2 Kings 18:21

The staff of this bruised reed. — Cracked or flawed would be better than bruised; because, as is clear from the following words, the idea is that of a reed splitting and piercing the hand that rests upon it. (Comp. Isaiah 42:3.) As to the Judæan expectations from Egypt, comp. Isaiah 20:1; Isaiah 30:1; Isaiah 31:1, passages in which such expectations are denounced as implying want of faith in Jehovah.