In that time shall the present be brought unto the LORD of hosts of a people scattered and peeled, and from a people terrible from their beginning hitherto; a nation meted out and trodden under foot, whose land the rivers have spoiled, to the place of the name of the LORD of hosts, the mount Zion.
In that time shall the present be brought unto the Lord of hosts of a people scattered and peeled - (see the note at Isaiah 18:2.) The sense in Gesenius' translation of these epithets, as referring to the Ethiopians, will be this: the Ethiopians, wonder-struck at such an interposition of Yahweh in behalf of His people, shall send gifts to Jerusalem in His honour (Isaiah 16:1; Psalms 68:31; Psalms 72:10). Thus, translate, 'a present ... from a people.' Or translate as the English version, "the present" will mean 'the people' of Ethiopia converted to God (Romans 15:16). Horsley takes the people converted to Yahweh as the Jews in the latter days. I prefer taking this as the ultimate and antitypical event here foretold; and the restoration to Judah by Ethiopia of some of the Jewish outcasts, after the destruction of Sennacherib's hosts, to be the typical event here alluded to. Doubtless Sennacherib, when he "took all the defensed cities of Judah" (Isaiah 36:1), carried in his train, in marching to the southwest of Palestine, where he defeated the Egyptians and Ethiopians (according to the inscriptions), many Jewish captives. Some of these escaping to the Ethiopians would be by them restored to Judah, after the Jewish captives. Some of these escaping to the Ethiopians would be by them restored to Judah, after the overthrow of Sennacherib's host at Jerusalem.
To the place of the name of the Lord of hosts - where Yahweh peculiarly manifests His glory.
The mount Zion. Acts 2:10; Acts 8:27, show how worshippers came up to Jerusalem from "Egypt" and "Ethiopia." Frumentius, an Egyptian, in the fourth century, was the human instrument in converting Abyssinia to Christianity; and a Christian Church, under an abuna or bishop, still flourishes there. The full accomplishment is probably still future, and refers to the restoration of the Jews by some friendly Gentile power, after Antichrist's overthrow.
Remarks: The Lord will yet 'lift up His ensign' of manifested power and glory "on the mountains," and with the mighty 'sound of a trumpet.' He will summon 'all the inhabitants of the world' to see His doings, and to hear His words in behalf of His covenant people. It is true, Israel has been long "a nation scattered and peeled," or denuded of all its comeliness; and its land has been for ages 'trodden down and spoiled' by Gentile oppressors. But the Lord, though He, seem now to 'take His rest in His dwelling-place,' and though in the coming days of Antichrist God at first shall allow the plans of the godless persecutor to progress favourably (Isaiah 18:4), yet 'before the harvest' He will cut down the foe 'sprigs and branches' (Isaiah 18:5). The hosts of Antichrist shall be a prey to all birds and beasts (Isaiah 18:6). Let us hence learn to wait the Lord's time with patience.