Isaiah 23:5

5 When Egypt hears the news about Tyre, there will be great sorrow.

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.

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FOOTNOTES:

F20 So the Septuagint, Vatbalus, and others.

Isaiah 23:5 In-Context

3 sailing over deep waters. They brought you grain from Egypt and harvests from along the Nile. You were the marketplace of the world.

4 But now you are put to shame, city of Sidon, for Tyre, the fortress of the sea, says, “Now I am childless; I have no sons or daughters.”

5 When Egypt hears the news about Tyre, there will be great sorrow.

6 Send word now to Tarshish! Wail, you people who live in distant lands!

7 Is this silent ruin all that is left of your once joyous city? What a long history was yours! Think of all the colonists you sent to distant places.