The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?
The sinners in Zion are afraid - false professors of religion among the elect people (Matthew 22:12).
The hypocrites (chaneephim) - the profane, the abandoned (Horsley). So the Septuagint, 'the impious;' and Chaldaic, Arabic, and Syriac. But the Vulgate as the English version. There may be primarily an allusion to a party in Jerusalem itself disposed to treachery toward King Hezekiah and submission to the Assyrian foe. Shebna may have been their leader, (Isaiah 22:1-25.)
Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? If Yahweh's wrath could thus consume such a host in one night, who could abide it if continued for ever? (Mark 9:46-48.) Fire is a common image for the divine judgments (Isaiah 29:6; Isaiah 30:30).
Among us. If such awful judgments have fallen on those who knew not the true God, how infinitely worse shall fall on us who, amidst religious privileges and profession, sin against God! (Luke 12:47-48; James 4:17.)