The Prophet and His Day: Isaiah 1-39 - Free Bible Commentary

5. related VERB (--7, BDB 852), tingle (cf. I Sam. 3:11; II Kgs. 21:12; Jer. 19:3) or quiver (cf.Hab. 3:16)6. 853 II, sink (cf. Exod. 15:10)7. 853 III, grow dark (cf. Neh. 13:19; Ezek. 31:3)8. related NOUN, -7, shadow (cf. Isa. 4:6; 16:3; 25:4,5; 30:2,3; 32:2; 34:15; 38:8; 49:2; 51:16(this is how JPSOA translates the phrase)}NASB, MT,NJB, REB “Cush”NKJV, LXX,Peshitta “Ethiopia”NRSV footnote “Nubia”This refers to the land area south of the first cataract of the Nile. It was known in Genesis as“Cush” (BDB 468, cf. Gen. 2:13; 10:6,7,8). In the Greek period it was called “Ethiopia.” Today itwould include the Sudan and parts of modern Ethiopia (TEV footnote, p. 625).In this context (i.e., chapter 19), it may refer to the 25 th Dynasty of Nubian rulers of Egypt (i.e.,Pianchia, Shabaka).However, notice that the people addressed are “beyond the rivers of Cush.” Maybe Egypt herselfis looking for mercenaries!18:2 “papyrus vessels” At first one would think this must refer to sailing vessels on the Nile, but thesesame kinds of boats also were used on the Tigris and Euphrates (cf. James M. Freeman, Manners andCustoms of the Bible, p. 2560} “Go” This is a Qal IMPERATIVE. To whom is this addressed?1. envoys from Cush2. envoys from Egypt3. envoys from mercenary groups south of Cush4. envoys from Assyria5. all human armies opposing YHWH and His covenant peopleIsaiah regularly switches from a historical setting or event to an eschatological setting. The eventsand crises of his day foreshadow the events of the climatic conclusion of history. This fluidity isdifficult to lock down into one historical referent (time, place, people). Cosmic consequences andpurposes are at work behind existential events.} This verse characterizes the nation.1. seafaring people (i.e., reed boats of the Nile, BDB 479 CONSTRUCT BDB 167)2. tall people (BDB 604, KB 645, Pual PARTICIPLE, lit. “to extend”)3. smooth people, BDB 598, KB 634, Pual PARTICIPLE (used of bald heads, but also polishedswords and people’s skin: [1] no blemishes, REB, TEV, “smooth-skinned’ [2] consistentcolor, “bronzed”, NJB; or [3] clean shaven, no facial hair)4. feared far and wide5. a powerful nation (Hebrew uncertain, but possibly an idiom for “strange language”)6. an oppressive nation (Hebrew uncertain)7. land divided by rivers (Hebrew uncertain, this VERB, BDB 102, KB 107, Qal PERFECT, occursonly in this chapter, twice. The translation “divide” is based on an Aramaic root. REB has“scourged,” referring to an annual flood, however, it could refer to the Tigris and Euphrates)Numbers 2-6 are repeated in v. 7. This description fits the people south of the first cataract of the Nile,a tall, dark, warlike people group.192