19:11 The officials of Zoan are nothing but fools; 1
Pharaoh’s wise advisers give stupid advice.
How dare you say to Pharaoh,
“I am one of the sages,
one well-versed in the writings of the ancient kings?” 2
31:2 Yet he too is wise 3 and he will bring disaster;
he does not retract his decree. 4
He will attack the wicked nation, 5
and the nation that helps 6 those who commit sin. 7
1 tn Or “certainly the officials of Zoan are fools.” אַךְ (’akh) can carry the sense, “only, nothing but,” or “certainly, surely.”
2 tn Heb “A son of wise men am I, a son of ancient kings.” The term בֶּן (ben, “son of”) could refer to literal descent, but many understand the word, at least in the first line, in its idiomatic sense of “member [of a guild].” See HALOT 138 s.v. בֶּן and J. N. Oswalt, Isaiah (NICOT), 1:371. If this is the case, then one can take the word in a figurative sense in the second line as well, the “son of ancient kings” being one devoted to their memory as preserved in their literature.
3 sn This statement appears to have a sarcastic tone. The royal advisers who are advocating an alliance with Egypt think they are wise, but the Lord possesses wisdom as well and will thwart their efforts.
4 tn Heb “and he does not turn aside [i.e., “retract”] his words”; NIV “does not take back his words.”
5 tn Heb “and he will arise against the house of the wicked.”
6 sn That is, Egypt.
7 tn Heb “and against the help of the doers of sin.”