Isaiah 19:2,3 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

And I will set the Egyptians against the Egyptians— Two principal misfortunes of Egypt, on which the rest depend, are related in this prophesy; the first, a civil war to arise in Egypt, with its consequence; Isaiah 19:2-3. The other, the oppression of Egypt by some potent prince or princes. Instead of kingdom against kingdom, the LXX read, province against province, νομος επι νομον, Egypt being divided into nomoi, praefectures or provinces. Vitringa and others apply this to the time of the reign of the twelve kings, the anarchy which preceded, and the civil wars which ensued; wherein Psammiticus prevailed over the rest: but it may perhaps be more properly applied to what agrees better in point of time with other parts of the prophesy; the civil wars between Apries and Amasis, at the time of Nebuchadnezzar's invasion; and the civil wars between Tachos, Nectanebus, and the Mendesian, a little before the country was finally subdued by Ochus. It is no wonder that, in consequence of such distractions and distresses as these, the Egyptians, being naturally a cowardly people, should be destitute of counsel; and that the spirit of Egypt should fail in the midst thereof; and that, being also a very superstitious people; they should seek to their idols, &c.; a remarkable instance whereof, with respect to Psammiticus, we are told by Herodotus, lib, 2: p. 169. See Bishop Newton and Vitringa as before.