likewise LXX. Two editions have D, and so LXX and Vulg.; and a MS has DP, with the masculine pronoun instead of the feminine: and so in the next verses it is D, instead of, in fourteen MSS, six of them ancient. CHAPTER XXXV. 1. shall be glad] Dwv: In a MS the seems to have been added; and D is upon a rasure in another. None of the ancient versions acknowledge it: it seems to have been a mistake arising from the next word's beginning with the same letter. Sixteen MSS have D, and five .יששם MSS the ורנן For ; 2. The well-watered plain of Jordan.] LXX read 177; гα egnμα тou Iogdavou. Four MSS read see Joshua xv. 19. irrigua Jordani; Houbigant: 72, ripa Jordani; Kennicott. See De S. Poesi Hebr. Prælect. xx. note. Ibid. For, to it, nine MSS read, to thee. See ibid. 7. -the glowing sand] : This word is Arabic as well as Hebrew, expressing in both languages the same thing-the glowing sandy plain, which in the hot countries at a distance has the appearance of water. It occurs in the Koran, chap. xxiv. "But as to the unbelievers, their works are like a vapour in a plain; which the thirsty traveller thinketh to be water, until, when he cometh thereto, he findeth it to be nothing." Mr Sale's note on this place is: "The Arabic word serab signifies that false appearance which in the eastern countries is often seen in sandy plains about noon, resembling a large lake of water in motion, and is occasioned by the reverberation of the sunbeams: [' by the quivering undulating motion of that quick succession of vapours and exhalations which are extracted by the powerful influence of the sun; Shaw, Trav. p. 378.] It sometimes tempts thirsty travellers out of their way, but deceives them, when they come near, either going forward, (for it always appears at the same distance), or quite vanishes." Q. Curtius has mentioned it:-" Arenas vapor æstivi solis accendit;-camporumque non alia, quam vasti et profundi æquoris species est;" lib. vii. cap. 5. Dr Hyde gives us the precise meaning and derivation of the word:-" Dictum nomen [Barca] pan, splendorem, seu splendentem regio nem notat; cum ea regio radiis solaribus tam copiose collustretur, ut reflexum ab arenis lumen adeo intense fulgens, a longinquo spectantibus, ad instar corporis solaris, aquarum speciem referat; et hinc arenarum splendor et radiatio (ex lingua Persica petito nomine) dicitur serab, i. e. aquæ superficies, seu superficialis aquarum species:" Annot. in Peritsol. cap. 2. Ibid. shall spring forth-] The 7, in 77, seems to have been at first in MS Bodl.; whence Dr Kennicott concludes it should be D. But instead of this word, Syr. Vulg. and Chald. read some word signifying to grow, .רבצים פרץ or ; פרצו orפרצה spring up, or abound; perhaps , as Houbigant reads. 8. And a highway] The word 777 is by mistake added to the first member of the sentence from the beginning of the following member: sixteen MSS (seven ancient) have it but once; so likewise Syr. Ibid. err therein-] A MS adds 11, which seems necessary to the sense: and so Vulg. per eam. Ibid. But He shall be with them walking-] That is, God; see ver. 4. "Who shall dwell among them, and set them an example, that they should follow his steps." Our old English versions translated the place to this purpose: our last translators were misled by the authority of the Jews, who have absurdly made a division of the verses in the midst of the sentence, thereby destroying the construction and the sense. 9. Neither shall he be found there] Three MSS read , adding the conjunction; and so likewise LXX and Vulg. And four MSS (one ancient) read NY, the verb, as it certainly ought to be, in the masculine form. For further remarks on the two foregoing chapters, see De S. Poesi Hebr. Prælect. xx. CHAPTER XXXVI. THE history of the invasion of Senacherib, and of the miraculous destruction of his army, which makes the subject of so many of Isaiah's prophecies, is very properly inserted here, as affording the best light to many parts of those prophecies; and as almost necessary to introduce the prophecy in the xxxviith chapter, being the answer of God to Hezekiah's Ꮓ prayer, which could not be properly understood without it. We find the same narrative in the second book of Kings, chapters xviii. xix. xx.; and these chapters of Isaiah, xxxvi. xxxvii. xxxviii. xxxix. for much the most part, (the account of the sickness of Hezekiah only excepted), are but a different copy of that narration. The difference of the two copies is little more than what has manifestly arisen from the mistakes of transcribers: they mutually correct each other, and most of the mistakes may be perfectly rectified by a collation of the two copies, with the assistance of the ancient versions. Some few sentences, or members of sentences, are omitted in this copy of Isaiah, which are found in the other copy in the book of Kings. Whether these omissions were made by design or by mistake, may be doubted: these therefore I have not inserted in the translation; I shall only report them in the Notes. 3. Then came out unto him] Before these words, the other copy, 2 Kings xviii. 