After these things, and the establishment thereof, Sennacherib king of Assyria came, and entered into Judah, and encamped against the fenced cities, and thought to win them for himself. Ver. 1. _After these things._] See 2 Kings 18:13, &c. When Hezekiah had set all things in good order, up came Sen... [ Continue Reading ]
And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib was come, and that he was purposed to fight against Jerusalem, Ver. 2. _That Sennacherib was come._] See on 2 Kings 18:13 .... [ Continue Reading ]
He 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. Ver. 3. _To stop the waters of the fountains._] He trusted in God: but yet used the best means. God is to be trusted, but not tempted. See Isaiah 22:9; Isaia... [ Continue Reading ]
So there was gathered much people together, who stopped all the fountains, and the brook that ran through the midst of the land, saying, Why should the kings of Assyria come, and find much water? Ver. 4. _And the brook._] Called Gihon. 2Ch 32:30 This was one of those rivers the waters whereof made... [ Continue Reading ]
Also he strengthened himself, and built up all the wall that was broken, and raised [it] up to the towers, and another wall without, and repaired Millo [in] the city of David, and made darts and shields in abundance. Ver. 5. _And raised it up to the towers._] Or, Mounted the warlike engines upon th... [ Continue Reading ]
And he set captains of war over the people, and gathered them together to him in the street of the gate of the city, and spake comfortably to them, saying, Ver. 6. _He set captains of war._] He did all that could be done: for he knew that the Assyrian came with a mighty force, as a river that "come... [ Continue Reading ]
Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that [is] with him: for [there be] more with us than with him: Ver. 7. _Be strong and courageous._] His speech is short but pithy: very cordial and comfortable. _ Now for all the multitude that... [ Continue Reading ]
With him [is] an arm of flesh; but with us [is] the LORD our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah. Ver. 8. _With him is an arm of flesh._] Flesh is frail: and God can make the strongest sinew in his arm to crack quickly.... [ Continue Reading ]
After this did Sennacherib king of Assyria send his servants to Jerusalem, (but he [himself laid siege] against Lachish, and all his power with him,) unto Hezekiah king of Judah, and unto all Judah that [were] at Jerusalem, saying, Ver. 9. _Sent his servants to Jerusalem._] See 2 Kings 18:9. Antich... [ Continue Reading ]
Thus saith Sennacherib king of Assyria, Whereon do ye trust, that ye abide in the siege in Jerusalem? Ver. 10. _Whereon do ye trust._] Like rhetoric hereunto useth Antichrist, where he would seduce. See Sadolet's sugared Epistle to the Citizens of Geneva, written in Calvin's absence, who fully and... [ Continue Reading ]
Doth not Hezekiah persuade you to give over yourselves to die by famine and by thirst, saying, The LORD our God shall deliver us out of the hand of the king of Assyria? Ver. 11. Doth not Hezekiah persuade (or deceive) you?] See on 2 Kings 18:29,30 .... [ Continue Reading ]
Hath not the same Hezekiah taken away his high places and his altars, and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall worship before one altar, and burn incense upon it? Ver. 12. _Hath not the same Hezekiah taken away his high places?_] So saith Antichrist, Have not your reformers taken away th... [ Continue Reading ]
Know ye not what I and my fathers have done unto all the people of [other] lands? were the gods of the nations of those lands any ways able to deliver their lands out of mine hand? Ver. 13. _Know you not._] See 2 Kings 19:11,12 .... [ Continue Reading ]
Who [was there] among all the gods of those nations that my fathers utterly destroyed, that could deliver his people out of mine hand, that your God should be able to deliver you out of mine hand? Ver. 14. _That my fathers utterly destroyed._] See 2 Kings 18:34; 2 Kings 19:12,13 .... [ Continue Reading ]
Now therefore let 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: how much less shall your God deliver you out of mine hand? Ver. 15. _Now ther... [ Continue Reading ]
And his servants spake yet [more] against the LORD God, and against his servant Hezekiah. Ver. 16. _And his servants spake yet more._] Adding of their own to their master's mandates which yet needed not.... [ Continue Reading ]
He wrote also letters to 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. Ver. 17. _He wrote also letters._] See 2 Kin... [ Continue Reading ]
