Isaiah 18

Isa 18:1-7.

Isaiah announces the overthrow of Sennacherib's hosts and desires the

Ethiopian ambassadors, now in Jerusalem, to bring word of it to their

own nation; and he calls on the whole world to witness the event

(Isa 18:3).

As

Isa 17:12-14

announced the presence of the foe, so

Isa 18:1-7

foretells his overthrow.

1. Woe--The heading in English Version, "God will destroy the

Ethiopians," is a mistake arising from the wrong rendering "Woe,"

whereas the Hebrew does not express a threat, but is an appeal calling attention

(Isa 55:1;

Zec 2:6):

"Ho." He is not speaking against but to the Ethiopians,

calling on them to hear his prophetical announcement as to the

destruction of their enemies.

shadowing with wings--rather, "land of the winged bark"; that

is, "barks with wing-like sails, answering to vessels of bulrushes" in

Isa 18:2;

the word "rivers," in the parallelism, also favors it; so the

Septuagint and Chaldee [EWALD].

"Land of the clanging sound of wings," that is, armies, as in

Isa 8:8;

the rendering "bark," or "ship," is rather dubious [MAURER]. The armies referred to are those of Tirhakah,

advancing to meet the Assyrians

(Isa 37:9).

In English Version, "shadowing" means

protecting--stretching out its wings to defend a feeble

people, namely, the Hebrews [VITRINGA]. The

Hebrew for "wings" is the same as for the idol Cneph,

which was represented in temple sculptures with wings

(Ps 91:4).

beyond--Meroe, the island between the "rivers" Nile and Astaboras is

meant, famed for its commerce, and perhaps the seat of the Ethiopian

government, hence addressed here as representing the whole empire:

remains of temples are still found, and the name of "Tirhakah" in the

inscriptions. This island region was probably the chief part of Queen

Candace's kingdom

(Ac 8:27).

For "beyond" others translate less literally "which borderest on."

Ethiopia--literally, "Cush." HORSLEY

is probably right that the

ultimate and fullest reference of the prophecy is to the

restoration of the Jews in the Holy Land through the instrumentality of

some distant people skilled in navigation

(Isa 18:2;

Isa 60:9, 10;

Ps 45:15; 68:31;

Zep 3:10).

Phœnician voyagers coasting along would speak of all Western

remote lands as "beyond" the Nile's mouths. "Cush," too, has a

wide sense, being applied not only to Ethiopia, but Arabia-Deserta and

Felix, and along the Persian Gulf, as far as the Tigris

(Ge 2:13).

2. ambassadors--messengers sent to Jerusalem at the time that

negotiations passed between Tirhakah and Hezekiah against the expected

attack of Sennacherib

(Isa 37:9).

(Isa 19:5):

as what follows proves.

vessels of bulrushes--light canoes, formed of papyrus, daubed over

with pitch: so the "ark" in which Moses was exposed

(Ex 2:3).

Go--Isaiah tells them to take back the tidings of what God is about

to do

(Isa 18:4)

against the common enemy of both Judah and Ethiopia.

scattered and peeled--rather, "strong and energetic"

[MAURER]. The

Hebrew for "strong" is literally, "drawn out"

(Margin;

Ps 36:10;

Ec 2:3).

"Energetic," literally, "sharp"

(Hab 1:8,

Margin; the verb means to "sharpen" a sword,

Eze 21:15, 16);

also "polished." As HERODOTUS (3:20, 114)

characterizes the Ethiopians as "the tallest and fairest of men," G. V.

SMITH translates, "tall and comely"; literally,

"extended"

(Isa 45:14,

"men of stature") and polished (the Ethiopians had "smooth,

glossy skins"). In English Version the reference is to the Jews,

scattered outcasts, and loaded with indignity (literally,

"having their hair torn off," HORSLEY).

terrible--the Ethiopians famed for warlike prowess

[ROSENMULLER].

The Jews who, because of God's plague, made others to fear the like

(De 28:37).

Rather, "awfully remarkable" [HORSLEY]. God puts

the "terror" of His people into the surrounding nations at the first

(Ex 23:27;

Jos 2:9);

so it shall be again in the latter days

(Zec 12:2, 3).

from . . . beginning hitherto--so English Version rightly. But

GESENIUS, "to the terrible nation (of upper Egypt) and further beyond"

(to the Ethiopians, properly so called).

meted out--Hebrew, "of line." The measuring-line was used in

destroying buildings

(Isa 34:11;

2Ki 21:13;

La 2:8).

