Ver. 1. Spoilest. This is particularly directed to Sennacherib. Ch.
--- He was a figure of persecutors of the Church, to which many passages here allude. C.
--- Remotâ justitiâ quid sunt regna nisi magna latrocinia? S. Aug. de Civ. Dei. iv. 4.
--- Sennacherib plundered Samaria and Juda, and despising God, was himself contemned. W.
Ver. 2. Morning. Speedily. Heb. "mornings," or every day. Ezechias thus addressed God.
Ver. 4. Them. The neglect of burying these insects has often brought on the plague. S. Aug. de Civ. Dei. iii. 31.
Ver. 6. Faith. Sincerity and justice adorn the reigns of Ezechias and Christ.
Ver. 7. Without. The people of the country, and the envoys of Ezechias. 4 K. xviii. 14. Heb. "Behold their Ariel, cried they without," insultingly, (C.) pointing at Jerusalem. C. xxix. 1. At which (H.) the envoys rent their garments, &c. C. xxxvi. 22. C.
--- "Behold I shall appear to them." Aquila. S. Jer.
--- Angels. Messengers or deputies sent to negotiate a peace, (Ch.) who wept because they could not obtain it. W.
Ver. 8. Void, though Sennacherib had received what he demanded. 4 K. xviii. 14.
Ver. 9. Confounded. Its trees were cut down. C. xxxvii. 24.
Carmel
Carmel. Not where Elias dwelt, but a city and mountain 10 miles east of Eleutheropolis. Nabal rendered it famous by his imprudence, (1 K. xxv.) and Saul by a triumphal arch, 1 K. xv. 12. --- Carmel, so famous for the miracles of Elias, 3 K. xviii. 20. Josephus (Bel. ii. 17,) places it 120 stadia south of Ptolemais. This range of mountains extended northward through the tribes of Issachar and of Zabulon. Pliny (v. 17,) speaks of a promontory and of a town of this name. Here also the god Carmel was adored, having an altar, but no temple or image, as the ancients had decreed. Nec simulacrum Deo aut templum, (sic tradidere majores) ara tantum et reverentia. Tacit. Hist. ii. 78. --- Vespasian consulted the priest Basilides. Carmel means "the vineyard of the Lord," or the excellent vineyard, &c. It was so rich and beautiful as to become proverbial. The spouse compares the head of his beloved to Carmel. C. vii. 5. Isaias (xxxii. 15,) foretels that the deserts shall be equal to Carmel. It was covered with wood and fruit. S. Jerom in Isai. x. 18. Jer. iv. 26. The city, which was built upon this mountain, and which Pliny calls by the same name, was formerly styled Ecbatana. The oracle had denounced to Cambyses that he should die at Ecbatana, and he concluded that the city of Media was meant; but it was "that of Syria," says Herodotus, (iii. 64,) where he died.Basan
Basan (Deut 3:4), a region S. of the Plain of Damascus; at first the Kingdom of Og, then given to the tribe of Manasses.Ver. 10. Myself, when all human aid fails.
Ver. 11. You, Assyrians, are bringing destruction upon yourselves. C.
Ver. 14. Of you. Heb. "of us." H.
--- They are seriously alarmed at the sight of the fires prepared to burn the dead bodies of the Assyrians, (C. xxx. 33.) and begin to think of hell, (C.) which their sins deserve. H.
Ver. 15. Blood. Avoiding revenge, and punishing the guilty, without respect to persons. Such was Ezechias, and therefore his enemies could not hurt him.
Ver. 16. Sure. Never failing. C.
--- This was a great advantage in those dry regions. H.
Ver. 17. King Ezechias, or he shall be one of his courtiers.
--- Off. Their limits shall be extended. Those who believe in Christ, shall cast their eyes up towards their heavenly country. Heb. ix. 13.
Ver. 18. Ones. These questions were put by the people, when the enemy approached; or they now rejoice that their severe masters were gone.
Ver. 19. Shameless, unjust Assyrians. Lu. xviii. 2. When shame is gone, people give way to every excess.
--- Profound. Unknown to the Jews. 4 K. xviii. 26.
--- No wisdom, manners, or piety.
Ver. 20. Broken. It was taken 125 years afterwards. The Church remains till the end of time, (C.) whereas both the prophets and history assure us, that Jerusalem was subject to destruction. W.
Ver. 21. Of rivers. He speaks of the rivers of endless joys that flow from the throne of God to water the heavenly Jerusalem, like a deep river. C.
Ver. 23. Thy tacklings. He speaks of the enemies of the Church, under the allegory of a ship that is disabled. Ch.
--- Sennacherib shall attempt invasion no more than a ship without masts would put to sea.
Ver. 24. Feeble. All were obliged to collect the plunder, to be afterwards divided. None shall plead illness. The inhabitants of Jerusalem will not feel the effects of sin (C.) on this occasion. H.