Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 19:17
And 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.
17. By association of ideas the fear of Jehovah becomes fear of the land which is His dwelling-place. The verse is intelligible only in this connexion.
every one that maketh himself ] Either “every (Egyptian) to whom one mentions it, shall fear,” or “whenever any one mentions it to him (Egypt) he shall fear.”
the counsel of the Lord of hosts ] see Isa 19:11.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And the land of Judah – The fear and consternation of Egypt shall be increased when they learn what events are occurring there, and what Yahweh has purposed in regard to it.
Shall be a terror – This cannot be understood to mean that they were in danger from an invasion by the Jews, for at that time they were not at war, and Judah had no power to overrun Egypt. Jarchi and Kimchi suppose that the passage means that the Egyptians would hear what had occurred to the army of Sennacherib on its overthrow, and that they would be alarmed as if a similar fate was about to come upon them. But the more probable interpretation is that which refers it to the invasion of Judah by Sennacherib. The Egyptians would know of that. Indeed, the leading design of Sennacherib was to invade Egypt, and Judah and Jerusalem were to be destroyed only in the way to Egypt. And when the Egyptians heard of the great preparations of Sennacherib, and of his advance upon Judah (see Isa 10:28-31), and knew that his design was to invade them, the land of Judah would be a terror, because they apprehended that he would make a rapid descent upon them. Vitringa, however, supposes that the sense is, that the Egyptians in their calamities would remember the prophecies of Jeremiah and others, of which they had heard, respecting their punishment; that they would remember that the prophecies respecting Judah had been fulfilled, and that thus Judah would be a terror to them because those predictions had come out of Judah. This is plausible, and it may be the correct explanation.
Which he hath determined against it – Either against Judah, or Egypt. The Hebrew will bear either. It may mean that they were alarmed at the counsel which had been formed by Yahweh against Judah, and which was apparently about to be executed by the invasion of Sennacherib, and that thus they feared an invasion themselves, or that they learned that a purpose of destruction was formed by Yahweh against themselves, and that Judah became thus an object of terror, because the prophecies which were spoken there were certain of being fulfilled. The latter is the interpretation given by Vitringa, and perhaps is the moss probable.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 17. And the land of Judah] The threatening hand of God will be held out and shaken over Egypt, from the side of Judea; through which the Assyrians will march to invade it. It signifies that kind of terror that drives one to his wit’s end, that causes him to reel like a drunken man, to be giddy through astonishment. Such is the import of chag, and chagah. Five MSS. and two editions have lechagah.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The land of Judah shall be a terror unto Egypt; either,
1. Because of Judahs calamities and desolations; for Judah was their bulwark against the Assyrians and Babylonians; and when this bulwark was removed, the Egyptians, their neighbours and confederates, had just cause to fear. Or,
2. Because of their manifold both former and later injuries against Judah, for which they now apprehend that God is calling them to an account; which interpretation seems to be favoured by the following words; for their fear of mentioning Judahs name seems to have proceeded partly from the sense of their guilt and miscarriages towards Judah, and partly from their apprehensions and experience of the irresistible power and justice of the God of Judah, whom they had provoked, and who was now marching to plead his own and Judahs cause against them. Compare Jer 23:34, &c.
Which he hath determined; because God is now about to execute his appointed judgment.
Against it; against Egypt.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
17. Judah . . . terror untoEgyptnot by itself: but at this time Hezekiah was the activesubordinate ally of Assyria in its invasion of Egypt under Sargon.Similarly to the alliance of Judah with Assyria here is 2Ki23:29, where Josiah takes the field against Pharaoh-nechoh ofEgypt, probably as ally of Assyria against Egypt [G. V. SMITH].VITRINGA explains it thatEgypt in its calamities would remember that prophets of Judah hadforetold them, and so Judah would be “a terror unto Egypt.”
thereofof Judah.
