Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 7:18
And it shall come to pass in that day, [that] the LORD shall hiss for the fly that [is] in the uttermost part of the rivers of Egypt, and for the bee that [is] in the land of Assyria.
18. the Lord shall hiss ] See ch. Isa 5:26. The comparison of the Egyptians to flies and the Assyrians to bees is thoroughly appropriate, Egypt being infested with swarms of flies (Isa 18:1), while Assyria was pre-eminently a land of bees. Dangerous enemies are compared to bees in Deu 1:44; Psa 118:12. the uttermost part ] (or “end”) naturally suggests the Ethiopians, who however did not become masters of Egypt till b.c. 728. the rivers (strictly “Nile-arms”) of Egypt ] The word used is an Egyptian name for the Nile.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
18, 19. Judah, as the theatre of the inevitable duel between Assyria and Egypt for the mastery of Asia, must endure all the horrors of the double invasion.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
18 25. Further announcements (not addressed to Ahaz, but probably compiled from fragments of several of Isaiah’s prophecies) of the Assyrian invasion (18 20) and its consequences (21 25).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
In that day the Lord shall hiss – see the note at Isa 5:26.
For the fly – That is, for the army, or the multitude of people. The comparison of a numerous army with flies is not uncommon; see Homers Iliad, B. ii. 469, etc.
– Thick as insects play,
The wandering nation of a summers day.
That, drawn by milky streams at evening hours
In gathered swarms surround the rural bowers;
From pail to pail with busy murmur run
The gilded legions, glittering in the sun.
Pope.
The comparison is drawn probably from the number, but also is intended to indicate the troublesome character, of the invaders. Perhaps, also, there is an allusion here to the well-known fact that one of the ten plagues of Egypt was caused by numerous swarms of flies; Exo 8:21-24. An army would be brought up from that country as numerous, as troublesome, and as destructive as was that swarm of flies. The following description, by Bruce, of a species of flies in Abyssinia and the adjacent regions, will give an idea of the character of this calamity, and the force of the language used here:
This insect is called Zimb; it has not been described by any naturalist. It is, in size, very little larger than a bee, of a thicker proportion, and has wings, which are broader than those of a bee, placed separate, like those of a fly: they are of pure gauze, without color or spot upon them; the head is large, the upper jaw or lip is sharp, and has at the end of it a strong pointed hair, of about a quarter of an inch long; the lower jaw has two of these pointed hairs; and this pencil of hairs, when joined together, makes a resistance to the finger, nearly equal to that of a strong hogs bristle; its legs are serrated in the inside, and the whole covered with brown hair or down. As soon as this plague appears, and their buzzing is heard, all the cattle forsake their food, and run wildly about the plain, until they die, worn out with fatigue, fright, and hunger. No remedy remains, but to leave the black earth, and hasten down to the sands of Atbara; and there they remain, while the rains last, this cruel enemy never daring to pursue them further.
Though his size be immense, as is his strength, and his body covered with a thick skin, defended with strong hair, yet even the camel is not capable to sustain the violent punctures the fly makes with his pointed proboscis. He must lose no time in removing to the sands of Atbara, for when once attacked by this fly, his body, head, and legs, break out into large bosses, which swell, break, and putrefy, to the certain destruction of the creature. Even the elephant and rhinoceros, who, by reason of their enormous bulk, and the vast quantity of food and water they daily need, cannot shift to desert and dry places as the season may require, are obliged to roll themselves in mud and mire, which, when dry, coats them over like armor, and enables them to stand their ground against this winged assassin; yet I have found some of these tubercles upon almost every elephant and rhinoceros that I have seen, and attribute them to this cause.
