Isaiah 19:18

19:18 At that time five cities ¹  in the land of Egypt will speak the language of Canaan and swear allegiance to the Lord who commands armies. One will be called the City of the Sun. ² 

Isaiah 30:17

30:17 One thousand will scurry at the battle cry of one enemy soldier; ³ 

at the battle cry of five enemy soldiers you will all run away, ⁴ 

until the remaining few are as isolated ⁵ 

as a flagpole on a mountaintop

or a signal flag on a hill.”

¹ sn The significance of the number “five” in this context is uncertain. For a discussion of various proposals, see J. N. Oswalt, Isaiah (NICOT), 1:376-77.

² tc The Hebrew text has עִיר הַהֶרֶס (’ir haheres, “City of Destruction”; cf. NASB, NIV) but this does not fit the positive emphasis of vv. 18-22. The Qumran scroll 1QIsa^a and some medieval Hebrew mss read עִיר הָחֶרֶס (’ir hakheres, “City of the Sun,” i.e., Heliopolis). This reading also finds support from Symmachus’ Greek version, the Targum, and the Vulgate. See HALOT 257 s.v. חֶרֶס and HALOT 355 s.v. II חֶרֶס.

³ tn Heb “One thousand from before [or “because of”] one battle cry.” גְּעָרָה (gÿ’arah) is often defined as “threat,” but in war contexts it likely refers to a shout or battle cry. See Ps 76:6.

⁴ tn Heb “from before [or “because of”] the battle cry of five you will flee.

⁵ tn Heb “until you are left” (so NAB, NASB, NRSV).