I personally think it is a mistake to just want "recent" commentaries on scriptural subjects. The most exhaustive commentaries on (at least almost) the entire Bible are those written in the late nineteenth century by William Kelly, of Dublin, Ireland. He describes what is going on in the middle east today with greater accuracy than even one twentieth century writer I have ever read. He repeatedly stressed that "the key to the Bible is the Bible," and often commented that "If my understanding of any part of scripture is based on anything outside its covers, I probably do not understand it at all."
As an example, Kelly wrote concerning Isaiah 18 that "the rivers of Cush" (not literally "Egypt," as this often translated) were not only the Nile, but also the Euphrates. I have personally devoted well over thirty years to a detailed study of ancient historical and geographical documents, and know of a certainty that Kelly was correct about this. For at the time Isaiah was written, half the nation of Cush lived along the upper reaches of the Euphrates, and the other half lived along the upper reaches of the Nile.)
concerning the nation referred to, Kelly said, "It is a call to a land designedly unnamed, quite outside the bounds of those which Israel knew, and characterized at the time of the action by sentiments of friendship, in contrast with the usual animosity of Gentiles, which here breaks out once more. The last verse intimates that the time when these events occur is the closing scene marked subsequently by Jehovah's interference on behalf of His people, and in full grace their re-establishment in Zion, to which prophecy as a whole points... And a nation is here distinguished by favour to the Jew in its own way, but in vain... One nation whose name is not given, will seek to befriend the Jews in the time and way spoken of; while others break out into their old jealousy and hatred, and wreak their vengeance on them all the more. But that the friendly protector is Ethiopia seems wholly without and against the tests of the chapter."
And then he said, "The learned may enquire whether "boats" are really intended by "keli-gem'?" ; in verse 2. Here only is the word so rendered in all scripture... Navigable vessels are certainly meant and if it could be proved that Egypt is the country spoken to these vessels of bulrushes might be understood of the light skiffs made of that material and used by the Egyptians upon the Nile. But if the country spoken to be distant from Egypt vessels of bulrush are only used as an apt image on account of their levity for quick-sailing vessels of any material. The country therefore to which the prophet calls is characterized as one which in the days of the completion of this prophecy should be a great maritime and commercial power forming remote alliances making distant voyages to all parts of the world with expedition and security and in the habit of affording protection to their friends and allies. Where this country is to be found is not otherwise said than that it will be remote from Judaea and with respect to that country beyond the Cushean streams."
So, writing some sixty years or so before before the airplane was invented, William Kelly saw in scripture a nation from somewhere beyond the borders of the ancient world, which would befriend the Jews in the last days, and which would send "swift" messengers "over the sea" in a vessel specified differently than boats were normally specified.
You can get ALL of his commentaries, free, at
William Kelly
