For he saith. Neither this speech nor that in Isaiah 10:8-11, nor again that given in Isaiah 37:24, Isaiah 37:25, is to be regarded as historical in the sense of being the actual utterance of any Assyrian monarch.
All are imaginary, speeches, composed by the prophet, whereby he expresses in his own language the thoughts which Assyrian kings entertained in their hearts. I have removed the bounds of the people; rather, of peoples.
Assyrian monarchs take as one of their titles "the remover of boundaries and landmarks". And have robbed their treasures. The plunder of conquered countries is constantly recorded by the Assyrian monarchs as one of the most important results of each successful expedition.
It is not infrequently represented in the sculptures. I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant man. The passage is obscure; and many different renderings have been given. Perhaps the best is that of Mr.
Cheyne, "I have brought down, like a mighty one, those that sat on thrones." Abbir, however, the word translated "a mighty one," as often means "a bull" (see Psalms 22:12; Psalms 50:13; Psalms 68:30; Isaiah 34:7; Jeremiah 1:11).