Chapter XIX · Location 19 of 66
Chapter 19 · Open to readFrom Isaias · Douay–Rheims / Challoner (1749–1752)
What does Isaias Chapter 19 say, and which statements belong to its speaker?
Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary
Egypt’s conflict, dried waters and foolish counsel precede fear. An altar, deliverer, sacrifices and healing belong to the oracle’s promises. Travel, service and three distinct blessings preserve their admitted wording.
Chapter breakdown
Isaias 19 portrays the Lord entering Egypt on a swift cloud. Idols move, hearts melt, and Egyptians fight brother, friend, city and kingdom. Broken spirit and counsel lead to consulting idols, diviners, wizards and soothsayers; cruel masters and a strong king receive rule. The sea and river dry, streams diminish, reeds and bulrushes wither, planted growth disappears, and fishers, flax workers, linen weavers and fish-pool makers mourn.
Tanis and Memphis's princes give foolish counsel. Claimed descent from wise men and kings cannot reveal the Lord's purpose. A spirit of giddiness makes Egypt err like a staggering, vomiting drunkard; no work remains. Egypt is compared with frightened women, and Juda becomes a terror because of the Lord's counsel. These are the oracle's comparisons, without modern medical diagnosis or a named foreign king.
Five cities speak Chanaan's language and swear by the Lord; one is the city of the sun. An altar and boundary monument provide a sign and testimony. Oppression prompts cries and the promised Saviour and defender. Egyptians know the Lord, offer sacrifices and fulfill vows. He strikes and heals, and they return. A way connects Egypt and Assyria, with reciprocal travel and Egyptians serving the Assyrian. Israel is third, a blessing in the land. Egypt is called my people, Assyria the work of my hands, Israel my inheritance. Shared blessing is not substituted for the distinct service wording or expanded into worldwide institutional communion.
The story inside
Opening: Egypt’s conflict, dried waters and foolish counsel precede fear. Development: An altar, deliverer, sacrifices and healing belong to the oracle’s promises. Conclusion: Travel, service and three distinct blessings preserve their admitted wording.
Lessons worth keeping
- 1Egypt’s conflict, dried waters and foolish counsel precede fear.
- 2An altar, deliverer, sacrifices and healing belong to the oracle’s promises.
- 3Travel, service and three distinct blessings preserve their admitted wording.
Test your recall
Which images and requests does the speaker use, and what does the chapter leave unresolved?
Source edition and notes
Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.
Lines 79981–79984
19:1. The burden of Egypt. Behold the Lord will ascend upon a swift cloud, and will enter into Egypt, and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst thereof.
Lines 80071–80073
19:25. Which the Lord of hosts hath blessed, saying: Blessed be my people of Egypt, and the work of my hands to the Assyrian: but Israel is my inheritance.
