Isaiah 30:2

2 Which go, to go down into Egypt, and ye asked not my mouth; ye hoping help in the strength of Pharaoh, and ye having trust in the shadow of Egypt. (Who go, to go down to Egypt, but ye did not ask my advice; ye hoping for help from the strength of Pharaoh, and ye having trust in the shadow of Egypt.)

Isaiah 30:2 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 30:2

That walk to go down into Egypt
That walk out of their own land to go thither; who sent messengers thither to form an alliance, and get help and assistance, or went in person, to secure themselves from present danger. Jarchi refers this to the times of Hoshea, the son of Elah, king of Israel, who sent messengers to So, king of Egypt, ( 2 Kings 17:4 ) . Jerom to the times of Jeremiah, to the history in his prophecy, ( Jeremiah 41:17 ) and others to Zedekiah. Kimchi thinks it respects the time of Ahaz, though there is no account, either in the books of Kings or Chronicles, of sending then to Egypt for help; or else to the times of Hezekiah himself; which latter is right, as appears from the insults of Rabshakeh, when Sennacherib's army was before Jerusalem, ( Isaiah 36:6 ) : and have not asked at my mouth:
or as the Targum,

``the words of my prophets they have not asked;''

they did not inquire of the prophets of the Lord, whether they should go down or not: to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh;
by making an alliance with him, and receiving men and horses from him, to assist them against the Assyrians; this Pharaoh was he whom the Scriptures call So, ( 2 Kings 17:4 ) and by other writers, Sevechus and Sethon: and to trust in the shadow of Egypt;
the protection that would afford them, in which they placed their confidence, and thought themselves safe from their other enemy, by having so powerful an ally; but this was but a shadow, as are whatsoever men trust in short of the Lord himself, be they riches or righteousness, or any creature or creature enjoyment.

Isaiah 30:2 In-Context

1 Woe! sons forsakers, saith the Lord, that ye shall make a counsel, and not of me; and weave a web, and not by my spirit, that ye should increase sin on sin. (Woe! ye rebels, saith the Lord, ye who take counsel, or advice, but not from me; and weave a web, but not by my spirit, so that ye increase sin upon sin.)

2 Which go, to go down into Egypt, and ye asked not my mouth; ye hoping help in the strength of Pharaoh, and ye having trust in the shadow of Egypt. (Who go, to go down to Egypt, but ye did not ask my advice; ye hoping for help from the strength of Pharaoh, and ye having trust in the shadow of Egypt.)

3 And the strength of Pharaoh shall be to you into confusion, and the trust of the shadow of Egypt into shame. (But the strength of Pharaoh shall only bring you confusion, and thy trust in the shadow of Egypt shall only bring you shame.)

4 For why thy princes were in Tanis, and thy messengers came till to Hanes. (For though his leaders, or his officers, be in Zoan, and his messengers have come to Hanes,)

5 All they were shamed on the people, that might not profit to them; they were not into help, and into any profit, but into shame and shame. (all shall be ashamed of these people who cannot profit them; yea, they shall not be of any help, or profit, but shall only bring shame and more shame.)