Isaiah 23:5

5 When the Egyptians hear, they will be in anguish at the news about Tyre.

Isaiah 23:5 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 23:5

As at the report concerning Egypt
Its future destruction prophesied of, ( Isaiah 19:1-25 ) or what had in times past befallen it when the ten plagues were inflicted on it, and Pharaoh and his host were drowned in the Red Sea; the report of which filled the neighbouring nations with fear and trembling, and put them into a panic; so the Targum,

``as they heard the plague with which the Egyptians were smitten:''

[so] shall they be sorely pained at the report of Tyre;
of the destruction of that; this should have the like effect upon the nations round about them, especially such as traded with them, as the judgments on Egypt had upon their neighbours; for, as for what was to come, the destruction of Tyre was before the destruction of Egypt by Nebuchadnezzar: though some read the words, and they will bear to be read thus, "when the report" was made, or came "to the Egyptians, they will be in pain at", or "according to the report of Tyre" ^F20;

``when it was heard in Egypt, pain shall take them for Tyre;''

as soon as the Egyptians heard of the taking and ruin of Tyre, they were in pain, as a woman in travail, partly fearing their own turn would be next, Tyre lying in the way of the Chaldeans unto them; and partly because of the loss of trade they sustained through the destruction of that city. In like pain will be the kings or merchants of the earth, at the destruction of Rome, ( Revelation 18:9 Revelation 18:10 Revelation 18:15-17 ) and, according to an exposition mentioned by Jarchi, Tyre here is Edom; that is, Rome, for that with the Jews is commonly meant by Edom.

---

FOOTNOTES:

F20 So the Septuagint, Vatbalus, and others.

Isaiah 23:5 In-Context

3 over the mighty waters. The grain of Shihor, the Nile's harvest, was her income; she was the marketplace of nations.

4 Be ashamed, Sidon, because the sea has spoken; the fortress of the sea has said, "I haven't been in labor; I didn't give birth; I never raised young men or brought up young women."

5 When the Egyptians hear, they will be in anguish at the news about Tyre.

6 Cross over to Tarshish; wail, inhabitants of the coast.

7 Is this your triumphant town, whose origin is from ancient times, whose feet carried her to settle far away?