Isaiah 37:30-38 NIV

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 37:34

Returning on our way. "By the way that he came, by the same shall he return." I. THE RETURN WHICH IS IMPOSSIBLE . Our departure from this world is often spoken of as a return. We "return to the grave." We ascend and descend the hill of life; but we go down that hill on the other side. Old age is indeed "a second childhood;" but how different a childhood it is! —with the experience, and the carefulness, and the sad consciousness of failure which childhood has not , but ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 37:35

I will defend this city … for mine own sake ; literally, I will cover over this city , as a bird covers its young with its wings (comp. Isaiah 31:5 ; Matthew 23:37 ). God would do this "for his own sake;" i.e. because his own honour was concerned in the defence of his people. He would also do it for his servant David's sake; i.e. because of the promises made to David, that his children should sit upon his throne ( 2 Samuel 7:16 ; Psalms 89:29-37 ; Psalms 132:11-14 ,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 37:36

Then the angel of the Lord went forth . The parallel passage of Kings ( 2 Kings 19:35 ) has, "It came to pass that night , that the angel of the Lord went out." The word of Isaiah had its accomplishment within a few hours. On the camp of the Assyrians, wherever it was, whether at Libnah, or at Pelusium (Herod; 2:141), or between the two, in the dead of night, the destroying angel swooped down, and silently, without disturbance, took the lives of a hundred and eighty-five thousand'... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 37:36

Humiliating judgments. After such boastings and threatenings as the Rabshakeh had uttered, it was utterly humiliating to lose his army without fighting a battle, to be compelled to take a miserable remnant home, as a circumvented, disgraced general. It was all the more humiliating if Sennacherib himself headed the army at the later stage. "The greatest men cannot stand before God. The great King of Assyria looks very little when he is forced to return, not only with shame, because he... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 37:37

So Sennacherib … departed ; rather, broke up his camp. The word used for all the removals of the children of Israel in the wilderness ( Numbers 33:3-48 ). The loss of even an entire corps d ' armeee would not have caused an Assyrian king, at the head of an intact main army, to break up his camp and abandon his enterprise. And dwelt at Nineveh . Sennacherib lived some eighteen or twenty years from the probable date of his discomfiture, dying in b.c. 681. His ordinary residence was... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 37:38

Nisroch his god . The name Nisroch has not been found in the Assyrian inscriptions, and is, in fact, read only in this place and the parallel passage of Kings ( 2 Kings 19:37 ). It has been supposed to represent Nusku, an Assyrian god of a somewhat low position, who, however, does not obtain mention in the historical inscriptions until the time of Asshur-bani-pal. Probably the name has suffered corruption. Asshur was, in fact, Sennacherib's favourite deity, and it is remarkable that the ... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 37:30

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, and thc confusion of his plans. He here turns and gives to Hezekiah the assurance that Jerusalem would be delivered. On the meaning of the word ‘sign,’ see the note at Isaiah 7:14. Commentators have... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 37:31

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 Sennacherib could have invaded the land, and spread desolation for so long a time, without diminishing the number of the people. The promise in the passage is, that those who were left should flourish and... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 37:32

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 that they would constitute that from which the future prosperity of the state would arise.And they that escape - Margin, ‘The escaping,’ that is, the remnant.The zeal - (See the note at Isaiah 9:7). read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 37:33

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 note at Isaiah 21:5). The meaning here is, that the army should not be permitted to come before the city defended with shields, and prepared with the means of attack and defense.Nor cast a bank against it... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 37:34

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 37:35

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 37:36

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 37:36

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 37:37

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 37:38

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 37:30

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 37:31

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 37:32

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 37:33

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