Also the children of Noph and Tahapanes
These were cities in Egypt. Noph is the same with Moph in (
Hosea 9:6 ) and
which we there rightly render Memphis; as Noph is here by the
Targum, Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Arabic versions;
and was formerly, as Pliny F7 says, the palace of the kings
of Egypt. It is the same that is now called Alcairo, or Grand
Cairo. According to Herodotus F8, it was built by Menes, the
first king of Egypt; and who also makes mention of a city of
Egypt, called Momemphis F9. Tahapanes is the same with Hanes in
( Isaiah
30:4 ) , and here, in the Arabic version, is called Daphnes;
and is thought by some to be the same with Daphnae Pelusiae, a
city in Egypt. This Tahapanes was the metropolis of Egypt, and
the seat of their kings; mention is made of Pharaoh's house in
it, in ( Jeremiah
43:9 ) , now the inhabitants of these, called the children of
them, and who are put for the people of Egypt in general, were
the allies of the Jews, and in whom they trusted for help, when
attacked by their enemies, ( Isaiah
30:2-4 ) ( 31:1 ) and yet
even these have broken the crown of thy head;
which is interpreted, by the Targum, of slaying their mighty men,
and spoiling their goods; perhaps it had its accomplishment when
Pharaohnecho king of Egypt came out against the king of Assyria,
and Josiah king of Judah went out to meet him, and was slain by
him at Megiddo; and his son Jehoahaz he put in bonds, and carried
him to Egypt, and put his brother upon the throne, and took
tribute of gold and silver of him, ( 2
Kings 23:29-35 ) .