Commentaire sur Isaïe 2:9

And man has become bowed down [This refers to] inferior [men].

וישה And boweth down. Niphal of שחח; comp. וימס ‘And it was melted’ (Jos. 7:5) Niphal of מסס. Their acts degraded them.

and man has become humble [This refers to] great [men], heroes, and warriors.

ואל תשא להם According to some—the ת being the sign for the second person, and referring to God—and thou forgive them not. I am, however, of opinion that the passage has the following meaning: Not one of them dares to lift up his head or soul, because the context requires a phrase similar to And the man humbles himself ; or that the word ארץ ‘ the earth ’ is to be supplied: And the earth is not able to bear them¹⁶They are so vile that the earth cannot bear them any longer—that they do not deserve to live any longer upon the surface of the earth. (comp. Gen. 13:6). The Grammarian,¹⁷The Grammarian is the title by which Ibn Ezra calls R. Judah Hayug. who asserts that אַל is only found with a command, is mistaken; comp. אל־מות, where there is no death (Prov. 12:28)

and You shall not forgive them The prophet says to the Holy One, blessed be He: And I know that you shall not forgive them from punishing them.