Matthew Poole and continuators on Isaiah 30:6

6. 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.

Either 1. the Prophecy; which is oft called the burden: or rather 2. the burden of riches or treasures, as it is explained in the latter part of the Verse.

Which is carried upon Asses or Camels, as it follows, into Egypt, which lay southward from Iudea.

Into Egypt and Ethiopia, or Cush; for both are joyned together in this matter, Isa. 20. whose Land seems to be called a land of trouble and anguish prophetically, because they should distress them, and not help them; as was said of the Assyrians in the like case, 2 Chron. 28. 20. Some render it, by or through the land, &c. and understand it of the vast Wilderness which lay between Iudea and Egypt. But it was more proper, and important to speak of the Land, to which these Men and Beasts went, than of that, through which they were to pass; which it was needless so particularly to describe. Nor was the direct Road from Iudea to Egypt, such a place as is here described.

Which may be understood properly, because these and the following Creatures did abound, and were very fierce and mischievous in Egypt and Ethiopia: But withal, seems to design the craft and cruelty of that People, and the danger of their Confederacy with them, and the harm which they should have from them.

That there were flying Serpents in those parts, is affirmed, not onely in Scripture, but also by Herodotus, Cicero, Ammianus, and divers other Authors.

The Iews designed by the same pronoun, they, ver. 5.

Either 1. to secure them: or rather 2. to procure their assistance.

Much used there for carrying Burdens, as is evident from Gen. 32. 15. and 45. 23. &c.

y Upon the backs, which were strengthned with bunches, by a Synecdoche.