John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 44:14
He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the cypress and the oak ,.... To make gods of, trees both pleasant and durable, but all unfruitful: which he strengtheneth for himself among the trees of the forest ; taking a great deal of pains in seeking out such trees as were most fit for his use, and a great deal of care in the growth of them, that they might answer his end, as well as exerting his strength in cutting of them down: he planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish it ; a tree... read more
John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 44:13
The carpenter stretcheth out his rule ,.... Or, the worker of trees F5 חרש עצים "faber lignorum", Montanus; "artifex lignarius", V. L. Pagninus; "faber lignarius", Vitringa. ; that works in wood, or makes images of wood; having cut down a tree, he stretches out his rule or line upon it, and takes the dimensions of it, and measures the length and the breadth of it, as much as is for his purpose to make a god of: and then he maketh it out with a line ; coloured with ochre, or... read more