Isaiah 19:3Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The might of the Most High aligns with what is prescribed. Consequently, all their waters, from rivers to lakes, became so shallow that they were fordable. Thus, Vespasian found the conquest of Egypt to be easy and swiftly claimed it. At that time, messengers of the divine and redemptive message arrived in Egypt, drawing the nations toward faith in Christ and the understanding of the truth. Realizing the formidable force of the Roman army, the Egyptians fell into great disarray, eager to discern the outcome of the conflict. They turned to their gods, idols, and those who spoke from the earth; they consulted ventriloquists and magicians. There were various forms of false prophecy and an array of deceitful prophets—some feigned consultations with the dead, others conjured sounds from their own bodies, and still others practiced divination based on the smoke of sacrifices and the trembling of animal entrails. Yet, it is stated that such divinations will prove futile, and the gods they invoke will offer no assistance. Egypt will fall into the hands of cruel rulers, and cruel kings will reign over them. But when you hear the term 'cruel,' grasp not the sense of the most inhumane, but rather that of the most invulnerable, those who yield victory to no one. Such were the renowned kings of Rome, for a divine and inscrutable will brought all under their influence; hence, they conquered the entire world.

Regarding the consistent translation of λήμμα, meaning acceptance, by Simmachus and Theodotion, it should be understood that the prophet received from the Lord a divine understanding of Egypt’s mysteries or was able to discern them spiritually, as reflected in the LXX. However, this understanding does not align with the Egypt recognized by the Jews, nor with Josephus, who claims in his Antiquities that the priest Onias fulfilled Isaiah's prophecy by erecting a temple in the Ilio-polytan region, similar to the temple of God, and building an altar there.

Let us consider this: What are these five cities speaking Canaanite in Egypt, one of which the LXX calls ΆσεδΙκ, while others name it the city of Ars, or the city of the sun? And who is that Saviour sent to the Egyptians to rescue them, so that they might know the Lord? When did they honor Him with sacrifices, gifts, and fulfill their vows? When did the Lord smite Egypt yet provide healing? Can we verify a time when a road existed from Egypt to the Assyrians, allowing their mutual visitations and for Egyptians to serve Assyria? When Israel thrived in Egypt, were the Assyrians not a blessing amid the land, to which the Lord declared, “Blessed are My people in Egypt, and the work of My hands is Assyrian”? Clearly, this does not pertain to the Egypt the Jews perceive. Thus, we may consider Egypt to symbolize our present existence, a world steeped in evil; particularly as Mesraim, meaning "oppressive," indicates one that constrains.

It is essential to recognize that much of what concerns the burden or vision of Egypt relates to the actual province of Egypt, which continues to be inhabited and seen. However, in this scripture and others, numerous matters point to interpretations that, in a historical sense, become indefensible, compelling us to seek a more profound meaning. Behold, “The Lord shall ride upon a swift cloud, and shall enter Egypt, and the idols of Egypt shall tremble at His presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt within them.” “And I will stir up Egyptians against Egyptians; they shall fight, man against his brother, and neighbor against neighbor, city against city, kingdom against kingdom.” The spirit of Egypt shall be fragmented within, and I will destroy its counsel. They shall consult their idols, soothsayers, enchanters, and fortune-tellers. “And I will deliver Egypt into the hands of harsh rulers, and a mighty king shall reign over them,” says the Lord God of Hosts.

Significantly, much of the Egyptian prophecy that Isaiah envisioned has been concisely interpreted through historical examples. Therefore, we now need to delve into the higher matters through allegorical interpretation. The Lord ascended upon a light cloud, symbolizing the body of the holy Virgin Mary, untouched by human seed—more aptly, His own body conceived by the Holy Spirit. He entered into this world’s Egypt, and immediately the idols of Egypt were shaken, leading to a profound recognition of the deception of idolatry that had ensnared the world. The Magi from the east, led by prophetic insight or dark forces, came to realize the birth of the Son of God, destined to annihilate the strength of their magic, and thus traveled to Jerusalem to worship the Child. Then, the hearts of the Egyptians melted, and they turned against one another, provoking the words of the Gospel: “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.” In that moment, the prophecy would also be fulfilled: “A man’s enemies will be those of his own household.”

Consequently, during these confrontations, there would arise divisions within households, where two would be against three and three against two, fathers against sons and sons against fathers, cities against cities, and a kingdom of unbelievers would stand against the believers or those who sought to save their neighbors. The spirit of Egypt would be torn apart, inducing disunity, with each faction realizing that their plans would invariably be laid waste. Still, those who would not embrace true faith would continue consulting their false deities, believing in their fortune-tellers, soothsayers, and magicians. Because of this, the Lord would deliver them into the hands of oppressive rulers, as stated: “those whom I have delivered to Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme,” thus compelling them to turn to the blessed Lord under the heavy yoke of their suffering. The cruel rulers serve as manifestations of demons and chief over those bound under oppression. Under the strong king, we naturally identify the devil, whom the Lord in the Gospel refers to as strong, declaring that upon His binding, the spoils and the goods of his house shall be divided.

