Now, behold, thou trustest upon the staff of this bruised reed, even upon Egypt, on which if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt unto all that trust on him.
Look, you're depending on Egypt for support, but Egypt is like a broken reed that someone uses as a walking stick. When you lean on it, it will snap and cut your hand. That's exactly what Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, is like to everyone who trusts in him for help.
This verse warns that trusting in Egypt (or any unreliable ally) for protection is like leaning on a broken stick that will only hurt you when it breaks.
📚 Historical Context
This was spoken by the Assyrian field commander (Rabshakeh) to King Hezekiah of Judah around 701 BC during Assyria's siege of Jerusalem. At this time, many small nations like Judah were caught between the superpowers of Assyria and Egypt, often seeking Egyptian military support against Assyrian invasion. The Assyrians were mocking Judah's alliance with Egypt, claiming it would prove useless and harmful.
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