Isaiah 18:2

The ambassadorsare those who have arrived in Jerusalem. They had descended the Nile (here called the sea, as in ch. Isaiah 19:5; Nahum 3:8) in vessels of bulrushes(R.V. papyrus). These light skiffs, constructed for one or two passengers, and capable of being carried where the river ceased to be navigable, are frequently mentioned by ancient writers (cf. Pliny Isaiah 13:11 "ex ipso quidem papyro navigia texunt," and other authorities cited by Gesenius). Their great speed is referred to in Job 9:26 ("ships of reed").

Go, ye swift messengers Isaiah's charge to the ambassadors begins here; they are to return to their own country with this answer. (The "saying" of A.V. and R.V. is quite misleading.)

a nation scattered and peeled Render as R.V.: a nation tall and smooth (lit. "drawn-out and polished"). The latter epithet probably denotes the bronze-like appearance of the skin of the Ethiopians; some, however, take it in the general sense of "beautiful" (μέγιστοι καὶ κάλλιστοι). The Nubians of the Soudân are still a remarkably tall and handsome race.

terrible from their beginning hitherto Better: dreaded near and far. Lit., perhaps, "from where it is and onward," cf. 1 Samuel 10:3; 1Sa 20:22; 1 Samuel 20:37. The temporal sense, however, is possible (1 Samuel 18:9), although less natural here.

meted out and trodden down Render: strong and victorious (lit. "of strength and treading down"). The Hebr. for "strength" presents some difficulty. If read as pointed (qav-qav) it looks like a repetition of the word for "measuring-line" (qav); and this is the origin of the -meting out" of E.V. ("people of line-line"). But this sense has little probability; and the translation "strength" is warranted by the analogy of the cognate Arabic noun quvva. It is perhaps better to read it as a reduplicated form (qavqav), although the word occurs nowhere else. Note that R.V. rightly takes both nouns in an active sense.

have spoiled The word is found only here and is of uncertain meaning. A more likely translation is "intersect" or (as R.V.) divide.