Isaiah 37:7

WEB

Behold, I will put a spirit in him and he will hear news, and will return to his own land. I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land."'"

KJV

Behold, I will send a blast upon him, and he shall hear a rumour, and return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land.

Commentary

Behold, I will send a blast upon him,.... The king of Assyria; a pestilential one, as he afterwards did, which destroyed his army: or, I will put a spirit into him (s); a spirit of fear and dread, which will oblige him to d esist from his purposes, and flee; though some interpret it only of an inclination, a will (t) in him, to return: it may be understood of an angel, a ministering spirit, and be rendered "I will send a spirit against him"; an angelic spirit, as he did, which cut off his army in one night: and he shall hear a rumour; of the sudden and total destruction of his army; though some refer this to the rumour of the king of Ethiopia coming out to make war against him, Isa 37:9 , but upon this he did not return to his own land, nor was he slain with the sword, as follows: and return to his own land; as he did, immediately upon the slaughter of his army by the angel: and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land: as he did, being slain by his own sons, Isa 37:37 . (s) "indam ei Spiritum", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator. (t) So Ben Melech explains it by "will", "desire", "purpose".