1. IN THE FOURTEENTH YEAR] The chronology is difficult. From Isaiah 38:1; Isaiah 39:1 we might conclude that Hezekiah's sickness and the Babylonian embassy followed Sennacherib's invasion, whereas Isaiah 38, 39 chronologically must precede Isaiah 36, 37. Samaria fell in 722, Hezekiah's 6th year (2 K... [ Continue Reading ]
RABSHAKEH] is a title, 'the Rabshakeh,' i.e. chief officer, or cupbearer.... [ Continue Reading ]
BROKEN] RV 'bruised.' PHARAOH] This was Tirhakah, of the Ethiopian dynasty (Isaiah 37:9).... [ Continue Reading ]
The allusion is to Hezekiah's reformation; the reduction of the number of shrines would seem to a heathen to dishonour the national god.... [ Continue Reading ]
Cp. Isaiah 10:9. THE INVASION OF SENNACHERIB An account of Sennacherib's invasion of Judah (701 b.c.) and its sudden termination. The narrative is closely parallel to that of 2 Kings 18:13; 2 Kings 19:37 (where see notes), from which it was probably taken, and added to this book by a compiler beca... [ Continue Reading ]