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!
That sends ambassadors across the sea, even in boats made of reeds on the waters, saying, 'Go, you fast messengers, to a nation that has been scattered and stripped bare, to a people who have been fierce from the very beginning until now; a nation that has been measured out and trampled down, whose land the rivers have destroyed!'
This verse describes a nation sending messengers across water to reach a people who have been scattered, oppressed, and whose land has been devastated by flooding rivers.
📚 Historical Context
This passage likely refers to either Ethiopia (Cush) sending envoys to Judah, or possibly Egypt communicating with other nations during the Assyrian crisis around 701 BC. The 'vessels of bulrushes' were papyrus boats commonly used on the Nile River. The 'nation scattered and peeled' probably refers to either the Israelites in exile or another people group that had been conquered and dispersed.
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