Listening closely, let us realize that the Lord is coming, our Lord and Saviour, into the Egypt of our existence: in the shadow of death, where Pharaoh reigns. He approaches upon a light cloud. What does this light cloud signify? It signifies Mary, who was not touched by human seed. This cloud enters the world, bringing forth the Creator. Isaiah's prophecy states that “The Lord comes to Egypt upon a light cloud,” and the idols of Egypt shall tremble. The Lord approaches, and the idols of Egypt shall quake, tremble, and ultimately perish.

The Burden of Egypt proclaims: “Behold, the Lord shall ascend upon a cloud of light and enter Egypt.” The idols of Egypt will tremble at His presence, bringing courage to the heart of Egypt itself. It is typical for Scripture to juxtapose the dark and the clear, articulating prior mysteries in explicit terms. Therefore, as the prophecy against Egypt is marred by mention of “the mountain of the earth with wings,” and other prophetic utterances, it is now rendered with clarity, stating that not through angels, but the Lord Himself will swiftly arrive on a light cloud and penetrate Egypt, causing the idols of Egypt to tremble while inspiring fear in the hearts of the brave. This fulfills Ezekiel’s prophecy, wherein the Lord proclaims, “I will destroy the idols, and I will abolish the graven images in Memphis.”

Many attribute this prophecy to the time of our Saviour when He entered upon a light cloud, signifying a human body received from a Virgin, wholly free from human corruption. At His entrance, the demons were cast into a frenzy; this marked the commencement of the demons' downfall, who could not withstand the Lord's presence.

The prophecy continues, “And I will set Egyptians against Egyptians, causing man to fight against his brother and against his neighbor, city against city, and kingdom against kingdom.” Upon the Lord’s entry into Egypt and the subsequent defeat of this great empire, His initial victory manifested through bitter conflict amongst the Egyptians. This event reflects the discord seen during Assyrian rule and under King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, where some remained obstinate while others rebelled. Evidence of this discord foreshadows the Babylonian captivity, as Jeremiah asserts, “Egypt is a fair heifer; the chaser from the north shall come upon her.” He further reveals, “the daughter of Egypt shall be put to shame and delivered into the hands of the people from the north.” Ezekiel corroborates this prophetic vision, declaring, “I will end the multitudes of Egypt by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon.” Additionally, he states, “I will enhance the strength of the Babylonian king, placing My sword in his hand, and I will break the strength of Pharaoh. They shall recognize that I am the Lord when I give My sword to the king of Babylon to wield over Egypt’s land, scattering the people across the nations.”

Should we draw connections to the times of our Saviour, we find correspondence in the Gospel: “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have come not to bring peace but a sword.” His coming fragments relationships: “a man shall be separated from his father, a daughter from her mother, and a bride from her mother-in-law.” The prophecy also notes that there shall be divisions of three into two and two into three: fathers against sons, mothers against daughters, and brides against mothers-in-law.

Concerning the spirit of Egypt, “it shall be broke in its innermost parts; I will overthrow their counsel, leading them to consult idols and soothsayers, enchanters, and fortune-tellers.” As turmoil ignites in Egypt, driven by some wishing to yield to the king of Babylon while others refuse his dominion, discord will proliferate. In the battle between belief in Christ and resistance, the spirit of Egypt will be shattered, as unity wanes, with all counsel rendered futile. Thus they will look to their false gods and diviners in confusion: "Why has this come upon us?"

The Lord declares, “And I will hand Egypt to cruel rulers; a mighty king shall reign over them.” This conveys a dual understanding: relating either to the Chaldean era when Egypt fell to Nebuchadnezzar or to the Roman Empire, when Augustus Caesar conquered Antony and Cleopatra, bringing Egypt to subjugation. Scriptural accounts affirm the cruelty of the Babylonians, who displayed no mercy and inflicted suffering on the innocent, and the strength of the Roman Empire verifies Daniel's imagery of a fierce beast.

This indicates that the confusion within the Egyptians will be so profound that, in exhausting their energies through relentless conflict with one another, they will be at a loss as to how to resolve their suffering. Their plans will be in disarray. The Lord warns the Egyptians that all strategies they may consider wise to navigate their troubles will ultimately prove ineffective. Among these misguided efforts is their turn to the occult: the Egyptians will seek the assistance of sorcerers, diviners, and necromancers. However, this mention of their reliance on superstitious practices is found solely in the biblical account and is not part of the parimia.