Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 30:2
That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt!
2. and have not asked at my mouth ] “have not consulted my prophet” (for the expression cf. Jos 9:14; Gen 24:57).
to strengthen themselves Egypt ] Rather: to take refuge in the refuge of Pharaoh, and to hide in the shadow of Egypt.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
That walk to go down to Egypt – Hebrew, Going in the descent to Egypt. That is, they do it by their ambassadors Isa 30:4. The journey to Egypt from Palestine is always represented as going down Gen 12:10; Gen 42:3; Gen 43:15; Num 20:15; Deu 10:22.
To strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh – To form an alliance with Pharaoh, that thus they might be able to repel the threatened invasion. Pharaoh was the general name of the kings of Egypt, in the same manner as Caesar was the common name of the emperors of Rome.
To trust in the shadow of Egypt – A shadow ( tsel) is an emblem of protection and defense, as a shade is a protection from the burning rays of the sun (see the note at Isa 4:6).
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
That walk to go down into Egypt; that send ambassadors to Egypt for succour, as we read, Isa 30:4, which the Jews were forward to do upon all occasions, and did now upon the invasion of the king of Assyria, as is evident from Isa 20:5,6, and did the like against the king of Babylon, Jer 37:7; Eze 17:15.
Have not asked at my mouth; either by the priests or prophets, as they were to do in weighty cases; of which see Num 27:21; Jos 9:14; 1Sa 23:9,10; 1Ki 22:7; Jer 21:2; 42:2,20; or by studying my word, which plainly directs them to another course, and forbids them this practice.
In the shadow; in their power (as it is in the foregoing clause) and protection, which is oft signified by the shadow, as Jdg 9:15; Psa 17:8; 91:1,4.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
2. walkare now setting out,namely, their ambassadors (Isa30:4).
EgyptSee on Isa19:1; Isa 20:1.
Pharaohthe genericname of the kings of Egypt, as Csar was at Rome. The word inEgyptian means “king” [JOSEPHUS,Antiquities, 8.6,2]. Phra, “the sun,” was thehieroglyphic symbol and title of the king.
shadowimage fromshelter against heat: protection (Psa 121:5;Psa 121:6).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
That walk to go down into Egypt,…. That walk out of their own land to go thither; who sent messengers thither to form an alliance, and get help and assistance, or went in person, to secure themselves from present danger. Jarchi refers this to the times of Hoshea, the son of Elah, king of Israel, who sent messengers to So, king of Egypt, 2Ki 17:4. Jerom to the times of Jeremiah, to the history in his prophecy, Jer 41:17 and others to Zedekiah. Kimchi thinks it respects the time of Ahaz, though there is no account, either in the books of Kings or Chronicles, of sending then to Egypt for help; or else to the times of Hezekiah himself; which latter is right, as appears from the insults of Rabshakeh, when Sennacherib’s army was before Jerusalem,
Isa 36:6:
and have not asked at my mouth: or as the Targum,
“the words of my prophets they have not asked;”
they did not inquire of the prophets of the Lord, whether they should go down or not:
to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh; by making an alliance with him, and receiving men and horses from him, to assist them against the Assyrians; this Pharaoh was he whom the Scriptures call So, 2Ki 17:4 and by other writers, Sevechus and Sethon:
and to trust in the shadow of Egypt; the protection that would afford them, in which they placed their confidence, and thought themselves safe from their other enemy, by having so powerful an ally; but this was but a shadow, as are whatsoever men trust in short of the Lord himself, be they riches or righteousness, or any creature or creature enjoyment.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
2. They walk that they may go down into Egypt. The reason why the Prophet condemns this “going down” has been already explained; (286) but as their guilt was aggravated by open and heinous obstinacy, he again repeats that they did this without asking at the mouth of God, and even in the face of his prohibition.
Strengthening themselves with the strength of Pharaoh. He again draws their attention to the source of the evil, when he says that it was done for the purpose of acquiring strength, because they placed confidence in the forces of the Egyptians. Hence arose that lawless desire of entering into a league. In this way they shewed that they cared little about the power of God, and did not greatly trust in him; and they openly displayed their unbelief.
