Conseritur bibula Memphitis cymba papyro.

LUCAN, iv. 136.

Go, ye swift messengers] To this nation before mentioned, who, by the Nile, and by their numerous canals, have the means of spreading the report in the most expeditious manner through the whole country: go, ye swift messengers, and carry this notice of God's designs in regard to them. By the swift messengers are meant, not any particular persons specially appointed to this office, but any of the usual conveyers of news whatsoever, travelers, merchants, and the like, the instruments and agents of common fame. These are ordered to publish this declaration made by the prophet throughout Egypt, and to all the world; and to excite their attention to the promised visible interposition of God.

Scattered "Stretched out in length"] Egypt, that is, the fruitful part, exclusive of the deserts on each side, is one long vale, through the middle of which runs the Nile, bounded on each side to the east and west by a chain of mountains seven hundred and fifty miles in length; in breadth from one to two or three days' journey: even at the widest part of the Delta, from Pelusium to Alexandria, not above two hundred and fifty miles broad. Egmont and Hayman, and Pococke.

Peeled "Smoothed"] Either relating to the practice of the Egyptian priests, who made their bodies smooth by shaving off their hair, (see Herod. ii. 37;) or rather to their country's being made smooth, perfectly plain and level, by the overflowing of the Nile.

Meted out "Meted out by line"] It is generally referred to the frequent necessity of having recourse to mensuration in Egypt, in order to determine the boundaries after the inundations of the Nile; to which even the origin of the science of geometry is by some ascribed. Strabo, lib. xvii. sub init.

Trodden down] Supposed to allude to a peculiar method of tillage in use among the Egyptians. Both Herodotus, (lib. ii.,) and Diodourus, (lib. i.,) say that when the Nile had retired within its banks, and the ground became somewhat dry, they sowed their land, and then sent in their cattle, (their hogs, says the former,) to tread in the seed; and without any farther care expected the harvest.

The rivers have spoiled "The rivers have nourished"] The word wazb bazeu is generally taken to be an irregular form for wzzb bazezu, "have spoiled," as four MSS. have it in this place; and so most of the Versions, both ancient and modern, understand it. On which Schultens, Gram.

Hebrews p. 491, has the following re; mark:"Ne minimam quidem speciem veri habet wazb bazau, Esai. xviii. 2, elatum pro wzzb bazazu, deripiunt.

Haec esset anomalia, cui nihil simile in toto linguae ambitu. In talibus nil finire, vel fateri ex mera agi conjectura, tutius justiusque. Radicem azb baza olim extare potuisse, quis neget? Si cognatum quid sectandum erat, ad hzb bazah, contemsit, potius decurrendum fuisset; ut wazb bazeu, pro wzb bazu, sit enuntiatum, vel wyzb baziv. Digna phrasis, flumina contemmunt terram, i.e., inundant." azb baza, Arab. extulit se superbius, item subjecit sibi: unde praet. pl. wazb bazeu, subjecerunt sibi, i.e., inundarunt."-Simonis' Lexic. Heb.

A learned friend has suggested to me another explanation of the word. azb baza, Syr., and azyb beiza, Chald., signifies uber, "a dug," mamma, "a breast;" agreeably to which the verb signifies to nourish. This would perfectly well suit with the Nile: whereas nothing can be more discordant than the idea of spoiling and plundering; for to the inundation of the Nile Egypt owed every thing; the fertility of the soil, and the very soil itself.

Besides, the overflowing of the Nile came on by gentle degrees, covering with out laying waste the country: "Mira aeque natura fluminis, quod cum caeteri omnes abluant terras et eviscerent, Nilus tanto caeteris major adeo nihil exedit, nec abradit, ut contra adjiciat vires; minimumque in eo sit, quod solum temperet. Illato enim limo arenas saturat ac jungit; debetque illi AEgyptus non tantum fertilitatem terrarum, sed ipsas. - Seneca, Nat. Quaest., iv. 2. I take the liberty, therefore, which Schultens seems to think allowable in this place, of hazarding a conjectural interpretation. It is a fact that the Ganges changes its course, and overruns and lays barren whole districts, from which it was a few years back several miles distant. Such changes do not nourish but spoil the ground.

This chapter is one of the most obscure in Scripture, though more of i probably was understood by those for whose use it was first intended than by us now. Swift messengers are sent by water to a nation marke by Providence, and measured out, trodden under foot. God's people ar trampled on; but whoever thinks to swallow them up, finds they are cas down, yet not deserted, not destroyed. All the dwellers on earth mus watch the motions of the Divine Providence, and wait upon the directions of the Divine will. God gives assurance to his prophet, an by him to be given to his people. Zion is his rest for ever, and he will look after it. He will suit to their case the comforts an refreshments he provides for them; they will be acceptable, becaus seasonable. He will reckon with his and their enemies; and as God' people are protected at all seasons of the year, so their enemies ar exposed at all seasons. A tribute of praise should be brought to God from all this. What is offered to God, must be offered in the way he has appointed; and we may expect him to meet us where he records his name. Thus shall the nations of the earth be convinced that Jehovah is the God, and Israel is his people, and shall unite in presentin spiritual sacrifices to his glory. Happy are those who take warning by his judgment on others, and hasten to join him and his people. Whateve land or people may be intended, we are here taught not to think tha God takes no care of his church, and has no respect to the affairs of men, because he permits the wicked to triumph for a season. He has wis reasons for so doing, which we cannot now understand, but which wil appear at the great day of his coming, when he will bring every wor into judgment, and reward every man according to his works __________________________________________________________________

Original Hebrew