Bible Dictionary
CITY OF DESTRUCTION
“City of Destruction” is a name used in Isaiah 19:18 for one of the Egyptian cities that would turn to the worship of the LORD. The name appears to involve a wordplay on Heliopolis, the “city of the sun.”
Definition
“City of Destruction” is a name given in Isaiah to one of the Egyptian cities that would turn to the worship of Yahweh. The expression is connected with a wordplay on the name of Heliopolis, the city of the sun.
Biblical Usage
Isaiah 19:18 predicts that five Egyptian cities would speak the language of Canaan and swear to Yahweh; one would be called the City of Destruction.
Historical Background
The Hebrew expression may mean “city of overthrow” and echo “city of the sun,” the designation of Heliopolis, also known as On and Beth-shemesh. Some manuscript readings instead give “city of the sun.”
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>de-struk'-shun `ir ha-herec; (Septuagint Base-dek): In his prediction of the future return of Egypt to Yahweh, Isaiah declares, "In that day there shall be five cities in the land of Egypt that speak the language of Canaan, and swear to Yahweh of hosts; one shall be called The city of destruction" (Isa 19:18). The name `ir ha-herec, "the city of overthrow," is evidently a play upon `ir ha-cherec, "city of the sun," a designation of Heliopolis (same meaning; compare the name for this city, Beth-shemesh, Jer 43:13), in Egyptian, On (Ge 41:45), which last name Ezekiel, by a similar play on sound, changes into Aven. See ON. Some codices, however, as the Revised Version, margin notes, read here `ir ha-cherec, the actual name of the city.</p><p>James Orr</p>