That sendeth ambassadors by the sea, even in vessels of bulrushes upon the waters, saying, Go, ye swift messengers, to a nation scattered and peeled, to a people terrible from their beginning hitherto; a nation meted out and trodden down, whose land the rivers have spoiled!
That sendeth ambassadors - messengers sent to Jerusalem at the time that negotiations passed between the Ethiopian Tirhakah and Hezekiah against the expected attack of Sennacherib (Isaiah 37:9).
By the sea - on the Nile (Isaiah 19:5), as what follows proves.
Even in vessels of bulrushes - light canoes formed of papyrus, daubed over with pitch: so the "ark" in which Moses was exposed (Exodus 2:3).
Saying. Or else, as Maurer, Gesenius, etc., omit this, it not being in the Hebrew.
Go. Isaiah (in Gesenius' and Maurer's view) tells them to take back the tidings of what God is about to do (Isaiah 18:4) against the common enemy of both Judah and Ethiopia.
To a nation scattered and peeled - else, strong and energetic (Gesenius). The Hebrew for "scattered" х mªmushaak (H4900), from maashak (H4900), to draw out] is literally, drawn out (margin, Psalms 36:10; Ecclesiastes 2:3). The Hebrew for "peeled" is mowraaT (H4178), from maarat (H4803), to make smooth or sharp. 'Energetic'-literally, sharp (Habakkuk 1:8, margin; the verb means to sharpen a sword, Ezekiel 21:15-16); also polished. Since Herodotus (3: 20, 114) characterizes the Ethiopians as the 'tallest and fairest of men,' G.V. Smith translates, 'tall and comely'-literally, extended (Isaiah 45:14, "men of stature") and polished (the Ethiopians had smooth, glossy skins). In the English version the reference is to the Jews, scattered outcasts, and "peeled" - i:e., loaded with indignity; literally, having their hair torn off (Horsley). The Vulgate, 'to a nation convulsed and torn asunder.' I prefer, with the English version, to supply 'saying:' thus, "Go, ye," etc., is the instruction given by "the land shadowing with wings" (Ethiopia), to its ambassadors, when it was sending them to Judah, the "nation scattered and peeled." The Chaldaic and Vulgate both support the English version, rather than Gesenius. Thus, the Chaldaic translates, 'to a nation suffering violence, and torn to pieces.'
Terrible - the Ethiopians, famed for warlike prowess (Rosenmuller). The Jews who, because of God's plague, made others to fear the like (Deuteronomy 28:37). Rather, 'awfully remarkable' (Horsley). God put the 'terror' of His people into the surrounding nations at the first (Exodus 23:27; Joshua 2:9): so it shall be again in the latter days (Zechariah 12:2-3, "I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem").
From their beginning hitherto. So the 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, line ( qaw (H6957), qaw (H6957)). The measuring line was used in destroying buildings (Isaiah 34:11; 2 Kings 21:13; Lamentations 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 (quav, quav, from quavah, to expect), '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 an Arabic root, to brace the sinews) - i:e., a most powerful people.
Trodden down - true of the Jews. Compare Horsley's translation above. But Maurer translates it actively, a people treading underfoot all its enemies - i:e., victorious (Isaiah 14:25); namely, the Ethiopians.
Whose land the rivers have 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: Isaiah 8:8 supports this. On the whole, I prefer to explain thus: God, by His prophet (Isaiah 18:1-2), calls the attention of the land of Ethiopia, which had sent its ambassadors to Judah, its ally, against the common enemy, Sennacherib. Those ambassadors, in embarking in their bulrush boats, had been instructed to 'go to Judah, a nation scattered, and as it were made bald, yet terrible originally because of God's protection, but now spoiled by the overwhelming floods of the Assyrian rivers.' God's announcement respecting His interposition in behalf of His people against the Assyrian hosts follows (Isaiah 18:3-6).
Thus, the antitypical and ultimate event foretold will be, as Isaiah 18:7 requires-God will interpose in behalf of His people against the anti-Christian hosts; and some friendly Gentile nation, of which Ethiopia here is the type, will, at God's call, be instrumental in restoring Israel and Judah to their own land after their lengthened dispersion and down-treading, just as the Ethiopian Tirhakah was made the instrument of turning aside Sennacherib himself, so that when God destroyed his army before Jerusalem, the Jews were established in secure possession of their own land.