Ir-ha-heres
The Prophecy in Isaiah 19
Ir-ha-heres appears in Isaiah 19:18, part of a remarkable prophecy about the future relationship between Egypt and the God of Israel. The prophet declares: "In that day there will be five cities in the land of Egypt that speak the language of Canaan and swear allegiance to the Lord of hosts. One of these will be called the City of the Sun" (Isaiah 19:18). The prophecy goes on to describe an altar to the Lord in the midst of Egypt, a pillar to the Lord at its border, and a day when Egypt, Assyria, and Israel will worship together (Isaiah 19:19-25).
This is one of the most universally hopeful prophecies in the Old Testament, envisioning a time when Israel's historic enemies would become fellow worshipers of the true God. The mention of five specific cities that would "speak the language of Canaan" suggests a significant Jewish or God-fearing population in Egypt, and the naming of one city in particular has generated centuries of scholarly discussion.
The Textual Puzzle
The difficulty with Ir-ha-heres lies in variant readings of the Hebrew text. The standard Hebrew text reads "Ir ha-heres," which could mean "City of Destruction" or "City of Overthrow." However, many Hebrew manuscripts, along with several ancient translations, read "Ir ha-cheres," meaning "City of the Sun." The difference in Hebrew involves a single letter, and the theological implications of each reading are dramatically different.
If the reading is "City of the Sun," the reference is most naturally to Heliopolis (the Greek name meaning "Sun City"), the ancient Egyptian city known in Hebrew as On. This was one of Egypt's oldest and most important religious centers, home to the great temple of the sun god Ra (Genesis 41:45). A prophecy that this pagan center of sun worship would become a city devoted to the Lord of hosts would be a powerful declaration of God's sovereignty over Egypt's most prestigious religious institution.
If the reading is "City of Destruction," the meaning is more enigmatic. Some interpreters see it as a deliberate prophetic wordplay, perhaps suggesting that the city of the sun would be destroyed or transformed, or that its former identity as a center of idolatry would be overturned.
Historical Fulfillment
The prophecy found a notable historical fulfillment in the establishment of Jewish communities throughout Egypt during the centuries after Isaiah's time. By the 3rd century BC, a large and influential Jewish population existed in Egypt, particularly in Alexandria, where the Hebrew Scriptures were translated into Greek (the Septuagint). Jewish communities also existed at Elephantine in southern Egypt, where a Jewish temple was built, and at various other sites.
The most direct connection to Isaiah's prophecy came around 160 BC, when the Jewish high priest Onias IV, fleeing political upheaval in Jerusalem, built a temple to the God of Israel at Leontopolis (Tell el-Yehudiyeh) in Egypt. According to Josephus, Onias explicitly appealed to Isaiah 19:19 as justification for building this temple. The Leontopolis temple functioned for over two centuries until the Romans destroyed it in 73 AD.
Whether these historical developments represent the complete fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy or only a partial one remains debated. Many interpreters see the prophecy as ultimately pointing to the spread of the worship of the true God among all nations, fulfilled in the worldwide expansion of faith in the God of Israel through Christianity.
The Five Cities
The identification of the "five cities" has generated considerable speculation. During the Ptolemaic period, several Egyptian cities had significant Jewish populations, including Alexandria, Leontopolis, Elephantine, Tahpanhes, and Migdol. Some scholars have suggested that these may correspond to the five cities Isaiah envisioned. Others see the number five as symbolic rather than precise, representing a significant but not universal presence of God's worshipers in Egypt.
The prophecy's language about these cities speaking "the language of Canaan" is striking. In literal terms, this was fulfilled by the large Hebrew and Aramaic-speaking Jewish communities in Egypt. In broader terms, it speaks to the adoption of Israel's faith and the worship of Israel's God by people living in the heart of a foreign land.
A Vision of Universal Worship
The broader context of Isaiah 19:18-25 presents one of the most expansive visions of God's redemptive plan in the Old Testament. The prophecy moves beyond Ir-ha-heres to describe Egypt and Assyria, Israel's two greatest historical enemies, joined with Israel in worshiping the Lord. "In that day Israel will be the third with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth, whom the Lord of hosts has blessed, saying, 'Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel my inheritance'" (Isaiah 19:24-25).
The titles "my people" and "the work of my hands," previously reserved exclusively for Israel, are applied to Egypt and Assyria. This remarkable extension of covenant language to Gentile nations anticipates the New Testament's teaching that in Christ, the barriers between peoples are broken down and all nations are invited into the family of God.
Biblical Context
Ir-ha-heres appears in Isaiah 19:18, within a prophecy spanning Isaiah 19:16-25 about Egypt's future relationship with the God of Israel. The passage envisions five cities in Egypt that worship the Lord, an altar and pillar in Egypt, and a highway connecting Egypt, Assyria, and Israel in shared worship. The reference to On/Heliopolis connects to Genesis 41:45. Jeremiah's prophecy about Beth-shemesh (Jeremiah 43:13) and Ezekiel's mention of Aven (Ezekiel 30:17) may refer to the same city under different names.
Theological Significance
The Ir-ha-heres prophecy demonstrates God's intention to extend his redemptive purposes beyond Israel to all nations, including Israel's historic enemies. The transformation of a center of pagan sun worship into a place of true worship illustrates God's power to reclaim and redeem what was devoted to false gods. The application of covenant titles to Egypt and Assyria (Isaiah 19:25) foreshadows the New Testament inclusion of Gentiles in the people of God, making this one of the Old Testament's most powerful anticipations of the universal gospel.
Historical Background
Heliopolis (On) was one of the oldest and most important religious centers in Egypt, home to the temple of Ra. Jewish communities in Egypt are well attested from the 6th century BC onward. The Elephantine papyri (5th century BC) document a Jewish military colony in southern Egypt that had its own temple. Onias IV built a Jewish temple at Leontopolis around 160 BC, which Josephus connects to Isaiah 19:19. The Septuagint translation was produced in Alexandria in the 3rd century BC, reflecting the large Jewish population there. Archaeological excavations at Tell el-Yehudiyeh have uncovered remains of the Onias temple precinct.