Commentary on the Old Testament Volume 2-4, Biblical commentary 7 · Isaiah · Chapter 18
CHAP. XVIII.
VVOe to the Land shadowing with wings, which is beyond the rivers of Aethiopia. Vers. 1.Vulgar Latine, Vae terrae, Cymbalo alarum. Which Jerom rendereth so, because though foreign signifieth a shadow, yet being doubled it rather signifieth a Cymbal, as it is here foreign. Iunius, To the Land shadowing Junius.the heavens, affirming that all the stars in Aethiopia had high mountains overshadowing them, and compassing them about, which he gathers from Strabo lib. ult. saying, That all the Havens upon the red sea were such. Which is by the rivers of Aethiopia, Secundum flumina, Heb. Magnaber Lenachri, Beyond by the rivers, or at them. For Aethiopia was washed with two rivers, according to Strabo, lib. 17. and Pliny, which ran into Nilus of Aegypt. It was that part of Ethiopia and Egypt, which lay between the main Countrey of Ethiopia and Egypt, which is here meant, called Meroe. And this the Prophet cometh now to threaten, because Tyrhacha King of Ethiopia coming out against Sennacherib King of Assyria, when he was invading Judah in Hezekiah his time, brought him upon himself, which thing, and his denouncing warre against him by his Legats sent Vers. 2. by sea, is here prophesied of: to Hieron.this effect Junius. But Jerom takes this to be a description of Egypt, and that Land to be here threatned, because, as Syria before threatned had by helping Israel made them to trust in them, and not in God; so Egypt being made a stay by Iudah, incurred Gods wrath likewise. And this is followed generally by other Expositors, Haimo, Thomas Aquinas, Lyra, Cyril, Procopius, Sasbont &c. because it is not said, The Land of Ethiopia, but beyond the rivers of Ethiopia, implying it to be another Countrey, and Egypt abounded so with shipping covered with sails as with wings, that it may most aptly be applied thereunto; or it might be so called for covering the Jews under the shadow of her wings, because they trusted to Pharaoh King of Egypt, and rebelled against the Assyrians, and would flee thither for shelter after that their Land was subdued by Nebuchadnezzar. These indeed are great probabilities, but because the burthen of Egypt followeth not till Chap. 19. this cannot stand; and because Egypt is not beyond Ethiopia, but nearer to Ierusalem, but this beyond: And lastly in coming to speak against Egypt, he saith the same against it that he doth here; so that if this be against Egypt also, there must needs be a vain repetition; so Cornel a Lapide hath it, but untruly, as will appear to him that shall compare the Chapters together; therefore lastly rather Ethiopia is here meant, and Egypt not touched till Chap. 19. because Chap. 20. 4. concluding both these Prophecies, he makes expresse mention of Ethiopia, as well as of Egypt; and how they should be alike judged by the Assyrians domineering over them. So that if Ethiopia be not here threatned as well as Egypt, Chap. 19. more should be in the conclusion then in the premises. I resolve therefore with Iunius, whom the Jesuite also followeth, that Ethiopia is here meant; and to make this yet plainer, we may thus render the wordss, Woe to the Land shadowing with wings, which is beyond the rivers, even Ethiopia; for the Hebrews having no cases, it may as well be rendred by the Dative as Genitive, and so agree with Terrae, To the Land, by apposition. And this description is made, because by seven streams flowing out of Ethiopia, Egypt was watered, and those streams or heads were on this side Ethiopia, and so it was a Land beyond the rivers. For the word rendred shadowing, but by Jerom, With a Cymbal, though foreign of which it cometh, signifieth a tinkling as a shadow, so that the derivative may sometime signifie a Cymbal, yet this being a compound of foreign and foreign put together, as Vatablus noteth rather, signifieth a thick shadow, and hereby Ethiopia is described, either for the abundance of Flies and Bees there darkning the air, and so it is shadowed with winged things being black like the inhabitants of that Countrey, or for their abundance of shipping with fails, which are to ships, as wings to flee swiftly withall, or haply their offering to be a shelter to the Jews in Hezekiahs time is pointed at, when Tirhaka their King came out against Sennacherib to divert him from Jerusalem, which he was hastening to besiege; for it is not improbable but that he sent word hereof by some Embassadours spoken of vers. 2. to Hezekiah, though he placed not his confidence in this, but in God. Now that it may yet appear to be more probable, that Ethiopia is here threatned, we may take notice from 2 Chron. 12. 3. where the Ethiopians are said to have come against the Jews with Necho King of Egypt; and 2 Chron. 14. 