Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 10:8
For he saith, [Are] not my princes altogether kings?
8. Are not my officers altogether kings? ] Many of them really were subjugated kings (2Ki 25:28), and any one of them excelled in dignity the petty sovereigns of the independent states (see ch. Isa 36:9). The title “King of Kings” (Eze 26:7) was already assumed by Assyrian monarchs.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
8 11. The first speech of the Assyrian.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
For he saith – This verse, and the subsequent verses to Isa 10:11, contain the vaunting of the king of Assyria, and the descriptions of his own confidence of success.
Are not my princes altogether kings? – This is a confident boast of his own might and power. His own dominion was so great that even his princes were endowed with the ordinary power and regalia of kings. The word princes, may here refer either to those of his own family and court – to the satraps and officers of power in his army, or around his throne: or more probably, it may refer to the subordinate governors whom he had set over the provinces which he had conquered. Are they not clothed with royal power and majesty? Are they not of equal splendor with the other monarchs at the earth? How great, then, must have been his own rank and glory to be placed over such illustrious sovereigns! It will be recollected, that a common title which oriental monarchs give themselves, is that of King of kings; see Eze 26:7; Dan 2:37; Ezr 7:12. The oriental princes are still distinguished for their sounding titles, and particularly for their claiming dominion over all other princes, and the supremacy over all other earthly powers.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Equal for power, and wealth, and glory to the kings of other nations, though my subjects and servants.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
8-11. Vauntings of theAssyrians. Illustrated by the self-laudatory inscriptions of Assyriadeciphered by HINCKS.
princes . . . kingsEasternsatraps and governors of provinces often had the title and diadem ofkings. Hence the title, “King of kings,” implying thegreatness of Him who was over them (Eze 26:7;Ezr 7:12).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
For he saith, [are] not my princes altogether kings?] Meaning either the kings which he had conquered, which were become his princes and subjects; or rather, such were the greatness and glory of his nobles, that they were equal in their riches and dominions to kings, and so were able to furnish him with men and money for such an expedition he had in his heart to undertake, even to conquer and subdue all the nations of the earth: and this he said either to his people, boasting of his grandeur; or in his heart, as Kimchi observes, to encourage himself; or rather more openly before others, in order to discourage and inject terror into the nations he meant to destroy, and particularly the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
8. For he will say. He explains the reason why the Assyrian will not think that he is the rod of God. It is because, being blinded by pride, he acknowledges no authority superior to his own; for it is impossible for those who rely on their own superiority, and claim ability to do this or that, to submit to the providence of God. The authority which we ought justly to ascribe to God is, to believe that we cannot move even the smallest finger without his permission. On the other hand, whoever imagines that he can do anything, however small, assumes to himself, with blasphemous pride, the power of God.
Are not my princes altogether kings? The Prophet here gives a lively picture of the presumption of a heathen king in boasting that he had everything in his power. This is especially the case with eminent Princes who, abounding in wealth, resources, and power, are blinded in such a manner as hardly to know that they are men. The opportunities of learning this are too abundant; for what Prince is there at the present day, who knows or remembers that he is a man, and liable to the ordinary calamities of life? Their minds are so entirely intoxicated and deranged, that they believe that whatever they have undertaken they will at once accomplish, and will surmount every obstacle.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(8) Are not my princes altogether kings?So Tiglath-pileser names the twenty-three kings (Ahaz and Pekah among them) who came to do homage and pay tribute at Damascus (Records of the Past, v. 5-26).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
8. For he saith He fully exhibits what his spirit is absolutely that of worldly ambition.
My princes Satraps, vicegerents, generals. Are they not equal to the greatest of kings elsewhere? Assyria, Babylonia, and Persia were great empires, consisting of great numbers of provinces far and near, over which were placed governors called satraps.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Isa 10:8 For he saith, [Are] not my princes altogether kings?
Ver. 8. For he saith. ] Sennacherib saith. See Isa 36:9 ; Isa 36:15 ; Isa 36:18 ; Isa 36:20 ; Isa 37:10 ; Isa 37:13 ; Isa 37:24-25 . A great part of this whole book of Isaiah concerneth Sennacherib.
Are not my princes altogether kings?
a Perhaps he had made some of his chief commanders kings. Our Henry VI crowned Henry Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick, King of the Isle of Wight.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
he saith = he will say.
altogether = all of them.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Isa 36:8, 2Ki 18:24, 2Ki 19:10, Eze 26:7, Dan 2:37
Reciprocal: Exo 15:9 – I will pursue Deu 8:17 – My power Deu 32:27 – they should 1Ki 20:1 – Thirty and two 2Ki 18:19 – Thus saith 2Ki 18:28 – the king of Assyria 2Ki 19:11 – General 1Ch 19:19 – the servants 2Ch 32:4 – kings 2Ch 32:21 – the leaders 2Ch 33:11 – the captains Ezr 7:12 – Artaxerxes Est 5:11 – the glory Job 24:23 – whereon Psa 48:4 – General Isa 8:7 – the king Isa 10:13 – For he saith Isa 23:8 – merchants Isa 25:5 – shalt bring Isa 36:4 – Thus saith Isa 36:9 – the least Isa 36:13 – Hear Jer 9:23 – neither Eze 28:5 – and thine Eze 31:5 – his height Dan 4:30 – that Hos 8:10 – the king Jam 4:6 – God
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Isa 10:8-10. For he saith, Are not my princes, &c. Are they not equal for power, and wealth, and glory, to the kings of other nations, though they be my subjects and servants? Is not Calno as Carchemish? Have I not conquered one place as well as another, the stronger as well as the weaker? Have I not from time to time added new conquests to the old? None of those cities, against which he had turned his arms, had been able to resist him; but he had subjugated them all. Calno, Carchemish, Hamath, and Arpad, were cities of Syria and Israel, which this mighty monarch had subdued. Is not Samaria Or, Shall not Samaria be, as Damascus? Shall I not take that as I have done this city? For although Damascus, possibly, was not yet taken by the Assyrians, yet the prophet speaks of it as actually taken, because these words are prophetically delivered, and supposed to be uttered by the king of Assyria, at or about the time of the siege of Samaria, when Damascus was taken. As my hand hath found Hath taken, as this word is often used, the kingdoms of the idols Which worshipped their own idols, and vainly imagined that they could protect them from my power. He calls the gods of the nations, not excepting Jerusalem, idols, by way of contempt, because none of them could deliver their people out of his hands, and because he judged them to be but petty gods, far inferior to the sun, which was the god of the Assyrians. Whose graven images did excel them of Jerusalem Namely, in reputation and power. Which blasphemy of his proceeded from his deep ignorance of the true God.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Assyria, in her unrealistic pride, boasted, in the person of her king, that her princes were the equivalent of kings, so great was their authority. She assumed that the cities of Judah were the same as the cities of other nations, namely, without Yahweh’s special concern and protection. She mistakenly thought that Judah’s God was just another god (cf. 2Ki 18:33-35). Therefore she planned to do to Judah and Jerusalem just as she had done to other nations and their great cities. In each of the three pairs of cities listed (Isa 10:9), the first is farther southwest than the second. The prophet portrayed the Assyrian king as thinking: "I took this one that is closer to me, so I can take that other one that is farther from me."