His sons smote him - What an awful punishment of his blasphemy! Who can harden his neck against God, and be successful? God does not lightly pass by blasphemy against himself, his government, his word, his Son, or his people. Let the profligate take care! read more
This shall be a sign unto thee ; rather, the sign. The prophet now turns to Hezekiah, and makes an address to him. "This," he says, "shall be the sign unto thee of Sennachcrib's being effectually 'bridled,' and the danger from Assyria over. In the third year from the present the land shall have returned to its normal condition, and you shall enjoy its fruits as formerly. Meanwhile you shall obtain sufficient nourishment from the grain which has sown itself." The "third year," according to... read more
The remnant that is escaped (see the comment on Isaiah 37:4 ). Take root downward, and bear fruit upward; i.e. "spread over the land, and became firmly rooted in it, and flourish as in the former time." We must conceive of the Assyrians having, in their two recent invasions, completely depopulated the country districts. Numbers had, no doubt, been slain; more than two hundred thousand had been carried into captivity; a portion had found refuge in the capital On the withdrawal of the... read more
Root and fruit, or character in its completeness. The text speaks of two necessities for the plant in its perfection—root and fruit; it may speak to us of the complete human character. I. CHARACTER IS OFTEN FOUND IN MANIFEST INCOMPLETENESS . 1 . We have character deficient in fruitfulness. Some men are intelligent, acquisitive, contemplative; they have solid knowledge; they have reached clear and strong convictions; they have formed admirable private and domestic... read more
The zeal , etc. (comp. Isaiah 9:7 ). The phrase is very emphatic, marking the greatness of the thing to be done, and at the same time bringing the strophe to an end with an asseveration beyond which nothing could go. read more
The zeal of the Lord. Cheyne renders, "The jealousy of Jehovah-Sabaoth shall perform this;" and he suggestively says, "'Jealousy,' being the affectional manifestation of the Divine holiness, is a 'two-edged word,' implying the destruction of all that opposes the Divine covenant, and the furtherance of all that promotes it." Zeal also expresses "earnest desire," and that vigorous and persistent activity in which such desire finds expression. In this sense we may treat Jehu's boast of his... read more
Therefore , etc. A new clause is commenced—the concluding clause of the prophecy. For Hezekiah's satisfaction and consolation something more definite is needed than the vague assurances that "the daughter of Jerusalem shook her head at Sennacherib" ( Isaiah 37:22 ), and that God would "put a bridle in Sennacherib's mouth" ( Isaiah 37:29 ). Accordingly, it is now declared, in the plainest terms, that he shall not even lay siege to the city, but shall return by the way by which he... read more
By the way that he came . It is clear that Sennacherib on this occasion had marched by the usual coast route, through Sharon and the Shefeleh, upon Lachish, leaving Jerusalem far to his left. From Laehish he sent Rabshakeh to Hezekiah with a threatening message, and (as our version has it) " with a great army;" rather, "with a strong force." Rabshakeh, having delivered his message, returned to his master ( Isaiah 37:8 ), doubtless with his escort. Sennacherib then sent a letter by... read more
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Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 37:36
Then the angel - Before "the angel, "the other copy, 2 Kings 19:35 , adds "it came to pass the same night, that " - The Prophet Hosea, Hosea 1:7 , has given a plain prediction of the miraculous deliverance of the kingdom of Judah: - "And to the house of Judah I will be tenderly merciful: And I will save them by Jehovah their God. And I will not save them by the bow; Nor by sword, nor by battle; By horses, nor by horsemen." - L. read more