Identifying the Nation in Isaiah 18:2 and 18:7
Identifying the Nation in Isaiah 18:2 and 18:7
Isaiah 18:2 (ESV) reads, "O you who send ambassadors by the Nile, in vessels of papyrus on the waters! Go, you swift messengers, to a nation tall and smooth, to a people feared near and far, a nation mighty and conquering, whose land the rivers divide." The chapter continues with a description of a judgment against this nation, culminating in a promise that "in that time" a present shall be brought to the Lord of hosts "from a people tall and smooth, from a people feared near and far, a nation mighty and conquering, whose land the rivers divide" (Isaiah 18:7, ESV).
The literary context of Isaiah 18 is a prophecy against a nation described by its geographical features and its military prowess. The surrounding chapters (Isaiah 17 and 19) deal with prophecies against Damascus and Egypt, respectively, suggesting that Isaiah 18 is concerned with a neighboring or related nation [1].
The historical setting of Isaiah 18 is likely during the late 8th century BCE, given Isaiah's prophetic activity during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah (Isaiah 1:1). The description of the nation as being "feared near and far" and "mighty and conquering" suggests a powerful entity in the region.
The key terms in Isaiah 18:2 and 18:7 that carry weight are "tall and smooth" (Hebrew: מְמֻשָׁךְ וּמוֹרָט, memushak umorat), and "whose land the rivers divide" (Hebrew: נהר יְבַלְּגוּ, nahar yeballegu). The phrase "tall and smooth" is interpreted by some as referring to the physical appearance or stature of the people, while others see it as a metaphorical description [1, 4].
One major exegetical decision revolves around the identity of the nation described in Isaiah 18:2 and 18:7. Interpreters have variously identified this nation as Ethiopia (or Cush), Egypt, or a more general reference to distant or exotic nations. John Gill, a Baptist/Reformed commentator, argues that the description fits the Ethiopians, who were known for their tall stature and were located beyond the rivers of Cush [1]. Rashi, a Jewish (Rabbinic) commentator, interprets the "swift messengers" as being sent to check on the return of the Israelites, suggesting that the nation in question is related to Israel's restoration [4].
The range of interpretations for the nation in Isaiah 18:2 and 18:7 includes:
- Ethiopia/Cush: Supported by Gill and other commentators, based on the geographical and ethnographic descriptions [1, 2].
- Israel: Suggested by Rashi, who sees the passage as related to the return of the Israelites [4].
- A general or symbolic interpretation: Some see the description as applying to any nation that fits the given characteristics, rather than a specific historical entity.
The passage has functioned in tradition in various ways. For example, the imagery and themes in Isaiah 18 have been used to discuss God's judgment and salvation among the nations. The promise in Isaiah 18:7 that a present shall be brought to the Lord from a distant nation has been seen as a foreshadowing of the inclusion of the Gentiles in the people of God [1, 3].
The description of the nation in Isaiah 18:2 and 18:7 remains a subject of debate among interpreters. The identification of this nation with Ethiopia/Cush is a prominent view, supported by historical and geographical considerations. The passage's themes of judgment and the eventual inclusion of the nations in the worship of the Lord continue to be relevant in biblical interpretation and theological reflection. The prophecy's focus on a "nation tall and smooth" and its geographical characteristics continues to be a point of discussion, reflecting the complexity and richness of Isaiah's prophetic message.
Sources
- Isaiah (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Isaiah 18:7: In that time shall the present be brought unto the Lord of hosts,.... Not exactly at the time when this destruction should be, but some time after, even in Gospel times; for to them this part of the prophecy refers: of a people scattered and peeled; this explains what the present is, that shall be brought to the Lord; it is a people, and therefore not the spoils of Sennacherib's army, as some interpret it; nor yet the people of the Jews, that shall be brought by the Gentiles out of all nations in the latter day, as an offering to the Lord, as Aben Ezra and Kimchi; s”
- Isaiah (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Isaiah 18 (introduction): INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 18 This chapter is a prophecy of the desolation of a land or country, described by the wings with which it was shaded, and by the rivers by which it was situated, Isa 18:1 by its messengers and message to another nation, which is also described, Isa 18:2 all the nations of the world are called upon to observe the judgment about to be inflicted on it, Isa 18:3 and a promise is made, that at the same time God will take up his rest and dwelling among his own people, and refresh and protect them, Isa 18:4 and the time, and manner, and”
- Zechariah (Lutheran) “Keil & Delitzsch on Zechariah 8:7: Zac 8:7. "Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, Behold, I save my people out of the land of the rising and out of the land of the setting of the sun. Zac 8:8. And I bring them hither, and they will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem, and will be my people, and I shall be their God, in truth and righteousness." The deliverance of the people of God out of the heathen lands did indeed commence with the return of a body of exiles from Babylon under the guidance of Zerubbabel, but their deliverance out of all the countries of the earth is still in the future. Instead of all c”
- Sefaria (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki) on Isaiah 18:2: Go swift messengers to see whether it is true that the Israelites have returned to their place, a nation which is pulled and torn, to a people that is awesome from its inception.”