1Sennacherib invading Judah, Hezekiah fortifieth Jerusalem, and encourageth the people. 9Sennacherib's blasphemous message and letters. 20Hezekiah and Isaiah cry to heaven for aid; an angel destroyeth the Assyrian army, and their king returning home is slain by his own sons. 24Hezekiah praying in his sickness is miraculously recovered; but growing proud, he afterward humbleth himself. 27His riches and works. 31His error in relation to the Babylonish ambassadors. 32He dieth; Manasseh succeedeth him.
1AFTER 1these things, and the 2establishment thereof, Sennacherib king of Assyria came,a and entered into Judah, and encamped against the fenced cities, and 3thought to win them 4for himself.
1 Of which see also 2 Kings 18:13; Isa. 36:1, etc.
2 Or, truth, fidelity, firmness, assurance, that is, after the worship of God was faithfully established and assured according to the Word of God.
a 2 Kings 18:13; Isa. 36:1.
3 Hebr. said, that is, thought and had an intention to win them, etc. See 1 Kings 5 on verse 5.
4 That is, to take them away from king Hezekiah, and to bring them under his own dominion and jurisdiction.
2And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib was come, and that 5he was purposed to fight against Jerusalem,
5 That is, that he had a firm resolution to fight against Jerusalem. Compare 2 Kings 12:17, and see the annotation on it.
3He took counsel with his princes and his mighty men to stop the waters of the fountains which were without the city: and they did help him.
4So there was gathered much people together, who stopped all the fountains, and the 6brook that ran through the midst of the land, saying, Why should the 7kings of Assyria come, and find much water?
6 Called Gihon in verse 30. See also of this brook 1 Kings 1:33, and the annotation.
7 Understand Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, with the princes, who were with him, of whom see verse 21, whereof it may be also that some were kings who were under the command and dominion of Sennacherib.
5Also he 8strengthened himself, and built up all the wall that was 9broken, and raised it up to the 10towers, and 11another wall without, and repaired 12Millo in the city of David, and made darts and shields in abundance.
8 That is, he took courage, when he saw the unfaithfulness of the king of Assyria, whose favor he but a little before had purchased (though in vain) with a great sum of money, 2 Kings 18:14, etc.
9 Namely, by Joash the king of Israel, when he had smitten Amaziah, the king of Judah, and taken Jerusalem. See 2 Chron. 25:23.
10 Which seem to have been on the corner gate and on the gate of Ephraim; of which see also 2 Chron. 25:23.
11 See of this wall 2 Chron. 33:14.
12 See 1 Kings 9 on verse 15.
6And he set captains of war over the people, and gathered them together to him in the street 13of the gate of the city, and spake 14comfortably to them, saying,
13 That is, which was by the city gate.
14 Hebr. upon their heart, that is, friendly and comfortably, and what was pleasing and delightful for them to hear. See Gen. 34 on verse 3.
7Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: forbthere be more with us than with him:
b 2 Kings 6:16.
8With him is an armc of 15flesh; but with us is the LORD our God to help us, and to fight our 16battles. And the people 17rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.
c Jer. 17:5; 1 John 4:4.
15 Hebr. arm of flesh, that is, a fleshly and weak power; on which a man cannot rely. See Jer. 17:3. Thus the word arm is put for strength, Psalm 10:15; 44:3; Jer. 48:25; Ezek. 30:22; and flesh for that which is weak, brittle and mortal, Psalm 78:39; Isa. 31:3.
16 That is, to wage wars. Also 1 Sam. 8:20.
17 That is, held themselves content, being comforted, and relying themselves on the power and help of the Lord, of which the king had assured them in his aforesaid words.
9¶Afterd this did Sennacherib king of Assyria send his 18servants to Jerusalem, (but he himself laid siege against Lachish, and 19all his power with him,) unto Hezekiah king of Judah, and unto all Judah that were at Jerusalem, saying,
d 2 Kings 18:17.
18 Understand lords, princes, or officers, who were under his command. See Gen. 20 on verse 8.
19 That is, dominion. Understand all the princes and rulers, accompanied with their people, who were under the power and command of the king of Assyria.
10Thus saith Sennacherib king of Assyria, Whereon do ye trust, that ye 20abide in the 21siege in Jerusalem?
