Isaiah 30:7

"The burden of the animals of the South. Through the land of trouble and anguish, of the lioness and the lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent, they carry their riches on the shoulders of young donkeys, and their treasures on the humps of camels, to an unprofitable people."

Key Reflection

In these verses, Isaiah uses imagery of southern beasts carrying wealth to symbolize the false hope and deceptive practices of those who seek alliances or aid from foreign powers, rather than relying on God. The journey through "the land of trouble and anguish" highlights the perilous path these people choose, indicating that their efforts will ultimately be in vain.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

For the Egyptians shall help in vain -That is, if they enter into the alliance, they shall not be able to defend you from the invader. The other member of the sentence would seem to imply that they would make promises of aid, and would even boast of being able to deliver them, but that they would fail in their promises. Therefore have I cried -Therefore have I the prophet cried, that is, I do call her so. Concerning this -Concerning this country; that is, Egypt. Some have understood this as referring to Jerusalem, but the connection requires us to understand it of Egypt. Their strength is to sit still -This is evidently designed to be an expressive appellation of Egypt.

More from Isaiah 30

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