A Pronouncement against Egypt
Look, the Lord rides on a swift cloud19:1 Ps 18:9–10; 104:3; Mt 26:64; Rv 1:7
and is coming to Egypt.
2I will provoke Egyptians against Egyptians;
each will fight against his brother19:2 Mk 13:12
and each against his friend,
city against city, kingdom against kingdom.19:2 Jdg 7:22; 1Sm 14:20; 2Ch 20:23; Mt 10:21,36; Mk 13:8; Lk 21:10
3Egypt’s spirit will be disturbed within it,
and I will frustrate its plans.
Then they will inquire of worthless idols, ghosts,
and a strong king will rule it.
This is the declaration of the Lord God of Armies.
5The water of the sea will dry up,
and the river will be parched and dry.
6The channels will stink;
they will dwindle, and Egypt’s canals will be parched.
Reed and rush will wilt.
7The reeds by the Nile, by the mouth of the river,
and all the cultivated areas of the Nile
will wither, blow away, and vanish.
8Then the fishermen will mourn.
All those who cast hooks into the Nile will lament,
and those who spread nets on the water will give up.
those combing it and weaving linen will turn pale.19:9 DSS, Tg; MT reads weavers of white cloth
10Egypt’s weavers19:10 Or foundations will be dejected;
all her wage earners will be demoralized.
Pharaoh’s wisest advisers give stupid advice!
How can you say to Pharaoh,
“I am one19:11 Lit a son of the wise,
a student of eastern19:11 Lit a son of ancient kings”?
12Where then are your wise men?
Let them tell you and reveal
what the Lord of Armies has planned against Egypt.
13The princes of Zoan have been fools;
Her tribal chieftains have led Egypt astray.
14The Lord has mixed within her a spirit of confusion.
The leaders have made Egypt stagger in all she does,
as a drunkard staggers in his vomit.
15No head or tail, palm or reed,19:15 Is 9:14–16
will be able to do anything for Egypt.
Egypt Will Know the Lord
16On that day Egypt will be like women and will tremble with fear because of the threatening hand of the Lord of Armies when he raises it against them.
18On that day five cities in the land of Egypt will speak the language of Canaan and swear loyalty to the Lord of Armies. One of the cities will be called the City of the Sun.19:18 Some Hb mss, DSS, Sym, Tg, Vg, Arabic; other Hb mss read of Destruction; LXX reads of Righteousness19:18 = the ancient Egyptian city Heliopolis
19On that day there will be an altar to the Lord in the center of the land of Egypt and a pillar to the Lord near her border.19:19 Gn 28:18; Ex 24:4; Jos 22:10,26–27
20It will be a sign and witness to the Lord of Armies in the land of Egypt. When they cry out to the Lord because of their oppressors, he will send them a savior and leader, and he will rescue them.19:20 Jdg 3:9,15; 6:7; 10:10
21The Lord will make himself known to Egypt, and Egypt will know the Lord on that day. They will offer sacrifices and offerings;19:21 Is 56:7; 60:7; Zch 14:16–18 they will make vows to the Lord and fulfill them.
22The Lord will strike Egypt, striking and healing. Then they will turn to the Lord, and he will be receptive to their prayers and heal them.
24On that day Israel will form a triple alliance with Egypt and Assyria — a blessing within the land.
Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard
Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.
