1God threateneth to destroy the Ethiopians. 7An access will from thence be made to the church.
1WOE1 to the land 2shadowing 3with wings, 4which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia:
1 The prophet proclaims woe against Ethiopia, to warn the Jews, that they should not trust on the help of the Ethiopians, because Ethiopia with Egypt, and other bordering countries, would be severely punished and destroyed by the just judgment of God, as came to pass, first by the Assyrians, and afterward by the Babylonians. See Isa. 20:3, 4, 5, 6; 43:3; Ezek. 30:4, 5; 38:5; Nahum 3:9, 10; Zeph. 2:12. Other, O land, etc., meaning that this entire chapter relates to the times of the Messiah, and of the calling of the Jews and Gentiles unto Christ, under the banner of the Holy Gospel, as also to the times of the rejection and long-lasting punishment of the obstinate Jews, and their final conversion.
2 That is, which is full of shadows, or, which makes a shadow.
3 Hebr. at or on the wings; that is, which is full of shadows on the frontiers, or borders, or ends, as Isa. 11:12; 24:16, and that by reason of the multitude of high mountains, that are there, which made those shadows. Some understand here by the shadowy wings, the great number of sails of ships that did cast a shadow; that is, woe to the land where all those ships are. Others perceive that by the shadow of the wings here is signified, that the Ethiopians and the Egyptians (as neighbors and confederates) were used to take other nations and people under their protection. Compare Isa. 30:2, 3, etc.
4 This is a description of the location of Ethiopia, situated on both sides of the rivers Nile, Astapus, Astaboras, etc., as the maps and geographers do show. Compare Zeph. 3:10.
25That sendeth ambassadors by the sea, even 6in vessels of bulrushes upon the waters, saying, Go, ye 7swift messengers, to a nation 8scattered and peeled, to a people terrible 9from their beginning hitherto; a nation 10meted out and trodden down, whose land the rivers have spoiled!
5 Other, he sendeth ambassadors, etc., understanding this of God, Who by His Providence ordains that the Ethiopians are frightened by the news of the enemy’s approach, by comparing Ezek. 30:9. Others understand it of the Ethiopians (or of their king Tirhakah, 2 Kings 19:9), who sent ambassadors, together with the Egyptians, to announce war against the Assyrian at the request of the Jews, or (as some) unto the Jews to promise them aid, or (as others) unto divers neighboring nations to gather a huge army together against the invasion of the Assyrians.
6 They used such kind of ships and boats in those countries for the lightness of them, and because they did not break so soon or burst asunder, as the wooden ones do, when they hit anywhere against the rocks, of which the river Nile is full. Hebr. in vessels.
7 Hebr. light messengers. See Job 7 on verse 6.
8 This can be a description of the Assyrians, who were drawn away far from their land, and were made bald and bare by long continuing wars. (Compare Ezek. 29:18). A terrible people from the beginning and continually, Gen. 10:8, 9, etc., who would set rule and measure to everyone, and would tread down other nations, and who had in their land many rivers, which were wont to wash it away, as usually happens. Some apply it to the inhabitants of Ethiopia and other nations adjoined thereto, spread far and near, who were slender of body, had thin hair, were wild and terrible, situated far distant from one another, or, which way of rule would be trodden down, or, upon whom God would draw the line of His judgment. Compare 2 Kings 21:13; Isa. 34:11, etc. Others take it as a description of the people of the Jews, which had suffered much, and received of God rule upon rule, Isa. 28:10, and were very terrible in regard of the great wonders and miracles of God, although many enemies (as mighty rivers, Isa. 8:7, etc.) spoiled their land, concerning all which the understanding reader will be able to judge.
9 That is, from that very time that they were a people, and so onward. Other, from their beginning hitherto.
10 Hebr. a nation of rule rule, or of line line.
311All ye inhabitants of the world, and dwellers on the earth, 12see ye, when 13he lifteth up an ensign on the mountains; and when he bloweth a trumpet, hear ye.
11 In this verse it is intimated that this judgment of God would be surely and publicly fulfilled, as it were in the sight of the entire world, in order that other nations would be witnesses of the truth of this prophecy, and the Jews would be ashamed of their confidence and relying on the aid of the Ethiopians, Egyptians, etc.
12 Or, see yet it, and so immediately: hear ye it.
13 Other, when I (namely, God) shall lift up, etc., that is, when I shall cause the army of the enemies to come against the Ethiopians, or, when I by Mine angel shall smite and slay the Assyrians, of which some do understand this verse.
4For so the LORD said unto me, 14I will take my rest, and I will consider in my dwelling place like a clear heat upon herbs, and like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest.
14 Spoken of God after the manner of men; as kings sitting in their palaces, yet look to all things and mind their kingdom and take care for it, as such does God promise that He will spare, comfort and do good to His church, while in the meantime He is executing His judgments upon the nations of the Gentiles (whereof mention is made in verses 5 and 6), as sunshine after the rain is pleasant and delightful, and a dewy cloud in harvest. Others perceive that here begins the description of God’s judgment, as if God said: I will indeed permit the Ethiopians to make a stir, to assemble themselves for their own defense, or, (as others) I will suffer the Assyrians to go on awhile in their violence and oppression, but it shall tend to their own ruin at last, as immoderate heat after much rain spoils the tender herbs, and a thick wet misty cloud spoils the harvest.
515For 16afore the harvest, when the bud is perfect, and the sour grape is ripening in the flower, he shall both cut off the sprigs with pruning hooks, and take away and cut down the branches.
15 Or, But. This is now a description of God’s judgment, to which consideration the nations are invited, verse 3.
16 By this similitude and figurative phrase are signified that God will confound all defense and resistance of the Ethiopians, or (as others) all the violence and cruelty of the Assyrians, before they shall bring it to full perfection, and will most fearfully destroy them.
617They shall be left together unto the fowls of the mountains, and to the beasts of the earth: and the fowls shall 18summer upon them, and all the beasts of the earth shall winter upon them.
17 Namely, the Ethiopians or Assyrians.
18 Compare Ezek. 31:12, 13.
7 ¶ 19In that time shall the present be brought unto the LORD of hosts of 20a people scattered and peeled, and 21from a people terrible from their beginning hitherto; a nation meted out and trodden under foot, whose land the rivers have spoiled, to the place of the name of the LORD of hosts, the mount Zion.
19 In this verse (as elsewhere often) God makes a comfortable promise concerning the gracious calling of the Ethiopians or the Assyrians, and such like other hostile pagan nations, to the communion of the Lord Christ and His church. Compare Isa. 19:19, etc., and see similar prophecies concerning the Ethiopians Psalm 68:31; 87:4; Isa. 45:14; Zeph. 3:10, and a notable example Acts 8:27, etc.
20 Of whom in verse 2.
21 That is, of some of this terrible people. Thus must likewise the particle of, be taken and understood, Mat. 23:34: and of them ye shall kill, etc., that is, some of them ye shall kill.