For an alternative explanation to Isaiah chapter 18
in which "Beyond the Rivers of Cush" (Isaiah 18:1) is explained as referring to South Africa, see:
Replies to Queries: South Africa
Question 1. What do the Prophets say of South Africa and the Boers?
[Isaiah 18:1] WOE TO THE LAND SHADOWING WITH WINGS, WHICH IS BEYOND THE RIVERS OF ETHIOPIA:
“ETHIOPIA” in Hebrew “Cush”. Cush was a nation representatives of which were spreadthroughout several regions.
Cush could apply to Africa in general, to the Sudan, to Ethiopia, to India, west Afghanistan, Central Asia and possibly elsewhereas well.
If we take Cush as applying to an area of Africa (as Amos Chacham does) it comes out very well BUT there is a problem. We should remember that Scripture can often deliberatedly have several applications and also it is not our task to find a conclusive answer to every question or inconsistency. The Hebrew can also be interpreted in several different ways but the choice made in the King James version (in this case) is not bad.
[Isaiah 18:2] THAT SENDETH AMBASSADORS BY THE SEA, EVEN IN VESSELS OF BULRUSHES UPON THE WATERS, SAYING, GO, YE SWIFT MESSENGERS, TO A NATION SCATTERED AND PEELED, TO A PEOPLE TERRIBLE FROM THEIR BEGINNING HITHERTO; A NATION METED OUT AND TRODDEN DOWN, WHOSE LAND THE RIVERS HAVE SPOILED! [
“BULRUSHES” pertinent to boats on the Nile and other African Rivers.
Taking Cush as Africa this chapter is interpreted as saying that firstly in the time of King Hezekiah when the angel came down and miraculously destroyed the Assyrian Army many people in Africa were aroused to acknowledge the God of Israel. In the Last Days great miracles will also occur to the Israelites and many Africans will see this and also accept the yoke of the God of Israel.
[Isaiah 18:3] ALL YE INHABITANTS OF THE WORLD, AND DWELLERS ON THE EARTH, SEE YE, WHEN HE LIFTETH UP AN ENSIGN ON THE MOUNTAINS; AND WHEN HE BLOWETH A TRUMPET, HEAR YE. [
[Isaiah 18:4] FOR SO THE LORD SAID UNTO ME, I WILL TAKE MY REST, AND I WILL CONSIDER IN MY DWELLING PLACE LIKE A CLEAR HEAT UPON HERBS, AND LIKE A CLOUD OF DEW IN THE HEAT OF HARVEST.
[Isaiah 18:5] FOR AFORE THE HARVEST, WHEN THE BUD IS PERFECT, AND THE SOUR GRAPE IS RIPENING IN THE FLOWER, HE SHALL BOTH CUT OFF THE SPRIGS WITH PRUNING HOOKS, AND TAKE AWAY AND CUT DOWN THE BRANCHES.
[Isaiah 18:6] THEY SHALL BE LEFT TOGETHER UNTO THE FOWLS OF THE MOUNTAINS, AND TO THE BEASTS OF THE EARTH: AND THE FOWLS SHALL SUMMER UPON THEM, AND ALL THE BEASTS OF THE EARTH SHALL WINTER UPON THEM.
[Isaiah 18:7] IN THAT TIME SHALL THE PRESENT BE BROUGHT UNTO THE LORD OF HOSTS OF A PEOPLE SCATTERED AND PEELED, AND FROM A PEOPLE TERRIBLE FROM THEIR BEGINNING HITHERTO; A NATION METED OUT AND TRODDEN UNDER FOOT, WHOSE LAND THE RIVERS HAVE SPOILED, TO THE PLACE OF THE NAME OF THE LORD OF HOSTS, THE MOUNT ZION.
Taking Cush as Africa Amos Chacham hints that THE PRESENT is the Ark of the Covenant. There is a legend that the Ark of the Covenant wastaken to Ethiopia and in the Last Days will be returned from there to Zion. This fits the above verse. It is known that in Ethiopia replicas of the Ark were made. Even so the impression is that the Ark is actually hidden in one of the numerous tunnels that are found under the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. Another possibility exists: the Romans took many of the Temple Treasures to Rome. The Vandals captured Rome and took away at least part of the Temple treasure. The Vandals then moved to North Africa where they were defeated by the Byzantines who then were centered in Constantinople in present-day Turkey. Before they were defeated a large section of the Vandals moved to Ireland and from there to Northern England and Lowland Scotland. Perhaps they took part of the Treasure with them?
An alternate Commentary: starting from the first verse: “WHICH IS BEYOND THE RIVERS OF ETHIOPIA”: The Aramaic translation renders “Ethiopia” here as “Hodu” meaing India. IN Classical terminology “India” encompassed eastern Iran and Afghanistan. RIVERS OF CUSH (not ETHIOPIA) referred to the area of Hara in eastern Persia whereto a portion of the Lost Ten Tribes were exiled. Just beyond this area was Central Asia where the ancestors of the Anglo-Saxons emerged from. In Anglo-Saxon and Frisian legend they refer to this area as “India” which is consistent with the Cush explanation. Frisian legend said that they and the Anglo-Saxons came from the Land of Israel.
[see The Tribes] In the days of Isaiah these people either already “beyond the Rivers of Cush” or about to be transplanted there. In the Last days they will return to Zion and be reconciled with the Jews.