All the inhabitants of the seacoast of Melinda, down to Cape Gardefan, to Saba, and the south coast of the Red Sea, are obliged to put themselves in motion, and remove to the next sand, in the beginning of the rainy season, to prevent all their stock of cattle from being destroyed. This is not a partial emigration; the inhabitants of all the countries, from the mountains of Abyssinia northward, to the confluence of the Nile, and Astaboras, are once a year obliged to change their abode, and seek protection in the sand of Beja; nor is there any alternative, or means of avoiding this, though a hostile band were in their way, capable of spoiling them or half their substance. This fly has no sting, though he seemed to me to be rather of the bee kind; but his motion is more rapid and sudden than that of the bee, and resembles that of the gad-fly in England. There is something particular in the sound or buzzing of this insect; it is a jarring noise together with a humming, which induces me to believe it proceeds, at least in part, from a vibration made with the three hairs at his snout.
The uttermost part of the rivers of Egypt – The remotest part of the land – that is, from the whole country. Egypt was watered by a single river; the Nile. But this river emptied into the Mediterranean by several mouths; and from this river also were cut numerous canals to water the land. These are intended by the rivers of Egypt; see the notes at Isa 19:6-7. Those canals would be stagnant for no small part of the year; and around them would be produced, as is usual near stagnant waters, great quantities of flies. This prophecy was fulfilled by the invasion of the land in subsequent times by the Egyptians; 2Ki 23:33-34; 2Ch 35:20, 2Ch 35:24; 2Ch 36:1-2.
And for the bee – That is, for the army. An army is compared to bees on account of their number; perhaps also on account of the pungency and severity of the sting. The comparison is common; see Deu 1:44; Deu 7:20; Psa 118:12. The Chaldee has rendered this verse, The Lord shall call to a people girded with the armies of the brave, who are numerous as flies, and shall bring them from the ends of the land of Egypt; and strong armies, strong as bees, and shall bring them from the land of Assyria. No prophecy was ever more completely fulfilled than this by the successive invasions of Pharaoh-Necho, Esarhaddon and Nebuchadnezzar; see Isa. 36; 37; 2Ch 36:7-21.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 18. Hiss for the fly – “Hist the fly”] See Clarke on Isa 5:26.
Egypt, and – Assyria.] Sennacherib, Esarhaddon, Pharaoh-necho, and Nebuchadnezzar, who one after another desolated Judea.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
In that day; known to God, and appointed by him for the execution of these judgments.
Shall hiss: See Poole “Isa 5:26“.
The fly; the flies. So he calls these enemies, to imply either their great numbers, or their speedy march, or their unavoidable assault.
In the uttermost part; in, or near, or towards their extremity or end, where they go out into the sea.
Of the rivers; of the river Nilus, which may be called rivers, either for its greatness, for which cause the title of rivers is given also to Euphrates, Psa 137:1, and to Tigris, Nah 2:6; or because, towards the end of it, it is divided into seven famous streams, by which it emptieth itself into the midland sea, Isa 11:15. He seems plainly to design and describe the Egyptians, who were always dangerous neighbours to Judah, and did probably animate and assist the Philistines, and Edomites, and others against them, and at last made a formal invasion and conquest of their land, 2Ki 23:33, &c. Besides, when the Chaldeans had in good measure subdued the Egyptians, it is very probable that great numbers of the Egyptian soldiers did list themselves in the Chaldean army, and with them invade the land of Judah.
The bee; the bees, the Assyrian army, who are compared to bees, as for their numerous forces and orderly march, so for their fierce attempts and mischievous effects.
In the land of Assyria; in the empire of Assyria, or Babylon; for these two were united into one empire, and therefore in Scripture are promiscuously called sometimes by one title, and sometimes by the other.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
18. hisswhistle, to bringbees to settle (see on Isa 5:26).
flyfound in numbersabout the arms of the Nile and the canals from it (Isa 19:5-7;Isa 23:3), here called “rivers.”Hence arose the plague of flies (Ex8:21). Figurative, for numerous and troublesomefoes from the remotest parts of Egypt, for example, Pharaoh-nechoh.
