Bible Commentaries
Isaiah 37

Verse 1

went into the house of the Lord. See Hezekiah's reference to his love for, and use of, the Temple in his "Songs of the Degrees" (Psalms 122:1 , Psalms 122:9 ; Psalms 134:1 , Psalms 134:2 ; and App-67 ).

Verse 2

elders of the priests. These now added to the embassy. Joah absent.

Verse 3

blasphemy = reproach. Note the reference to this in Hezekiah's "Song of Degrees".

Verse 4

Rabshakeh = the Rabshakeh. See note on Isaiah 36:2 .

lift up thy prayer. Note the reference to Hezekiah's "Song of the Degrees".

Verse 6

Isaiah said. The message in verses: Isaiah 37:6 , Isaiah 37:7 is shorter and calmer than the second.

Verse 8

was departed from Lachish: having raised the siege. See note on 2 Kings 18:17 ; 2 Kings 19:8 .

Verse 9

he heard. The "rumour" of Isaiah 37:7 .

Tirhakah. The Taracus of the inscriptions. The third and last of Manetho's twenty-sixth dynasty. This reference to the Ethiopian dynasty in Isaiah's time is an "undesigned coincidence".

Ethiopia. Judah's hope in Ethiopia was vain (See Isaiah 20:1-6 ).

Verse 10

trustest = confidest. Hebrew. batah.

Verse 11

all lands = all the earths: i.e. all such countries specially connected with Israel.

Verse 12

Gozan, &c. These places are all in Mesopotamia. and Bezeph. The Hebrew pointing connects this with the next clause.

children = sons.

Verse 13

Hamath . . . Arphad . . . Sepharvaim. See notes on Isaiah 36:19 .

Verse 14

spread it, &c. See note on "lift up", &c. (Isaiah 37:4 ).

Verse 16

LORD of Hosts. See note on Isaiah 1:9 , and 1 Samuel 1:3 .

God of Israel. See note on Isaiah 29:23 .

dwellest: or, sittest enthroned.

the. Hebrew He, the [God]. Compare 1 Kings 18:39 .

God. Hebrew. Elohim. (with Art.) = the [true] God.

made heaven and earth. Note the reference to this in Hezekiah's "Songs of the Degrees" (Psalms 121:1 , Psalms 121:2 ; Psalms 123:1 ; Psalms 124:8 ; Psalms 134:3 ; and App-67 (v)).

Verse 17

ear . . . eyes. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia.

Verse 18

nations, and their countries. Hebrew. ha-arazoth . . . 'arzam : as in Isaiah 37:11 . The latter word put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), for the people inhabiting the lands. Note also the Figure of speech Paronomasia . Some codices read "nations, and their land".

Verse 19

men's. Hebrew. 'adam. App-14 .

Verse 20

save us. Some codices add "I (or, we) pray Thee", Compare 2 Kings 19:19 .

Verse 21

thou hast prayed. See note on "lift up" (Isaiah 37:4 ).

Verse 22

shaken = wagged. Denoting derision and scorn.

Verse 23

the Holy One of Israel. See note on Isaiah 1:4 .

Verse 24

LORD*. One of the 134 places where the Sopherim changed "Jehovah" of the primitive text to "Adonai".

am I come up = have I scaled. Compare Isaiah 36:10 . These boasts probably refer to the future as well as the past.

Lebanon, &c. Compare 2 Kings 19:23 . Fulfilling Isaiah 14:8 (see note there). As Hannibal later scaled the Alps.

Verse 25

rivers = arms, or canals. Compare Isaiah 19:6 , and Micah 7:12 .

besieged places. Hebrew. matzor. Put for Egypt.

Verse 26

formed = purposed. Compare Isaiah 10:5 , Isaiah 10:15 ; Isaiah 30:32 .

Verse 27

as the grass. Note Hezekiah's reference to this in his "Songs of the Degrees" (Psalms 129:6-7 ). App-67 .

Verse 28

abode = sitting down.

going out, and thy coming in. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Part), for life in general

Verse 29

tumult = arrogance.

My hook, &c. Assyrian sculptures represent captives thus led. Jehovah would treat them as they treated others.

turn thee back. See Hezekiah's reference to this (Psalms 129:4 , Psalms 129:6 ). App-67 .

Verse 30

sign. See note on Isaiah 7:11 .

Ye shall eat, &c. No seed would be sown on account of the (foretold) devastation wrought by the invasion. Hezekiah refers to this "sign" in his "Songs of the Degrees" (Psalms 126:5 , Psalms 126:6 ; Psalms 128:2 ).

groweth of itself. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 25:5 , Leviticus 25:11 ). Only here, 2 Kings 19:29 , and Job 14:19 .

springeth of the same = shooteth up of itself, or from the roots. Hebrew. shahith, occurs only here.

sow ye. See note above.

Verse 31

shall. Hezekiah refers to Jehovah's repeated promises on which he relies (compare 2 Kings 19:30-34 ). See Psalms 121:2-8 ; Psalms 124:1-3 , Psalms 124:6 ; Psalms 125:2 ; Psalms 126:2 , Psalms 126:3 ; Psalms 127:1 .

Verse 32

zeal = jealousy. Reference to Pentateuch. Compare Isaiah 9:7 . See App-92 .

Verse 35

defend = shield. See note on Isaiah 31:5 .

My servant. Three are so called in this book: David (here); Israel or Jacob (the nation) (Isaiah 41:8 ; Isaiah 42:19 ; Isaiah 43:10 ; Isaiah 44:1 ; Isaiah 45:4 ; Isaiah 48:20 ; Isaiah 49:3 and whole chapter); and Messiah (Isaiah 42:1 ; Isaiah 65:8 ).

David's sake. Note how Hezekiah refers to these words in his "Songs of the Degrees" (Psalms 132:1 , Psalms 132:10 ).

Verse 36

Then, &c. Compare 2 Kings 19:35-37 .

they: i.e. the Israelites.

Verse 37

and. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton in this verse, to emphasize his departure and return, which leads up to what he returned for; also, that he did this without taking the city, Nebuchadnezzar makes no reference to this in his inscription.

Verse 38

his sons . . . Esar-haddon. See note on 2 Kings 19:37 .