Isaiah — Chapter 18

Ah,land in the deep shadow of wings,aland in the deep shadow of wings Or “Most sheltered land”; cf., e.g., 30.2, 3; Ps. 36.8; 57.2; 61.5. Beyond the rivers of Cush!

Go, swift messengers,To a nation far and remote,To a people thrust forth and awaybfar and remote, / To a people thrust forth and away Meaning of Heb. uncertain.—A nation of gibber and chattercchatter Meaning of Heb. uncertain; cf. 28.10. Biblical writers often characterize distant nations by their unintelligible speech; cf. 33.19; Deut. 28.49; Jer. 5.15.—Whose land is cut off by streams;Which sends out envoys by sea,In papyrus vessels upon the water!dWhich sends out envoys by sea, / In papyrus vessels upon the water Moved down from beginning of verse for clarity. The Heb. verb for “sends” agrees in gender with “nation,” not with “land.”

[Say this:]“All you who live in the worldAnd inhabit the earth,When a flag is raised in the hills, take note!When a ram’s horn is blown, give heed!”

For thus GOD said to me:“I rest calm and confidenteconfident Cf. hibbiṭ “to rely” (Job 6.19). The related noun mabbaṭ occurs with similar meaning in Isa. 20.5, 6. in My habitation—Like a scorching heat upon sprouts,Like a rain-cloud in the heat of reaping time.”fLike a rain-cloud in the heat of reaping time I.e., like a threat of disaster; cf. Eccl. 11.4.

For before the harvest,gharvest Emendation yields “vintage.” yet after the budding,When the blossom has hardened into berries,[God] will trim away the twigs with pruning hooks,And lop off the trailing branches.htrailing branches A figure of speech for the defeated enemy.

They shall all be leftTo the kites of the hillsAnd to the beasts of the earth;The kites shall summer on themAnd all the beasts of the earth shall winter on them.

In that time,Tribute shall be brought to GOD of Hosts[From] a people far and remote,From a people thrust forth and away—A nation of gibber and chatter,Whose land is cut off by streams—At the place where the name of GOD of Hosts abides,At Mount Zion.