Isa 37:22-28 | JFB | STEP | 22. Transition to poetry: in parallelism. virgin ... daughter-- honorable terms. "Virgin" implies that the city is, as yet, inviolate. "Daughter" is an abstract collective feminine personification of the population, the child of the place denoted (see on ; ). Zion and her inhabitants. shaken ... head-- in scorn ( ; ; ). With us to shake the head is a sign of denial or displeasure; but gestures have different meanings in different countries ( ; ; ).

‏ Isaiah 37:22-28

22. Transition to poetry: in parallelism.

virgin ... daughter--honorable terms. "Virgin" implies that the city is, as yet, inviolate. "Daughter" is an abstract collective feminine personification of the population, the child of the place denoted (see on Is 23:10; Is 1:8). Zion and her inhabitants.

shaken ... head--in scorn (Psa 22:7; 109:25; Mt 27:39). With us to shake the head is a sign of denial or displeasure; but gestures have different meanings in different countries (Is 58:9; Eze 25:6; Zep 2:15).

23. Whom--not an idol.

24. said--virtually. Hast thou within thyself?

height--imagery from the Assyrian felling of trees in Lebanon (Is 14:8; 33:9); figuratively for, "I have carried my victorious army through the regions most difficult of access, to the most remote lands."

sides--rather, "recesses" [G. V. Smith].

fir trees--not cypresses, as some translate; pine foliage and cedars are still found on the northwest side of Lebanon [Stanley].

height of ... border--In 2Ki 19:23, "the lodgings of his borders." Perhaps on the ascent to the top there was a place of repose or caravansary, which bounded the usual attempts of persons to ascend [Barnes]. Here, simply, "its extreme height."

forest of ... Carmel--rather, "its thickest forest." "Carmel" expresses thick luxuriance (see on Is 10:18; Is 29:17).

25. digged, and drunk water--In 2Ki 19:24, it is "strange waters." I have marched into foreign lands where I had to dig wells for the supply of my armies; even the natural destitution of water there did not impede my march.

rivers of ... besieged places--rather, "the streams (artificial canals from the Nile) of Egypt." "With the sole of my foot," expresses that as soon as his vast armies marched into a region, the streams were drunk up by them; or rather, that the rivers proved no obstruction to the onward march of his armies. So Is 19:4-6, referring to Egypt, "the river--brooks of defense--shall be dried up." Horsley, translates the Hebrew for "besieged places," "rocks."

26. Reply of God to Sennacherib.

long ago--join, rather, with "I have done it." Thou dost boast that it is all by thy counsel and might: but it is I who, long ago, have ordered it so (Is 22:11); thou wert but the instrument in My hands (Is 10:5, 15). This was the reason why "the inhabitants were of small power before thee" (Is 37:27), namely, that I ordered it so; yet thou art in My hands, and I know thy ways (Is 37:28), and I will check thee (Is 37:29). Connect also, "I from ancient times have arranged ('formed') it." However, English Version is supported by Is 33:13; 45:6, 21; 48:5.

27. Therefore--not because of thy power, but because I made them unable to withstand thee.

grass--which easily withers (Is 40:6; Psa 37:2).

on ... housetops--which having little earth to nourish it fades soonest (Psa 129:6-8).

corn blasted before it be grown up--Smith translates, "The cornfield (frail and tender), before the corn is grown."

28. abode--rather, "sitting down" (Psa 139:2). The expressions here describe a man's whole course of life (De 6:7; 28:6; 1Ki 3:7; Psa 121:8). There is also a special reference to Sennacherib's first being at home, then going forth against Judah and Egypt, and raging against Jehovah (Is 37:4).