Ir-Ha-Heres, also referred to as "City of Destruction" or "City of the Sun," is a location mentioned in the prophetic writings of the Old Testament. The name appears in the book of Isaiah, specifically in Isaiah 19:18. The passage reads: "In that day five cities in the land of Egypt will speak the language of Canaan and swear allegiance to the LORD of Hosts. One of them will be called the City of Destruction" (Isaiah 19:18). The term "Ir-Ha-Heres" is a Hebrew phrase that can be translated as "City of Destruction," though some translations and interpretations suggest "City of the Sun," possibly referring to the city of Heliopolis, a major center of sun worship in ancient Egypt.

Historical and Geographical Context

Ir-Ha-Heres is traditionally associated with the ancient city of Heliopolis, known in Egyptian as "Iunu" and in Greek as "Heliopolis," meaning "City of the Sun." Heliopolis was a significant religious center in ancient Egypt, dedicated to the worship of the sun god Ra. It was located in the Nile Delta region, near modern-day Cairo. The city's prominence in sun worship aligns with the alternative translation of Ir-Ha-Heres as "City of the Sun."

Prophetic Significance

The mention of Ir-Ha-Heres in Isaiah 19:18 is part of a larger prophecy concerning Egypt. Isaiah 19 describes a future time when Egypt will undergo significant transformation, turning away from idolatry and towards the worship of the LORD. The prophecy envisions a day when Egyptian cities will adopt the language and faith of the Israelites, symbolizing a spiritual renewal and alignment with the God of Israel.

The specific reference to Ir-Ha-Heres as the "City of Destruction" may symbolize the overthrow of idolatrous practices and the establishment of true worship. This transformation is part of a broader theme in Isaiah 19, where Egypt, historically an enemy of Israel, is depicted as coming into a covenant relationship with the LORD, alongside Israel and Assyria, forming a triad of nations blessed by God (Isaiah 19:23-25).

Theological Implications

From a theological perspective, the prophecy concerning Ir-Ha-Heres underscores the universal scope of God's redemptive plan. It highlights the idea that God's salvation is not limited to Israel but extends to all nations, including those historically opposed to His people. The transformation of Ir-Ha-Heres from a center of pagan worship to a city that acknowledges the LORD signifies the power of God's grace to redeem and transform even the most unlikely places and peoples.

The prophecy also serves as a reminder of the ultimate sovereignty of God over all nations and the futility of idolatry. It calls believers to anticipate the fulfillment of God's promises and to recognize His hand at work in the world, drawing all people to Himself.

Conclusion

While the exact historical and geographical identification of Ir-Ha-Heres remains a subject of scholarly debate, its mention in Isaiah 19:18 carries profound prophetic and theological significance. It serves as a testament to the transformative power of God's grace and the inclusivity of His redemptive plan, inviting all nations to partake in the blessings of His covenant.IR-HA-HERES

ir-ha-he'-rez (`ir haherec, according to the Massoretic Text, Aquila, Theodotion, Septuagint, the King James Version and the Revised Version (British and American); according to some Hebrew manuscripts, Symmachus, and the Vulgate, `ir ha-cherec): A city of Egypt referred to in Isaiah 19:18. Jewish quarrels concerning the temple which Onias built in Egypt have most probably been responsible for the altering of the texts of some of the early manuscripts, and it is not now possible to determine absolutely which have been altered and which accord with the original. This difference in manuscripts gives rise to different opinions among authorities here to be noted. Most of the discussion of this name arises from this uncertainty and is hence rather profitless.

The starting-point of any proper discussion of Ir-ha-h is that the words are by Isaiah and that they are prophecy, predictive prophecy. They belong to that portion of the prophecies of Isaiah which by nearly all critics is allowed to the great prophet. Nothing but unfounded speculation or an unwillingness to admit that there is any predictive prophecy can call in question Isaiah's authorship of these words. Then the sense of the passage in which these words occur imperatively demands that they be accounted predictive prophecy. Isaiah plainly refers to the future, "shall be called"; and makes a definite statement concerning what shall take place in the future (19:18-24). The reality of predictive prophecy may be discussed by those so inclined, but that the intention of the author here was to utter predictive prophecy does not seem to be open to question. For the verification of this prediction by its fulfillment in history we shall inquire concerning:

(1) the times intended: "that day";

(2) the "five cities";

(3) "Ir-ha-heres."

1. The Times Intended: "That Day":

The prophet gives a fairly specific description of "that day." It was at least to begin when "there shall be five cities in the land of Egypt that speak the language of Canaan, and swear to Yahweh of hosts" (Isaiah 19:18), and "In that day shall there be an altar to Yahweh in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar at the border thereof to Yahweh" (Isaiah 19:19). There was to be also some inroad made upon the heathenism of Egypt by the message of the Lord (Isaiah 19:21 f), and about that time a deliverer should arise in Egypt (Isaiah 19:20), and all this should take place before the power of the land of Assyria should pass away (Isaiah 19:23 f).

