Verses 1-38

7. Send.. him] RV 'put a spirit in him.'

22. Virgin] the figure as in Isaiah 23:12.

24. Sides] RV 'innermost parts.' The height.. Carmel] RV 'his farthest height, the forest of his fruitful field.'

25. Digged] Deserts cannot impede his march, for he digs wells there. Have I dried, etc.] RV 'will I dry up all the rivers of Egypt': the Assyrian boasts that he will pass on to conquer Egypt.

26. Jehovah is here the speaker. Done.. formed it] Referring to the ordering of events in the divine providence.

That thou, etc.] The Assyrian is Jehovah's instrument.

28. Abode] RV.' sitting down.'

29. My hook] Assyrian sculptures represent both captives and beasts as led in this way. Jehovah will treat the Assyrian as His captive, or as a beast which must be tamed and restrained.

30. A sign given to the people of Judah that the Assyrian shall not return. This year, the year of the invasion, since the harvest has been destroyed they must eat the after growth. Since they have not been able to sow this year, next year they must depend upon what grows of itself, but the year after they will be able to sow and reap freely, for the land will be free from enemies.

33-35. Another short utterance repeating the promise of deliverance.

36. The striking fulfilment of Isaiah's words. The angel] The expression points to pestilence as the instrument of the Assyrians' overthrow (1 Chronicles 21:14-15; Psalms 78:49-50).

38. The death of Sennacherib took place in 681 B.c., so that it did not immediately follow the discomfiture of his army.

With the sword] in fulfilment of Isaiah's words (Isaiah 37:7).