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

}NASB, NKJV “the City of Destruction”NRSV, TEV,NJB “the City of the Sun”The MT’s “destruction” (BDB 249) appears only here. The VERB of the same root (BDB 248)means “to throw down,” “break,” or “tear down.” It may be a play on the Egyptian city who worshipedthe “Sun” god (On, Heliopolis).1. 29%%, city of the Sun (BDB 357, cf. DSS, Targums, Vulgate)2. 29(%, city of destructionThe implication is that the temples to Re (Sun god) have been torn down.The Hebrew word “sun” has the same consonants as “ban” (i.e. devoted to destruction). There maybe a double wordplay.NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 19:19-2219In that day there will be an altar to the LORD in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillarto the LORD near its border. 20 It will become a sign and a witness to the LORD of hosts in the landof Egypt; for they will cry to the LORD because of oppressors, and He will send them a Savior anda Champion, and He will deliver them. 21 Thus the LORD will make Himself known to Egypt, andthe Egyptians will know the LORD in that day. They will even worship with sacrifice and offering,and will make a vow to the LORD and perform it. 22 The LORD will strike Egypt, striking buthealing; so they will return to the LORD, and He will respond to them and will heal them.19:19NASB, NKJV,PeshittaNRSV, NJBREBLXX“in the midst of the land of Egypt”“in the center of the land of Egypt”“in the heart of Egypt”“at its border”The use of this term (BDB 1063) in Josh. 3:17; 4:3,9,10,18 should be understood as “brink,” not“middle.” This is the origin of “by its border” in the LXX.When does this event occur?1. the small Jewish temple built by Jewish mercenaries on an island in the Nile (Elephantine,modern Aswan, at the first cataract of the Nile), sometime before 525 B.C.2. the Jewish temple (modeled after the temple in Jerusalem) built at Leontopolis by Onias IV,an outcast Jewish high priest from Jerusalem, about 160 B.C. (cf. Josephus, Antiq. 12.9.7;13.3.3)3. an eschatological event19:19-20 What a wonderful, but surprising event that a physical presence of YHWH will be establishedin Egypt.19:20 This process is comparable to how YHWH dealt with Israel in the book of Judges. The crueljudgment of invasion and occupation (cf. v. 4) brings repentance and faith in God and His ability andwillingness to act in deliverance. Egypt has come to that spiritual moment and YHWH responds.What a great witness this context is about the character of Israel’s God. He is willing to forgiveand fully accept His covenant people’s enemies. He is truly the God of the nations, the Savior of theworld (cf. John 3:16; Titus 1:3; 2:10; 3:4).202