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This is a beautifully crafted oracle against Ethiopia (Cush). The tall, bronzed Ethiopian was legendary: Herodotus, writing in the fifth century B.C., described the Ethiopians as “the tallest and most beautiful of men.” Undoubtedly, the envoys were sent to Jerusalem to persuade Judah to join with them in a revolt against Assyria. Isaiah may have been on hand to see them arrive. He is not impressed. He has come to be impressed only by the Holy One of Israel who waits quietly until he is ready to act. When he does, devastation will occur and the envoys will return, not to threaten but to pledge their allegiance to the Lord Almighty.