Isaiah 18

Isaiah 18:1

Cymbal. Or sistrum, commonly used in Egypt. Septuagint, “ship sails.” — Ethiopia, or Chus, lying between the Nile and the Red Sea. He alludes to the kingdom of Tharaca, 4 Kings xix. 8. (Calmet)

Isaiah 18:2

Ambassadors. Hebrew, “images,” (Bochart) in honour of Adonis; (St. Cyril) or rather Ezechias, or Tharaca send to demand troops. (Calmet) — Bulrushes. Literally, “paper.” (Haydock) — Formed of rushes which grow on the banks of the Nile. (Pliny, [Natural History?] vii. 56., and xiii. 11.) — Angels. Or messengers. — Pieces. With factions after the death of Sabacon, or by the inroads of Sennacherib. — Other.

He derides the vanity of the Egyptians. (Calmet) — Expecting the overflowing of the Nile. (Haydock) — Hebrew, “of line,” (Calmet) with which they marked out each person’s property, after the waters had subsided. (Strabo 17.) — Foot. They worked their dough with their feet, and sent swine to trample on the seed, which required no more cultivation. (Herodotus ii. 14., and 36.) — Spoiled. The Nile made considerable alterations.

Isaiah 18:4

Place. God rules all with ease. — Harvest. The allies shall comfort my people, (Calmet) or Sennacherib shall threaten ruin. (Haydock) — But I will frustrate his evil designs. His army shall perish unexpectedly, ver. 5. (Calmet) — The Egyptians had sent messengers to assure the Israelites that they would come to assist them: but the prophet informs them of their own ruin. (Worthington)

Isaiah 18:6

Them. Their bodies shall lie unburied.

Isaiah 18:7

Sion. Egypt shall send presents to the Lord, 2 Paralipomenon xxxii. 23. (Calmet)

Isaiah 18:14

CHAPTER XVIII.