Then they cried with a loud voice in 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. Ver. 18. Then they cried … in the Jews' speech] See 2 Kings 18:28 . _ To affright them, and to trouble them._] To sow th... [ Continue Reading ]
And they spake against the God of Jerusalem, as against the gods of the people of the earth, [which were] the work of the hands of man. Ver. 19. _As against the gods of the people of the earth._] This was high blasphemy. See on 2 Chronicles 32:15 2 Kings 17:30; 2 Kings 17:33,41 .... [ Continue Reading ]
And for this [cause] Hezekiah the king, and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz, prayed and cried to heaven. Ver. 20. _For this cause._] See 2 Kings 19:2,3, &c. And the prophet Isaiah … prayed.] And at the same time prophesied comfortably. 2Ki 19:14-19... [ Continue Reading ]
And the LORD sent an angel, which cut off all the mighty men of valour, and the leaders and captains in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he was come into the house of his god, they that came forth of his own bowels slew him there with the s... [ Continue Reading ]
Thus the LORD saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and from the hand of all [other], and guided them on every side. Ver. 22. _And the inhabitants of Jerusalem._] Who were not only preserved, but much enriched by the spoil of their enemies... [ Continue Reading ]
And many brought gifts unto the LORD to Jerusalem, and presents to Hezekiah king of Judah: so that he was magnified in the sight of all nations from thenceforth. Ver. 23. _And many brought gifts unto the Lord._] Many strangers were hereupon proselyted, like as Jethro also had been by God's great wo... [ Continue Reading ]
In those days Hezekiah was sick to the death, and prayed unto the LORD: and he spake unto him, and he gave him a sign. Ver. 24. _In those days Hezekiah was sick to the death._] See 2 Kings 20:1,3, &c.... [ Continue Reading ]
But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit [done] unto him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem. Ver. 25. _But Hezekiah rendered not again._] His returns were not answerable to his receipts. _Plerique omnes sumus ingrati._ The... [ Continue Reading ]
Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled 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. Ver. 26. _Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself._] He afflicted himself with voluntary sorrows, when once, by... [ Continue Reading ]
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 pleasant jewels; Ver. 27. _And Hezekiah had exceeding much riches and honour._] And these puffed him up; his he... [ Continue Reading ]
Storehouses also for the increase of corn, and wine, and oil; and stalls for all manner of beasts, and cotes for flocks. Ver. 28. _For the increase of corn, wine, and oil._] These are commodities less precious, but more necessary than the former, as the great Caliph of Babylon found when famished t... [ Continue Reading ]
Moreover he provided him cities, and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance: for God had given him substance very much. Ver. 29. _For God had given him substance very much._] That is, The wealth of this world; though to speak properly, true grace only is "substance, durable substance": riches... [ Continue Reading ]
This same Hezekiah also stopped the upper watercourse of Gihon, and brought it straight down to the west side of the city of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all his works. Ver. 30. _Stopped the upper watercourse of Gihon._] See 2 Chronicles 32:4 . _ And Hezekiah prospered._] See 2 Kings 18:7 .... [ Continue Reading ]
Howbeit in [the business of] the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to enquire of the wonder that was [done] in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all [that was] in his heart. Ver. 31. _Howbeit in the business of the ambassadors._] See 2 Kings 20:12,14 . _... [ Continue Reading ]
Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and his goodness, behold, they [are] written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, [and] in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. Ver. 32. _And his goodness._] Heb., His kindnesses; viz., to God's people in supplying themwith sacrifices, an... [ Continue Reading ]
And Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the chiefest 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. Ver. 33. See 2 Kings 20:21 .... [ Continue Reading ]