Isaiah 37:26

Lay waste defended cities into ruinous heaps "Lay waste warlike nations; strong fenced cities" - נצים גלים gallim nitstsim . It is not easy to give a satisfactory account of these two words, which have greatly embarrassed all the interpreters, ancient and modern. For גלים gallim I read גוים goyim , as the Septuagint do in this place, εθνη . The word נצים netsim the Vulgate renders in this place compugnantium ; in the parallel place, 2 Kings 19:25 , pugnantium ; and the Septuagint μαχιμων , fighting, warlike. This rendering is as well authorized as any other that I know of; and, with the reading of the Septuagint, perfectly clears up the construction. See the margin on all the preceding verses.