To reign — It is not certain that Ahaz lived only thirty six years, for those sixteen years which he reigned, may be computed, not from the first beginning of his reign, when he reigned with his father; which was at the twentieth year of his age, but from the beginning of his reigning alone.... [ Continue Reading ]
Serpent — The most of them, or such as the people most frequented: for all were not taken away, 2 Kings 23:13, tho' his own father had set them up. We must never dishonour God, in honour to our earthly parents. Brazen serpent — Which had been hitherto kept as a memorial of God's mercy; but being now... [ Continue Reading ]
Trusted — Without calling in foreign succours to establish or help him; which his father Ahaz did; and before him Asa. Before him — Of the kings of Judah only; for David and Solomon were kings of all Israel. The like is said of Josiah, 2 Kings 23:25. Each of them, excelled the other in several respe... [ Continue Reading ]
Rebelled — He shook off that yoke of subjection, to which his father had wickedly submitted, and reassumed that full and independent sovereignty which God had settled in the house of David. And Hezekiah's case differs much from that of Zedekiah, who is blamed for rebellion against the king of Babylo... [ Continue Reading ]
Them — Many of them; universal particles being frequently so used both in scripture, and other authors; and this success God gave him; to lift him up to his own greater and more shameful destruction: to humble and chastise his own people for their manifold sins, and, to gain an eminent opportunity t... [ Continue Reading ]
Three hundred talents, &c. — Above two hundred thousand pounds.... [ Continue Reading ]
Sent — Having received the money, upon which he agreed to depart from Hezekiah and his land, he breaks his faith with Hezekiah, thereby justifying his revolt, and preparing the way for his own destruction.... [ Continue Reading ]
Thus saith, &c. — But what are the greatest men when they come to compare with God, or when God comes to contend with them?... [ Continue Reading ]
This broken reed — Whoever trusts in man, leans on a broken reed: but God is the rock of ages.... [ Continue Reading ]
Is not, &c. — Thus boldly he speaks of the things which he understood not, judging of the great God, by their petty gods; and of God's worship by the vain fancies of the Heathens, who measured piety by the multitude of altars.... [ Continue Reading ]
Am I, &c. — He neither owned God's word, nor regarded his providence; but he forged this, to strike a terror into Hezekiah and the people.... [ Continue Reading ]
To the men — To tell them to what extremities and miseries he will force them.... [ Continue Reading ]
Jews language — The tradition of the Jews is, that Rabshaketh was an apostate Jew. If so, his ignorance of the God of Israel was the less excusable, and his enmity the less strange: for apostates are usually the most bitter and spiteful enemies.... [ Continue Reading ]
A present — Upon which terms, I will give you no disturbance; but quietly suffer each of you to enjoy his own possession.... [ Continue Reading ]