THEOSISCyrill of Alexandria
And the rulers of Thanes have fallen into poverty, while those from Memphitstia have arisen, leading Egypt astray by its clans. The Lord will strip them of the spirit of deception, and they shall lead Egypt astray in their actions, much like a drunken man loses his way or someone who is sick. There will be no productivity for the Egyptians, as there will be confusion and failure in all their endeavors. Here the prophetic message ridicules the amusements and futility of the false prophets. The leaders of Egypt sought guidance from magicians and false prophets, who were always at his side and known as wise men, inquiring about the outcomes of forthcoming events.
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Yet when their counsel proved erroneous, they were exposed as frauds, with no one able to provide them with sound advice or righteous insights. They were ultimately deemed useless and began to search for other wise counsel. Many were astonished by the leaders of Memphis, particularly the priests and wise men who resided there, for they were viewed as if they had been specially chosen and had reached the pinnacle of sorcery, thereby earning the idolaters’ deep respect. Hence, the rulers of Thanes were regarded as insignificant, while the Memphis leaders seemed impressive and worthy of admiration to the king and those close to him; however, they also misled Egypt by its tribes, that is, its towns and villages. They did not deceive only individuals but large numbers, for they were trusted despite offering no fundamentally useful insights. How were they trusted? The Lord, it is said, took away the spirit of deception, which means that the truth was absent from their words, causing them to be incapable of honest thought or speech; the tongue of the idolaters cannot contain the truth. Thus, they misled Egypt, akin to a drunken man stumbling and regurgitating. For those besotted with drink often fall into filth from their sickness. Therefore, it is stated that no productive work will be accomplished by the Egyptians, as they experience confusion and failure. None of their efforts will be vigorous, which signifies the beginning and foremost aspect, nor will they yield the desired results, marking the confusion and conclusion. For all human judgment proves to be futile, and all assistance becomes unreliable and ineffective when the Lord brings about calamity, placing His mighty hand upon those who stray from Him, and alters the very essence of circumstances according to His sovereign will.