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Isaiah 30:2-7

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Scripture focus

2. That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt! 3. Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt [your] confusion. 4. For his princes were at Zoan, and his ambassadors came to Hanes. 5. They were all ashamed of a people [that] could not profit them, nor be an help nor profit, but a shame, and also a reproach. 6. The burden of the beasts of the south: into the land of trouble and anguish, from whence [come] the young and old lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent, they will carry their riches upon the shoulders of young asses, and their treasures upon the bunches of camels, to a people [that] shall not profit [them]. 7. For the Egyptians shall help in vain, and to no purpose: therefore have I cried concerning this, Their strength [is] to sit still.

Isaiah 30:2-7 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Isaiah 30:2

Theological / Devotional

To strengthen. That is, to take refuge in the protection.

The shadow of Egypt. A land of almost perpetual sunshine and not much shade. At this time Egypt was weak, and unable to provide effective help against Assyria. It was but a few years after this that Egypt itself was invaded by the armies of Esarhaddon and Ashurbanipal (see Vol. II, p. 53). The pro-Egyptian group in Judah that sent to Egypt for help did not ask counsel from God because they knew they were acting contrary to His will. Upon entering the Promised Land, Israel had been forbidden to make treaties with the inhabitants of the land (Ex. 23:32, 33; Deut. 7:2; Judges 2:2). When Joshua made a covenant with the men of Gibeon he did so without asking counsel of God (Joshua 9:14).

By SdaBc