The fishermen will mourn and lament, all who cast a hook in the Nile; and they will languish who spread nets on the water.
8. And the fishers shall mourn. Isaiah still keeps in his eye the condition of Egypt. We have formerly mentioned {Bogus footnote} that the prophets made use of those figures of speech by which, when any country is mentioned, they chiefly name those things which abound in that country, and for which it is celebrated.
Though the land of Egypt had of old been a house of bondage to the people of God, where they had been ruled with rigour, yet among the unbelieving Jews there still remained much of the humour of their fathers, who said, Let us make us a captain and return into Egypt.
Commenting on Isaiah 19:1-17
The fishers also shall mourn,.... Because there will be no fish to catch, the waters of the river being dried up, and so will have none to sell, and nothing to support themselves and families with; and this must also affect the people in general, fish being the common food they lived upon, see Num 11:5, not only because of the great plenty there usually...