The conclusions we reached in "The Tribes" have been strengthened by recent findings and by further research. An updated version of “The Tribes” is now available under the title "Hebrew Tribes."
1. Ark of the Covenant
From: Beverley McLamb.
Subject: Re: Ark of the Covenant
Jeremiah 3:15-17 In those days, when your numbers have increased greatly in the land," declares the L-RD, "men will no longer say, `The ark of the covenant of the L-RD.' It will never enter their minds or be remembered; it will not be missed, nor will another one be made.
Comment: Jeremiah says:
[JER 3:16] AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS, WHEN YE BE MULTIPLIED AND INCREASED IN THE LAND, IN THOSE DAYS, SAITH THE LORD, THEY SHALL SAY NO MORE, THE ARK OF THE COVENANT OF THE LORD: NEITHER SHALL IT COME TO MIND: NEITHER SHALL THEY REMEMBER IT; NEITHER SHALL THEY VISIT IT; NEITHER SHALL THAT BE DONE ANY MORE.
[JER 3:17] AT THAT TIME THEY SHALL CALL JERUSALEM THE THRONE OF THE LORD; AND ALL THE NATIONS SHALL BE GATHERED UNTO IT, TO THE NAME OF THE LORD, TO JERUSALEM: NEITHER SHALL THEY WALK ANY MORE AFTER THE IMAGINATION OF THEIR EVIL HEART.
[JER 3:18] IN THOSE DAYS THE HOUSE OF JUDAH SHALL WALK WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL, AND THEY SHALL COME TOGETHER OUT OF THE LAND OF THE NORTH TO THE LAND THAT I HAVE GIVEN FOR AN INHERITANCE UNTO YOUR FATHERS.
He is talking about the reconciliation of Judah with the Lost Ten Tribes of northern Israel .
The Commentaries all say that in those days the ARK will be in the Temple but the relationship to the ARK will not be as it was in the past.
There will be no more war, no more need to take the ark out with them to battle. Divine Providence will be felt extremely strongly everywhere
especially throughout Jerusalem.
Another explanation is that of the Malbim and fits the literal Hebrew expressions: THEY SHALL SAY NO MORE, THE ARK OF THE COVENANT OF THE LORD: NEITHER SHALL IT COME TO MIND: NEITHER SHALL THEY REMEMBER IT; NEITHER SHALL THEY VISIT IT; NEITHER SHALL THAT BE DONE ANY MORE. The Malbim explains that this can be read in Hebrew as saying:
THEY SHALL SAY NO MORE, THE ARK OF THE COVENANT OF THE LORD: BUT NOT TAKE IT TO HEART NOR
KEEP IT IN THEIR MEMORY AND NOT VISIT IT; SUCH AS THIS SHALL NO MORE BE DONE .
This explanation appears the most consistent one to me. If however you cannot accept my opinion on this matter I will not be offended
nor wish to engage in debate on the subject.
Finding the Ark of the Covenant may well prove instrumental in hastening our final Redemption.
2. CUSH and the Anglo-Saxons
Zephaniah 3:10 From beyond the rivers of ETHIOPIA my suppliants, even the daughter of my dispersed, SHALL BRING MINE OFFERING (PRESENT, GIFT).
Isaiah-18
[Isaiah 18:1] WOE TO THE LAND SHADOWING WITH WINGS, WHICH IS BEYOND THE RIVERS OF ETHIOPIA:
[Isaiah 18:7] IN THAT TIME SHALL THE PRESENT BE BROUGHT UNTO THE LORD OF HOSTS OF A PEOPLE SCATTERED AND PEELED, AND FROM A PEOPLE TERRIBLE FROM THEIR BEGINNING HITHERTO; A NATION METED OUT AND TRODDEN UNDER FOOT, WHOSE LAND THE RIVERS HAVE SPOILED, TO THE PLACE OF THE NAME OF THE LORD OF HOSTS, THE MOUNT ZION.
In both cases "CUSH" is translated as "Hodu" and the intention is to the area of Israelite Exile in the east of Iran and to the north of it
where the Angles, Saxons, and related peoples came from. It is speaking of reconciliation and the return of the Lost Ten Tribes.
Ultimate Redemption is dependent upon the rebuilding of Jerusalem and of the Temple:
Compare the following message (which is repeated elsewhere in Scripture):
[PSALMS 51:15] O LORD, OPEN THOU MY LIPS; AND MY MOUTH SHALL SHEW FORTH THY PRAISE.
[PSALMS 51:16] FOR THOU DESIREST NOT SACRIFICE; ELSE WOULD I GIVE IT: THOU DELIGHTEST NOT IN BURNT OFFERING.
[PSALMS 51:17] THE SACRIFICES OF GOD ARE A BROKEN SPIRIT: A BROKEN AND A CONTRITE HEART, O GOD, THOU WILT NOT DESPISE.
[PSALMS 51:18] DO GOOD IN THY GOOD PLEASURE UNTO ZION: BUILD THOU THE WALLS OF JERUSALEM.
[PSALMS 51:19] THEN SHALT THOU BE PLEASED WITH THE SACRIFICES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, WITH BURNT OFFERING AND WHOLE BURNT OFFERING: THEN SHALL THEY OFFER BULLOCKS UPON THINE ALTAR.
The message says that God does not want a Temple and sacrifices without a contrite heart and the right intention
BUT an expression of a truly contrite heart and the right intention ultimately involves building the Temple
and renewal of sacrifice.
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