9. Zarah King of Ethiopia came out against Asa with ten hundred thousand, that they were great enemies to Gods people; and therefore the Propositum of the Prophet being to threaten judgements against all the several Nations, which were their enemies from Chap. 13. to Chap. 23. no reason that the Ethiopians should Calvin. Vatablus.be left out. Calvin also conceives it to be some part of Ethiopia near the sea. Vatablus paraphraseth the words thus, O maritin countrey, which aboundest with ships, being covered with sails of many ships, as with a thick shadow. The Caldee Cald. Paraphra.Paraphrast, Woe to the Land to which they come with ships from a far countrey, and extend their sails as an Eagle fleeing with her wings. Musculus mentioneth some other interpretations, as of Eusebius Caesar. expounding it of the Jews, who wrote letters into all parts to stir up persecution against Christians, because vers. 2. it is said, sending in paper vessels upon the waters; but this is farre fetcht, sith by paper vessels not letters, but ships made of a wood called Papyrus, are set forth: and of others expounding it by the Romans, who in the time of Titus and Vespasian destroyed Jerusalem. But because the Jews were then to be destroyed for their bloudy sin in crucifying Christ, and other great abominations, and they pulled that destruction upon themselvs and City; this is altogether improbable, although Iust. cont. Tryphon. follows the former, & some others this. Corn. a Lap. tels of some that refer this Prophecy to the Indies so far remote, as being of their conversion by the Spaniards, it a quis{que} suo sensu abundat.
Sending Embassadours by sea upon rushen vessels, Go ye swift messengers to a distracted Vers. 2. Junius.Nation, &c. Iunius saith, That those sent by Tirhacha to the Aslyrisels to denounce warre against them, are here meant, and that the rushy vessels may also be read Papyry vessels, that is, Boats made of rushes, or of the light wood of a tree called Papyrus, of which paper to write upon was also anciently made. For such did both Ethiopians and Egyptians use, and not vessels of more solid matter, which would have been in more danger of breaking by reason of many hard and ragged bosoms of rocky matter, as they sailed Plin. l. 6. c. 22.down the river Nilus; and he cals the Assyrians a distracted and peeled Nation, because the forces come out against Judea had not their King amongst them at the first, and so were as an Army distracted, which being set suddenly upon could not make any such great resistance, as needed to be feared by them, To a people terrible in that place and further; For so were the Assyrians both to Judea and other Nations for their great prevailings, Which delineates and conculcates all things; That is, arrogates power over all, and treads them under foot, Whose Land the flouds spoil; according to Ammanus lib. 23. the Assyrians Countrey was much annoyed with waters overflowing and doing great hurt. Cornelius à Lapide distinguisheth sending Legats in rushy vessels from Cornel. a Lap.the next words, Go ye Angels or Messengers to a distracted Nation; as if the first only belonged to the Ethiopian, the next to the Assyrian; as if the Prophet had said, The Ethiopian goes out but as a paper or rushy vessel, weakly against the Assyrians, but Sennacherib their King vaunting over them, should count his Princes as Angels for strength in comparison, and they should indeed make the Ethiopick Nation poor and distracted, as lined out to destruction, the Assyrians coming upon them, as a floud irresistibly. Jerom by the Nation distracted Hieron.understands that of Judah, because the Assyrians should spoil it, yet it was formerly terrible for help miraculously received many times from God, making their enemies to tremble; and the Jews also in Davids time trod upon divers Nations, but now that Kingdom was to be destroyed by a floud of enemies. Calvin is somewhat doubtfull how to understand it, because no History Calvin.gives any light into it; but whereas Jerom expounds the Jews a terrible Nation, because they were in times past formidable to their enemies, he contrariwise, because they should be overwhelmed with such miseries, that the beholders should be astonisht at it, and it should be terrible to them to see it, as was threatned Deut. 28. 28. and though they expected help from God, yet as unworthy for their sins, they were under foot trodden by other Nations. Thus we see much diversity of expositions, amongst which to put in my poor judgement, I do not think with a Lapide, that here are two spoken of, one sending and the other vaunting, neither with Iunius, that the Ethiopian spake these words in detracting from the Assyrians then so mighty, but holding as before, that the Ethiopian was he that sent Embassadours to Judea with all speed to certifie them of his coming for their help, I conceive that the next, Go ye swift messengers, are the Prophets ironically taunting the Ethiopians for their vain confidence, that they should prevail, and so help Judea in her straits, and declaring what the condition of the Jews should shortly be, in stead of being succoured by them, even a distracted and peeled Nation, great spoils being taken from them by their enemies, although formerly God standing for them, they had been terrible to them; From that time and beyond, that is, Davids time, and the Judges and Jofhua before that, when the Amorites trembled at their approach, yet a Nation full of expectation, for which the word is doubled foreign Expecting, expecting help from God; but notwithstanding trodden under foot, and finally swept away with a floud, which was fulfilled in Nebuchadnezzar with his prevailing Army.
