We Have a City vs. Egypt (Isa. 19:1-20:6)

Isaiah 19 consists of the oracle concerning Egypt. If, as we saw in ch 18, God is going to bring the tribute of the nations to Zion, on what basis will they come? This oracle claims that the nations will be given equal standing with Israel!

This is especially shocking because Egypt was the first and chief enemy of God's people. Just as the Spanish merchant ships feared the buccaneers of the 17th century, so also Israel had long viewed Egypt as their chief enemy.

But attitudes change – and as Assyria became more and more of a threat, many Israelites came to see Egypt as a potential ally.

But God had warned Israel not to go back to Egypt...