodge, O ye travelling companies of Dedanim.
Commentary · verse 13
The burden on Arabia. Dedan was the son of Abraham by Keturah.
14Unto him that was thirsty they brought water; the inhabitants of the land of Tema did meet the fugitives with their bread.
14The inhabitants of the land of Tema brought water to him that was thirsty, they prevented with their bread him that fled.
Commentary · verse 14
Tema was a son of Ishmael.
15For they fled away from the swords, from the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, and from the grievousness of war.
16For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Within a year, according to the years of a hireling, all the glory of Kedar shall fail; 17and the residue of the number of the archers, the mighty men of the children of Kedar, shall be few; for Jehovah, the God of Israel, hath spoken it.
15For they fled from the swords, from the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, and from the grievousness of war.
16For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Within a year, according to the years of an hireling, and all the glory of Kedar shall fail:
17And the residue of the number of archers, the mighty men of the children of Kedar, shall be diminished: for the LORD God of Israel hath spoken it.
Commentary · verses 15-17
Kedar was yet another son of Ishmael. This prophecy was proven within a year.
Commentary · verse 17
This day's reading covered prophecies for Egypt, Babylon, and descendants from Abraham's sons with women other than Sarah.
The burden (a weighty or mournful prophecy) of Egypt. The center and life bearing part (heart) of Egypt would melt. This entire chapter was focused on events that have not happened yet. Egypt will only accept God when He is physically present, at the end of the Tribulation and beginning of the Millennium.