Commentaries:
Adam Clarke
The parched ground "The glowing sand" - sharab ; 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. 24: "But as to the unbelievers, their works are like a vapor in a plain, which the thirsty traveler 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 on sandy plains about noon, resembling a large lake of water in motion, and is occasioned by the reverberation of the sun beams: ' 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 travelers out of their way; but deceives them when they come near, either going forward, (for it always appears at the Same distance), or quite vanishing." Q. Curtius has mentioned it: " Arenas vapor aestivi solis accendit; camporumque non alia, quam vasti et profundi aequoris species est ." - Lib. vii., c. 5. Dr. Hyde gives us the precise meaning and derivation of the word. " Dictum nomen Barca habberakah , splendorem, seu splendentem regionem 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 , (et lingua Persica petito nomine ), dicitur serab , i.e., aquae superficies seu superficialis aquarum species ." Annot. in Peritsol., cap. ii.
"Shall spring forth" - The he in rebitseh seems to have been at first mem in MS. Bodl., whence Dr. Kennicott concludes it should be rebitsim . But instead of this word the Syriac, Vulgate, and Chaldee read some word signifying to grow, spring up, or abound. Perhaps paretsah , or paretsu , or parats hachatsir , as Houbigant reads. - L.
Other Adam Clarke entries containing Isaiah 35:7:
Exodus 7:10
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