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Ver. 10. And they shall be broken in the purposes thereof.] Heb., In the foundations, as Psalms 11:3. Purposes are the foundation of practices, but are oft disappointed. And ponds for fish.] Heb., Ponds of fowl, stagna voluptaria (Tremellius), standing pools of desire. In Hebrew, the word used elsewhere for a pond or fish pool signifieth a blessing also. Berecha.
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 public detriment. Zoan was an ancient city in Egypt. (Numbers 13:22) The Septuagint and Vulgate versions call it Tunis. Here it was that Moses did all his wonders. (Psalms 78:12 Exodus 7:8,9) Here Pharaoh’s princes “took counsel, but not of God; and covered with a covering, but not of his Spirit, that they might add sin to sin.” (Isaiah 30:1) The counsel of the wise counsellors is become brutish.] Such as was that of Machiavel, the Florentine secretary, who proposeth Caesar 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 yourselves? Or quomodo dictatis Pharaoni? How can ye dictate or put such words as these into your king’s mouth? What gross flattery is this? 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. De Principe, p. 185. Herod. lib. ii.—προσεληναοι, Lucian.—-Plato in Timaeo.
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 hominun prudentia similis videtur talparum labori non sine dexteritate sub terra fodientium, sed ad lumen solis caecutientium, The world’s wizards are like children, always standing on their heads and shaking their heels against heaven. Gasp. Ens.
Ver. 13. The princes of Zoan are become fools.] Wilful fools; this they are told twice over, because hardly persuaded to it. See Isaiah 19:11. The princes of Noph.] Called also Moph, (Hosea 9:6) and therehence Memphis, now Grand Cairo, famous once for the pyramids and monuments of the Egyptian kings. Even they that are the stay of the tribes thereof.] Heb., The corners of the tribes or rectories—that is, either the king and chieftains, as some sense it; or, as others, all the inhabitants of the country, 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. The free states of Switzerland are called cantons— i.e., corners.
Ver. 14. The Lord hath mingled a perverse spirit.] Or, Given them to drink a spirit of giddiness. Heb., A spirit of extreme perversities; he hath stupified, and as it were intoxicated them with the “efficacy of error.” And they have caused Egypt to err in every work.] Psammeticus their king was twenty-eight years in besieging Azotus ere he could take it; and other things went on with them accordingly. Herod., Euterp.
Ver. 15. Neither shall there be any work.] See on Isaiah 19:14.
Ver. 16. In that day shall Egypt be like unto women.] Feeble and faint-hearted, nihil mascule aut fortiter facturi, sed mulieribus meticulosiores. See Proverbs 28:1. [See Trapp on “Pr 28:1”] 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 Isaiah 30:32.
Ver. 17. And the land of Judah shall be a terror unto Egypt.] For how should Egypt hope to speed better than Judea had done? How Sethon, King of Egypt, was put to his trumps, as we say, when Sennacherib invaded Egypt, imploring the aid of his god Vulcan, whose priest he was, see Herodotus, lib. ii.
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 Egyptians. Speak the language of Canaan.] Called the Jews’ language, (Isaiah 36:11,13) 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,” (Zephaniah 3:9) to “speak as the oracles of God”; (1 Peter 4:11) “wholesome words”; (2 Timothy 1:13) “right words”; (Job 6:25) “words of wisdom”; (Proverbs 1:6) “of truth and soberness”; (Acts 26:25) to be examples to others, not only in faith and conversation, but also “in words and communication.” (1 Timothy 4:12) And swear to the Lord of hosts.] Devote themselves to his fear and service, taking a corporal oath for that purpose as in baptism, and other holy covenants, whereupon haply they might be enabled 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 Jesuits in their catechism 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 than for such. Others render the text Heliopolis, or the city of the sun, shall be accounted one, sc., of those five converted cities, and become consecrated to the Sun of righteousness. Nempe susceptione baptismi. -Piscat. Joseph. Ant., lib. xiii. cap. 6.
Ver. 19. In that day shall there be an altar to the Lord.] A spiritual altar for spiritual sacrifices. [as Isaiah 19:20 Hebrews 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 public confession of the Christian, faith. (Romans 10:9) An allusion to Joshua 22:10,25. See Zechariah 14:9,20,21.
Ver. 20. And it shall be for a sign and for a witness.] The doctrine of Christ’s death is a clear testimony of God’s great love and kindness to mankind. (Romans 5:8) For they shall cry unto the Lord for their oppressors.] As the Israelites sometimes had done under the Egyptian servitude. (Exodus 3:9) And he shall send them a Saviour.] Not Moses but Messias, that great Saviour; for God had laid his people’s “help on one that is mighty.” (Psalms 89:19) See Titus 2:13. Servatorem et magnatem, vel magistrum.
Ver. 21. And the Lord shall be known to Egypt.] They shall both know the Lord Christ, and be known of him. [as Galatians 4:9] See Romans 10:20. And shall do sacrifce and oblation.] Perform “reasonable service,” (Romans 12:1) such as whereof they can render a reason. Not a Samaritan service, (John 4:22) or Athenian (Acts 17:23) -“Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship,” &c. God will have no such blind sacrifices. (Malachi 1:8) Yea, they shall vow a vow, &c.] That in baptism especially.
Ver. 22. And the Lord shall smite Egypt.] That he may bring it into the bond of the covenant. (Ezekiel 20:37 Hebrews 12:9 Hosea 6:1) He shall smite and heal it.] Heb., Smiting and healing. Una eademque manus, &c. Una gerit bellum monstrat manus altera pacem; as it was said of Charles V. Facit opus alienum ut faciat proprium (Isaiah 28:20) 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 among Christ’s subjects of several nations; hereunto way was made by the Roman empire, reducing both these great countries into provinces. And the Egyptians shall serve.] Serve the Lord “with one shoulder.” [as Zephaniah 3:9]
Ver. 24. In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt.] The posterity of Shem, Ham, and Japheth, shall concur in the communion of saints; the pale and partition wall being taken away. Even a blessiing in the midst 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.
Ver. 25. Whom the Lord af hosts shall bless.] Or, For the Lord of hosts shall bless, and then he shall be blessed, as Isaac said of Jacob. (Genesis 27:33) Blessed be Egypt, my people.] A new title to Egypt, and no less honourable. Vide quantum profecerit Egyptus flagellis, saith Oecolampadius, here, i.e., see how Egypt hath got by her sufferings. See Isaiah 19:22. 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.” (Ephesians 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. Oh the μυρωμακαριοτης, the heaped up happiness of all such! “Let Israel rejoice in him that made him; let the children of Zion be joyful in their king.” (Psalms 149:2) “For the Lord her God in the midst of her is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over her with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over her with singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17) Jun.