Isaiah 37:7

7 Behold, I will send a spirit upon him, and he shall hear a message, and shall return to his own country, and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own country.

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 And the servants of Ezechias came to Isaias.

6 And Isaias said to them: Thus shall you say to your master: Thus saith the Lord: Be not afraid of the words that thou hast heard, with which the servants of the king of the Assyrians have blasphemed me.

7 Behold, I will send a spirit upon him, and he shall hear a message, and shall return to his own country, and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own country.

8 And Rabsaces returned, and found the king of the Assyrians besieging Lobna. For he had heard that he was departed from Lachis.

9 And he heard say about Tharaca the king of Ethiopia: He is come forth to fight against thee. And when he heard it, he sent messengers to Ezechias, saying: