John Calvin Commentary Isaiah 18:2

"that sendeth ambassadors by the sea, even in vessels of papyrus upon the waters, [saying], Go, ye swift messengers, to a nation tall and smooth, to a people terrible from their beginning onward, a nation that meteth out and treadeth down, whose land the rivers divide!" — Isaiah 18:2 (ASV)

Sending ambassadors by the sea. This relates strictly to the state of those times. It would appear that this nation solicited the Egyptians or Syrians to harass the Jews, or that the Assyrians employed them for the purpose of harassing the Jews, or that they had formed an alliance with the Egyptians, so that by their united force they might prevent the power of the Assyrians from increasing beyond bounds. Only conjectures can be offered, because we have no histories that give any account of it; and where historical evidence is lacking, we must resort to probable conjectures. There is reason to believe these voyages were not made to any nearby place, but to a distant country.

In ships of reeds. We should not think it strange that he calls them ships of reeds. It is evident from ancient histories that these were commonly used by the Egyptians. This was because the channel of the Nile is in some places very steep and dangerous for navigators due to the cataracts (which the Greeks call Κατάδουπα). Consequently, wooden ships cannot be used in those places without being broken and dashed to pieces on the rocks. Therefore, it was necessary to use ships made of pliant materials. So that the ships would not admit water and thus be sunk, historians tell us that they were coated on the inside with pitch.

Go, ye swift messengers. This passage is obscure, but I will follow what I consider to be probable. The Prophet shows the design of his prediction, or the reason why he foretold the destruction of that nation. If we believe them to have been the avowed enemies of the Jews, the design was to afford some consolation to believers who were wretchedly broken up and scattered, so that, having received this message, they might rejoice and give thanks to God. But if we rather think that the Jews were led by this nation into an unlawful league, we must then consider that this exhortation is ironical, and that the Prophet intended to reprove the folly of the chosen people in forsaking God and relying on useless aid. Some think that these words were spoken by God, as if he commanded those nations who inhabited the sea-coast to destroy the Jews; but I am not at all of that opinion.

To a nation scattered and plundered. I do not agree with those who think that these words describe the destruction of that unknown and obscure nation. For by “a plundered nation” he means the Jews, who were to be grievously harassed and scattered, so that no part of them escaped injury.

To a people terrible from their beginning hitherto. He calls it terrible, because such great calamities would disfigure it in such a manner that all who beheld it would be struck with terror. I cannot approve of the exposition given by some that this relates to the signs and miracles which the Lord performed among them, so as to make them an object of dread to all people. For the allusion is rather to that passage in the writings of Moses: The Lord will make thee an astonishment and a terror (Deuteronomy 28:37). In the same way, it is said elsewhere, for the shaking of the head and mockery (Jeremiah 18:16; Jeremiah 19:8; Jeremiah 25:9, 13, 18). He therefore means that they are a nation so dreadful to behold that they fill all people with astonishment, and we know that this was foretold and that it also happened to the Jews.

A nation trodden down on every side. קו קו (kav-kav), that is, on every side, as if one drew lines and joined them so closely that no space was left between them, or as if one drew furrows in a field so as to break every clod. For in this manner was the nation thrown down and trampled under foot.

Whose land the rivers have spoiled. By the rivers he means the vast army of the enemies, that is, of the Assyrians. He alludes to what he had formerly said: that the nation, not satisfied with its own little stream, longed for rapid and boisterous rivers (Isaiah 8:6). After having applied to them for assistance, they were overwhelmed by them as by a deluge. The reason for the whole evil was this: they were not satisfied with the promises of God and sought assistance elsewhere.

Now, if this command is understood to be given to the swift messengers in the name of God, we infer from it that he does not immediately assist his own people but delays his aid until they are brought to a state of despair. He does not send them a cheerful and prosperous message while they are still uninjured, or when they have received a light stroke; instead, he sends a message to a nation altogether trodden down and trampled under foot. Yet when he commands them to make haste, he means that the judgment will be sudden and unexpected, so that light will suddenly burst forth amidst the darkness.