Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary Verse 1. Wo to the land] Ĺra ywh hoi arets! This interjection should be translated ho! for it is properly a particle of calling: Ho, land! Attend! Give ear! Shadowing with wings "The winged cymbal] µypnk lxlx tsiltsal kenaphayim. I adopt this as the most probable of the many interpretations that have been given of these words. It is Bochart's: see Phaleg, iv. 2. The Egyptian sistrum is expressed by a periphrasis; the Hebrews had no name for it in their language, not having in use the instrument itself. The cymbal they had was an instrument in its use and sound not much unlike the sistrum; and to distinguish it from the sistrum, they called it the cymbal with wings. The cymbal was a round hollow piece of metal, which, being struck against another, gave a ringing sound: the sistrum was a round instrument, consisting of a broad rim of metal, through which from side to side ran several loose laminae or small rods of metal, which being shaken, gave a like sound. These, projecting on each side, had somewhat the appearance of wings; or might be very properly expressed by the same word which the Hebrews used for wings, or for the extremity, or a part of any thing projecting. The sistrum is given in a medal of Adrian, as the proper attribute of Egypt. See Addison on Medals, Series iii. No. 4; where the figure of it may be seen. The frame of the sistrum was in shape rather like the ancient lyre; it was not round.
If we translate shadowing with wings, it may allude to the multitude of its vessels, whose sails may be represented under the notion of wings. The second verse seems to support this interpretation. Vessels of bulrushes, amg gome, or rather the flag papyrus, so much celebrated as the substance on which people wrote in ancient times, and from which our paper is denominated. The sails might have been made of this flag: but whole canoes were constructed from it. Mat sails are used to the present day in China. The Vulgate fully understood the meaning of the word, and has accordingly translated, in vasis papyri, "in vessels of papyrus." Reshi vesselis. - Old MS. Bib. This interpretation does not please Bp. Lowth, and for his dissent he gives the following reasons:- In opposition to other interpretations of these words which have prevailed, it may be briefly observed that lxlx tsiltsel is never used to signify shadow, nor is Pnk canaph applied to the sails of ships. If, therefore, the words are rightly interpreted the winged cymbal, meaning the sistrum, Egypt must be the country to which the prophecy is addressed. And upon this hypothesis the version and explanation must proceed. I farther suppose, that the prophecy was delivered before Sennacherib's return from his Egyptian expedition, which took up three years; and that it was designed to give to the Jews, and perhaps likewise to the Egyptians, an intimation of God's counsels in regard to the destruction of their great and powerful enemy.
Which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia "Which borders on the rivers of Cush"] What are the rivers of Cush? whether the eastern branches of the lower Nile, the boundary of Egypt towards Arabia, or the parts of the upper Nile towards Ethiopia, it is not easy to determine. The word rb[m meeber signifies either on this side or on the farther side: I have made use of the same kind of ambiguous expression in the translation.
Matthew Henry Commentary
- Syria and Israel threatened. (Is. 17:1-11) The woe of Israel's enemies (Is. 17:12-14)
Is. 17:1-11 Sin desolates cities. It is strange that great conqueror should take pride in being enemies to mankind; but it is better tha flocks should lie down there, than that they should harbour any in ope rebellion against God and holiness. The strong holds of Israel, the kingdom of the ten tribes, will be brought to ruin. Those who ar partakers in sin, are justly made partakers in ruin. The people had, by sins, made themselves ripe for ruin; and their glory was as quickly cu down and taken away by the enemy, as the corn is out of the field by the husbandman. Mercy is reserved in the midst of judgment, for remnant. But very few shall be marked to be saved. Only here and ther one was left behind. But they shall be a remnant made holy. The fe that are saved were awakened to return to God. They shall acknowledg his hand in all events; they shall give him the glory due to his name To bring us to this, is the design of his providence, as he is ou Maker; and the work of his grace, as he is the Holy One of Israel. The shall look off from their idols, the creatures of their own fancy. We have reason to account those afflictions happy, which part between u and our sins. The God of our salvation is the Rock of our strength; an our forgetfulness and unmindfulness of him are at the bottom of all sin. The pleasant plants, and shoots from a foreign soil, ar expressions for strange and idolatrous worship, and the vile practice connected therewith. Diligence would be used to promote the growth of these strange slips, but all in vain. See the evil and danger of sin and its certain consequences.
Is. 17:12-14 The rage and force of the Assyrians resembled the might waters of the sea; but when the God of Israel should rebuke them, the would flee like chaff, or like a rolling thing, before the whirlwind In the evening Jerusalem would be in trouble, because of the powerfu invader, but before morning his army would be nearly cut off. Happy ar those who remember God as their salvation, and rely on his power an grace. The trouble of the believers, and the prosperity of their enemies, will be equally short; while the joy of the former, and the destruction of those that hate and spoil them, shall last for ever _________________________________________________
Original Hebrew הוי1945 ארץ776 צלצל6767 כנפים3671 אשׁר834 מעבר5676 לנהרי5104 כושׁ׃3568
