Charles Ellicott Commentary Isaiah 27:7

"Hath he smitten them as he smote those that smote them? or are they slain according to the slaughter of them that were slain by them?" — Isaiah 27:7 (ASV)

Has he smitten him ... —The pronouns are left somewhat obscure in the English Version, but the use of capitals makes the meaning plain: “Has He (Jehovah) smitten him (Israel) as He smote those that smote him; or is he slain according to the slaughter of those that are slain by Him?” A slight alteration in the last clause of the text gives, according to the slaughter of his slayers.

In any case, the thought is that Jehovah had chastised their guilt with a leniency altogether exceptional. They had not been punished as others had been.

The words admit, however, of another meaning, which is preferred by some critics, namely, that Jehovah does not smite Israel with the smiting like that with which Israel’s smiters smote him—that is, He had not punished as the oppressors had punished, ruthlessly and in hate, but in His wrath remembered mercy.