Verse 24
24. More public, probably, was the following encouragement.
O my people… Zion The inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
Be not afraid of the Assyrian As regards the Assyrian, the destinies of Israel and Judah were involved, though differently; the former, to be at once crippled and finally overthrown, the latter to be, for the time being, threatened only. Hence this encouragement.
He shall smite Better, though he smite thee, or inflict partial chastisement as thou deservest.
With a rod… staff These are equivalent figures for oppression.
After the manner of Egypt The best exegetical authorities favour reading this not, as on the way to Egypt, alluding to Sennacherib’s inflicting a blow on Judah when he was on the way to conquer Egypt, but, as in the manner, or after the example of Egypt; the same formula (proverbial) is also found in Amos 4:10.
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