bee (Deu 1:44;Psa 118:12). As numerous inAssyria as the fly in marshy Egypt. Sennacherib, Esar-haddon, andNebuchadnezzar fulfilled this prediction.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And it shall come to pass in that day,…. the time when those evil days before spoken of should take place:
[that] the Lord shall hiss for the fly that [is] in the uttermost part of the rivers of Egypt; or flies, as the Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic versions render it; the Egyptians, so called because their country abounded with flies; and because of the multitude of their armies, and the swiftness of their march; this seems to have had its accomplishment when Pharaohnechoh king of Egypt slew Josiah, put his son Jehoahaz, that reigned after him, in bands, placed Eliakim his brother in his stead, and made the land of Judah tributary to him,
2Ki 23:29 though some think either the Edomites or Philistines, that bordered on Egypt, are meant; who in Ahaz’s time invaded Judah, and brought it low, 2Ch 28:17 or else the Ethiopians, that inhabited on the furthermost borders of Egypt, and the rivers of it; who either came up separately against Judah, or served under Nebuchadnezzar; see Isa 18:1:
and for the bee that [is] in the land of Assyria; the Assyrian army, so called because the country abounded with bees; and because of the number of their armies, their military order and discipline, and their hurtful and mischievous nature. The Targum paraphrases the whole thus,
“and it shall be at that time that the Lord shall call to a people, bands of armies, of mighty men, who are numerous as flies, and shall bring them from the ends of the land of Egypt; and to mighty armies, who are powerful as bees, and shall bring them from the uttermost parts of the land of Assyria:”
hissing or whistling for them denotes the ease with which this should be done, and with what swiftness and readiness those numerous and powerful armies should come; and the allusion is to the calling of bees out of their hives into the fields, and from thence into their hives again, by tinkling of brass, or by some musical sound, in one way or another.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
“And it comes to pass in that day, Jehovah will hiss for the fly which is at the end of the Nile-arms of Egypt, and the bees that are in the land of Asshur; and they come and settle all of them in the valleys of the slopes, and in the clefts of the rocks, and in all the thorn-hedges, and upon all grass-plats.” The prophet has already stated, in Isa 5:26, that Jehovah would hiss for distant nations; and how he is able to describe them by name. The Egyptian nation, with its vast and unparalleled numbers, is compared to the swarming fly; and the Assyrian nation, with its love of war and conquest, to the stinging bee which is so hard to keep off (Deu 1:44; Psa 118:12). The emblems also correspond to the nature of the two countries: the fly to slimy Egypt with its swarms of insects (see Isa 18:1),
(Note: Egypt abounds in gnats, etc., more especially in flies ( m uscariae ), including a species of small fly ( nemath ), which is a great plague to men throughout all the country of the Nile (see Hartmann, Natur-geschichtlich-medicinische Skizze der Nillnder, 1865, pp. 204- 5).)
and the bee to the more mountainous and woody Assyria, where the keeping of bees is still one of the principal branches of trade. , pl. , is an Egyptian name ( yaro , with the article phiaro , pl. yarou ) for the Nile and its several arms. The end of the Nile-arms of Egypt, from a Palestinian point of view, was the extreme corner of the land. The military force of Egypt would march out of the whole compass of the land, and meet the Assyrian force in the Holy Land; and both together would cover the land in such a way that the valleys of steep precipitous heights (nachalee habbattoth), and clefts of the rocks ( nekike hasselaim ), and all the thorn-hedges ( naazuzm ) and pastures ( nahalolim , from nihel , to lead to pasture), would be covered with these swarms. The fact that just such places are named, as afforded a suitable shelter and abundance of food for flies and bees, is a filling up of the figure in simple truthfulness to nature. And if we look at the historical fulfilment, it does not answer even in this respect to the actual letter of the prophecy; for in the time of Hezekiah no collision really took place between the Assyrian and Egyptian forces; and it was not till the days of Josiah that a collision took place between the Chaldean and Egyptian powers in the eventful battle fought between Pharaoh-Necho and Nebuchadnezzar at Carchemish (Circesium), which decided the fate of Judah. That the spirit of prophecy points to this eventful occurrence is evident from Isa 7:20, where no further allusion is made to Egypt, because of its having succumbed to the imperial power of Eastern Asia.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