O all ye inhabitants of the world, &c. Here the Prophet to shew the greatness Vers. 3.of the judgment before threatned, saith, That it shall be seen as by an Ensign lifted up upon a Mountain, and heard as by a Trumpet extending in the sound thereof to all the world.
Moreover the Lord said thus unto me, I will rest me in my tabernacle, &c. Vers. 4. Hieron.That is, saith Jerom, Whilst these things are in doing I will sit in Heaven, and behold it, my willing of it to be so being sufficient without my labour to cause it to be so. As the noon-day light is clear, and the dewy cloud in harvest; That is, as nothing is more clear then that light, and nothing more refreshing to the scorched harvest-man then a dewy Cloud; so my word being fulfilled shall be gratefull to all that trust in me. Junius, I will look upon my place as the serene Junius.heat upon herb or grasse, and a thick dew in the heat of harvest; That is, I will look upon it becoming such by means of the Assyrian, that is, in an ill case, as grasse smitten with burning heat, and rain coming in harvest. The Geneva translation, As heat drying the rain, and a dewie cloud in the heat of harvest. Vatablus, As fair weather through the sin &c. N. T. Like a clear heat upon herbs, and like a cloud or dew in the heat of harvest. Hebrew word for word, As heat or the sun lifted up above the morning, as a dewie cloud in the heat of harvest. And the meaning most probably is, that the Lords looking from his place should be most comfortable to the faithfull, as the sun sweetly shining to warm the air and inlighten the world, and refresh all vegetable things, and a dewie cloud, not rainy to do hurt, but a little to cool in extremity of the harvests heat, and to make corn the more floury. Calvin, that some understand this as spoken by the Calvin.Prophet in his own person, but leaving this, as contrary to the words of the text, he saith the meaning is, the Lord will be for a time as one that sits and beholds and doth nothing, but at length it shall appear that he orders all things for the best good of his, and so that when he seems to do least for them, he is yet working out by his providence good unto them. For resting upon a seat and beholding implies a cessation from action; but having gone thus far in the former part of the verse so, as I cannot but applaud, he proceeds as indifferent betwixt that before going, and the Exposition of Junius, as if the wicked Jews were here threatned in speaking words of comfort, it being meant that they should be by favours fatted up as an Ox against the day of slaughter, prepared as the corn by the heat of the sun sometimes, and sometimes by dews falling upon it, is ripened to be cut down, so they to sudden excision: Which cannot agree to this comparison, sith the harvest ripe doth alwaies set forth the godly not the wicked, and the Vintage causing juice or bloud to runne, the destruction of the wicked.
