John Trapp on Isaiah 18

CHAP. XVIII.

Ver. 1. WO to the Land] To Ethiopia deſcribed here. 1. By the ſhady Mountains wherewith it is ſurrounded.Strabo. 2. By the Rivers wherewith it is watered.

Which is beyond the Rivers of Ethiopia] Or, which is along by the Rivers, even Ethiopia, which alſo may be ſaid to be beyond the Rivers, i. e. beyond the ſeven ſtreams of Nilus, in reſpect of Jeruſalem.

Ver. 2. That ſendeth Embaſſadors by the ſea] Heralds to defie the Aſſyrian, and to bid him battle, to their own ruin.

Junceae fiſcella picatae. Vide Plin. lib. 6. cap. 22. Even in the veſſels of bul-ruſhes] Or, in paper barks-well pitched. Theſe were much in uſe among the Ethiopians and Egyptians, both for expedition, and alſo for ſafety againſt Rocks, ſhallows and falls of Rivers.

Go ye ſwift meſſengers] Tirhaka's words to his Heralds. See 2 King. 19.9.

To a Nation ſcattered and peeled] i. e. To the Aſſyrians, whoſe great Forces are at this time ſcattered up and down in ſeveral Countreys; and therefore with more eaſe and ſafety to be ſet upon. Thus the Ethiopian pleaſeth himſelf in the conceit of an eaſie Conqueſt, but was quickly confuted; the Jews who truſted unto him were diſappointed, and Sennacherib more enraged againſt Jeruſalem.

To a people terrible] The mauls of mankind; but I ſhall chaſtiſe them. Thus he triumpheth before the victory, having already devoured Aſſyria in his hopes.

A Nation meted out, and trodden down] Or rather, meting out, and treading down, or ſhortly to be meted out to corculcation or deſtruction.

Whoſe Land the Rivers have ſpoiled] Or, the floods (inundations of enemies) ſhall spoil; Or, whoſe Land the Rivers (1. the Ethiopians who live by the Rivers, ver. 1.) do deſpiſe: For this Chapter is not more ſhort then dark: and diverſly rendred and ſenſed.

Ver. 3. All the Inhabitants of the world— ſee ye] Or, ye ſhall ſee when he lifteth up a banner on the Mountains, and when he bloweth a Trumpet, ye ſhall hear, i. e. ye ſhall ſhortly ſee the Aſſyrians returning from the Conqueſt of the Ethiopian, with glory and great joy. But what will the Lord do the while?

Ver. 4. I will take my reſt, I will conſider] He will ſit and bethink himſelf as it were, how he may beſt beſtow his poor people: The Aſſyrian ſhall go on with his great deſign for a while, and none ſhall interrupt him: but the Church mean-while ſhall not be unprovided for.

Like a clear heat upon herbs] Or, after-rain, which makes herbs and plants ſuddenly to ſprout and ſhoot up a main. God will not only look upon his people, but refreſh them in troubles.

Ver. 5. For afore the Harveſt] Or, Vintage.

When the bud is perfect, &c.] When the Aſſyrian, fleſhed with his former Victory, maketh full account that all is his own, God ſhall make his hopes to hop headleſs, He ſhall ſlaughter his Forces, as ver. 6. branches and ſprigs, great and ſmall.

Ver. 6. They ſhall be left together] They, that is, the Aſſyrians ſlain by the Angel, as Pſalm 79.2. Chap. 37.37.

The fowls ſhall ſummer upon them] Both birds and beaſts of prey ſhall have enough to feed upon the whole year about.

Ver. 7 In that time] When the Aſſyrians are thus ſlain.

Shall the preſent be brought] ſc. By the Jews, who ſhall conſecrate a conſiderable part of the ſpoils of the Aſſyrians, according to Numb. 31.28, 47, 50, 54. Thankfulneſs for publike deliverances is ſtill due to the moſt High: Bring preſents unto him that ought to be feared, Pſalm. 76.11.