It might be objected, that men are the servants of God, and that it is lawful for any one to make use of their services, whenever they are needed. I reply, that while we make use of the labors and services of men, it ought to be in such a manner as to depend on God alone. But there was another reason peculiar to the Jews, for they knew that God had forbidden them to call the Egyptians to their assistance, and, by doing so, they withheld from God all that they ascribed to Pharaoh and to his forces. Thus it is not without good reason that Isaiah contrasts Pharaoh with God; for the creatures are opposed to God, and enter, as it were, into contest with him when they rise up against God, or whenever men abuse them, or place their hearts and confidence in them, or desire them more than is lawful.
(286) Bogus footnote
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(2) To strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh.Literally, the fortress of Pharaoh, used as the symbol of his kingdom: This, then, was the course into which even Hezekiah had been led or driven, and it had been done without consulting Isaiah as the recognised prophet of Jehovah. For the shadow of Egypt see Note on Isa. 18:1.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
2-4. That walk to go down into Egypt “Going in the descent of Egypt,” by their ambassadors. Trusting in the shadow of Egypt in her protection rather than in the protection of Jehovah is most disgraceful. Their trust in Pharaoh’s protection shall, however, prove to be to them a shame, a confusion. The folly has already gone so far that ambassadors are already at Zoan, (the present Tsan,) the royal seat in lower northeastern Egypt, and at Hanes, (a name perhaps contracted from Tahpanhes, so Grotius thinks,) another royal seat in middle Egypt, to both of which it may be assumed applications were made.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Isa 30:2 That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt!
Ver. 2. That walk to go down into Egypt. ] This they were flatly forbidden to do. But state policy doth sometimes carry it against express Scripture, to the formalising and enervating of the power of truth, till at length they have left us a heartless and sapless religion, as one well observeth. This is no thriving course certainly; here we have a dreadful woe hanged at the heels of it. The Grecian Churches first called in the Turks to their help, who distressed them, and then, through fear of the Turks, A.D. 1438, sent and subjected themselves to the Bishop of Rome, that they might have the help of the Latin Churches; but shortly after they were destroyed, their empire subdued, &c., teaching all others by their example not to trust to carnal combinations, not to seek the association of others in a sinful way.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
walk = are setting out. This prophecy had been given in the days of Hezekiah (617-588), and was then being fulfilled in Israel. strength of Pharaoh. Compare Isa 30:7, where it is shown to be a vain help. In verses: Isa 30:2, Isa 30:3, “strength” is literal. In Isa 30:7 it is a Figure.
trust = flee for refuge to. Hebrew. hasah. App-69. Same word as in Isa 30:3, but not the same as in Isa 30:12.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
walk: Isa 20:5, Isa 20:6, Isa 31:1-3, Isa 36:6, Deu 28:68, 2Ki 17:4, Jer 37:5, Jer 43:7, Eze 29:6, Eze 29:7
and have: Num 27:21, Jos 9:14, 1Ki 22:7, Jer 21:2, Jer 42:2, Jer 42:20
the shadow: Isa 16:3, Isa 18:1, Jdg 9:15, Lam 4:20
Reciprocal: Num 14:9 – defence 2Ki 18:21 – upon Egypt Psa 118:9 – than to put Ecc 7:12 – a defence Isa 7:18 – fly Isa 18:2 – sendeth Jer 41:17 – to go Jer 46:25 – and all Hos 2:7 – she shall follow Hos 14:3 – we will not
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
How ironic that God’s people thought they could find life in Egypt, which had historically been a place of death for them and from which they had fled formerly (cf. Exo 1:22). Furthermore, they had done this without even consulting the Lord, a failure that had resulted in the Gibeonite compromise generations earlier (cf. Jos 9:14). Rather than seeking safety under the shadow of the Almighty (Psa 91:1), they had sought it under the shadow of Pharaoh.
"In Ashurbanipal’s late reign and in those of his successors, Assyria had become less aggressive. But Psamtik I, Pharaoh of Egypt, increased in power and ambition. Jerusalem’s leaders were determined to play the game of power politics, pitting one superpower against the one they thought would be its successor." [Note: Watts, p. 395.]