Isaiah 19:13

“The princes of Zoan are become fools, &c.] Or infatuated, in their counsels to Pharaoh, and by giving heed to the magicians and diviners; (see Gill on “<231911>Isaiah 19:11”): the princes of Noph are deceived; called Moph, in (<280906>Hosea 9:6) where our translation renders it Memphis; and so do the Septuagint and Vulgate Latin versions here; the Arabic version has it Menphis; the Syriac version Mophis; and the Targum Mephes; the city of Memphis is no doubt intended, which was the chief of the first of the nomes or provinces of Egypt, from whence it was called Memphites: it was the metropolis of upper Egypt, and the seat of their kings and princes; it was built by their first king…”

“Noph--called also Moph; Greek, Memphis (Hos 9:6); on the western bank of the Nile, capital of Lower Egypt, second only to Thebes in all Egypt: residence of the kings, until the Ptolemies removed to Alexandria; the word means the "port of the good" [PLUTARCH]. The military caste probably ruled in it: "they also are deceived," in fancying their country secure from Assyrian invasion. stay of . . . tribes--rather, "corner-stone of her castes" [MAURER], that is, the princes, the two ruling castes, the priests and the warriors: image from a building which rests mainly on its corner-stones (see on Isa 19:10; Isa 28:16; Psa 118:22; Num 24:17, Margin; Jdg 20:2; Sa1 14:28, Margin; Zac 10:4).”

“The princes of Zoan - (the note at Isaiah 19:11). This “repetition” is intensive and emphatic, and shows the deep conviction of the prophet of their folly. The design is to show that “all” the counselors on which the Egyptians depended were fools. The princes of Noph - The Vulgate, the Septuagint, and the Chaldee, render this ‘Memphis,’ and there is no doubt that this is the city intended. The name Memphis may have easily arisen from Noph. It was written also “Moph,” and hence, Memphis. It is called “Menouf” by the Copts and Arabians. According to Plutarch, the name Memphis means “the port of the good.” The situation of Memphis has been a subject of considerable dispute, and has afforded…”

“Noph - Another chief city, and one of the kings seats, called also Moph, and by latter authors, Memphis. The stay - Their chief counsellors. Tribes - Of the provinces, which he calls by a title borrowed from the Hebrews, in whose language he spake and wrote this prophecy. Isaiah 19:14”

“19:13 Memphis was an ancient capital in Egypt located south of the Nile delta. It was destroyed by Esarhaddon in 671 BC.”

“princes of Zoan: Isa 19:11; Rom 1:22 Noph: Jer 2:16, Jer 46:14, Jer 46:19; Eze 30:13 stay: or, governors, Heb. corners, Num 24:17; Sa1 14:38 \*marg. Zac 10:4; Pe1 2:7 Isaiah 19:14”