68:31 They come with red cloth 1 from Egypt,
Ethiopia 2 voluntarily offers tribute 3 to God.
1 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).
2 tn Heb “Cush.”
3 tn Heb “causes its hands to run,” which must mean “quickly stretches out its hands” (to present tribute).