[186] Doubts have been expressed as to the genuineness of the Damascus prophecy.

[187] The Isaianic authorship of this prophecy (Isa. xxiii.) is rejected by very many critics.

[188] Amos iii. 2.

[189] So Giesebrecht, Orelli, etc.

[190] Psammetichus had recently taken Ashdod, after a continuous siege of twenty-nine years.

[191] The plural may refer to dependent chiefs or may be used for the sake of symmetry.

[192] Lit. "the coasts" (i.e. islands and coastland) where the Phœnicians had planted their colonies.

[193] See on xlix. 28-32.

[194] xxv. 9.

[195] xxvii. 8.