The burden of the beasts of the south: into the land of trouble and anguish, from whence come the young and old lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent, they will carry their riches upon the shoulders of young asses, and their treasures upon the bunches of camels, to a people that shall not profit them.
The burden of the beasts of the south - the Septuagint, 'The vision of the quadrupeds in the desert.' The fresh inscription here marks emphatically the prediction that follows. Isaiah sees in vision the ambassadors' beasts burdened with rich presents traveling southwards (namely, to Egypt, Daniel 11:5-6), and plays on the double signification of massa, a weighty burden, and a weighty prophecy, by the inscription, 'The burden of the beasts of the south' - i:e., the burden of prophecy as well as the burden of weight which those Jews load themselves with, who, like laden beasts, go southward to Egypt (Forerius). (Hosea 8:9; Hosea 12:1.)
Into the land of trouble - the desert between Palestine and Egypt, destitute of water, and abounding in dangerous animals (Deuteronomy 8:15; Jeremiah 2:6, "a land of the shadow of death").
From whence come the ... fiery flying serpent (Isaiah 14:29) - a species which springs like a dart from trees on its prey. But these tree serpents (called by the Arabs at Basra Heie sursurie, or thiare) are said to be harmless; whereas the Saraph, or fiery serpent here, is probably so called from the inflammation caused by the bite. The epithet "flying" may imply the rapidity with which they darted. Herodotus, 2: 75; 3: 108, speaks of winged serpents. Some flying or darting and venomous kind now extinct is probably meant.
They will carry - rather, present, they carry; namely, as presents to Egypt (1 Kings 15:19).
Upon ... young asses - rather full-grown donkeys (Maurer).