Jamieson, Fausset and Brown on Isaiah 33:18

18. meditate--on the "terror" caused by the enemy, but now past.

where, &c.--the language of the Jews exulting over their escape from danger.

scribe--who enrolled the army [Maurer]; or, who prescribed the tribute to be paid [Rosenmuller]; or, who kept an account of the spoil. "The principal scribe of the host" (2Ki 25:19; Jr 52:25). The Assyrian records are free from the exaggerations of Egyptian records. Two scribes are seen in every Assyrian bas-relief, writing down the various objects brought to them, the heads of the slain, prisoners, cattle, sheep, &c.

receiver--"weigher," Margin. Layard mentions, among the Assyrian inscriptions, "a pair a scales for weighing the spoils."

counted ... towers--he whose duty it was to reconnoitre and report the strength of the city to be besieged.