18. And it shall be in that day. The Jews thought that the Assyrians were bound by their league with them; but the Prophet ridicules this folly, and declares that they will be ready at God’s bidding to drive them in any direction that he thinks fit. Yet instead of command he employs the metaphor hiss, in allusion to the climate of those kingdoms of which he speaks; for Egypt abounds in flies, because the country is hot and marshy; and when the air is both hot and moist, there must be produced a great abundance of flies. Assyria, on the other hand, abounded in bees; and when he says that he will bring them by a hiss, he alludes to the natural habits of bees and flies, but he means that he will find no difficulty in sending them. As if he had said, “There will be no need of great exertion; for as soon as I shall give the sign, they will instantly run.” In this manner he shows what efficacy belongs to his secret operation or design, that by a hiss he compels the most powerful nations to yield obedience.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(18) The Lord shall hiss for the fly . . .See for the phrase the Note on Isa. 5:26. The legions of Egypt are represented by the flies that swarmed on the banks of the Nile (Exo. 8:24, and possibly Isa. 18:1), those of Assyria by the bees of their forests and their hills (Deu. 1:44; Psa. 118:12). The mention of Egypt indicates that some of the kings counsellors were then, as afterwards (Isa. 18:2; Isa. 31:1), planning an Egyptian alliance, as others were relying on that with Assyria. The prophet tells them that each is fraught with danger. No help and much evil would come from such plans. Consistent in his policy from first to last, the one counsel he gives is that men should practise righteousness, and wait upon the Lord.
The uttermost part of the rivers of Egypt.The phrase points to the whole extent of the Delta of the Nile, probably to the whole Egyptian course of the Nile itself. Historically the prophecy found its fulfilment in the invasion of Pharaoh Necho in the reign of Josiah (2Ki. 23:29), or, nearer Isaiahs time, in the movements of Tirhakahs arms (2Ki. 19:9).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
18. It is not necessary to suppose that the piece of prophecy commencing here was delivered at the same time with the preceding, but it is on the same subject and in a similar strain. It is the more complete unfolding of the previously predicted calamities. That is, herein is explained what is said in Isa 7:15. God himself is represented as entering into the action.
In that day In the days just threatened.
Shall hiss Isa 5:26. The word signifies a kind of whistling. For (or to) the fly See note on Isa 5:26.
Uttermost part of the rivers The Nile branches and canals in the Delta. Pharaoh Necho, king of Egypt, it is supposed, mustered armies, mentioned here tropically by flies. The fly is an abundant nuisance in Egypt. Any traveller in Egypt, at this time, even in the winter season, may observe the fly carrying the ophthalmic virus from the eyes of one to another, among the children especially of the fellahs; and scarcely half the population are unaffected by the ophthalmic scourge.
The bee of Assyria The bee, because of its number in Assyria, or because of the keenness of its sting, is here taken as the symbol of the Assyrian armies. The scope of time covered by the fulfilment of Isa 7:18 is from Isaiah’s day to the end of Israel and Judah as nations: and the armies were headed by Pharaoh Necho of Egypt, and by Shalmanezer, Esarhaddon, and Nebuchadnezzar of Assyria and Babylon.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Isa 7:18. The Lord shall hiss for the fly, &c. See the note on chap. Isa 5:26. It is not very strange, that languages should abound with figures and metaphors, or that prophesies should contain parables and apt similitudes. What man, who knows any thing of language or letters, would expect otherwise? However, considering that the word hiss is apt to carry with it a low idea, one might with that our translators had chosen a less offensive word, which might but tolerably have expressed the sense. Besides, the word hiss seems not proper, as not well answering to the original word, sharak: for, whether we suppose the metaphor taken from a shepherd’s calling to his sheep, or from a bee-keeper’s calling to his bees, hiss is not a proper expression for either. Other words, more expressive of the metaphor, might be thought on were it necessary to follow the figure; but I see no reason for such scrupulous exactness. The general word, call, would fully express the meaning; and that is sufficient