Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary Verse 3. The children are come to the birth] The Jewish state is here represented under the emblem of a woman in travail, who has been so long in the pangs of parturition, that her strength is now entirely exhausted, and her deliverance is hopeless, without a miracle. The image is very fine and highly appropriate.
A similar image is employed by Homer, when he represents the agonies which Agamemnon suffers from his wound:- ofra oi aimÆ eti qermon anhnoqen ex wteilhv? lutar epei to men elkov eterseto pausato dÆ aima, oxeiai odunai dunon menov atreidao? wv dÆ otan wdinousan ech belov oxu gunaika, drimu, to te proeisi mogostokoi eileiquiai Æhrhv qugaterev pik rav wdinav ecousai? Æwv oxeiÆ odunai dunon menov atreidao.
Il. xi., ver. 266.
This, while yet warm, distill'd the purple flood; But when the wound grew stiff with clotted blood, Then grinding tortures his strong bosom rend.
Less keen those darts the fierce Ilythiae send, The powers that cause the teeming matron's throes, Sad mothers of unutterable woes. POPE.
Better translated by Macpherson; but in neither well: "So long as from the gaping wound gushed forth, in its warmth, the blood; but when the wound became dry, when ceased the blood to flow amain, sharp pains pervade the strength of Atrides. Racking pangs glide through his frame; as when the Ilythiae, who preside over births, the daughters of white armed Juno, fierce dealers of bitter pains, throw all their darts on hapless women, that travail with child. Such pains pervade the strength of Atrides."
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-7 - Hezekiah discovered deep concern at the dishonour done to God be Rabshakeh's blasphemy. Those who speak from God to us, we should in particular manner desire to speak to God for us. The great Prophet is the great Intercessor. Those are likely to prevail with God, who lif up their hearts in prayer. Man's extremity is God's opportunity. Whil his servants can speak nothing but terror to the profane, the proud and the hypocritical, they have comfortable words for the discourage believer.
Original Hebrew ויאמרו559 אליו413 כה3541 אמר559 חזקיהו2396 יום3117 צרה6869 ותוכחה8433 ונאצה5007 היום3117 הזה2088 כי3588 באו935 בנים1121 עד5704 משׁבר4866 וכח3581 אין369 ללדה׃3205
