Discovery BoxIsaiah 19:23-25
Context19:23 At that time there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria. The Assyrians will visit Egypt, and the Egyptians will visit Assyria. The Egyptians and Assyrians will worship together. 1 19:24 At that time Israel will be the third member of the group, along with Egypt and Assyria, and will be a recipient of blessing 2 in the earth. 3 19:25 The Lord who commands armies will pronounce a blessing over the earth, saying, 4 “Blessed be my people, Egypt, and the work of my hands, Assyria, and my special possession, 5 Israel!”
[19:23] 1 tn The text could be translated, “and Egypt will serve Assyria” (cf. NAB), but subjugation of one nation to the other does not seem to be a theme in vv. 23-25. Rather the nations are viewed as equals before the Lord (v. 25). Therefore it is better to take אֶת (’et) in v. 23b as a preposition, “together with,” rather than the accusative sign. The names of the two countries are understood to refer by metonymy to their respective inhabitants.
[19:24] 2 tn Heb “will be a blessing” (so NCV).
[19:24] 3 tn Or “land” (KJV, NAB).
[19:25] 4 tn Heb “which the Lord who commands armies [traditionally, the Lord of hosts] will bless [it], saying.” The third masculine singular suffix on the form בֵּרֲכוֹ (berakho) should probably be emended to a third feminine singular suffix בֵּרֲכָהּ (berakhah), for its antecedent would appear to be the feminine noun אֶרֶץ (’erets, “earth”) at the end of v. 24.