Hence, actively, it means here "a people meting out,--an

all-destroying people"; which suits the context better than "meted,"

passively [MAURER]. HORSLEY,

understanding it of the Jews, translates it, "Expecting,

expecting (in a continual attitude of expectation of Messiah) and

trampled under foot"; a graphic picture of them. Most translate, of

strength, strength (from a root, to brace the sinews), that

is, a most powerful people.

trodden down--true of the Jews. But MAURER

translates it actively, a

people "treading under foot" all its enemies, that is, victorious

(Isa 14:25),

namely, the Ethiopians.

spoiled--"cut up." The Nile is formed by the junction of many

streams in Abyssinia, the Atbara, the Astapus or Blue river (between

which two rivers Meroe, the "Ethiopia" here meant, lies), and the

Astaboras or White river; these streams wash down the soil along

their banks in the "land" of Upper Egypt and deposit it on that of Lower

Egypt. G. V. SMITH translates it, "Divide."

HORSLEY takes it figuratively

of the conquering armies which have often "spoiled" Judea.

3. see ye . . . hear ye--rather, "ye shall see . . . shall hear."

Call to the whole earth to be witnesses of what Jehovah ("He")

is about to do. He will "lift up an ensign," calling the Assyrian motley

hosts together

(Isa 5:26)

on "the mountains" round Jerusalem, to their own destruction. This (the

eighteenth chapter)

declares the coming overthrow of those armies whose presence is

announced in

Isa 17:12, 13.

The same motive, which led Hezekiah to seek aid from Egypt, led him to

accept gladly the Ethiopian Tirhakah's aid

(Isa 36:6; 37:9).

Ethiopia, Egypt, and Judea were probably leagued together against the

common enemy, 713 B.C. See notes on the

twenty-second chapter,

where a difference of tone (as referring to a different period) as to

Ethiopia is observable. HORSLEY takes the "ensign"

to be the cross, and the "trumpet" the Gospel trumpet, which

shall be sounded more loudly in the last days.

4. take . . . rest . . . consider--I will

calmly look on and not interpose, while all seems to promise

success to the enemy; when figuratively, "the sun's heat" and "the

night dews" ripen their "harvest"; but "before" it reaches its maturity

I will destroy it

(Isa 18:5;

Ec 8:11, 12).

like a clear heat--rather, "at the time of the clear (serene) heat"

[MAURER].

upon herbs--answering to "harvest" in the parallel clause.

MAURER

translates, "in the sunlight"

(Job 31:26; 37:21;

Hab 3:4).

like . . . dew--rather, "at the time of the dew cloud." God's "silence"

is mistaken by the ungodly for consent; His delay in taking vengeance

for forgetfulness

(Ps 50:21);

so it shall be before the vengeance which in the last day shall usher

in the restoration of the Jews

(Isa 34:1-8; 57:11,

end of the verse,

2Pe 3:3-10).

5. For--rather, "But."

perfect--perfected. When the enemy's plans are on the verge of

completion.

sour grape . . . flower--rather, "when the flower shall become the

ripening grape" [MAURER].

sprigs--the shoots with the grapes on them. God will not only

disconcert their present plans, but prevent them forming any future

ones. HORSLEY takes the "harvest" and vintage here as referring to

purifying judgments which cause the excision of the ungodly from the

earth, and the placing of the faithful in a state of peace

on the earth: not the last judgment

(Joh 15:2;

Re 14:15-20).

6. birds . . . beasts--transition from the image "sprigs," "branches,"

to the thing meant: the Assyrian soldiers and leaders shall be the prey

of birds and beasts, the whole year through, "winter" and "summer," so

numerous shall be their carcasses. HORSLEY

translates the Hebrew which is singular: "upon it," not "upon them"; the "it" refers

to God's "dwelling-place"

(Isa 18:4)

in the Holy Land, which Antichrist ("the bird of prey" with the

"beasts," his rebel hosts) is to possess himself of, and where he is to

perish.

7. present . . . people scattered and peeled--For the

right rendering, see on

Isa 18:2.

The repetition of epithets enhances the honor paid to Jehovah by so

mighty a nation. The Ethiopians, wonder-struck at such an

interposition of Jehovah in behalf of His people, shall send gifts to

Jerusalem in His honor

(Isa 16:1;

Ps 68:31;

72:10).

Thus translate: "a present . . . from a people." Or

translate, as English Version; "the present" will mean "the

people" of Ethiopia converted to God

(Ro 15:16).

HORSLEY takes the people converted to Jehovah, as

the Jews in the latter days.

place of the name--where Jehovah peculiarly manifests His glory;

Ac 2:10 and 8:27

show how worshippers came up to Jerusalem from Egypt" and "Ethiopia."

Frumentius, an Egyptian, in the fourth century, converted Abyssinia to

Christianity; and a Christian church, under an abuna or bishop,

still flourishes there. The full accomplishment is probably still

future.