The princes of Tzo`an are utterly foolish. The counsel of the wisest counselors of Par`oh has become stupid. How do you say to Par`oh, *I am the son of the wise, the son of ancient kings?*
The spirit of Egypt will fail in its midst. I will destroy its counsel. They will seek the idols, the charmers, those who have familiar spirits, and the wizards.
therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, even a marvelous work and a wonder; and the wisdom of their wise men will perish, and the understanding of their prudent men will be hidden.*
Every man is become brutish [and is] without knowledge; every goldsmith is disappointed by his engraved image; for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them.
Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; you have corrupted your wisdom by reason of your brightness: I have cast you to the ground; I have laid you before kings, that they may see you.
Mischief shall come on mischief, and rumor shall be on rumor; and they shall seek a vision of the prophet; but the law shall perish from the Kohen, and counsel from the elders.
All the men of your alliance have brought you on your way, even to the border. The men who were at shalom with you have deceived you, and prevailed against you. Friends who eat your bread lay a snare under you. There is no understanding in him.*
They went up by the South, and came to Chevron; and Achiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the children of `Anak, were there. (Now Chevron was built seven years before Tzo`an in Egypt.)