Isaiah 10:29

King James Version (KJV)

They are gone over the passage: they have taken up their lodging at Geba; Ramah is afraid; Gibeah of Saul is fled.

Adam Clarke
Bible Commentary

They are gone over the passage "They have passed the strait" - The strait here mentioned is that of Michmas, a very narrow passage between two sharp hills or rocks, (see 1 Samuel 14:4, 1 Samuel 14:5;), where a great army might have been opposed with advantage by a very inferior force. The author of the Book of Judith might perhaps mean this pass, at least among others: "Charging them to keep the passages of the hill country, for by them there was an entrance into Judea; and it was easy to stop them that would come up, because the passage was strait for two men at the most," Judith 4:7. The enemies having passed the strait without opposition, shows that all thoughts of making a stand in the open country were given up, and that their only resource was in the strength of the city.

Their lodging - The sense seems necessarily to require that we read למו lamo, to them, instead of לנו lanu, to us. These two words are in other places mistaken one for the other.

Thus Isaiah 44:7, for למו lamo, read לנו lanu, with the Chaldee; and in the same manner Psalm 64:6, with the Syriac, and Psalm 80:7, on the authority of the Septuagint and Syriac, besides the necessity of the sense.

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Albert Barnes
Notes on the Whole Bible

They are gone over the passage - The word “passage” (מעברה ma‛ebı̂râh ) may refer to any passage or ford of a stream, a shallow part of a river where crossing was practicable; or it may refer to any narrow pass, or place of passing in mountains. The Chaldee Paraphrase renders this, ‹They have passed the Jordan;‘ but this cannot be the meaning, as all the transactions referred to here occurred in the vicinity of Jerusalem, and long after they had crossed the Jordan. In 1 Samuel 13:23, the ‹passage of Michmash‘ is mentioned as the boundary of the garrison of the Philistines. Between Jeb‘a and Mukhmas there is now a steep, precipitous valley, which is probably the ‹passage‘ here referred to. This wady, or valley, runs into another that joins it on the north, and then issues out upon the plain not far from Jericho. In the valley are two hills of a conical form, having steep rocky sides, which are probably the rocks mentioned, in connection with Jonathan‘s adventure, as a narrow defile or way between the rock Bozez on the one side, and Seneh on tbe other; 1 Samuel 14:4-5. This valley appears at a later time to have been the dividing line between the tribes of Ephraim and Benjamin, for Geba on the south side of this valley was the northern limit of Judah and Benjamin 2 Kings 23:8; while Bethel on its north side was on the southern border of Ephraim; Judges 16:1-2. - Robinson‘s “Bib. Researches,” ii. p. 116. Of course it was an important place, and could be easily guarded - like the strait of Thermopylae. By his having passed this place is denoted an advance toward Jerusalem, showing that nothing impeded his progress, and that he was rapidly hastening with his army to the city.

They have taken up their lodging at Geba - They have pitched their camp there, being entirely through the defile of Michmash. Hebrew, ‹Geba is a lodging place for us;‘ that is, for the Assyrians. Perhaps, however. there is an error in the common Hebrew text here, and that it should be למו lāmô ‹for them,‘ instead of לנוּ lānû ‹for us.‘ The Septuagint and the Chaldee so read it, and so our translators have understood it. “Geba” here is not be confounded with ‹Gibeah of Saul,‘ mentioned just after. It was in the tribe of Benjamin 1 Kings 15:22; and was on the line, or nearly on the line, of Judah, so as to be its northern boundary; 2 Kings 23:8. It was not far from Gibeah, or Gibeon. There are at present no traces of the place known.

Ramah - This city was in the tribe of Benjamin. It was between Geba and Gibea. It was called “Ramah,” from its being on elevated ground; compare the note at Matthew 2:18. “Ramah,” now called “er-Ram,” lies on a high hill a little east of the road from Jerusalem to Bethel. It is now a miserable village, with few houses, and these in the summer mostly deserted. There are here large square stones, and also columns scattered about in the fields, indicating an ancient place of some importance. A small mosque is here with columns, which seems once to have been a church. Its situation is very conspicuous, and commands a fine prospect. It is near Gibeah, about six Roman miles from Jerusalem. So Jerome, “Commentary” in Hosea 5:8: ‹Rama quae est juxta Gabaa in septimo lapide a Jerosolymis sita.‘ Josephus places it at forty stadia from Jerusalem; “Ant.” viii. 12,3.

Is afraid - Is terrified and alarmed at the approach of Sennacherib - a beautiful variation in the description, denoting his rapid and certain advance on the city of Jerusalem, spreading consternation everywhere.

Gibeah of Saul - This was called ‹Gibeah of Saul,‘ because it was the birthplace of Saul 1 Samuel 11:4; 1 Samuel 15:34; 2 Samuel 21:6; and to distinguish it from Gibea in the tribe of Judah Joshua 15:57; and also a Gibeah where Eleazar was burled; Joshua 24:33. Jerome mentions Gibeah as in his day level with the ground. - “Epis. 86, ad Eustoch.” It has been almost wholly, since his time, unnoticed by travelers. It is probably the same as the modern village of Jeba, lying in a direction to the southwest of Mukhmas. This village is small, and is half in ruins. Among these there are occasionally seen large hewn stones, indicating antiquity. There is here the ruin of a small tower almost solid, and a small building having the appearance of an ancient church. It is an elevated place from which several villages are visible. - Robinson‘s “Bib. Researches,” ii. p. 113.

Is fled - That is, the inhabitants have fled. Such was the consternation produced by the march of the army of Sennacherib, that the city was thrown into commotion, and left empty.

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Matthew Henry
Concise Bible Commentary

By our afflictions we may learn not to make creatures our confidence. Those only can with comfort stay upon God, who return to him in truth, not in pretence and profession only. God will justly bring this wasting away on a provoking people, but will graciously set bounds to it. It is against the mind and will of God, that his people, whatever happens, should give way to fear. God's anger against his people is but for a moment; and when that is turned from us, we need not fear the fury of man. The rod with which he corrected his people, shall not only be laid aside, but thrown into the fire. To encourage God's people, the prophet puts them in mind of what God had formerly done against the enemies of his church. God's people shall be delivered from the Assyrians. Some think it looks to the deliverance of the Jews out of their captivity; and further yet, to the redemption of believers from the tyranny of sin and Satan. And this, "because of the anointing;" for his people Israel's sake, the believers among them that had received the unction of Divine grace. And for the sake of the Messiah, the Anointed of God. Here is, ver.

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Matthew Henry
Concise Bible Commentary

a prophetical description of Sennacherib's march towards Jerusalem, when he threatened to destroy that city. Then the Lord, in whom Hezekiah trusted, cut down his army like the hewing of a forest. Let us apply what is here written, to like matters in other ages of the church of Christ. Because of the anointing of our great Redeemer, the yoke of every antichrist must be broken from off his church: and if our souls partake of the unction of the Holy Spirit, complete and eternal deliverances will be secured to us.

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