20 Hebr. are sitting. Sitting is put for abiding, Gen. 49:24; Joshua 1:14; 2 Sam. 2:13, etc.
21 Or, stronghold. Other, fort.
11Doth not Hezekiah persuadee you to give over yourselves to die by famine and by thirst, saying, The LORD our God shall 22deliver us out of the hand of the king of Assyria?
e 2 Kings 18:30.
22 Or, pluck out, rescue.
12Hathf not the same Hezekiah taken away 23his high places and his altars, and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall worship before 24one altar, and burn incense upon it?
f 2 Kings 18:22.
23 He means of the Lord and the true God, even as if the images of idols could not be broken down, than with the overthrow and destruction of true religion.
24 Namely, which is the altar of the true God, and not before the altars of idols. Compare 2 Kings 18:22, and the annotation.
13Know ye not what I and my 25fathers have done unto all the 26people of other lands? were the gods of the nations of those lands 27any ways able to deliver their lands out of mine hand?
25 Understand his predecessors in the Assyrian monarchy, as Shalmaneser, whom they write to be his father; likewise Tiglath-pileser, Phul Belochus, etc. Also in the two following verses.
26 See of some of these nations 2 Kings 18:34; 19:12, 13.
27 Hebr. being able were able, that is, able in any wise, or by any means to deliver.
14Who was there among all the gods of those nations that my fathers 28utterly destroyed, that could deliver his people out of mine hand, that your God should be able to deliver you out of mine hand?
28 See of this word Deut. 2 on verse 34.
15Now therefore letg not Hezekiah deceive you, nor persuade you on this manner, neither yet believe him: for no god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people out of mine hand, and out of the hand of my fathers: 29how much less shall 30your God deliver you out of mine hand?
g 2 Kings 18:30.
29 Hebr. how much more shall your gods not be able to deliver you out of mine hand.
30 Other, your gods.
16Andh his servants spake 31yet more against the LORD God, and against his servant Hezekiah.
h 2 Kings 19:10.
31 For they were twice sent by him to blaspheme God, and to scoff at Hezekiah: I. when he was situated with his army before Lachish, 2 Kings 18:17; II. when he was positioned before Libnah, and made preparation to meet the king of the Moors, 2 Kings 19:8, 9.
17He wrote also 32lettersi toj rail on the LORD God of Israel, and to speak against him, saying, As the gods of the nations of other lands have not delivered their people out of mine hand, so shall not the God of Hezekiah deliver his people out of mine hand.
32 Which he, in the second delegation, has given along with his ambassadors. See 2 Kings 19:14.
i 2 Kings 19:14.
j 2 Kings 19:16.
18Then they cried with a loud voice ink the Jews’ speech unto the people of Jerusalem that were on the wall, to affright them, and to trouble them; that they might take the city.
k 2 Kings 18:26, 28.
19And they spake 33against the 34God of Jerusalem, as against the gods of the people of the earth, which were the work of the hands of man.
33 Other, of; also in the following.
34 That is, the true God, Who had chosen and adopted the Israelites out of singular grace and favor to be His own peculiar people, and had promised to dwell among them, but especially at Jerusalem in the temple, where the ark was, a token of His presence.
20And 35for this cause Hezekiahl the king, and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz, 36prayed and cried to heaven.
35 Other, against this.
l 2 Kings 19:15.
36 See the prayer of Hezekiah described in 2 Kings 19:15, 16.
21¶Andm the LORD sent an angel, which cut off all the mighty men of valour, and the leaders and captains 37in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. Andn when he was 38come into the house of 39his god, they 40that came forth of his own bowels slew him there with the sword.
m 2 Kings 19:35.
37 See 2 Kings 19 on verse 35; Isa. 37 on verse 36.
n 2 Kings 19:37.
38 Namely, to worship. See 2 Kings 19:37.
39 Called Nisroch, 2 Kings 19:37.
40 Hebr. they that came out or the coming forth from his bowels, or, some of them that came forth from his bowels. Understand two of his sons, named Adrammelech and Sharezer, 2 Kings 19:37. Compare the phrase with other phrases which have a similar meaning, Gen. 35:11; 46:26.
22Thus the LORD saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and from the 41hand of all other, and 42guided them on every side.
