Surely the princes of Zoan are fools, &c.— Surely the princes of Zoan are fools; the very wisest of Pharaoh's counsellors: counsel is become brutish. How will you boast unto Pharaoh, I am the son of the wise, the son of ancient kings? Isaiah 19:13.—They have also seduced Egypt, even the chiefs of the tribes thereof; Isaiah 19:14. The Lord hath mingled in the midst of them a spirit of giddiness, &c. From the 11th to the 18th verse, we have the immediate causes of the Egyptian calamity; the first of which, contained in the present passage, is their want of salutary counsel; and here occurs, first, a proposition concerning the folly of the counsellors of Pharaoh, in Isaiah 19:11. Secondly, an upbraiding of their imprudence; the discourse being first turned to these counsellors themselves, and then to Pharaoh,—middle of Isaiah 19:11 and Isaiah 19:12. Thirdly, a confirmation of the proposition, Isaiah 19:13. Fourthly, the cause of this imprudence and stupidity, namely, the divine judgment, Isaiah 19:14-15. The meaning of the last verse is, that there should be such confusion in the state, such perturbation of judgment, and want of counsel, that there should be no man in the state, of political or sacerdotal order, fit to give honest and salutary advice; they should all labour under the same disease of mind, ch. Isaiah 9:14. The reader will observe with how fine a gradation the prophet rises in this passage; wherein he alludes to the high antiquity of the Egyptian government, and their same for wisdom, and acknowledges their claim to both these particulars; and indeed the very force of his exultation depends upon the truth of it: for, what reason is there for insisting so much on the power and wisdom of God, in destroying the council of Egypt, if Pharaoh and his counsellors only pretended to be, but were not, wise, nor yet the sons of ancient kings? In general it may be said, that Egypt would not have become so easy a prey to so many foreign enemies, but through the excessive weakness of the Egyptians, both in counsel and action. They had not the courage to defend themselves. They trusted to their Grecian and other mercenaries, who, instead of defending, were often the first to betray them. To finish this particular, let any one shew us now the least trace of learning or wisdom, which is similar to what this nation was formerly celebrated for, if he can; and if he cannot, let him own that this prophesy is fulfilled, even in the present state of Egypt. See Divine Leg. Newton, and Vitringa.
Isaiah 19:11-15
11 Surely the princes of Zoan are fools, the counsel of the wise counsellors of Pharaoh is become brutish: how say ye unto Pharaoh, I am the son of the wise, the son of ancient kings?
12 Where are they? where are thy wise men? and let them tell thee now, and let them know what the LORD of hosts hath purposed upon Egypt.
13 The princes of Zoan are become fools, the princes of Noph are deceived; they have also seduced Egypt, even they that are the stay of the tribes thereof.
14 The LORD hath mingled a perversee spirit in the midst thereof: and they have caused Egypt to err in every work thereof, as a drunken man staggereth in his vomit.
15 Neither shall there be any work for Egypt, which the head or tail, branch or rush, may do.