Also the children of Noph and Tahapanes,.... These were cities in Egypt. Noph is the same with Moph in Ho 9:6 and which we there rightly render Memphis; as Noph is here by the Targum, Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Arabic versions; and was formerly, as Pliny says, the palace of the kings of Egypt.
It is the same that is now called Alcairo, or Grand Cairo. According to Herodotus , it was built by Menes, the first king of Egypt; and who also makes mention of a city of Egypt, called Momemphis . Tahapanes is the same with Hanes in Isa 30:4, and here, in the Arabic version, is called Daphnes; and is thought by some to be the same with Daphnae Pelusiae, a city in Egypt.
This Tahapanes was the metropolis of Egypt, and the seat of their kings; mention is made of Pharaoh's house in it, in Jer 43:9, now the inhabitants of these, called the children of them, and who are put for the people of Egypt in general, were the allies of the Jews, and in whom they trusted for help, when attacked by their enemies, Isa 30:2 and yeteven these have broken the crown of thy head; which is interpreted, by the Targum, of slaying their mighty men, and spoiling their goods; perhaps it had its accomplishment when Pharaohnecho king of Egypt came out against the king of Assyria, and Josiah king of Judah went out to meet him, and was slain by him at Megiddo; and his son Jehoahaz he put in bonds, and carried him to Egypt, and put his brother upon the throne, and took tribute of gold and silver of him, 2Ki 23:29.
Nat. Hist. l. 5. c. 9. L. 2. vel Euterpe, c. 99. lb. c.