Isaiah 19

“The burden of Egypt. Behold, the LORD rideth upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt: and the idols of Egypt…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And I will set the Egyptians against the Egyptians: and they shall fight every one against his brother, and every one…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And the spirit of Egypt shall fail in the midst thereof; and I will destroy the counsel thereof: and they shall seek…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And the Egyptians will I give over into the hand of a cruel lord; and a fierce king shall rule over them, saith the…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And the waters shall fail from the sea, and the river shall be wasted and dried up.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And they shall turn the rivers far away; and the brooks of defence shall be emptied and dried up: the reeds and flags…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“The paper reeds by the brooks, by the mouth of the brooks, and every thing sown by the brooks, shall wither, be driven…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“The fishers also shall mourn, and all they that cast angle into the brooks shall lament, and they that spread nets…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Moreover they that work in fine flax, and they that weave networks, shall be confounded.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And they shall be broken in the purposes thereof, all that make sluices and ponds for fish.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Surely the princes of Zoan are fools, the counsel of the wise counsellors of Pharaoh is become brutish: how say ye…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Where are they? where are thy wise men? and let them tell thee now, and let them know what the LORD of hosts hath…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“The princes of Zoan are become fools, the princes of Noph are deceived; they have also seduced Egypt, even they that…” Naming Egypt and Noph keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“The LORD hath mingled a perverse spirit in the midst thereof: and they have caused Egypt to err in every work thereof…” Naming Egypt keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Neither shall there be any work for Egypt, which the head or tail, branch or rush, may do.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“In that day shall Egypt be like unto women: and it shall be afraid and fear because of the shaking of the hand of the…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And the land of Judah shall be a terror unto Egypt, every one that maketh mention thereof shall be afraid in himself…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“In that day shall five cities in the land of Egypt speak the language of Canaan, and swear to the LORD of hosts; one…” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.

“In that day shall there be an altar to the LORD in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar at the border thereof…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And it shall be for a sign and for a witness unto the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt: for they shall cry unto the…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And the LORD shall be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know the LORD in that day, and shall do sacrifice and…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And the LORD shall smite Egypt: he shall smite and heal it: and they shall return even to the LORD , and he shall be…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land:” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Whom the LORD of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel…” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.