And the rivers shall fail: the streams of the banks shall be diminished, and be dried up. The reed and the bulrush shall wither away.
וְהֶאֶזְנִ֣יחוּ נְהָר֔וֹת דָּלֲל֥וּ וְחָרְב֖וּ יְאֹרֵ֣י מָצ֑וֹר קָנֶ֥ה וָס֖וּף קָמֵֽלוּ׃
4 Church Fathers comment on this verse
Simmachus states that shame will be in a state of poverty, while Theodotion interprets it as impoverished will be aroth; this aligns with the Hebrew term that signifies shame. Do you notice how even a single day without water is regarded as a significant disaster?
These statements can be aligned with our previous discourse. The Almighty Creator transformed the once fertile land of Egypt into a parched desert, facilitating the passage for those wishing to traverse its lakes and rivers. This territory is divided into two distinct regions: one thrives on fertile, arable land where vineyards flourish, while the other subsists directly from the lakes, extracting fish, harvesting papyrus, producing paper, and crafting fine linen. The inhabitants near the lakes are referred to as shepherds, managing vast herds of cattle, yet they struggle with a scarcity of bread, wine, and other essentials.
Once the waters recede, these people will resort to digging at the sea's edges to secure drinking water; yet, the rivers and canals will dry up, leaving every pool of reeds and debris devoid of moisture, causing the fishermen and those who process flax to experience profound distress. As the availability of water diminishes, they will encounter dire poverty, lacking in everything that once brought joy and sustenance. Such occurrences reflect lessons we can learn from history.
However, if one were to interpret the water shortage through a different lens and delve into subtler insights, they might not stray from their intended meaning. The waters could symbolize the hollow, illogical discourse of Greek philosophers, with the fish, papyrus, and reeds representing the populous; whereas the fishermen, who derive sustenance from the water, symbolize those who manipulate the simple masses, leading them astray like a fishing line. Such individuals will lament and mourn when their thoughts become idle; drawing a parallel to the waters, if they are completely depleted, everything that depends on them will also perish. They create a beverage, not one that enlivens the spirit like wine, but rather a concoction of falsehood and worthless teachings, erroneously believing these to be substantial ideas. This notion is perhaps encapsulated in the imagery of producing fine linen and combed flax. Their empty discussions revolve around trivial matters, ultimately ineffective and laden with harmful myths. For the beer they produce is cold, much like the Egyptians' murky, chilling drink; such is their rhetoric and doctrines, which fail to satisfy, fueling an insatiable thirst, and inflicting lasting afflictions on those who consume them.
The reeds, sycamores, papyrus, and all the greenery near the river will fade and perish, and all that is planted by the river will also wither. Just as the vegetation wilts when the water diminishes, so will the cities of Egypt, lacking any protection, face ruin and desolation.
It is to be expected that when divine wrath leads to captivity, calamities will ensue, and all forces will unite against those who have sinned against God. Consequently, it is noted by another prophet that there will be no birds in the sky or fish in the waters, leaving people bereft of their essential needs. We interpret this within the context of the Nile River and its tributaries experiencing desiccation. Alternatively, we could see it metaphorically, where the river symbolizes the kingdom, its rulers represent the arms of authority, and the greenery, reeds, and papyrus embody the natural wealth of Egypt, illustrating the abundance of its resources.
In Ezekiel, we observe Pharaoh depicted as a mighty creature dwelling within the rivers, declaring, "My river is mine, and I have made it." Yet, he also hears, "But I will place a bridle in your jaws, and I will draw the fish of your rivers to your scales, and I will pull you out of your rivers, and all your fish shall cling to your scales, and I will cast you into the wilderness." Concerning the advent of Christ, these images should be understood allegorically, in line with what we read earlier: "The Lord will make the sea of Egypt a wasteland." Moreover, "The Lord will stretch out His hand over the great river of Egypt, and it will be split into seven channels so that every person may cross it on dry ground," indicating that the illusions of the waters of Egypt and the wicked enchantments that misled the nations will be rendered obsolete by Christ's coming.
The phrase "The waters of the sea shall be dried up" could also be interpreted in a historical sense—not referring to the vast ocean but rather to the Lake Mareotis, since Scripture designates all bodies of water as seas. These statements might also convey a sense of hyperbole. The subsequent phrase, "The river bed shall be stripped bare of its source," signifies that both the river and its source will be completely desiccated.
Passages read together with this verse.
THEOSIS