The Prophet and His Day: Isaiah 1-39 - Free Bible Commentary

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 19:16-1716In that day the Egyptians will become like women, and they will tremble and be in dreadbecause of the waving of the hand of the LORD of hosts, which He is going to wave over them.17The land of Judah will become a terror to Egypt; everyone to whom it is mentioned will be indread of it, because of the purpose of the LORD of hosts which He is purposing against them.19:16-17 This describes what YHWH’s actions (i.e., “the waving of the hand of the LORD of hosts”)will do, His purpose (v. 17b, BDB 420).1. Egyptians will become like women, v. 162. they will tremble, v. 16 (BDB 353, KB 350, Qal PERFECT)3. they will be in dread, v. 16 (BDB 808, KB 922, Qal PERFECT)4. Judah will become a terror to Egypt, v. 17 (VERB, Qal perfect, NOUN, “terror,” BDB 291, butfound only here)5. they will be in dread, v. 17 (BDB 808, KB 922, Qal IMPERFECT, see #3)19:16 “the LORD of hosts” As the phrase “in that day” links these last five strophes (cf. vv. 16, 18, 19,23, 24), so does this recurrent title for YHWH (cf. vv. 16, 17, 18, 20, 25 and LORD alone in vv. 19, 20,21, 22). The covenant God is very active in these wonderfully redemptive strophes for the nations!NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 19:1818In that day five cities in the land of Egypt will be speaking the language of Canaan andswearing allegiance to the LORD of hosts; one will be called the City of Destruction.19:18 This is a separate paragraph. It denotes a conversion from idol worship to the worship of YWHH.The “language of Canaan” would denote Hebrew (BDB 488 I). This may be an allusion to Isa. 6:5 oreven Gen. 11:1.The phrase “swearing allegiance” (BDB 989, KB 1396, Niphal PARTICIPLE) denotes a newrelationship with Judah’s God (cf. vv. 19-22, 23, 24-25). This has always been the purpose of divinejudgment!} “In that day” Notice the recurrent phrase, “in that day,” vv. 16, 18, 19, 23, 24. This points towardspecific future days.1. one of judgment and dread, vv. 16-172. one of conversion (vv. 18, 19-22) and worldwide worship (vv. 23, 24-25)Again, a current crisis (cf. v. 20) in the ANE reflects an eschatological event. Judgment has aredemptive purpose (cf. v. 22). Evil, rebellion, and ignorance will not be the last word! YHWH has aneternal redemptive plan and purpose for the whole world (cf. v. 24b).} “five cities” The reason for this specific number is uncertain. It denotes a conversion, but not acomplete (i.e., half of ten, see Special Topic: Symbols and Numbers in Scripture at 11:12) conversion.The question remains, “To whom does it refer?”1. cities of Jewish settlers2. cities of Egyptian deitiesBecause of vv. 19-22, 23, 24-25 I choose option #2. This context is not addressing Jews, but Egyptians.201