And the spirit of Egypt shall fail in the midst
thereof,
&c.] Meaning not the spirit of valour and courage, that is
expressed before, but of wisdom, prudence, and understanding; the
wisdom of Egypt, in which Moses is said to be brought up, (
Acts 7:22 ) was
famous all the world over; hither men of learning, as the ancient
philosophers, Pythagoras, Plato, and others, travelled, to
improve in knowledge, and gain a larger acquaintance with things
human and divine; it was the mother and mistress of the liberal
arts and sciences; but now what was before like a river full of
water, was about to be "emptied", and drained dry, as the word
F25 used signifies: and I will
destroy the counsels thereof;
or "swallow [them] up" {z}, so that they shall be no more seen,
or take effect: this explains what is before meant by the spirit
of Egypt, and which is further enlarged on, and illustrated in (
Isaiah
19:11-13 ) , and they shall seek to the
idols;
with which the land abounded, particularly to Osiris and Isis, to
Apis, Latona, and others: and to the charmers;
that used incantations and spells; magicians and conjurers, that
whispered and muttered; for the word used has the signification
of speaking in a slow and drawling manner. The Targum renders it
"witches"; but Jarchi takes it to be the name of an idol:
and to them that have familiar spirits, and to the
wizards;
(See Gill on Isaiah
8:19).
F25 (hqbn) "evacuabitur", Pagninus, Montanus, Piscator, Cocceius.
F26 (elba) "deglutiam", Montanus; "absorpsero", Junius & Tremellius; "absorbebo", Piscator.