And I will set the Egyptians against the Egyptians: and they shall fight every one against his brother, and every one against his neighbour; city against city, and kingdom against kingdom.
I will set - stir up. The same Hebrew (siksakti) as in Isaiah 9:11, where see note. Compare margin here-literally, to fold and mix together like thorns (Nahum 1:10) [akin to showk, to entwine with thorns]. Compare Luke 21:10. Gesenius translates, 'I will arm'-cover with arms [akin to caakak (H5526), to thickly cover].
The Egyptians against the Egyptians - Lower against Upper Egypt, and Saitic against both (see Isaiah 3:10). Newton refers it to the civil wars between Apries and Amasis at the time of Nebuchadnezzar's invasion; also between Tachos, Nectanebus, and the Mendesians, just before Ochus subdued Egypt.
Kingdom against kingdom. The Septuagint have 'nome against nome.' Egypt was divided into 42 nomes or districts.