2. The "Five Cities":

The first historical fulfillment of these words is found at the period when Onias built his imitation of the Temple of Jerusalem at the place called by the Greeks Leontopolis (Tell el-Yehudiyeh), and the worship of Yahweh was set up at Elephantine, and the Jews were a great power at Alexandria and at Tahpanhes. While any of these latter three might have contained the "pillar," the "altar" would thus be either at Leontopolis or the other one of the "five cities" which cannot be named with much probability. The great deliverer would seem to be Alexander. Some think that the conversion of the Egyptians indicated in Isaiah 19:21, 22 is furthered, though still not completed, in the Christian invasion of the 1st century, and again in the success of modern Christian missions in Egypt.

3. "Ir-ha-heres":

It will be seen that it does not follow from what has been said that Leontopolis was Ir-ha-h as some seem to think. It is not said by the prophet that the place where was the "altar" was called Ir-ha-h, even if it were certain that the altar was at Leontopolis. Nevertheless, Leontopolis may be Ir-ha-h. The problem is not in the first place the identification of the name, but the determination of which one of the "five cities" was destroyed. The expression "shall be called the city of destruction" seems clearly to indicate that Ir-ha-h is not a name at all, but merely a descriptive appellation of that city which should "be destroyed." It still remains to inquire whether or not this was an independent appellation, or whether, more probably, it bore some relation to the name of that city at the time at which the prophet wrote, a play upon the sound, or the significance of the name or both of these, either through resemblance or contrast. If Gesenius is right, as he seems to be, in the opinion that "in the idiom of Isaiah Ir-ha-h means simply `the city that shall be destroyed,' " then the original problem of finding which one of the cities was destroyed seems to be the whole problem. Still, in the highly-wrought language of Isaiah and according to the genius of the Hebrew tongue, there is probably a play upon words. It is here that the consideration of the name itself properly comes in and probably guides us rightly. Speculation, by Gesenius, Duhm, Cheyne and others, has proposed various different readings of this name, some of them requiring two or three changes in the text to bring it to its present state. Speculation can always propose readings. On was sometimes called "Heres" and meant "house of the sun," which would be both translated and transliterated into Hebrew ha-cherec and might have `ir ("city") prefixed. Naville, through his study of the great Harris papyrus, believed that the old Egyptian city which later was called Leontopolis (Tell el-Yehudiyeh) was immediately connected with On and called "House of Ra," also "House of the Sun." Thus, this name might be both transliterated and translated into the Hebrew ha-cherec and have `ir prefixed. The difference between this expression and "Ir-ha-h" which Isaiah used is only the difference between "h" and "ch." So that Ir-ha-h is most probably a predictive prophecy concerning the disaster that was to overtake one of the "five cities," with a play upon the name of the city, and that city is either On, the later Heliopolis, or the ancient sacred city about 4 miles to the North of On, where Onias was to build his temple and which later became Leontopolis (Tellel-Yehudiyeh). No more positive identification of Ir-ha-h is yet possible.

M. G. Kyle

Alexandria and Rome - the Jewish Communities in the Capitals of ...
... of the prediction, [270] that five cities in the land of Egypt should speak the
language of Canaan, of which one was to be called Ir-ha-Heres, which the LXX. ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter v alexandria and rome.htm

Irhaheres
...IR-HA-HERES. ... 3. "Ir-ha-heres": It will be seen that it does not follow from what
has been said that Leontopolis was Ir-ha-h as some seem to think. ...
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Ir-ha-heres
Ir-ha-heres. Irha-heres, Ir-ha-heres. Ir-hammelah . Int. Standard
Bible Encyclopedia IR-HA-HERES. ir-ha-he'-rez (`ir haherec ...
/i/ir-ha-heres.htm - 12k

On (40792 Occurrences)
... "of Heres;" Hebrews `Ir-ha-heres, which some MSS. ... On is possibly referred
to as `ir ha-herec, in Isaiah 19:18 (see IR-HA-HERES). ...
/o/on.htm - 17k

Destruction (734 Occurrences)
... Destruction, City of. (Isaiah 19:18; Hebrews Ir-ha-Heres, "city of overthrow, "
because of ... See ASTRONOMY, sec. I, 2; IR-HA-HERES; ON. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/d/destruction.htm - 39k

Irha-heres
Irha-heres. Irhaheres, Irha-heres. Ir-ha-heres . Easton's Bible Dictionary ...
(see ON.). Irhaheres, Irha-heres. Ir-ha-heres . Reference Bible.
/i/irha-heres.htm - 6k

Ir-hammelah (1 Occurrence)
Ir-hammelah. Ir-ha-heres, Ir-hammelah. Iri . Multi-Version Concordance Ir-hammelah
(1 Occurrence). ... (DBY). Ir-ha-heres, Ir-hammelah. Iri . Reference Bible
/i/ir-hammelah.htm - 6k

Irascible (1 Occurrence)

/i/irascible.htm - 6k

Heres (7 Occurrences)
... Yahweh of hosts" (Isaiah 19:18). See IR-HA-HERES. EWG Masterman. Multi-Version
Concordance Heres (7 Occurrences). Judges 1:35 but the ...
/h/heres.htm - 10k

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