in such cases. Our older translations, as Coverdale’s in 1535, and Mathews’s of 1537, and the great Bible of 1539, have it call unto them in this place, and I think very wisely. The Geneva translators of 1560 first brought in hiss unto them: and they have been followed by Parker’s Bible, and by our last translation. I commend not the older translations for having whistle in this place, and blow for them in Zec 10:8. The same word call would have served better in both these and the other place before referred to. I observe that the Hebrew word kara, is made use of in the 13th chapter, Isa 7:3 to the same sense, and for the same purpose, as sharak here, and is there literally rendered call: and so might this other word be rendered also without any impropriety. Some indeed have chosen whisper instead of hiss; which is a word of more dignity: but it dilutes and diminishes the sense. A loud or shrill call seems to be intended in all the three places; for neither do shepherds whisper to their sheep, nor bee-keepers to their bees. In short then, I know no better English word than call to preserve the sense, and at the same time to keep up the dignity of expression. The true and full meaning of the two places in this book, is neither more nor less than this; that God, having sovereign command over all nations and people, can convene them together from remote and distant quarters to execute his most righteous judgments. Whenever God gives the signal, or issues out his summons, they will advance with all alacrity to perform his will, though not knowing that his hand is in it. The fly and the bee, in the place before us, denote the Egyptian and Assyrian armies, which should come up with speed from their respective quarters, to execute the divine vengeance upon Palestine for their flagrant iniquities. The former would come swiftly upon them, like swarms of devouring flies, to infer and annoy them, and to exhaust their blood and juices: and the latter should approach as swarms of angry bees or wasps to sting them to death. Such is the prophet’s meaning, vailed under elegant figures; which give new life and strength to his expressions, and render the whole the more poignant and more affecting. See Waterland’s Scripture vindicated, part 3: p. 42.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Isa 7:18 And it shall come to pass in that day, [that] the LORD shall hiss for the fly that [is] in the uttermost part of the rivers of Egypt, and for the bee that [is] in the land of Assyria.
Ver. 18. The Lord will hiss for the fly, &c. ] Out of Egypt and the confines. The people of which parts are fitly called flies, say expositors, for their numerosity, swiftness, stench, impudence, harsh language, ob vocis absonae stridorem. The country being hot, and lying low, aboundeth with flies aad gnats, such as proud Pharaoh was vexed with.
And for the bee that is in Assyria.
“ Illis ira modum superat, laesaeque venenum
Inspirant stimulis, et vitam in vulnere linquunt. ”
See the Babylonical fierceness and cruelty graphically described.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Isa 7:18-19
18In that day the LORD will whistle for the fly that is in the remotest part of the rivers of Egypt and for the bee that is in the land of Assyria. 19They will all come and settle on the steep ravines, on the ledges of the cliffs, on all the thorn bushes and on all the watering places.
Isa 7:18 In that day That day is the day of the Lord’s fulfillment of His promises (cf. Isa 7:18; Isa 7:20-21; Isa 7:23). It can refer to a near future time (fall of Syria and Israel, cf. Isa 7:16) or an end-time, eschatological setting (i.e., Messianic age, age of the true one virgin birth). See Special Topic: That Day .
whistle See note at Isa 5:26.
Egypt God’s people were still caught in the power struggle between the empires of the Fertile Crescent and the Nile River. Egypt is referred to in Hos 7:11; Hos 8:13; Hos 9:3; Hos 9:6; Hos 11:5; Hos 11:11; Hos 12:1.
Isa 7:19 on the ledges of the cliffs, on all the thorn bushes and on all the watering places This is a series of metaphors to describe the large invading army that will occupy even the remotest regions of the Promised Land.
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
rivers of Egypt. Reference to Pentateuch. Hebrew. ye’or. Twenty-nine times in. Genesis and Exodus (only twice in plural. Exo 7:19; Exo 8:5).
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Isa 7:18-19
Isa 7:18-19
“And it shall come to pass in that day, that Jehovah will hiss for the fly that is in the uttermost part of the rivers of Egypt, and for the bee that is in the land of Assyria. And they shall come, and rest all of them in the desolate valleys, and in the clefts of the rocks, and upon all thorn-hedges, and upon all pastures.”
