Isaiah 19:5Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The Greeks remain oblivious to this due to their ignorance; they indulge in their own pursuits and typically exalt their own achievements. When confronted with something novel and wondrous, they often seek to suppress it. This significant event took place long ago, during the era of their philosophers.

When the waters recede, they will rely on wells dug in the coastline for drinking water; the rivers and canals will dry up, and every pool of reeds and rushes will be desolate, leading to a dire lack of sustenance. The fishermen, those who manufacture linen, and those who brew barley beer will experience great hardship. As water dwindles, their poverty will echo in all things that once provided joy and abundance for their daily needs. This scenario serves as a clear lesson from historical observation.

Should someone wish to interpret the drought in a different manner or delve into more nuanced reflections, they would not stray far from the intention, comparing the drying waters to the hollow and senseless discourse of Hellenic philosophers, likening the fish, papyrus, and reeds to the multitude of people. The fishermen and those who rely on the waters symbolize individuals who ensnare the vulnerable masses, leading them astray as if by means of fishing lines. These individuals will lament and experience sorrow when their intellect becomes idle; we suggest that the absence of water represents nourishment being lost.

They brew beer, as they do not provide the joyous wine that gladdens the heart, but instead offer empty and futile doctrines, mistakenly believing them to be profound through their superficial arguments. This might be alluded to in the references to their fine linen and processed flax. Their trivial pursuits become subjects of clever discussions, yet remain devoid of value and are laden with detrimental fancies. Beer, cold in nature, mirrors the Egyptians’ murky drink, reflecting their speech and teachings—those that fail to satisfy and instead exacerbate thirst, proving distasteful to those who partake, ultimately leading to incurable afflictions.

We can refer to the prophet Ezekiel, who depicts King Pharaoh as a formidable dragon residing in the rivers, proclaiming, "My river is my own, and I have made it." In response, God declares, "But I will put a bridle in thy jaws, and I will make the fish of thy rivers cling to thy scales; I will draw thee out of thy rivers, and all thy fish shall stick to thy scales, and I will cast thee into the wilderness." With regard to the advent of Christ, we interpret these events allegorically, as we read, "The Lord shall make the sea of Egypt a wilderness," and also, "The Lord shall stretch out His hand upon the mighty river of Egypt, and He shall divide it into seven channels, so that every man may cross it in sandals." This signifies that all the deceit embodied by the waters of Egypt and the demonic enchantments that ensnared the surrounding nations will be vanquished by Christ's arrival. The phrase "The waters of the sea shall be dried up" can also be taken in a historical context, referring not to the great sea but to the lake of Mareotis, as Scripture commonly labels all bodies of water as seas. Additionally, this expression may be understood hyperbolically, suggesting that the river and its source will both be desiccated.