Isaiah 37:7

7 I will put a spirit in him that will make him hear a rumor and return to his own land; then I will cause him to die by the sword in his own land.'"

Isaiah 37:7 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 37:7

Behold, I will send a blast upon him
The king of Assyria; a pestilential one, as he afterwards did, which destroyed his army: or, I will put a spirit into him
^F19; a spirit of fear and dread, which will oblige him to desist from his purposes, and flee; though some interpret it only of an inclination, a will ^F20 in him, to return: it may be understood of an angel, a ministering spirit, and be rendered "I will send a spirit against him"; an angelic spirit, as he did, which cut off his army in one night: and he shall hear a rumour;
of the sudden and total destruction of his army; though some refer this to the rumour of the king of Ethiopia coming out to make war against him, ( Isaiah 37:9 ) , but upon this he did not return to his own land, nor was he slain with the sword, as follows: and return to his own land;
as he did, immediately upon the slaughter of his army by the angel: and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land:
as he did, being slain by his own sons, ( Isaiah 37:37 Isaiah 37:38 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F19 (xwr wb Ntwn) "indam ei Spiritum", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.
F20 So Ben Melech explains it by (Nwur) , "will", "desire", "purpose".

Isaiah 37:7 In-Context

5 When King Hizkiyahu's servants came to Yesha'yahu,

6 he said to them, "Tell your master that this is what ADONAI says: 'Don't be afraid of the words you heard the servants of the king of Ashur use to insult me.

7 I will put a spirit in him that will make him hear a rumor and return to his own land; then I will cause him to die by the sword in his own land.'"

8 Rav-Shakeh returned and, having heard that the king of Ashur had left Lakhish, found him making war with Livnah.

9 Then he heard it said that Tirhakah king of Ethiopia was on his way to fight him. On hearing this, the king of Ashur sent messengers to Hizkiyahu, after ordering them,