Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

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 ).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 ).

trustest = confidest. Hebrew. batah.

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

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

children = sons.

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

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

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)).

ear . . . eyes. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia.

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".

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

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

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

shaken = wagged. Denoting derision and scorn.

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

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.

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

besieged places. Hebrew. matzor. Put for Egypt.

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

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

abode = sitting down.

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

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 .

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.

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 .

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

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 ).

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

they: i.e. the Israelites.

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.

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