He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them again.
He increaseth the nations. "Thou hast multiplied the nation," etc., (Isaiah 9:3; Psalms 107:38-39, which Psalm quotes this chapter elsewhere). (See the remark of Job 12:21).
Straiteneth - literally, 'leadeth in' - i:e., reduces. Maurer translates х yancheem (H5148)] 'He leads them away Straiteneth - literally, 'leadeth in' - i:e., reduces. Maurer translates х yancheem (H5148)] 'He leads them away (captive)' (2 Kings 18:11). I prefer the English version.