Isaiah 38:12 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Mine age is departed The time of my life is expired; and is removed as a shepherd's tent Which is easily and speedily removed: I have cut off Namely, by my sins, provoking God to do it; or, I have concluded, and declare that my life is, or will be, soon cut off: for men are often said, in the Scriptures, to do those things that they only declare and pronounce to be done; like a weaver my life Who cutteth off the web from the loom, either when it is finished, or before, according to his pleasure. He God; will cut me off with pining sickness With a consuming disease, wasting my spirits and life; from day, even till night, wilt thou make an end of me That is, either, 1st, This sickness will kill me in the space of one day; or, 2d, Thou dost pursue me night and day with continual pains, and wilt not cease till thou hast made a full end of me; so that I expect every day will be my last day. Bishop Lowth translates this verse: “My habitation is taken away, and is removed from me, like a shepherd's tent: my life is cut off, as by the weaver; he will sever me from the loom; in the course of the day thou wilt finish my web.” Vitringa and Dr. Waterland read the verse nearly in the same manner, considering the similitude of the weaver as being continued to the end of it.