1Hezekiah's good reign. 4He abolisheth idolatry, and prospereth. 9In his time Samaria is taken, and Israel carried away captive for their sins. 13Sennacherib invadeth Judah, and receiveth the appointed tribute from Hezekiah. 17He sendeth Rab-shakeh, who insulteth Hezekiah, 28and in a blasphemous speech soliciteth the people to revolt.
1NOW it came to pass in the 1third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, thata2Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign.
1 Namely, of the nine last years, mentioned 2 Kings 17:1.
a 2 Chron. 28:27; 29:1.
2 Called Ezekias, Mat. 1:9.
23Twenty and five years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was 4Abi, the daughter of 5Zachariah.
3 Hebr. a son of five and twenty years.
4 She is also called Abijah, 2 Chron. 29:1.
5 Some hold this man to have been the king of Israel, of whom mention is made 2 Kings 14:29.
3And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father did.
4¶He removedb the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the 6brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it 7Nehushtan.
b 2 Chron. 31:1.
6 See of this serpent, Num. 21:8, 9, etc.
7 That is, brass-work, or a piece of brass, or something that is of brass. So the king called the brasen serpent, to show that there was nothing Divine in it, and consequently no reason to give Divine honour unto it by offerings and invocations. Other, they called it, etc., that is, the people had given it that name, as their idol.
5He trusted in the LORD God of Israel; so that after him was none 8like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him.
8 Namely, in reforming and restoring the pure religion or worship of God; namely, forthwith in the beginning of his reign. Otherwise this must be understood with exception of David and Josiah: of David to whom he is equaled, and not held to be more transcendent, verse 3; of Josiah, to whom this commendation is likewise given, that before and after him there was no king like unto him, 2 Kings 23:25.
6For he clave to the LORD, and departed not from following 9him, but kept his commandments, which the LORD commanded Moses.
9 Hebr. from after him. See 1 Kings 9 on verse 6.
7And the LORD 10was with him; and he prospered whithersoever he went forth: and he 11rebelled against the king of Assyria, and served him 12not.
10 See Gen. 21 on verse 22 and Gen. 26 on verse 24 and Num. 14 on verse 9.
11 This is related here in respect of his father Ahaz, who had made himself subject to the king of Assyria, as his vassal and tributary. See 2 Kings 16:7.
12 That is, paid him neither tribute nor tax.
8He smotec the 13Philistines, even unto Gaza, and the borders thereof, 14from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city.
c Isa. 14:30.
13 Who had taken away many cities and a great part of land from his father. See 2 Chron. 28:18.
14 That is, everywhere and in several places. See 2 Kings 17 on verse 9.
9¶And it camed to pass in the fourth year of king Hezekiah, which was the 15seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria, and besieged it.
d 2 Kings 17:3.
15 Counted from the beginning of the nine years mentioned 2 Kings 17:1.
10And ate the end of 16three years they took it: even in the sixth year of Hezekiah, that is the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel, Samaria was taken.
e 2 Kings 17:6.
16 Namely, of the siege.
11And the king of Assyria did carry away Israel unto Assyria, and put them in 17Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes:
17 See of these lands 2 Kings 17 on verse 6.
12Because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD their God, but transgressed his covenant, and all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded, and would 18not hear them, nor do them.
18 Or, and had not heard them, nor done them.
13¶Now inf the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah did Sennacherib king of Assyria come up against all the fenced cities of Judah, and took 19them.
f 2 Chron. 32:1; Isa. 36:1.
19 Namely, some of them.
14And Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria to 20Lachish, saying, I have offended; return from me: that which thou puttest on me will I bear. And the king of Assyria appointed unto Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred 21talents of silver and thirty talents of gold.
20 Which city he then besieged, and fought against.
21 See Exod. 25 on verse 39.
15And Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king's house.
16At that time did Hezekiah 22cut off the gold from the doors of the temple of the LORD, and from the pillars which Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid, and gave 23it to the king of Assyria.
22 The meaning is: that he pulled off the golden plates, wherewith he had formerly overlaid the doors and posts of the temple, when he opened again the temple, which his father had shut up, 2 Chron. 29:3.
23 Hebr. them, namely, the doors and posts; that is, the gold, wherewith they had been overlaid.
17¶And the king of Assyria 24sent Tartan and 25Rab-saris and Rab-shakeh from Lachish to king Hezekiah with a great host against Jerusalem. And they went up and came to Jerusalem. And when they were come up, they came and stood by the 26conduit of the 27upper pool, which is in the 28highway of 29the fuller’s field.
24 Not keeping his word, when he had received the money.
25 The word signifies the chief courtier, or chamberlain, as it is translated by some.
26 Hereby many do understand a certain watercourse outside of Jerusalem, into which water descended out of a pool that was near it, wherein the fullers washed their woolen cloth. Compare Isa. 7:3.
27 Thus surnamed, to distinguish it from the pool called the lower, Isa. 22:9.
28 Understand a high and beaten way, which (as some perceive) was paved with stone.
29 Where the fullers dress their cloth.
18And when they had called to the king, there came out to them 30Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, which was over the household, and Shebna the 31scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the 32recorder.
30 See of this virtuous and devout steward, Isa. 22:20, etc. Of such an office, see 1 Kings 4 on verse 6. Hebr. who was over the house.
