³ tn Heb “You will be ashamed/disappointed by Egypt, just as you were ashamed/ disappointed by Assyria.”

² tn Heb “to seek protection in the protection of Pharaoh, and to seek refuge in the shade of Egypt.”

¹ tn Heb “and they will be afraid and embarrassed because of Cush their hope and Egypt their beauty.”

¹ sn “Rahab,” which means “proud one,” is used here as a title for Egypt (see Isa 30:7).

² sn The wild beast of the reeds probably refers to a hippopotamus, which in turn symbolizes the nation of Egypt.

² tn Heb “whom you did not allow Israel to enter when they came from the land of Egypt.”

¹ sn The Shihor River was a river on the border of Egypt, probably the eastern branch of the Nile.

³ tn For the comments on this verb see the discussion in v. 4. God would get glory by defeating Egypt.

³ tn Heb “of the seven years which were in the land of Egypt and placed food in the cities.”

² tn Heb “which is by the face of,” or near the border. The territory ran along the border of Egypt.

² sn The Casluhites lived in Crete and eventually settled east of the Egyptian Delta, between Egypt and Canaan.

¹ tn The construction is unusual in that it says, “And Egypt will know.” The verb is plural, and so “Egypt” must mean “the Egyptians.” The verb is the perfect tense with the vav consecutive, showing that this recognition or acknowledgment by Egypt will be the result or purpose of the defeat of them by God.

¹ sn H. H. Rowley observes the use of the words for plants that grow in Egypt and suspects that Bildad either knew Egypt or knew that much wisdom came from Egypt. The first word refers to papyrus, which grows to a height of six feet (so the verb means “to grow tall; to grow high”). The second word refers to the reed grass that grows on the banks of the river (see Gen 41:2, 18).

³ sn So Hadad asked Pharaoh…. This lengthy description of Hadad’s exile in Egypt explains why Hadad wanted to oppose Solomon and supports the author’s thesis that his hostility to Solomon found its ultimate source in divine providence. Though Hadad enjoyed a comfortable life in Egypt, when the Lord raised him up (apparently stirring up his desire for vengeance) he decided to leave the comforts of Egypt and return to Edom.

¹ sn Pharaoh’s two dreams, as explained in the following verses, pertained to the economy of Egypt. Because of the Nile River, the land of Egypt weathered all kinds of famines—there was usually grain in Egypt, and if there was grain and water the livestock would flourish. These two dreams, however, indicated that poverty would overtake plenty and that the blessing of the herd and the field would cease.

³ sn To obey. Again the theme of the speech is noted. The nation disobeyed the way of God and opted for Egypt over the promised land.

³ tc The MT reads וְעָרֵי (v^eʿarey, “and the cities [of Egypt]”), but the parallel line indicates this needs emendation to וְעַד (v^eʿad, “even to”).

¹ sn The expression pass through your midst alludes to Exod 12:12, where the Lord announced he would “pass through” Egypt and bring death to the Egyptian firstborn.

¹ tn The term translated “harshness” is used to describe the oppression the Israelites suffered as slaves in Egypt (Exod 1:13).

¹ tn The words “say to them” are added in the translation for clarity to indicate the shift in addressee from the prophet to Egypt.