_A.M. 3291. B.C. 713._ Sennacherib invading Judah, Hezekiah fortifies himself, 2 Chronicles 32:1. The insolent letters and messages sent by Sennacherib, 2 Chronicles 32:9. The destruction of his army, 2 Chronicles 32:20. Hezekiah's sickness, riches, and death, 2 Chronicles 32:24.... [ Continue Reading ]
_After these things, and the establishment thereof_ An emphatical preface, signifying, that notwithstanding all his zeal for God, God saw fit to exercise him with a sore trial. And God ordered it at this time, that he might have an opportunity of showing himself strong on the behalf of his returning... [ Continue Reading ]
_To stop the waters of the fountains_ To fill them up with earth and other things cast into them, that it might not be known there was any water there, and withal to draw the waters by secret passages and pipes to Jerusalem. _And the brook that ran through the midst of the land _ The brook Kidron, w... [ Continue Reading ]
_He built up all the wall that was broken_ Which Joash, king of Israel, had broken down, and which had not since been repaired. _And raised it up to the towers_ Either as high as the towers, or tops of the wall; or from the gate of Ephraim as far as the two towers, which were at the corner-gate, hav... [ Continue Reading ]
_After this did Sennacherib send his servants to Jerusalem _ Of this and the following verses, see notes on 2 Kings 18:17, &c., and 2 Chronicles 19:10, &c. _Whereon do ye trust, that ye abide in the siege_, &c. Or rather, why do ye stay till Jerusalem is besieged; or, resolve to stand a siege? For... [ Continue Reading ]
_To give over yourselves to die by famine_, &c. It appears by this he did not intend to storm the city, but to keep them pent up till they were starved. _Hath not Hezekiah taken away his high places_, &c. He speaks thus through his ignorance of the divine law, which enjoined them to worship only at... [ Continue Reading ]
_How much less shall your God deliver you_ Seeing I have destroyed so many nations, and some of them stronger than you, in spite of all their gods, it is not probable that your God should defend you? inasmuch as none of the others could defend their worshippers.... [ Continue Reading ]
_That they might take the city_ By a surrender of it into their hands. _They spake against the God of Jerusalem, as against the gods of the people_ They set the God of Israel, the Creator of heaven and earth, upon the same footing with the idols of the heathen.... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord sent an angel_ The Jewish comment, termed the Targum, says, The Word of the Lord (the Eternal Word) sent Gabriel to do this execution, and that it was done with lightning, and in the passover night, the same night wherein the firstborn in Egypt were slain. _Which cut off the mighty men, an... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thus the Lord saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem_ By this work of wonder he was glorified as the Protector and Saviour of his _people; from the hand of Sennacherib, and of all others_ For such a deliverance as this was an earnest of great mercy in store for them; _and guided them on ev... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done him _ Was not humble, grateful, and devoted to God, as in reason and duty he ought to have been, considering God's marvellous interpositions in his favour, and the great and extraordinary deliverances he had wrought out for him and his kingd... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart_ For the sins of the heart, though they should never show themselves in any external way, either by word or deed, must be acknowledged to God and repented of, if we would find mercy; and self-humiliation is a necessary branch of repentance. _Both... [ Continue Reading ]
_He provided him cities_ He repaired, fortified, and beautified them, for the honour and safety of his kingdom. _And possessions of flocks and herds in abundance_ The riches of those countries consisted chiefly in abundance of cattle.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hezekiah stopped the upper watercourse of Gihon_ A rivulet near Jerusalem, consisting of two streams, the upper, which was brought into one pool, called _the upper pool_, (Isaiah 7:3,) and the lower, which was brought into another, called _the lower pool, Isaiah 22:9_. The former he diverted, and b... [ Continue Reading ]
_To inquire of the wonder done in the land_ Either the destruction of the Assyrians, or the going back of the sun. These miracles were wrought to alarm and awaken a stupid, careless world, and to turn them from dumb and lame idols to the living God. _God left him_ To himself, and suffered Satan to t... [ Continue Reading ]
_All Judah did him honour at his death_ They buried him in the chiefest of the sepulchres, made as great burning for him as for Asa; or, which is a much greater honour, made great lamentation for him, as they afterward did for Josiah. Though it is to be feared that the generality of the people did n... [ Continue Reading ]