31 Other, notary, or secretary; namely, of the king. See 1 Kings 4 on verse 3.
32 Hebr. maker of memory. Also likewise verse 37; likewise 1 Kings 4:3; see the annotation.
19And Rab-shakeh said unto them, Speak ye now to Hezekiah, Thus saith the great king, the king of Assyria, What confidence is this wherein thou trustest?
20Thou sayest, (but they are but 33vain words,) I have counsel and strength for the war. Now on whom dost thou trust, that thou rebellest against me?
33 Or, a word of the lips; that is, vain, idle, fruitless, altogether nothing, of which there will be or come nothing; or, understand a word, which is only in the mouth, and proceeds not from the heart; which is not meant nor shall be confirmed by deed. Other, Thou speakest, but they are nothing but words. Counsel and strength are required for the war. Other, Thou speakest but a word of the lips, but these must be counsel and strength for war; ridiculing thus the prayers and encouragements, which Hezekiah used.
21Now, behold, thou trustest upon the staff of this 34bruised reed, even upon Egypt, on which if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt unto all that trust on him.
34 Or, broken. Understand by this comparison an help, or aid, that is weak, unfaithful, and inconstant. Also Isa. 36:6; Ezek. 29:6, 7.
22But if ye say unto me, We trust in the LORD our God: is not that he, whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah hath taken away, and hath said to Judah and Jerusalem, Ye shall worship before 35this altar in Jerusalem?
35 Namely, this one altar; as it is said, 2 Chron. 32:12. That is, before none other.
23Now therefore, I pray thee, 36give pledges to my lord the king of Assyria, and I will deliver thee two thousand horses, if thou be able on thy part to set riders upon them.
36 Or, be a guarantor or give sureties to my lord, etc.
24How then wilt thou 37turn away the face of one captain of the least of my master's servants, and put thy trust on Egypt for chariots and for horsemen?
37 That is, resist, drive away.
25Am I now come up without the LORD against this place to destroy it? The LORD 38said to me, Go up against this land, and destroy it.
38 He speaks this falsely in a presuming way; to affright and astonish the people of God. Although it otherwise happened by God’s secret Providence, which notwithstanding was unknown to him. See 2 Kings 19:25; Isa. 10:5, 6, 7.
26Then said Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebna, and Joah, unto Rab-shakeh, Speak, I pray thee, to thy servants in the Syrian language; for we 39understand it: and talk not with us in the Jews' language in the ears of the people that are on the wall.
39 Hebr. for we are hearing, that is, we do understand, and are skilled in that language. See Gen. 11 on verse 7.
27But Rab-shakeh said unto them, Hath my master sent me to thy master, and to thee, to speak these words? hath he not sent me to the men which sit on the wall, 40that they may eat their own dung, and drink their own piss with you?
40 That is, that they would be warned, that by means of a strict and close siege most terrible calamities would come upon them, insomuch that they would be forced to eat their own dung, etc., to satisfy their hunger and thirst, if they would not deliver up themselves.
28Then Rab-shakeh stood and cried with a 41loud voice in the Jews' language, and spake, saying, Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria:
41 Hebr. great voice.
29Thus saith the king, Let not Hezekiah deceive you: for he shall not be able to deliver you out of his hand:
30Neither let Hezekiah make you trust in the LORD, saying, The LORD will 42surely deliver us, and this city shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria.
42 Hebr. delivering deliver.
31Hearken not to Hezekiah: for thus saith the king of Assyria, Make an agreement with me by a 43present, and come out to me, and then eat ye every man of his own vine, and every one of his fig tree, and drink ye every one the waters of his cistern:
43 The Hebrew word signifies properly blessing; but it is also taken for a present. See Gen. 33:11, with the annotation. The meaning is: that he offers the Jews a treaty of peace, in order that they would not have to anticipate his violence and cruel siege with its consequence.
32Until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land 44of corn and wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of oil olive and of honey, that ye may live, and not die: and hearken not unto Hezekiah, 45when he persuadeth you, saying, The LORD will deliver us.
44 Understand by these things all temporal goods, wherewith the Lord does bless and prosper a land. See Exod. 3:8; Deut. 32:13, 14; Job 20:17, with the annotation.
45 Other, when he seduceth, or, deceiveth, or, persuadeth you.
33Hath any of the gods of the nations delivered 46at all his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria?
46 Hebr. delivering, delivered.
34Where are the gods of 47Hamath, and of Arpad? where are the gods of Sepharvaim, 48Hena, and Ivah? have they delivered Samaria out of mine hand?
47 See of these two cities also joined together, Jer. 49:23. We have here the names of the cities and countries, which the king of Assyria had taken. See 2 Kings 17 on verse 24; Isa. 37:13.
48 Some hold these to be proper names of countries; (compare 2 Kings 17:31.) Others translate the words thus: He hath removed and overturned them. These words are left out in Isa. 36:19.
35Who are they among all the gods of the countries, that have delivered their country out of mine hand, that the LORD should deliver Jerusalem out of mine hand?
36But the people held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king's commandment was, saying, Answer him not.
37Then came Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, 49which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder, to Hezekiah with their 50clothes rent, and told him the words of Rab-shakeh.
49 Hebr. who was over the house. See of this man on verse 18; 2 Kings 19:2.
50 See Gen. 37 on verse 29. Hebr. rent off garments.