68:31 They come with red cloth 15 from Egypt,
Ethiopia 16 voluntarily offers tribute 17 to God.
1 tn Or “in that day” (KJV). The verb that introduces this verse serves as a discourse particle and is untranslated; see note on “in the future” in 2:2.
2 tn The Hebrew term translated “sovereign master” here is אֲדֹנָי (’adonai).
3 tc The Hebrew text reads, “the sovereign master will again, a second time, his hand.” The auxiliary verb יוֹסִיף (yosif), which literally means “add,” needs a main verb to complete it. Consequently many emend שֵׁנִית (shenit, “a second time”) to an infinitive. Some propose the form שַׁנֹּת (shannot, a Piel infinitive construct from שָׁנָה, shanah) and relate it semantically to an Arabic cognate meaning “to be high.” If the Hebrew text is retained a verb must be supplied. “Second time” would allude back to the events of the Exodus (see vv. 15-16).
4 tn Or “acquire”; KJV, ASV, NASB, NRSV “recover.”
5 tn Heb “the remnant of his people who remain.”
6 sn Perhaps a reference to Upper (i.e., southern) Egypt (so NIV, NLT; NCV “South Egypt”).
7 tn Or “Ethiopia” (NAB, NRSV, NLT).
8 tn Or “Babylonia” (NIV, NCV, TEV, NLT).
9 tn Or perhaps, “the islands of the sea.”
10 tn Heb “and it will be in that day.” The verb that introduces this verse serves as a discourse particle and is untranslated; see note on “in the future” in 2:2.
11 tn Traditionally, “great” (KJV, NAB, NASB, NIV, NLT); CEV “loud.”
12 tn Or “the ones perishing.”
13 tn Or “the ones driven into.”
14 map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4.
15 tn This noun, which occurs only here in the OT, apparently means “red cloth” or “bronze articles” (see HALOT 362 s.v. חַשְׁמַן; cf. NEB “tribute”). Traditionally the word has been taken to refer to “nobles” (see BDB 365 s.v. חַשְׁמַן; cf. NIV “envoys”). Another option would be to emend the text to הַשְׁמַנִּים (hashmannim, “the robust ones,” i.e., leaders).
16 tn Heb “Cush.”
17 tn Heb “causes its hands to run,” which must mean “quickly stretches out its hands” (to present tribute).