Isaiah 18
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CHAPTER 18
A Prophecy Against Cush (18:1–7)
1–2 Cush was a large area south of Egypt (present-day Sudan and Ethiopia) through which the Nile River ran; Isaiah calls it a land of whirring wings, which refers either to its numerous insects or to its mighty armies. The leaders of Cush had apparently sent envoys to various nations, including Judah, with the intent of forming an alliance against Assyria.
However, Isaiah tells the envoys to go back where they came from, to a people tall and smooth-skinned (verse 2)—that is, the people of Cush. They are to carry the message that the Lord Himself will be leading the fight against the Assyrians (verses 3–6).
3–6 Here is the Lord’s message, not only to Cush but to all the people of the world (verse 3)—that is, to the nations of the Middle East: a banner will be raised and a trumpet will sound, and the nations will be called together to fight Assyria. The Lord will not act immediately (verse 4), but when the time is “ripe” He will cut down the Assyrians (verse 5); and they who once preyed on others will become prey themselves (verse 6).
7 As for the people of Cush, they will one day bring gifts to the Lord at Mount Zion (the temple in Jerusalem), the place where the Lord has put His Name (see Deuteronomy 12:5). They will have seen that the God of Israel is more powerful than all the nations of the world, and they will come to pay Him homage.