18. adds, “ and they demanded audience of the king." 5. Thou hast said] Fourteen MSS (three ancient) have it in the second person, N; and so the other copy, 2 Kings xviii. 20. 6. in Egypt] MS Bodl. adds, the king of Egypt: and so perhaps Chald. might read. Two ancient MSS have 7. But if ye say] in the plural number: so likewise LXX, Chald. and the other copy, 2 Kings xviii. 22. Ibid. only before this altar--] See 2 Chron. xxxii. 12. 12. destined to eat their own dung] 55, "that they may eat," as our translation literally renders it. But Syr. reads, "that they may not eat," perhaps rightly; and .to the same purpose ,ושתות or ומשתות afterward 17-and of vineyards] The other copy, 2 Kings xviii. 32. adds here, "a land of oil-olive, and of honey; that ye may live, and not die: and hearken not unto Hezekiah, when he seduceth you." 19. of Sepharvaim-] The other copy, 2 Kings xviii. 34. adds, of " Henah and Ivah." Ibid. have they delivered], the copulative is not expressed here by LXX, Syr. Vulg. and three MSS; nor is it in the other copy; Ibid. Houbigant reads ', with the interrogative particle: a probable conjecture, which the ancient versions, above quoted, seem to favour. 21. But the people held their peace] The word Dyn, the people, is supplied from the other copy; and is authorized by a MS, which inserts it after N. CHAPTER XXXVII. 7. I will infuse a spirit into him] “♫ never signifies any thing but putting a spirit into a person; this was TVεupa deiλias:" SECker. 9. he sent messengers again] The word you", (and he heard), which occurs the second time in this verse, is repeated by mistake from the beginning of the verse. It is omitted in an ancient MS. It is a mere tautology, and embarrasses the sense. The true reading, instead of it, is , which the LXX read in this place, arsorgee, and which is preserved in the other copy, 2 Kings xix. 9 "He returned and sent"—that is, according to the Hebrew idiom, " he sent again.” 14.—and read them] Dp", so and so the other copy; instead of Ibid.-and spread them] MS Bodl. in this place; in a MS; which probably was at first D. The same mistake as in the foregoing note. 15.-before JEHOVAH] That is, in the sanctuary. For , Syr. Chald. and the other copy, 2 Kings xix. 15. read .לפני 18. the nations-], the lands: instead of this word, which destroys the sense, ten MSS (one ancient) have here, nations; which is undoubtedly the true reading, being preserved also in the other copy, 2 Kings xix. 17. Another MS suggests another method of rectifying the sense in this place, by reading, their king, instead of DYN, their land; but it ought to be DT "all the countries DTSA and their kings." 20. Save us, we beseech thee-] The supplicating particle Nis supplied here from eighteen MSS (three ancient), and from the other copy. Ibid. that thou JEHOVAH art the only God] The word D, God, is lost here in the Hebrew text, but preserved in the other copy, 2 Kings xix. 19. Syr. and LXX יהוה instead of,אלהים seem here to have had in their copies 21. Then Isaiah sent unto Hezekiah] Syr. and LXX understand and render the verb passively, was sent. Ibid. I have heard you: this word, necessary to the sense, is lost in this place out of the Hebrew text. A MS has it written above the line in a later hand. LXX and Syr. found it in their copies; and it is preserved in the other copy, 2 Kings, xix. 20. 23. against the Holy One of Israel] For , the other copy has, rather more properly. 24. By thy messengers-] The text has Ty, thy servants: but the true reading seems to be T, thy messen. gers, as in the other copy, 2 Kings xix. 23.; and as LXX and Syr. found it in their copies in this place. Ibid. —his extreme retreats] The text has, the highth; which seems to have been taken by mistake from the line but one above. A MS has here 5, the lodge, or retreat; which is the word in the other copy, 2 Kings xix. 23.; and I think is the true reading. 25. —strange waters] The word D, strang, lost out of the Hebrew text in this place, is supplied from the other copy. A MS supplies the word '7, many, instead of it. Ibid. all the canals of fenced places] The principal cities of Egypt, the scene of his late exploits, were chiefly defended by deep moats, canals, or large lakes, made by labour and art, with which they were surrounded. See Harmer's Observ. 304. Claudian introduces Alaric boasting of his conquests in the same extravagant manner: ii. p. "Subsidere nostris Sub pedibus montes; arescere vidimus amnes.— De Bello Getic. 526. 26. warlike nations] . It is not easy to give a satisfactory account of these two words; which have greatly embarrassed all the interpreters, ancient and modern. For , I read ", as the LXX do in this place, ovn. The word D, Vulg. renders in this place compugnantium; in the parallel place, 2 Kings xix. 25. pugnantium, and LXX, maxwv, fighting, warlike. This rendering is as well autho rized as any other that I know of, and, with the reading of LXX, perfectly clears up the construction. 27. corn blasted] . It does not appear that there is any good authority for this word. The true reading seems to be, as it is in four MSS (two ancient), here, and in the other copy. 29. I will put my hook in thy nose] "Et frænum meum : |