Isaiah 18:3
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All you people of the world and dwellers of the earth, when a banner is raised on the mountains, you will see it; when a ram’s horn sounds, you will hear it.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
Whatever country it is that is meant here by "the land shadowing with wings," here is a woe denounced against it, for God has, upon his people's account, a quarrel with it. I. They threaten God's people (Isa 18:1, Isa 18:2). II. All the neighbours are hereupon called to take notice what will be the issue (Isa 18:3). III. Though God seem unconcerned in the distress of his people for a time, he will at length appear against their enemies and will remarkable cut them off (Isa 18:4-6). IV. This shall redound very much to the glory of God (Isa 18:7).
Open source ↗18:3 Both the battle flag and ram’s horn were used to marshal and send signals to armies in battle (see Judg 3:27; 6:34; 2 Sam 2:28).
Open source ↗Cross-references
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He lifts a banner for the distant nations and whistles for those at the ends of the earth. Behold—how speedily and swiftly they come!
O LORD, Your hand is upraised, but they do not see it. They will see Your zeal for Your people and be put to shame. The fire set for Your enemies will consume them!
Then the LORD will appear over them,and His arrow will go forth like lightning.The Lord GOD will sound the ram’s hornand advance in the whirlwinds of the south.
The voice of the LORD calls out to the city (and it is sound wisdom to fear Your name): “Heed the rod and the One who ordained it.
But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.
He who has ears, let him hear.”
The Mighty One, God the LORD, speaks and summons the earth from where the sun rises to where it sets.
On that day the LORD will whistle to the flies at the farthest streams of the Nile and to the bees in the land of Assyria.
Listen, O heavens, and give ear, O earth, for the LORD has spoken: “I have raised children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against Me.
Listen, a tumult on the mountains, like that of a great multitude! Listen, an uproar among the kingdoms, like nations gathered together! The LORD of Hosts is mobilizing an army for war.