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). Phoenician 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).
by . . . sea--on the Nile (@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, wonderstruck
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 @Ac 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.