This chapter contains a continuation of the historical narrative commenced in the previous chapter. Hezekiah went with expressions of grief to the temple, to spread the cause of his distress before the Lord Isaiah 37:1. He sent an embassage to Isaiah to ask his counsel in the time of the general dis... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN KING HEZEKIAH HEARD IT - Heard the account of the words of Rabshakeh Isaiah 36:22. THAT HE RENT HIS CLOTHES - (See the note at Isaiah 36:22). HE COVERED HIMSELF WITH SACKCLOTH - (See the note at Isaiah 3:24). AND WENT INTO THE HOUSE OF THE LORD - Went up to the temple to spread out the case b... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SENT ELIAKIM - (See the note at Isaiah 36:3). AND THE ELDERS OF THE PRIESTS - It was a case of deep importance, and one that pertained in a special manner to the interests of religion; and he, therefore, selected the most respectable embassage that he could to present the case to the prophet... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS IS A DAY OF REBUKE - This may refer either to the reproaches of Rabsbakeh, or more probably to the fact that Hezekiah regarded the Lord as rebuking his people for their sins. The word which is used here (תוכחח _tôkēchâh_), means more properly chastisement or punishment Psalms 149:7; Hosea 5:... [ Continue Reading ]
IT MAY BE THE LORD THY GOD - The God whom thou dost serve, and in whose name and by whose authority thou dost exercise the prophetic office. WILL HEAR THE WORDS - Will come forth and vindicate himself in regard to the language of reproach and blasphemy which has been used. See a similar use of the... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREWITH THE SERVANTS ... - Hebrew, נערי _na‛ărēy_ - The ‘youth,’ or the young men. The word properly denotes boys, youths, young men; and is used here probably by way of disparagement, in contradistinction from an embassy that would be truly respectable, made up of aged men. HAVE BLASPHEMED ME... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, I WILL SEND A BLAST UPON HIM - Margin, ‘Put a spirit into him.’ The word rendered ‘blast’ (רוח _rûach_) is commonly rendered ‘spirit.’ It may denote breath, air, soul, or spirit. There is no reason to think that the word is used here in the sense of blast of wind, as our translators seem to... [ Continue Reading ]
SO RABSHAKEH RETURNED - Returned from Jerusalem to the camp of his master. He had received no answer to his insulting message Isaiah 36:21; he saw there was no prospect that the city would surrender; and he therefore returned again to the camp. AND FOUND THE KING OF ASSYRIA WARRING AGAINST LIBNAH -... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE HEARD SAY - The report or rumour referred to in Isaiah 37:7. In what way he heard this is not intimated. It is probable that the preparations which Tirhakah had made, were well known to the surrounding regions, and that he was already on his march against Sennacherib. TIRHAKAH - This king, wh... [ Continue Reading ]
LET NOT THY GOD DECEIVE THEE - The similar message which had been sent by Rabshakeh Isaiah 36:14 had been sent mainly to the people to induce them not to put confidence in Hezekiah, as if he would deceive them by leading them to rely on the aid of Yahweh. As that had failed, he, as a last resort, se... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SHALT THOU BE DELIVERED? - How will it be possible for you to stand out against the conquerors of the world?... [ Continue Reading ]
MY FATHERS - My predecessors on the throne. GOZAN - This was a region or country in the northern part of Mesopotamia, and on the river Chaboras. There was a river of the name of Gozan in Media, which ran through the province, and gave it its name. The river fell probably into the Chaboras. This regi... [ Continue Reading ]
THE KING OF HAMATH - (See the note at Isaiah 36:19). HENA AND IVAH - Hena is mentioned in 2 Kings 18:34; 2 Kings 19:13. It was evidently in Mesopotamia, and was probably the same which was afterward called Ana, situated near a ford of the Euphrates. The situation of Ivah is not certainly known. It w... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HEZEKIAH RECEIVED THE LETTER - Hebrew, ‘Letters’ (plural). It is not mentioned in the account of the embassy Isaiah 37:9, that a letter was sent, but it is not probable that all embassage would be sent to a monarch without a written document. WENT UP INTO THE HOUSE OF THE LORD - The temple Isai... [ Continue Reading ]
O LORD OF HOSTS - (See the note at Isaiah 1:9). THAT DWELLEST BETWEEN THE CHERUBIMS - On the cherubim, see the note at Isaiah 14:13. The reference here is doubtless to the fact that the symbol of the divine presence in the temple the Shechinah (from שׁכן _shâkan_, to dwell, to inhabit; so called be... [ Continue Reading ]
INCLINE THINE EAR - This is evidently language taken from what occurs among people. When they are desirous of hearing distinctly, they incline the ear or apply it close to the speaker. Similar language is not unfrequently used in the Scriptures as applicable to God 2 Kings 19:16; Psalms 86:1; Psalms... [ Continue Reading ]
OF A TRUTH - It is as he has said, that all the nations had been subjected to the arms of the Assyrian. He now intends to add Jerusalem to the number of vanquished cities and kingdoms, and to boast; that he has subdued the nation under the protection of Yahweh, as he had done the nations under the p... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HAVE CAST THEIR GODS INTO THE FIRE - This appears to have been the usual policy of the Assyrians and Babylonians. It was contrary to the policy which the Romans afterward pursued, for they admitted the gods of other nations among their own, and even allowed them to have a place in the Pantheon.... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT ALL THE KINGDOMS OF THE EARTH MAY KNOW - Since he has been able to subdue all others; and since Judea alone, the land under the protection of Yahweh, would be saved, all the nations would know that it could not be by the power of an idol. The desire of Hezckiah, therefore, was not primarily tha... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREAS THOU HAST PRAYED - Because thou hast come to me instead of relying on thy own resources and strength. In 2 Kings 19:20, it is, ‘That which thou hast prayed to me against Sennacherib, king of Assyria, I have heard.’... [ Continue Reading ]
