Isaiah 18:3 - Exposition

All ye inhabitants of the world . From exhorting the messengers to hasten on their errand, Isaiah turns to the nations generally, and bids them attend to a coming signal—an ensign is about to be raised, a trumpet is about to be sounded—let them gaze and hearken; the result will be well worth noting. The imagery is not to be taken literally, but in the same way as the notices in Isaiah 11:10 , Isaiah 11:12 ; Isaiah 13:2 . When he lifteth up an ensign … when he bloweth a trumpet ; rather, when an ensign is lifted up … when a trumpet sounds . On the mountains . Wherever the great event took place, the signal for it was given on the mountains of Judea (see 2 Kings 19:20-34 ).