With the threat of Assyria on the horizon the people of Judah are tempted into this alliance with Cush and Egypt. Having dealt with the vulnerability and the judgment coming on Cush in chapter 18, now the prophecy focuses on Egypt to dissuade Judah from trusting them rather than the Lord.

The Lord is going to come swiftly on Egypt and create fear (v1), internal conflict (v2) and confusion (v3), before Egypt is handed over to a fierce king (v4). The lifeblood of Egypt is the Nile and it would dry up creating ruin (v5-9). Its leaders will be brought low so that they act like a drunk man (v10-15).

The mighty Egypt will be terrified by Judah and then the prophesy speaks of amazing days when Egypt will turn to the Lord (v18-22) and there will be an alliance between Assyria, Egypt and Judah (v23-25). All of this is to encourage Judah to trust in the Lord and not in her neighbour Egypt.

When Assyria conquers the Philistine city of Ashdod (v1), Isaiah is told to walk around naked (v2-3) and this is a sign to the people of what will happen to them if they don’t trust in the Lord (v4-6). Unbelief leads always to shame.