‏ Isaiah 30:1-5

CHAPTER 30

Is 30:1-32. The Thirtieth Through Thirty-second Chapters Refer Probably to the Summer of 714 B.C., AS THE Twenty-ninth Chapter to the Passover of That Year.

Jewish ambassadors were now on their way to Egypt to seek aid against Assyria (Is 30:2-6, 15; 31:1). Isaiah denounces this reliance on Egypt rather than on Jehovah. God had prohibited such alliances with heathen nations, and it was a leading part of Jewish polity that they should be a separate people (Ex 23:32; De 7:2).

1. take counsel--rather, as Is 30:4, 6 imply, "execute counsels."

cover ... covering--that is, wrap themselves in reliances disloyal towards Jehovah. "Cover" thus answers to "seek to hide deeply their counsel from the Lord" (Is 29:15). But the Hebrew is literally, "who pour out libations"; as it was by these that leagues were made (Ex 24:8; Zec 9:11), translate, "who make a league."

not of--not suggested by My Spirit" (Nu 27:21; Jos 9:14).

that they may add--The consequence is here spoken of as their intention, so reckless were they of sinning: one sin entails the commission of another (De 29:19).

2. walk--are now setting out, namely, their ambassadors (Is 30:4).

Egypt--See on Is 19:1; Is 20:1.

Pharaoh--the generic name of the kings of Egypt, as Cæsar was at Rome. The word in Egyptian means "king" [Josephus, Antiquities, 8.6,2]. Phra, "the sun," was the hieroglyphic symbol and title of the king.

shadow--image from shelter against heat: protection (Psa 121:5, 6).

3. shame--disappointment. Egypt, weakened by its internal dissensions, can give no solid help.

4. his--Judah's (compare Is 9:21).

at Zoan--are already arrived there on their errand to Pharaoh (see Is 19:11).

came to Hanes--are come there. West of the Nile, in central Egypt: Egyptian Hnes; the Greek Heracleopolis: perhaps the Anysis of Herodotus (2.137); according to Grotius, Tahpanhes contracted (Jr 43:7-9); the seat of a reigning prince at the time, as was Zoan, hence the Jewish ambassadors go to both.

5. (Jr 2:36.)