Jeremiah 46:22

The sound thereof shall go like the serpent better, as mg. Her sound is like that of the serpent as it goeth. The voice of Egypt in her feebleness as she flees away from the enemy shall be like the voice of a serpent hissing, i.e. like a serpent hissing impotently at the woodcutters who disturb its retreat through the thick underwood. For "as it goeth" the LXX (but probably through an early confusion between two Greek words on the part of a scribe) read "hissing." The serpent formed an important feature in the religion of the Egyptians, who worshipped Kneph under this form. The hostile army is likened in these. vv. to a host of persons clearing away a forest for firewood. The denseness of the forest represents the number and populous character of the cities of Egypt. Dr. compares Isaiah 10:18 f., Isaiah 10:33 f.

with axes This would make a deep impression upon the mind of nations like the Jews, who had no such custom. "The battle-axe was a weapon but rarely employed by the Assyrians. It is only in the very latest sculptures, and in a very few instances, that we find axes represented as used by the warriors for any other purpose besides the felling of trees. Where they are seen in use against the enemy, the handle is short, the head somewhat large, and the weapon wielded with one hand." Rawlinson, Anc. Mon. I. 459.

hewers or, less well, gatherersof firewood.