itEgypt.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And the land of Judah shall be a terror unto Egypt,…. Not by reason of war breaking out between them, they being in strict alliance with each other at this time; but on account of what they should hear had befallen the land of Judea, and the cities of it, by the invasion of Sennacherib’s army, which had taken and laid them waste; the tidings of which being brought them a panic would seize them, fearing that they should next fall a sacrifice to them, because of their alliance with them, and nearness to them, there being only the land of the Philistines between them and Egypt; and Judea being invaded and overrun, the way was open for the Assyrian army into their country; and besides they might reflect, that if the judgments of God fell so heavy on his own people, what might they not expect? and the rather, as they had been the means of drawing them into idolatry, which had provoked the Lord to come out against them; as well as at the remembrance of the injuries they had formerly done them. Jarchi and Kimchi understand this of the fall and ruin of Sennacherib’s army, at the siege of Jerusalem, the rumour of which reaching, Egypt would fill them with terror; or as fearing that the hand of the Lord, which was seen in that affair, would be next lifted up against them; which sense is not probable; the former is best. The word used for terror signifies “dancing”, such as is not through joy, but fear, see Ps 107:27:
everyone that maketh mention thereof; or calls to mind, or thinks of it, or speaks of it to others, what was done in the land of Judea by the Assyrian army:
shall be afraid in himself; that this will be their case quickly in Egypt:
because of the counsel of the Lord of hosts, which he hath determined against it; or “upon it”, or “concerning it” x; meaning either Judea, which was known by the prophets he sent unto it; or Egypt, who might conclude this from what happened to a neighbouring nation.
x ‘ , Sept.; “supra eum”, V. L.; “super eum”, Pagninus, Montanus.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
17. And the land of Judah shall be a terror to the Egyptians. Some explain it simply to mean, that the land of Judah will be an astonishment to the Egyptians as well as to other nations, and compare this passage with the saying which has formerly come under our observation, “You shall be an astonishment.” (40) But I think that the meaning of the Prophet here is different, for he intended to point out the reason why the Lord would make such a display against the Egyptians. It was because they had brought destruction on the Jews, for they had turned them aside from the confidence which they ought to have placed in God, as princes frequently solicit their neighbors, and offer them their aid, that they may afterwards make use of them for their own advantage. Now the Lord had forbidden them (Deu 17:16) to resort to the Egyptians for the purpose of asking assistance from them; but those wretched people, instead of obeying God, listened to the solicitation of unbelievers who made offers to them, and on this account they were justly punished.
But the Egyptians also, who had given occasion to their unbelief and distrust, did not pass unpunished, for they were so sharply chastised that whenever they remembered the Jews they were overwhelmed with terror. Hence we ought to draw a profitable doctrine, that they who have turned aside the Church from obeying and trusting in God, and who, by fear, or counsel, or any enticements, have given occasion for offense, will be severely punished. The meaning of the Prophet’s words is as if we should say, that the look of a woman will bring a blush on him who has seduced her, when the disgrace of the uncleanness shall have been laid open, and when God shall come forth as the avenger of conjugal fidelity.
(40) Bogus footnote
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
17. Land of Judah terror unto Egypt Not because of possible invasion from Judah; the Jews were never equal to this; besides, at this time they were at peace with Egypt; but because the author of the calamities of Egypt was the God of Judah.
Thereof Judah.
It Egypt.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Isa 19:17 And 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.
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.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
the land of Judah. The Assyrian armies came through Judah.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
the land: Isa 36:1, Jer 25:19, Jer 25:27-31, Jer 43:8-13, Jer 44:28-30, Eze 29:6, Eze 29:7
because: Isa 14:24, Isa 14:26, Isa 14:27, Isa 20:2-5, Isa 46:10, Isa 46:11, Dan 4:35
Reciprocal: Isa 10:6 – against Eze 29:2 – against all Eze 30:4 – pain Eze 30:9 – great Oba 1:9 – thy
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
19:17 And the land of Judah shall be a terror {p} to Egypt, every one that maketh mention of it shall be afraid in himself, because of the counsel of the LORD of hosts, which he hath determined against it.
(p) Considering that through their opportunity the Jews did not make God their defence but put their trust in them, and were therefore now punished, they will fear least the same light on them.