Because whilest the harvest shall be present the bud shall be perfect, and out of Vers. 5.flower fruit waxing ripe, then he shall cut off, &c. N. Tr. For afore the harvest, when tho bud is perfect, and the sowr grape ripening in the flower. Hebrew word for word, In the face of harvest, as the bud is perfecting, and sowr fruit waxing ripe shall be flourishing. Here the Prophet, having in the words immediatly before going interposed somewhat for the comfort of the faithfull more obscurely, sheweth more plainly the destruction of the Ethiopians their enemies, as he had done before, and doth chap. 19, and 20. of other heathens round about, and then their returning home again out of Captivity, as an offering sent by Cyrus, v. 7. as shall more appear, when we come to it. He shews the speedy coming of destruction upon the Ethiopians by a comparison from cutting off the branches of a Vine, before the grapes be ripe, yea but now beginning to appear; for as he that doth thus makes great haste to the marring of the Vine, so the Lord threatens to do to the Ethiopians. And thus almost Jerom expounds it, but that he persists in applying it to the Egyptians, which hath been before confuted: And Hieronym.that under the Metaphor taken from a Vine, whose branches he saith, shall be thus ere long cut, he meaneth people, he changeth it v. 6. saying, They shall be left alike to the fowls of the mountains, and to the beasts of the earth. That is, being Vers. 6.in great multitudes slain to be devoured by them, when they shall lye without buriall. And his shewing that the wicked enemies of his Church should first come almost to perfection, and then be cut off, saith Calvin, tends yet more to illustrate Calvin.the power of God, in that suffering them first to grow to this, and not taking them off when they began to bud, which had been more easie, he now all at once destroyes them. But he applies it as a continuation of that said, v. 4. as serving further to illustrate and confirm that. Junius differing from all others, Junius.understands it as a cutting off the superfluous branches of a Vine, that it might flourish the better and fructifie more; but how then are these branches thus cut off left to the fowls and beasts? He saith the Assyrians destroyed, 2 King. 19. are meant by those that are so left, but they are plainly the cut off branches. Lyra follows Ierom.
At that time shall be brought to the Lord a gift, a people distracted and peeled, &c. Vers. 7.Innius, and after him the N. Tr. Of a people. Where the word of is redundant, as not being in the Hebrew; for the people of Israel, who had been carried Captive into Babylon, are the gift here meant by the first Persian King Cyrus sent home through Gods singular providence, as he had by his Prophet foretold: And whereas in the words following, Of a people terrible, denoting the same, forsomuch as this is a repetition of that which was said, v. 2. It is so spoken, because many of them being wasted and dead, and some willingly staying behinde in Babylon still, they that returned were but some of this people. So also Calvin understands it, nothing for the comfort of the faithfull, that howsoever the Church Calvin.Note. of God be distracted, he is both able and will gather them together again in his good time. And that we are Gods sacrifices, when we mortifie our vile and sinfull lusts, Rom. 12. 1. Col. 3. 5. Ierom rendring it of a people, expounds it of the Hieron.Jews, when they should trust no more in Egypt, but in the Lord only, and therefore bring their presents to him, to his Temple in Zion. But because nothing touching Egypt is here handled, I passe this over. Iunius expounds it of the spoils Junius.of the Assyrians, whereof of a gift was offered to God at Ezra his return out of Babylon: But the description of a distracted people and troden under foot agreeth not to them, as was before shewed upon v. 2. Lyra more fully then any Lyra.other, at that time; that is, the time after judgements thus executed against Ethiopians and other enemies of the Jews, the Kingdom coming into the Persians hands, Cyrus shall send the Jews home, and together with them great gifts, yea and the Jews remaining in Babylon shall send their gifts also, as is recorded Ezra 1. that they did. The Prophecie in every part being thus fulfilled, in the peoples being sent home, as a gift to the Lord, and the gold and silver to his Temple in mount Zion. But he saith further, that all this Chapter seems to be a Prophecie of Israel carried Captive by Salmanasar into Media, and after that by Alexander, as Iosephus hath it, inclosed by the Caspian mountains in a more remote place, from whence they could never get out; but towards the end of the Jos. li. 11.world, a way being miraculously opened, they shall come forth again and return to their own land; because Zephan. 3. 10. they are described by their being beyond the rivers of Ethiopia, as here v. 7. And he saith, that they are called a land with the Cymbal of wings, according to the Vulgar Latine, because we hear only a sound of their being there, and because they cannot send out by land to their own Country, they send by subterranean places in vessels made of rushes. Then all Nations are called upon to behold the wonder of their bringing home again, when the Ensign Christ is lifted up, and the Preachers of the Gospel sound unto them as with a trumpet. Then Christ rests, after the work of our redemption wrought in heaven, being yet by his Spirit sent down as heat and dew to the faithfull. Yet their return must not be so understood, as if it were universal, for when they shall flourish thus most; some branches not beleeving shall be cut off and remain as food for fowls and beasts. But the other shall be Gods providence brought home as a gift. All which, I confesse, were worth the considering, but that I know not how they being so inclosed, should send messengers by water under the earth; neither doth any History make mention of any that ever appeared, since their pretended inclosure here. Therefore we must leave it as uncertain, till God shall in time reveal the truth herein.