Charles Ellicott Commentary Isaiah 37
Charles Ellicott Commentary
Isaiah 37
Charles Ellicott Commentary
Isaiah 37
"And it came to pass, when king Hezekiah heard it, that he rent his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of Jehovah." — Isaiah 37:1 (ASV)
Covered himself with sackcloth. —The king was probably accompanied by his ministers, all in the penitential sackcloth of mourners (Joel 1:8–13; Jonah 3:5–6).
"And he sent Eliakim, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, unto Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz." — Isaiah 37:2 (ASV)
To Isaiah the prophet. — At last, then, the people did “see their teacher” (Isaiah 30:20). In that supreme hour of calamity the prophet, who had been despised and derided, was their one resource. What could he do to extricate them from the evil net which was closing round them, and to vindicate the honour of his God?
"And they said unto him, Thus saith Hezekiah, This day is a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and of contumely; for the children are come to the birth, and there is not strength to bring forth." — Isaiah 37:3 (ASV)
The children are come to the birth.—The text's bold language is used where we would now employ an adjective, one whose meaning we have partly forgotten. The situation had reached such a point that all plans and strategies were literally abortive. (Compare Isaiah 26:17-18 and Hosea 13:13 for a similar simile.)
"It may be Jehovah thy God will hear the words of Rabshakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master hath sent to defy the living God, and will rebuke the words which Jehovah thy God hath heard: wherefore lift up thy prayer for the remnant that is left." — Isaiah 37:4 (ASV)
Lift up thy prayer for the remnant ... —Isaiah’s characteristic words (Isaiah 1:9; Isaiah 10:21) had impressed themselves on the king’s mind. Now that town after town of Judah had fallen into Sennacherib’s hands (forty-six, according to his inscriptions— Records of the Past, i. 38), those who were gathered within the walls of Jerusalem were as a mere remnant of the people.
"So the servants of king Hezekiah came to Isaiah." — Isaiah 37:5 (ASV)
So the servants ... —Literally, And ... The Authorised Version suggests that there was only one coming of the messengers. Possibly. However, the words imply a withdrawal between the delivery of their message and their coming a second time to receive his answer.
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