2 Kings 19:3

_AND THEY SAID UNTO HIM, THUS SAITH HEZEKIAH, THIS DAY IS A DAY OF TROUBLE, AND OF REBUKE, AND BLASPHEMY: FOR THE CHILDREN ARE COME TO THE BIRTH, AND THERE IS NOT STRENGTH TO BRING FORTH._ The children are come to the birth, and there is not strength to bring forth. The image is that of a parturient woman, whose strength is exhausted, whose powers are paralyzed, at the moment when she required to put forth a vigorous effort. The expression in which the message was conveyed to the prophet described, by a strong figure, the desperate condition of the kingdom, together with their own inability to help themselves; and it intimated also a hope that the blasphemous defiance of Yahweh's power by the impious Assyrian might lead to some direct interposition for the vindication of his honour and supremacy to all pagan gods....

1-7 Hezekiah discovered deep concern at the dishonour done to God by Rabshakeh's blasphemy. Those who speak from God to us, we should in a particular manner desire to speak to God for us. The great Prophet is the great Intercessor. Those are likely to prevail with God, who lift up their hearts in prayer. Man's extremity is God's opportunity. While his servants can speak nothing but terror to the profane, the proud, and the hypocritical, they have comfortable words for the discouraged believer....

Verse 2 Kings 19:3. _THE CHILDREN ARE COME TO THE BIRTH_] The Jewish state is here represented under the emblem of a woman in travail, who has been so long in the pangs of parturition, that her strength is now entirely exhausted, and her deliverance is hopeless, without a miracle. The image is very fine and highly appropriate. A similar image is employed by Homer, when he represents the agonies which Agamemnon suffers from his wound: - Οφρα οἱ αἱμ' ετι θερμον ανηνοθεν εξ ωτειλης· Λυταρ επει το μεν ἑλκος ετερσετο παυσατο δ' αἱμα, Οξειαι οδυναι δυνον μενος Ατρειδαο· Ως δ' ὁταν ωδινουσαν εχῃ βελος οξυ γυναικα,...

The “trouble” consisted in rebuke” (rather, “chastisement,”) for sins at the hand of God, and “blasphemy” (rather, “reproach,”) at the hands of man. THE CHILDREN ... - i. e., “we are in a fearful extremity - at the last gasp - and lack the strength that might carry us through the danger.”...

EXPOSITION 2 KINGS 19:1 SECOND EXPEDITION OF SENNACHERIB AGAINST HEZEKIAH (_continued_)._ _The chapter falls into four portions: (1) The sequel to the embassy of Rabshakeh (2 Kings 19:1); (2) the insulting letter of Sennacherib (2 Kings 19:9); (3) Hezekiah's prayer, and God's answer to it by the mouth of Isaiah (verses 15-34); and (4) the destruction of Sennacherib's host, his hurried flight, and his murder at Nineveh by his sons (verses 35-37). The narrative runs parallel w

2 Kings 19:1...

2. HEZEKIAH AND ISAIAH AND THE DELIVERANCE CHAPTER 19 _ 1. Hezekiah's message to Isaiah (2 Kings 19:1)_ 2. Isaiah's answer. (2 Kings 19:6) 3. Sennacherib's message to Hezekiah (2 Kings 19:8; 2 Chronicles 32:17) 4. Hezekiah's Prayer (2 Kings 19:14; 2 Chronicles 32:20) 5. Jehovah's answer through Isaiah (2 Kin

2 KINGS 19:2. UNTO ISAIAH: from the Book of Isaiah we learn that the prophet had steadily opposed Hezekiah's intrigues against Assyria. SHELNA: Isaiah 22:15 *. 2 Kings 19:9. Ethiopia was the country S. of Egypt. At a time later than this (681 B.C. ?), Tirhakah seems to have established his government in Egypt. There is, therefore, a chronological difficulty in the mention of him here (p. 72). He is, however, not called king of Egypt, and he may have been acting as an ally of the princes of the Nile valley. 2 Kings 19:10. Sennacherib's letter to Hezekiah, showing how hopeless it was for a king of Juda

CHILDREN. sons....

_This day_is _a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and of blasphemy_ R.V. CONTUMELY. The words refer to the condition of Hezekiah and his people. First they are in great anguish, kept in and surrounded by a threatening and mighty enemy, this is the trouble: then they are reminded of their offences and feel that for their wrong they are under chastisement and reproof: and lastly, that they are given over to the adversaries so that their enemies mock at their confidence with insolent derision. Hence without help from God, and with no hope from men, their conceptions of freedom and liberty were likely all to prove abortive, and come to no result. The figure which the king employs indicates that they were in the extremest danger, and had no power to save themselves....