John Trapp on Isaiah 18:2

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.