41 That is, from all the princes, captains of war and soldiers who were come with Sennacherib.
42 Namely, as a shepherd does guide and lead his sheep, governing, preserving and defending them on every side.
23And many brought gifts unto the LORD to Jerusalem, and presents to Hezekiah king of Judah: so that he was 43magnified in the sight of all nations from thenceforth.
43 Other, lifted up himself. See verse 25.
24¶Ino those days Hezekiah 44was sick to the death, and 45prayed unto the LORD: and he 46spake unto him, and he gave him a 47sign.
o 2 Kings 20:1; Isa. 38:1.
44 See hereof further, with the exposition hereto belonging, 2 Kings 20:1, etc.; likewise Isa. 38:1.
45 See his prayer, 2 Kings 20:3.
46 Through the prophet Isaiah.
47 See hereof 2 Kings 20:9.
25But Hezekiah 48rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore there was 49wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem.
48 That is, he did not behave himself towards the Lord as he ought to have done, Who had bestowed so many mercies and favors upon him, to the end that he should demean himself humbly and submissively under His hand, and not that he should swell up with pride and arrogance, as he did by showing all his treasurers and wealth to the ambassadors of the king of Babel.
49 Namely, of the Lord. Understand the capture of the city of Jerusalem and the Babylonian captivity, which God, in His just wrath, brought upon the Jews, 2 Kings 20:17, 18.
26Notwithstandingp Hezekiah 50humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah.
p 2 Kings 20:19.
50 See of this humiliation, 2 Kings 20:19.
27¶And Hezekiah had exceeding much riches and honour: and he made himself treasuries for silver, and for gold, and for precious stones, and for spices, and for shields, and for all manner of 51pleasant jewels;
51 Hebr. furniture or vessels of desire, or, precious vessels or furniture, for, precious things are wont to be desired with much delight and pleasure. Also 2 Chron. 36:10, 19.
28Storehouses also for the increase of corn, and wine, and oil; and stalls 52for all manner of beasts, and 53cotes for flocks.
52 Hebr. for beasts and beasts.
53 As the stalls were for large beasts, so the cotes were for small cattle. Other, and stalls for flocks, namely, of sheep and goats, or, and flocks in the stalls.
29Moreover he provided him cities, and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance: for God had given him substance very much.
30This same Hezekiah also stopped the 54upper watercourse of 55Gihon, and brought 56it straight down to the west side 57of the city of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all his works.
54 Or, waterway, watercourse, fountain-vein or spring of the waters of Gihon.
55 See 1 Kings 1:33, and the annotation thereon.
56 Namely, those waters.
57 See 1 Kings 2 on verse 10.
31¶Howbeit in the business of the ambassadors of the 58princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to enquire of 59the wonder that was done in the land, God 60left him, to 61try him, that he might 62know all that was in his heart.
58 Understand the counselors of the king of Babel, who with his approbation had sent away these ambassadors; for which cause it is said that they were their ambassadors, whom in 2 Kings 20:12 are called the king’s ambassadors. The sending of the ambassadors is done by the king and his counselors. See Isa. 37:14.
59 Namely, that miracle which was done in the sun for Hezekiah’s sake, 2 Kings 20:10, 11.
60 Understand here such a desertion, whereby God leaves those who are His, not forever, nor completely, but only for a certain time withholding from them some help and strengthening, not to cause them to perish, but to try them, to humble them, and to stir them up to their bounden duty, and to instruct others by their example.
61 Of this tempting or trying of God, see Gen. 22 on verse 1.
62 That is, that God might make known to Hezekiah and to the entire church; for, God made trial for him for a while by the aforementioned desertion, in order that he might know himself, and out of the sense and feeling of his own weakness and impotency have cause to humble himself, and that all believers, beholding their own weakness and infirmity in him, might work out their own salvation with fear and trembling. Compare Deut. 8:2; Gen. 22:12, with the annotations.
32¶Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and his 63goodness, behold, they are written in the 64vision of Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, and in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
63 Namely, which he did for the people of God, in taking away idolatry, in defending and maintaining the pure worship of God, etc. Compare 2 Chron. 35:26.
64 That is, prophecy. Understand the book of his prophecy; and see therein from the 36th chapter to the 40th.
33And Hezekiahq slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the 65chiefest of the sepulchres of the sons of David: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honour at his death. And Manasseh his son reigned in his stead.
q 2 Kings 20:21.
65 Understand a place which was raised higher, and therefore the most worthy among the rest.