THE VIRGIN, THE DAUGHTER OF ZION - Jerusalem (see the note at Isaiah 1:8; compare the note at Isaiah 23:12). The parallelism in this and the following verses shows that the poetic form of speech is here introduced. HAST DESPISED THEE - That is, it is secure from thy contemplated attack. The idea is... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN HAST THOU REPROACHED? - Not an idol. Not one who has no power to take vengeance, or to defend the city under his protection, but the living God. EXALTED THY VOICE - That is, by thy messenger. Thou hast spoken in a loud, confident tone; in the language of reproach and threatening. AND LIFTED U... [ Continue Reading ]
BY THY SERVANTS - Hebrew, ‘By the hand of thy servants.’ That is, by Rabshakeh Isaiah 36, and by those whom he had now sent to Hezekiah with letters Isaiah 37:9, Isaiah 37:14. AND HAST SAID - Isaiah does not here quote the precise words which Rabshakeh or the other messengers had used, but quotes t... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE DIGGED - That is, I have digged wells. This was regarded among eastern nations as an important achievement. It was difficult to find water, even by digging, in sandy deserts; and in a country abounding with rocks, it was an enterprise of great difficulty to sink a well. Hence, the possession... [ Continue Reading ]
HAST THOU NOT HEARD - This is evidently the language of God addressed to Sennacherib. It is designed to state to him that he was under his control; that this was the reason Isaiah 37:27 why the inhabitants of the nations had been unable to resist him; that he was entirely in his hands Isaiah 37:28;... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE - Not because you have so great power; but because I have rendered them incapable of resisting you. WERE OF SMALL POWER - Hebrew, ‘Short of hand;’ they were feeble, imbecile, unable to resist you. THEY WERE DISMAYED - Hebrew, ‘They were broken and ashamed.’ Their spirits sank; they were... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT I KNOW - The language of God. ‘I am well acquainted with all that pertains to you. You neither go out to war, nor return, nor abide in your capital without my providential direction’ (see the notes at Isaiah 10:5). THY ABODE - Margin, ‘Sitting.’ Among the Hebrews, sitting down, rising up, and go... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE THY RAGE AND THY TUMULT - Or rather, thy pride, thy insolence, thy vain boasting. THEREFORE WILL I PUT MY HOOK IN THY NOSE - This is a most striking expression, denoting the complete control which God had over the haughty monarch, and his ability to direct him as he pleased. The language is... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THIS SHALL BE A SIGN UNTO THEE - It is evident that the discourse here is turned from Sennacherib to Hezekiah. Such transitions, without distinctly indicating them, are common in Isaiah. God had in the previous verses, in the form of a direct personal address, foretold the defeat of Sennacherib,... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE REMNANT THAT IS ESCAPED - (See the margin.) Those that are left of the Jews. The ten tribes had been carried away; and it is not improbable that the inhabitants of the kingdom of Judah had been reduced by want, and by the siege of Lachish, Libnah, etc. It is not to be supposed that Sennacher... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL GO FORTH A REMNANT - The word ‘remnant’ means that which is left; and does not of necessity imply that it should be a small portion. No doubt a part of the Jews were destroyed in the invasion of Sennacherib, but the assurance is here given that a portion of them would remain in safety, and tha... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SHALL NOT COME INTO THIS CITY - Sennacherib encamped probably on the northeast side of the city, and his army was destroyed there (see the notes at Isaiah 10:28 ff.) NOR SHOOT AN ARROW THERE - That is, nor shoot an arrow within the walls of the city. NOR COME BEFORE IT WITH SHIELDS - (See the n... [ Continue Reading ]
BY THE WAY THAT HE CAME - (Isaiah 37:29; compare Isaiah 37:37). AND SHALL NOT COME INTO THIS CITY - (Isaiah 37:33; compare Isaiah 29:6).... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR I WILL DEFEND THIS CITY - Notwithstanding all that Hezekiah had done to put it in a posture of defense (2 Chronicles 32:1, following) still it was Yahweh alone who could preserve it. FOR MINE OWN SAKE - God had been reproached and blasphemed by Sennacherib. As his name and power had been thus b... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN THE ANGEL OF THE LORD WENT FORTH - This verse contains the record of one of the most remarkable events which have occurred in history. Many attempts have been made to explain the occurrence which is here recorded, and to trace the agencies or means which God employed. It may be observed that th... [ Continue Reading ]
SO SENNACHERIB DEPARTED - Probably with some portion of his army and retinue with him, for it is by no means probable that the whole army had been destroyed. In 2 Chronicles 32:21, it is said that the angel ‘cut off all the mighty men of valor, and the leaders and captains in the camp of the king of... [ Continue Reading ]
AS HE WAS WORSHIPPING - Perhaps this time was selected because he might be then attended with fewer guards, or because they were able to surprise him without the possibility of his summoning his attendants to his rescue. IN THE HOUSE - In the temple. OF NISROCH HIS GOD - The god whom he particularl... [ Continue Reading ]