_And Hamath also shall border thereby, Tyrus and Sidon though it be very
wise._
תגבל (or לבגת) _to set bounds to_, in the Hiphil, occurs in Exod. xix. 12
& 23.—It here appears to be the Huphal or passive of Hiphil—signifying _to
be bounded_, or _to be set bounds to_. It is only necessary to remark,
that leaving aside the punctuation, the form of the future tense will be
identical in both these voices. The sense as it stands is scarcely
intelligible. What is meant by _border thereby_, it is not easy to
conceive; but by discarding the points we readily obtain a meaning that is
perfectly intelligible. תגבל (or לבגת) may then be rendered in the passive
voice, instead of the active, and will signify _to be limited_, or _have
bounds set to_; and בה (or הב) _on_ or _to her_, which follows, accords
with, and seems to demand its being so rendered. _And Hamath also shall
have bounds set to her_; that is, her growing greatness shall be checked.
_Tyre, and also Sidon though she be very wise_, חכמה (or המכח), _wise_, no
doubt, means here, _worldly wise_, or very subtle.