Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 37:19
And have cast their gods into the fire: for they [were] no gods, but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone: therefore they have destroyed them.
19. the work of men’s hands ] Cf. ch. Isa 2:20, Isa 17:8, Isa 31:7.
wood and stone ] Deu 4:28; Deu 28:36; Deu 28:64; Deu 29:17; Eze 20:32.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And have cast their gods into the fire – This appears to have been the usual policy of the Assyrians and Babylonians. It was contrary to the policy which the Romans afterward pursued, for they admitted the gods of other nations among their own, and even allowed them to have a place in the Pantheon. Their design seems not to have been to alienate the feelings of the vanquished, but to make them feel that they were a part of the same people. They supposed that a vanquished people would be conciliated with the idea that their gods were admitted to participate in the honors of those which were worshipped by the conquerors of the world. But the policy of the Eastern conquerors was different. They began usually by removing the people themselves whom they had subdued, to another land (see the note at Isa 36:17). They thus intended to alienate their minds as much as possible from their own country. They laid everything waste by fire and sword, and thus destroyed their homes, and all the objects of their attachment. They destroyed their temples, their groves, and their household gods. They well knew that the civil policy of the nation was founded in religion, and that, to subdue them effectually, it was necessary to abolish their religion. Which was the wisest policy, may indeed admit of question. Perhaps in each case the policy was well adapted to the particular end which was had in view.
For they were no gods – They were not truly gods, and therefore they had no power of resistance, and it was easy to destroy them.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
19. cast . . . gods into . . .fireThe policy of the Assyrians in order to alienate theconquered peoples from their own countries was, both to deport themelsewhere, and to destroy the tutelary idols of their nation, thestrongest tie which bound them to their native land. The Roman policywas just the reverse.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And, have cast their gods into the fire….. And burnt them; and it may well be asked, where are they? Isa 36:19:
for they were no gods, but the works of men’s hands, wood and stone; they were made of wood or of stone, and therefore could not be called gods; nor could they save the nations that worshipped them, nor themselves, from the fire:
therefore they have destroyed them; the Assyrian kings were able to do it, and did do it, because they were idols of wood or stone; but it did not therefore follow, that they were a match for the God of Israel, the true, and living God.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
For they are not gods, but the work of the hands of man, wood and stone. By two arguments Hezekiah shews that “they were not gods;” first, because they consisted of matter, (55) and secondly, because they were formed by the hands of men. Nothing can be more absurd than for a man to assume the right to create a god, not only because he had a beginning, while God is eternal, but because not even for a single moment does he subsist by his own power. Let the whole world collect all its strength into a single man, (56) he will not even be able to create a fica. What presumption is it, therefore, that every mortal man shall make for himself either one god or many! (57) Since, therefore, there is nothing in us but what is frail and fading, we shall never be able to produce a deity.
Besides, it is in the highest degree absurd to attempt, as an exercise of skill, to frame some deity out of matter which is corruptible and devoid of feeling, as if “wood or stone,” whenever it received a shape, began to be a god. In this manner, therefore, all the superstitions that men have ever invented are speedily overturned; for the existence of those gods can be found nowhere but in their own brains, and, indeed, all that they have of themselves contrived is condemned as empty and false.
(55) “ D’autant qu’ils estoyent de matire corruptible.” “Because they were of corruptible matter.”
(56) “ En un seul homme.”
(57) “ Quel orgueil estce donc que le premier qui voudra mettre la main a la besogne se face autant de dieux que bon luy semblera !” “What presumption is it then that whoever shall first put his hand to the work shall make as many gods as he thinks proper!”
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
men’s. Hebrew. ‘adam. App-14.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
And have: Isa 10:9-11, Isa 36:18-20, Isa 46:1, Isa 46:2, Exo 32:20, 2Sa 5:21
cast: Heb. given
no gods: Isa 40:19-21, Isa 41:7, Isa 44:9, Isa 44:10, Isa 44:17, Psa 115:4-8, Jer 10:3-6, Jer 10:11, Hos 8:6
Reciprocal: Gen 31:30 – my gods 2Ki 1:2 – god 2Ki 18:34 – the gods 2Ki 19:18 – for they were 2Ch 32:19 – the work Psa 97:7 – Confounded Psa 135:15 – idols Isa 2:8 – worship Isa 36:20 – that the Lord Isa 37:11 – General Jer 1:16 – worshipped Jer 2:11 – no gods Jer 16:20 – General Jer 50:2 – her idols Eze 20:32 – to serve Dan 5:23 – which Dan 11:8 – their gods