Isaiah 30:6

6 This message came to me concerning the animals in the Negev: The caravan moves slowly across the terrible desert to Egypt— donkeys weighed down with riches and camels loaded with treasure— all to pay for Egypt’s protection. They travel through the wilderness, a place of lionesses and lions, a place where vipers and poisonous snakes live. All this, and Egypt will give you nothing in return.

Isaiah 30:6 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 30:6

The burden of the beasts of the south
Some think this begins a new prophecy, and this the name and inscription of it. The Septuagint version is,

``the vision of the four footed beasts in the wilderness;''
and Kimchi's note is,
``this prophecy, which he prophesied, that the beasts of the south should go out, meaning the beasts of the wilderness, and devour those that went to seek help from Egypt;''
but it respects the same thing as before, as appears by what follows; namely, the messengers going down to Egypt, which lay south of Judea, as Jarchi and Kimchi, Ben Melech and Abarbinel, observe, with beasts carrying riches thither, either for safety, or to obtain help from them: into a land of trouble and anguish;
as it had been to their fathers formerly, and would be no otherwise to them now, notwithstanding their high raised expectations of assistance from them; there may be an allusion to its name Mizraim: from whence [come] the young and old lion, the viper, and fiery
flying serpent;
creatures with which Egypt abounded, as historians relate, and where some of them, at least, were worshipped, and where also men dwelt comparable to these creatures, as for craft and cruelty; though some understand this not of the country of Egypt, into which they went, but of the desert of Arabia, which lay between Judea and Egypt, through which they went; which was a land of trouble and anguish, for want of water, and because of these noxious creatures, of which it was full; see ( Deuteronomy 8:15 ) : they will carry their riches upon the shoulders of young asses;
which were much used in Judea to carry burdens on, and which were laid chiefly on their shoulders; and this denotes the great quantity of riches that would be, and were carried into Egypt, either by the ambassadors, as presents to the Egyptians, to gain their friendship and assistance; or else by some of the principal inhabitants of Jerusalem and Judea, who, upon hearing of the invasion by Sennacherib, gathered up their riches, and fled to Egypt with them for safety, making use of young asses and camels, as follow: and their treasures upon the bunches of camels;
much used in travelling through the deserts of Arabia, and which have some one, some two humps on their backs, whereby they are better fitted to carry burdens. The word is of the singular number, and only used in this place; and has the signification of honey, as the camels hump is so called, as Jarchi from the Talmud F8 says, because, when hurt, it is healed by anointing it with honey; and upon these they carried their money and jewels they had treasured up: to a people [that] shall not profit [them];
the Egyptians, who were of no service to the Jews, to free them from the invasion of the Assyrians.
FOOTNOTES:

F8 Bava Metzia, fol. 38. 1. Sabbat. fol. 154. 2.

Isaiah 30:6 In-Context

4 For though his power extends to Zoan and his officials have arrived in Hanes,
5 all who trust in him will be ashamed. He will not help you. Instead, he will disgrace you.”
6 This message came to me concerning the animals in the Negev: The caravan moves slowly across the terrible desert to Egypt— donkeys weighed down with riches and camels loaded with treasure— all to pay for Egypt’s protection. They travel through the wilderness, a place of lionesses and lions, a place where vipers and poisonous snakes live. All this, and Egypt will give you nothing in return.
7 Egypt’s promises are worthless! Therefore, I call her Rahab— the Harmless Dragon.
8 Now go and write down these words. Write them in a book. They will stand until the end of time as a witness
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.