This is a prophecy of the evil that shall befall Judah at the hands of foreign invaders; and like the prophecy of Immanuel a moment earlier, this is not designed to encourage Ahaz at all; but it is a revelation of what is certain to follow his rejection of the counsel of God. The two metaphors of the flies and the bees stand for “swarms of looting soldiers” lurking everywhere and ravaging the land.
Isa 7:20
“In that day will the Lord shave with a razor that is hired in the parts beyond the River, even the king of Assyria, the head and the hair of the feet; and it shall consume the beard.”
“The Lord will shave …” This does not mean that God will shave himself, but that he will shave the land of his rebellious people. Shaving the hair of the feet, the head, and the beard simply means that nothing will be left. “Judah is to be completely stripped.
Isa 7:21-22
“And it shall come to pass in that day, that a man shall keep alive a young cow and two sheep; And it shall come to pass, that because of the abundance of the milk that which they shall give he shall eat butter; for butter and honey shall everyone eat that is left in the midst of the land.”
The scene pictured here is one of utter desolation. There are no agricultural products except a cow and two sheep; and these have been kept through hiding and deception. The milk from those animals and the product of wild honey bees is all the food there is. “These verses mean that there will be curds and wild honey and nothing else.
Isa 7:23-25
“And its shall come to pass in that day, that in every place, where there were a thousand vines at a thousand silverlings, there shall be briers and thorns. With arrows and with bow shall one come thither, because all the land shall be briers and thorns; but it shall be for the sending forth of oxen and for the treading of sheep.”
These verses sum up the approaching desolation of Judah, all of the verses from Isa 7:18-25 constituting actually but a single paragraph devoted to the prophecy of Judah’s ruin by Assyria. Assyria did indeed ruin the land, destroying all the cities except Jerusalem, and attempting to take it. Only a special providence of God saved it.
Isa 7:17-20 GODS TOOL FOR JUDGMENT: Ahaz did not believe Gods promise and he did not heed Gods prophet. Ahaz turned to the Assyrian emperor for help. He so thoroughly submitted himself to the Assyrian he became a vassal of that pagan empire (Cf. 2Ki 16:7-8). He also adopted much of Assyrias pagan idolatry (Cf. 2Ki 16:10-16). So the prophet Isaiah goes from promises to threats. Days are coming upon Judah unequaled since the shame and humiliation of the revolt of the ten tribes. This judgment will be executed when Jehovah God calls, pssst (hisses) for the hordes of Assyrian soldiers to swarm into Palestine, overrun Israel and invade Judah. They will come in swarms like flies and bees. During the same time the Egyptians will swarm over the land of Palestine as these two great empires, Assyria and Egypt, struggle for domination of that territory. The hired razor will be the king of Assyria, Gods instrument of shame and humiliation upon Judah. To shave the head and the beard completely off was a sign of deep humiliation and shame. Just how the Lord arranged for the king of Assyria to do His bidding we do not know. We know that the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus to return the Hebrews to their land (2Ch 36:22; Ezr 1:1) and that He sent a messenger among the nations to stir them up against Edom (Oba 1:1) and that in the book of Daniel the Lord deposed and enthroned pagan kings at His discretion.
Isa 7:21-25 GODS WAY OF JUDGMENT: The swarming armies of Assyria and Egypt tramping through the land and encamping upon it would completely devastate the lands agricultural potentialities. The massive armies of antiquity fed and supplied themselves almost entirely from foraging upon the countryside where they camped. To feed, clothe and supply other necessities for armies in the hundreds of thousands took incredible amounts of agricultural and building commodities. The devastation would be so thorough that the only thing left to eat for the local residents would be milk, butter and honey (Isa 7:22); the vineyards would be all stripped and weeds would grow in their place (Isa 7:23); only the hunter hunting the wild things of the thicket will be there, and tillable land will be so full of thorns and briers that tear clothes and flesh, no one will ever go there except animals to graze.
