Isaiah 19:22

Hebrew Bible

20 It will become a visual reminder in the land of Egypt of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. When they cry out to the Lord because of oppressors, he will send them a deliverer and defender who will rescue them. 21 The Lord will reveal himself to the Egyptians, and they will acknowledge the Lord’s authority at that time. They will present sacrifices and offerings; they will make vows to the Lord and fulfill them. 22 The Lord will strike Egypt, striking and then healing them. They will turn to the Lord, and he will listen to their prayers and heal them. 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. 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 in the earth.

Ezekiel 29:13

Hebrew Bible

11 No human foot will pass through it, and no animal’s foot will pass through it; it will be uninhabited for 40 years. 12 I will turn the land of Egypt into a desolation in the midst of desolate lands; for 40 years her cities will lie desolate in the midst of ruined cities. I will scatter Egypt among the nations and disperse them among foreign countries. 13 “‘For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: At the end of 40 years I will gather Egypt from the peoples where they were scattered. 14 I will restore the fortunes of Egypt and will bring them back to the land of Pathros, to the land of their origin; there they will be an insignificant kingdom. 15 It will be the most insignificant of the kingdoms; it will never again exalt itself over the nations. I will make them so small that they will not rule over the nations.

 Notes and References

"... The oracles agains the nations in Jeremiah are remarkable in their repeated reference to the nations as God’s “daughter” (Jeremiah 46:11, 19, 24; 48:18; 49:4; 50:42; compare Isaiah 23:12; 47:1). Israel is referred to in such terms, of course (Jeremiah 6:23; 18:13; 31:4, 21), but it is theologically significant that Israelites are not the only people who are considered to be the children of God. These references are testimony to God as Creator of all people; as such, God as parent is concerned about the welfare of all of God’s children, not just God’s elect. And that divine concern will be manifested not only in terms of judgment but in terms of salvation (in the broadest sense of the term). God will even so act on behalf of the Egyptians, who are, ironically, called “my people” (Isaiah 19:20-25; compare Jeremiah 46:26; Ezekiel 29:13-14); other nations come into the view of such a promise as well (Jeremiah 48:47; 49:6, 39). All peoples are God’s children and God’s choice of Israel is ultimately for the sake of every one of these children ..."

Fretheim, Terence E. God and World in the Old Testament: A Relational Theology of Creation (p. 228) Abingdon Press, 2005

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