Isaiah 18:1-20:6 NIV

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 18:1

Isaiah 18:1. Wo to the land Or, rather, as Bishop Lowth renders it, and as the particle הוי , here used, undoubtedly means, Isaiah 55:1, and elsewhere, Ho! to the land. The words seem evidently to contain an address to the land here meant, which is supposed to be Egypt, because of the attributes under which it is spoken of. 1st, It is said to be shadowing, or shadowed with wings, a description which, it is thought, agrees to Egypt, as connected with Ethiopia, because it is situated... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Isaiah 18:1-7

Alliance with Ethiopia refused (18:1-7)Along the upper reaches of the Nile River was the country known as Ethiopia (RSV), Sudan (GNB) or Cush (NIV). It was a land of tall smooth-skinned people, but also a land plagued by swarms of buzzing insects. From this country a group of government representatives came to visit Judah, travelling down the Nile and across to Jerusalem. They apparently hoped to gain Hezekiah’s cooperation in an attack against Assyria. Isaiah sends them back as he had done the... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Isaiah 18:1

Woe = Ho! The third of the seven burdens. land. beyond: i.e. land. beyond Abyssinia. shadowing with wings = of the rustling zalzal (from zalal, to tinkle, compare Deuteronomy 28:42 ). read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Isaiah 18:1

THE ORACLE ABOUT ETHIOPIAWe have avoided the use of the word "burden" in this title, because this prophecy is not a prophecy against Ethiopia, but about Ethiopia. This is called by ancient and present-day commentators alike "The most difficult chapter encountered thus far,"[1] and "One of the most obscure prophecies in Isaiah."[2]This little chapter falls into two divisions, or stanzas of three verses each, followed by an epilogue of a single verse.[3] As we shall more completely explain below,... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Isaiah 18:1

Isaiah 18:1. Woe to the land— The fourth member of this prophesy is contained in the present chapter; which, being another part of the second section, connects with the preceding most closely, as containing an enarration of the former member; that is, of the Assyrian punishment, figuratively set forth in the manner of our prophet; for he commands ambassadors to be sent to the Egyptians, who not only reverenced but feared the Assyrian power; as also to other nations, to inform them concerning... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 18:1

1. Woe—The heading in English Version, "God will destroy the Ethiopians," is a mistake arising from the wrong rendering "Woe," whereas the Hebrew does not express a threat, but is an appeal calling attention (Isaiah 55:1; Zechariah 2:6): "Ho." He is not speaking against but to the Ethiopians, calling on them to hear his prophetical announcement as to the destruction of their enemies. shadowing with wings—rather, "land of the winged bark"; that is, "barks with wing-like sails, answering to... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Isaiah 18:1-3

The land that lies beyond the rivers of Cush was Cush (Nubia), notable for its ships, whose sails looked like the whirring wings of insects over water from a distance. Another view of the whirling wings is that they represent swarming hordes of people, including soldiers. [Note: Young, 1:474-75.] Cush was at the end of the earth in Isaiah’s day and therefore symbolized the ends of the earth; it was a great distance from Judah. Some scholars believe Cush lay within what is now Ethiopia, but... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 18:1-7

Ethiopia ReassuredIsaiah here addresses the Ethiopians, who, agitated at the advance of the Assyrians west-ward, were sending ambassadors to other states to organise resistance. He foretells the sudden overthrow of the Assyrians, as in Isaiah 10:28-34; Isaiah 14:24-27; Isaiah 17:12-14 and this prophecy should accordingly be grouped with those, as relating to Sennacherib’s great invasion in the reign of Hezekiah,701 b.c.1-3. The Ethiopians need not be anxious, but are bidden, with all nations,... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Isaiah 18:1

XVIII.(1) Woe to the land shadowing with wings.—A new kingdom, hitherto unnamed by Isaiah, comes now within his horizon. The movements of Tirhakah, king of Cush or Ethiopia, from the upper valley of the Nile, subduing Egypt, and prepared to enter into conflict with the great Assyrian king (Isaiah 37:9), had apparently excited the hopes of such of Hezekiah’s counsellors as put their trust in an arm of flesh. To these Isaiah now turns with words of warning. The words “shadowing with wings” have... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Isaiah 18:1-7

32CHAPTER XVIIISAIAH TO THE FOREIGN NATIONS736-702 B.C.Isaiah 14:24-32; Isaiah 15:1-9; Isaiah 16:1-14; Isaiah 17:1-14; Isaiah 18:1-7; Isaiah 19:1-25; Isaiah 20:1-6; Isaiah 21:1-17; Isaiah 23:1-18THE centre of the Book of Isaiah (chapters 13 to 23) is occupied by a number of long and short prophecies which are a fertile source of perplexity to the conscientious reader of the Bible. With the exhilaration of one who traverses plain roads and beholds vast prospects, he has passed through the... read more