Precisely what Ahaz hoped to avert by becoming a vassal of the king of Assyria was what happened to the land because he refused to trust God and trusted in man.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
a Foreign Foe-Gods Instrument
Isa 7:18-25; Isa 8:1-4
Ahaz, as we have seen, summoned the king of Assyria to his aid. This policy, dictated by human prudence, was fraught with vast peril. He and his advisers would rue their choice, and would have to pay dearly for introducing Assyria into the complicated politics of these minor states. Though this policy might effect a temporary success, like that which Isaiah indicated in the naming of his newborn child, yet ultimately it would work out disastrously, in the depopulation and desolation of the country. The impoverished peasants would have one cow instead of a herd, and two sheep instead of a flock. Is not this true of all the expedients which we substitute for faith in God? At first they promise well but they disappoint and fail. It is the old lesson: Lean not to thine own understanding, Pro 3:5.
Fuente: F.B. Meyer’s Through the Bible Commentary
hiss: Isa 5:26
fly: Isa 30:1, Isa 30:2, Isa 31:1, Exo 8:21, Exo 8:24, Deu 1:44, Deu 7:20, Jos 24:12, Psa 118:12
bee: Isa 7:17, 2Ki 23:33, 2Ki 23:34
Reciprocal: 2Ki 19:17 – the kings 2Ch 32:1 – king of Assyria 2Ch 33:11 – of the king Neh 9:32 – since the time Psa 105:31 – there Isa 18:3 – see ye Eze 27:23 – Asshur Joe 2:11 – utter Zec 10:8 – hiss
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Isa 7:18-19. In that day Known to God, and appointed by him for the execution of these judgments; the Lord shall hiss for the fly The flies, rather. Thus he calls these enemies, to signify either their great number, or their speedy march: see on Isa 5:26. As the word hiss carries with it a low idea, and does not properly express the meaning of the original word , sherek, which properly signifies, sibilando advocare, to call by whistling, it seems desirable that it should not have been used here and Isa 5:26. Bishop Lowth renders it, Jehovah shall hist the fly, shall call them softly, bring them by a slight intimation of his will. In the uttermost part of the rivers, &c. In their extremity, where they go out into the sea. The river Nile is undoubtedly intended, which may be called rivers, either for its greatness, or because toward the end of it it is divided into seven streams. When the Chaldeans had, in good measure, subdued the Egyptians, it is probable great numbers of the Egyptian soldiers listed themselves in the Chaldean army, and with them invaded the land of Judah. And for the bee, &c. The Assyrian army, compared to bees, as for their numerous forces and orderly march, so for their fierce attempts and mischievous effects. In the land of Assyria In the empire of Assyria or Babylon; for these two were united into one empire, and therefore in Scripture are promiscuously called sometimes by one title, and sometimes by the other. They shall come The flies, and especially the bees. And shall rest all of them They shall have an easy victory; few or none of them shall be slain in the attempt. In the desolate valleys Such as they found very fruitful, but made desolate. And in the holes of the rocks To which possibly the Israelites fled for refuge. Upon all bushes Which he mentions, because flies and bees use frequently to rest there; and to intimate, that no place should escape their fury.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
7:18 And it shall come to pass in that day, [that] the LORD shall hiss for the {r} fly that [is] in the uttermost part of the rivers of Egypt, and for the bee that [is] in the land of Assyria.
(r) Meaning, the Egyptians: for since the country is hot and moist, it is full of flies, as Assyria is full of bees.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
The threat of Assyria 7:18-25
This section explains how the coming days would be the worst since the division of the kingdom (Isa 7:17). Assyria was not just a powerful and brutal enemy, but it would be a tool in Yahweh’s hand that He would use to discipline Judah.
Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)
Yahweh would summon the armies of Assyria and Egypt to do His bidding as one whistles (or hisses) at insects (cf. Isa 5:26). The ancients could evidently control flies and bees by hissing at them. [Note: See Young, 1:296, for sources indicating this in Aeschylus’ writings.] Egypt was a land filled with flies, and the ancients spoke of Assyria as a country of beekeeping. [Note: Ibid.] Enemy soldiers would swarm everywhere in Judah (cf. Jdg 6:1-6).