unfoldingWord_en_tn/isa/18/02.md

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by the sea

The Nile River was very wide, and people in Egypt and Cush referred to it as "the sea." Alternate translation: "on the great river" or "along the Nile River" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor)

vessels of papyrus

Papyrus is a tall plant that grows along the side of the Nile River. People bound together papyrus bundles to make boats. Alternate translation: "papyrus boats" or "boats made of reeds" or (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown)

a nation tall and smooth ... a people feared far and near ... a nation strong and trampling down, whose land the rivers divide

These phrases all describe the people of one nation.

a nation tall and smooth

The word "nation" here refers to the people of that nation. Alternate translation: "a nation whose people are tall and have smooth skin" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy)

a people feared far and near

The words "far" and "near" are used together to mean "everywhere." Alternate translation: "a people who are feared everywhere" or "a people that everyone in the earth fears" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-merism)

a nation strong and trampling down

Trampling down represents conquering other nations. Alternate translation: "a nation that is strong and conquers other nations" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy)

the rivers divide

This probably refers to many rivers that flow through the nation so they divide it into different parts.