_HEZEKIAH REIGNS TWENTY-NINE YEARS. HE DESTROYS IDOLATRY, AND SHAKES OFF THE YOKE OF THE ASSYRIANS. SHALMANESER BESIEGES SAMARIA. SENNACHERIB SENDS RABSHAKEH TO JERUSALEM, WHO EXHORTS THE PEOPLE NOT TO CONFIDE IN HEZEKIAH OR HIS GOD, BUT TO DELIVER THEMSELVES UP TO THE KING OF ASSYRIA._ _Before Ch... [ Continue Reading ]
TWENTY AND FIVE YEARS OLD WAS HE WHEN HE BEGAN TO REIGN— In chap. Exodus 16:2 it is recorded, that Ahaz was but _twenty years old when he began to reign,_ and that he reigned sixteen years before he died, so that he lived in the whole six and thirty years. Now his son Hezekiah is said to be _five an... [ Continue Reading ]
HE REMOVED THE HIGH PLACES, &C.— It was a great demonstration of Hezekiah's sincere piety and zeal towards God, that he began so soon to reform the corruption of religion, and did not stay till he had established himself in his throne. He might, however, think that the surest way so to establish him... [ Continue Reading ]
AFTER HIM WAS NONE LIKE HIM, &C.— This same commendation is given to Josiah, chap. Exodus 23:25 so that it must relate to some particular virtue wherein Hezekiah stood distinguished from the rest of the kings of Judah; and that this was his _trusting in the Lord God of Israel,_ as it is in the begin... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW IN THE FOURTEENTH YEAR, &C.— As what remains of this chapter, together with the contents of the 19th and 20th, are found in the book of the prophet Isaiah, and with some additional circumstances, we shall defer our comment upon them till we come to that place.... [ Continue Reading ]