_A.M. 3281. B.C. 723._ Hezekiah reforms his kingdom, 2 Kings 18:1. Prospers in all his undertakings, even at the time the ten tribes are led captive, 2 Kings 18:7. Yet is invaded, and his country put under contribution by Sennacherib, 2 Kings 18:13. Jerusalem is besieged, 2 Kings 18:17. The virulen... [ Continue Reading ]
_In the third year of Hoshea, Hezekiah began to reign_ Namely, in the third of those nine years, mentioned 2 Kings 17:1; of which see the note there, and below, 2 Kings 18:10. _Twenty and five years old was he when he began to reign_ To this it is objected, that Ahaz his father lived only thirty-six... [ Continue Reading ]
_He removed the high places_ Which none of his predecessors had had the courage to attempt. But, it is likely, the dreadful judgments of God, executed upon the ten tribes, and the carrying them away captive for their superstition and idolatry, had been the means of mightily awakening both him and al... [ Continue Reading ]
_He trusted in the Lord God of Israel_ In abolishing idolatry, there was danger, as has been intimated, of disobliging his subjects, and provoking them to rebel; but he trusted in the Lord to bear him out, and defend him in what he did. When he came to the crown, he found his kingdom encompassed wit... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord was with him, and he prospered_, &c. He adhered to God and his service, and therefore God was with him; and, having the special presence of God with him, he had wonderful success in all his enterprises, in his wars, his buildings, and especially his reformation; which good work was carried... [ Continue Reading ]
_He smote the Philistines even unto Gaza_ And recovered from them what his father had lost, and more, 2 Chronicles 28:18. _From the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city_ That is, all the country over, both the country villages and fortified towns. When he had purged out the corruptions which his... [ Continue Reading ]
_Sennacherib king of Assyria_ Who succeeded Shalmaneser, probably his son. He was encouraged to make this attempt against Judah by his predecessor's success against Israel, whose honours he wished to emulate, and whose victories he would push forward. This invasion of Judah was a great calamity to t... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hezekiah sent to the king of Assyria, saying, I have offended_ Namely, against thee, in revolting, and denying the usual tribute. I have given thee occasion to make war against me, of which I now repent, and am ready to make the satisfaction that shall be demanded. “Where,” says Henry: “was Hezekia... [ Continue Reading ]
_The king of Assyria sent Tartan_ Having received the money, upon which he agreed to depart from Hezekiah and his land, he breaks his faith with him; thereby justifying his revolt, and preparing the way for his own destruction. _They came and stood_, &c. They took up their headquarters, as we now sp... [ Continue Reading ]
_When they had called to the king_ That is, had sent a message to him to come and treat with them; _there went out to him Eliakim_, &c. Of whom see Isaiah 22:15; Isaiah 22:20.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thus saith the great king, What confidence is this_, &c. What is it thou canst trust in to defend thee from my great power? _Thou sayest_ Either to thy people, to encourage them, or rather, within thy own heart. _But_, (or, _surely,_) _they are vain words_ Unprofitable, idle talk, without any effec... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou trustest upon this bruised reed_ Sennacherib probably thought that Hezekiah depended on Egypt for help, and therefore represents the power of that kingdom to be as weak as the canes or reeds that grew on the banks of the Nile, (to which he seems to allude,) on which, if a man leaned, they brak... [ Continue Reading ]
_But if ye say, We trust in the Lord_ His weak arguing here proceeds from his ignorance of that God in whom Hezekiah trusted, and of his law. _Is not that he whose high places, &c., Hezekiah hath taken away? _ Thereby robbing him of that worship and service which he had in those places. Thus he spea... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now, therefore, give pledges to my lord the king_ That is, give hostages to ensure thy future obedience and subjection. _And I will deliver thee two thousand horses_, &c. There is so little likelihood of thy being able to withstand the power of my master, who has thousands of chariots and horses, t... [ Continue Reading ]
_Am I now come up without the Lord?_ Without his consent and commission? _The Lord_ hath _said unto me, Go up against this land_ They were vain, boasting words, without any foundation for them. He neither owned God's word, nor regarded his providence; but he forged this to strike a terror into Hezek... [ Continue Reading ]
_Speak, I pray thee, to thy servants in the Syrian language_ It is probable Eliakim perceived the people to be terrified with his big words, and therefore requested him, in the name of the other commissioners sent to treat with him, to speak no longer in the Jews' language, but in his own: for he wa... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hath he not sent me to the men_, &c. To tell them to what extremity and misery he will force them. _Then Rab-shakeh cried with a loud voice in the Jews' language_ That he might affright the people into a compliance with his proposal, which he perceived that Eliakim and his brethren endeavoured to p... [ Continue Reading ]
_Neither let Hezekiah make you trust in the Lord_ This was high presumption indeed, to endeavour to persuade them not to place their confidence in God, as if his master were stronger than God. _Make an agreement with me by a present_ To redeem yourselves from all the calamities of a close siege, and... [ Continue Reading ]
_Until I take you away to a land like your own_ That is, a fruitful and pleasant land. Because he could not conceal from them his intentions of transplanting them into another land, having already discovered these intentions in his dealing with the Israelites and other nations; he assures them they... [ Continue Reading ]
_Where are the gods of Hamath and of Arpad?_ These were cities or countries which the kings of Assyria had conquered, as were the other places here mentioned. And therefore Rab-shakeh argued that the gods of Assyria were more powerful than the gods of any other nation. _Who are they, among all the g... [ Continue Reading ]
_But the people held their peace_ That is, both these three men, and the people that were with them upon the wall, especially the people to whom he had chiefly spoken, and from whom he expected an answer. _For the king's command was, Answer him not_ This was wisely ordered, lest by their words they... [ Continue Reading ]