Isa 19:8-10 | JFB | STEP | 8. fishers-- The Nile was famed for fish ( ); many would be thrown out of employment by the failure of fishes. angle-- a hook. Used in the "brooks" or canals, as the "net" was in "the waters" of the river itself.

‏ Isaiah 19:8-10

8. fishers--The Nile was famed for fish (Nu 11:5); many would be thrown out of employment by the failure of fishes.

angle--a hook. Used in the "brooks" or canals, as the "net" was in "the waters" of the river itself.

9. fine flax--Gesenius, for "fine," translates, "combed"; fine "linen" was worn by the rich only (Lu 16:19). Egypt was famous for it (Ex 9:31; 1Ki 10:28; Pr 7:16; Eze 27:7). The processes of its manufacture are represented on the Egyptian tombs. Israel learned the art in Egypt (Ex 26:36). The cloth now found on the mummies was linen, as is shown by the microscope. Wilkinson mentions linen from Egypt which has five hundred forty (or two hundred seventy double) threads in one inch in the warp; whereas some modern cambric has but a hundred sixty [Barnes].

networks--rather, white cloth (Es 1:6; 8:16).

10. in the purposes--rather, "the foundations," that is, "the nobles shall be broken" or brought low: so Is 3:1; Psa 11:3; compare Is 19:13, "The princes--the stay of the tribes. The Arabs call a prince "a pillar of the people" [Maurer]. "Their weaving-frames" [Horsley]. "Dykes" [Barnes].

all that make sluices, &c.--"makers of dams," made to confine the waters which overflow from the Nile in artificial fish-ponds [Horsley]. "Makers of gain," that is, the common people who have to earn their livelihood, as opposed to the "nobles" previously [Maurer].