Westminster Annotations, Isaiah · Chapter 18
CHAP. XVIII.
Vers. 1. VVO to] Or, Ho the land. as Chap. 10. 5. & 29. 1. and 55. 1.
the land] Spoken, either by way of denunciation, as some think, to Ethiopia, lying part on the one side of the red Sea, and part on the other; whose inhabitants used to send messengers over sea, either to other, as occasion required. Or, as others rather, by way of compellation, to Egypt, which bordered upon Ethiopia, and was in confederacie with it: Ezek. 30. 5. advising her by embassage to advertise the Ethiopians of those evils, that were coming upon them. Ezek. 30. 9.
shadowing with wings] Or, shadowed; or, of cymbals; or, gingles. and of wings.
with wings] Either shadowed, with a circle of hils encompassing it; or, with swarms of locusts and flies, Chap. 7. 18. Joel 2. 10. Or, shadowing the sea, with the sailes of their shipping: or, the lands, where they come, like locusts, Judg. 6. 5. 2 Chron. 14. 9. & 16. 8. with their troops, as wings, Chap. 8. 8. Dan. 11. 12. Or else, full of cymbals and gingles, which in Egypt were very rife: and parted into two moities, as two wings, Chap. 11. 12. & 24. 16. by the river Nilus running through it, Chap. 19. 5.
beyond] Or, be…ides. Chap. 9. 1.
Ethiopia] Heb. Cush. Gen. 10. 6.
V. 2. the sea,] By the red sea, Exod. 14. 1. & 15. 4.
of bulrushes upon the waters] Made of such matter; plentifull in those parts, Chap. 19. 7. Exod. 2. 3. and used much there; in shole waters especially; for expedition and safetie.
saying] Or, say.
to a nation] To the Ethiopians, a beardlesse people, spred farre and neer; or remote from other nations.
scattered and peeled] Or, out-spred and polished.
from their beginning hitherto] Much dreaded formerly, for their warlike disposition.
a nation, &c.] Or, a nation, that melteth out and treadeth down. Or, to be meted out and trodden downe.
a nation] Heb. a nation of line, line, and treading under foot, Chap. 10. 6. & 17. 14. & 22. 5.
meted out and trodden down] To let them know, that they are shortly to be meted out to destruction: or, to be overthrown and laid levell with the ground, Psal. 60. 8. 2 King. 21. 13. Chap. 34. 11. Lam. 2. 8. Dan. 7. 7. by the King of Assyria, Chap. 20. 4.
whose land the rivers have spoiled] Or, whose land the rivers despise. Or, to tell them, that the flouds will spoile their land.
the rivers have spoiled] The Assyrian forces, breaking in upon them as flouds, will lay it all wast, Chap. 8. 7. & 17. 12.
V. 3. ye inhabitants of the world] He calleth the whole world to observe and expect the issue, when God shall begin to muster the Assyrian forces, Chap. 5. 26.
V. 4. I will take my rest] Though I sit still, and let the Assyrian goe on; yet I have an eye to my Church to relieve and refresh it, 2 Sam. 23. 4. Psal. 72. 6.
consider in my dwelling place] Or, regard my set dwelling. Exod. 15. 17. 1 King. 8. 13.
upon herbs] Or, after rain. Job 36. 32. & 37. 11. Chap. 24. 15. & 26. 19. Hose. 14. 5.
V. 5. For] Or, But yet. as Psal. 118. 17. Chap. 9. 1.
when the bud is perfect] This people, which I have given up to the Assyrians, shall be cut off by them, before their time, Job 15. 32, 33. & 18. 16.
pruning hooks] Chap. 2. 4.
V. 6. unto the fowls of the mountains] As boughs cut down, left without regard, for birds to sit, and beasts to brouse on, Chap. 17. 9. & 27. 10. Ezek. 31. 13.
V. 7. shall the present be brought] After this judgement executed; in the dayes of the Messias. Chap. 19. 18, 19.
of a people] The Ethiopians shall yeeld up themselves unto Christ; and shew their submission, by offering of spirituall sacrifices to him, Psal. 68. 31. Zeph. 3. 10. Mal. 1. 11. Act. 8. 27, 37. as subjects their homage to their Soveraign by presents, Psal. 72. 10. Chap. 16. 1.
scattered and peeled] Or, out-spred and polished, &c. vers. 2.
the mount Zion] A type of the Church, Chap. 2. 2, 3.