Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 37:18
Of a truth, LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations, and their countries,
18. all the nations, and their countries ] R.V., following the received text, has “all the countries (lit., lands) and their land.” But the true reading is preserved in the corresponding verse of 2 Kings, which A.V. has rightly followed here.
have laid waste ] This verb is never used of nations, except in ch. Isa 60:12. It differs by a single letter from “laid under the ban” in Isa 37:11, and ought probably to be altered accordingly.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Of a truth – It is as he has said, that all the nations had been subjected to the arms of the Assyrian. He now intends to add Jerusalem to the number of vanquished cities and kingdoms, and to boast; that he has subdued the nation under the protection of Yahweh, as he had done the nations under the protection of idol-gods.
Have laid waste all, the nations – Hebrew, as Margin, All the lands. But this is evidently an elliptical form of expression, meaning all the inhabitants or people of the lands. In 2Ki 19:17, it is thus expressed. The kings of Assyria have destroyed the nations and their lands.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 18. The nations] haratsoth, “the lands;” instead of this word, which destroys the sense, ten of Kennicott’s and five of De Rossi’s MSS. (one ancient) have here goyim, “nations;” which is undoubtedly the true reading, being preserved also in the other copy; 2Kg 19:17. Another MS. suggests another method of rectifying the sense in this place, by reading malcam, “their king, “instead of artsam, “their land;” but it ought to be malcheyhem, “all the countries and their kings.”
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
18. have laid wasteconcedingthe truth of the Assyrian’s allegation (Isa36:18-20), but adding the reason, “For they were no gods.”
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Of a truth Lord,…. This is a truth and will be readily owned what the king of Assyria has said that his ancestors have destroyed all lands, or at least have endeavoured to do it, and have had it in their hearts to do it:
the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations, and their countries: or “all the lands and their land” m; the Targum is,
“all provinces and their lands;”
the countries and town and villages in them, or the chief cities and villages round about them.
m “omnes terras, et terram eorum”, Pagninus, Montanus; “vel terram inquam eorum”, Vatablus.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
18. and 19. Truly, O Jehovah. Here Hezekiah begins to distinguish between the false gods and the true God, which we also ought to do very carefully. Wicked men, who have no light, indulge in some confused imaginations about God, which quickly pass away, so that they think that there is no God, or care nothing about him. (53) But God does not wish that his people shall be moved by a slight and passing opinion, but that he shall be acknowledged by them as the true God, who drives away all superstitions by the brightness of his power. (54) It is not; enough, therefore, that we believe in something which heathens imagine to be a deity, but we must believe in God in such a manner as to distinguish him from pretended gods, and to separate truth from falsehood; and, indeed, when he has once shone into our hearts, those false religions which formerly occupied our minds immediately give way.
This doctrine ought to be the more carefully held, because many persons rest satisfied with dark speculations, and think that it is enough if they acknowledge some deity. They evidently do not know whether they ought to worship the God of the Mahometans or of the Jews; and fly in the air, so that, as the saying is, they neither touch heaven nor earth. Nothing can be more destructive than this imagination; for it mingles and confounds idols with God, whose majesty does not hold its due rank. if it does not reign in solitary grandeur over the ruins of all the false gods. Thus the beginning of true piety is, that from the whole multitude of false gods we shall wisely distinguish that one God to whom we ought to be entirely devoted.
(53) “ Encor qu’il y en air un.” “Though there be a God.”
(54) “ Dechassant par la splendeur de sa vertu toutes tenebres d’ignorance.” “Who drives away by the brightness of his power all the darkness of ignorance.”
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(18) Of a truth, Lord . . .The facts of Rabshakehs induction are admitted, but the inference denied, on the ground that the cases were not parallel. The gods of the nations had been cast into the fire (an alternative to their being taken as trophies for the temples of Asshur and Ishtar), but this could never happen to Jehovah, of whom there was no graven image, and He would show that He alone was ruler of the earth and of the heavens.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Isa 37:18. Have laid waste all the nations, &c. This is literally in the Hebrew, All the lands and their land; but our translation undoubtedly gives the proper sense. See 2Ki 19:17.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
nations, and their countries. Hebrew. ha-arazoth . . . ‘arzam : as in Isa 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”.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
the kings: 2Ki 15:29, 2Ki 16:9, 2Ki 17:6, 2Ki 17:24, 1Ch 5:26, Nah 2:11, Nah 2:12
nations: Heb. lands
Reciprocal: 2Ki 18:34 – the gods 2Ki 19:18 – for they were 2Ch 32:13 – I and my Psa 97:7 – Confounded Isa 36:18 – Hath Isa 36:20 – that the Lord Isa 37:11 – General Isa 40:19 – General Isa 44:9 – and their Nah 3:19 – upon
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
37:18 Of a truth, LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations, and {m} their countries,
(m) Meaning, the ten tribes.