HEZEKIAH AND SENNACHERIB This chapter describes the reign of Hezekiah of Judah, his religious reforms, and the invasion of Judah by Sennacherib, king of Assyria, who sent one of his officers to demand the surrender of Jerusalem.... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW IT CAME TO PASS, etc.] The northern kingdom having been destroyed, the history is henceforward confined to the events connected with Judah only.... [ Continue Reading ]
TWENTY AND FIVE YEARS OLD] Probably an error, for if Ahaz was only 36 at his death (2 Kings 16:2) his son could scarcely be 25.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE REMOVED THE HIGH PLACES] cp. 2 Kings 18:22. This was the first attempt to put an end to the provincial shrines which had co-existed with the Temple as seats of worship from the time of Solomon onward: see 1 Kings 14:23; 1 Kings 15:14; 1 Kings 22:43; 2 Kings 12:3; 2 Kings 14:4; 2 Kings 15:4; Thoug... [ Continue Reading ]
NONE LIKE HIM] The same praise is given to Josiah (2 Kings 23:25).... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD WAS WITH HIM] Though Hezekiah, in consequence of pursuing a mistaken policy, experienced great calamities in the course of his reign, yet his fidelity to the Lord had its reward in a signal overthrow of the same Assyrian power that within Hezekiah's lifetime had destroyed the much stronger... [ Continue Reading ]
SMOTE THE PHILISTINES] probably such as remained loyal to Assyria.... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALMANESER.. CAME UP] 2 Kings 18:9 repeat in brief the account of the capture of Samaria already given in 2 Kings 17:5.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CITIES OF THE MEDES] Media was the mountainous district S. of the Caspian.... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE FOURTEENTH YEAR] The Assyrian invasion here described took place in 701, and therefore according to this v. Hezekiah's accession was in 714 but 2 Kings 18:10 states that Samaria, which fell in 722, was captured in Hezekiah's 'sixth' year, which makes 727 the date of his accession. The section... [ Continue Reading ]
LACHISH] The place at this time was being besieged by Sennacherib (2 Chronicles 32:9). THREE HUNDRED TALENTS] According to the inscriptions the fine was 800 talents of silver and 30 talents of gold, besides other treasures.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE KING OF ASSYRIA SENT] It is probable that the surrender, described in 2 Kings 18:14, was expected by the Jews to secure their city from further molestation; but Sennacherib was moving towards Egypt, and doubtless thought it dangerous to leave so strong a fortress in other hands than his own. The... [ Continue Reading ]
SHEBNA] Shebna, who, from his name, was probably a foreigner, had previously occupied the position now filled by Eliakim (Isaiah 22:15), and seems to have advocated reliance upon the support of Egypt, a policy which Isaiah had opposed. When Hezekiah was compelled to make submission to the Assyrian k... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS BRUISED REED] For a similar contemptuous estimate of Egypt cp. Ezekiel 29:6. PHARAOH] This was probably Shabako, the successor of So (2 Kings 17:3). The inability of Egypt to help those who trusted it, as shown in the case of Hoshea of Israel (see 2 Kings 17:4), was again displayed by the defe... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOSE HIGH PLACES, etc.] Rabshakeh thought that such sacrilege was calculated to provoke the anger of the Lord, whereas Hezekiah's action really conduced to religious purity: see on 2 Kings 18:4.... [ Continue Reading ]
GIVE PLEDGES] RM 'make a wager.'... [ Continue Reading ]
PUT THY TRUST.. HORSEMEN] For reliance upon. Egypt for a supply of horses see Isaiah 31:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
AM I NOW COME UP WITHOUT THE LORD?] He might have regarded his capture of the Judsean cities, described in 2 Kings 19:13, as an indication that the Lord had given them up into his hand because of Hezekiah's action in removing the high places.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SYRIAN LANGUAGE] i.e. Aramean, a language which served as the principal medium of intercourse between the various nationalities in the East. This would be intelligible to the state officials both of Assyria and Judah, but unfamiliar to the bulk of the citizens of Jerusalem; and so Eliakim, who d... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT THEY MAY EAT, etc.] The garrison had taken up their position on the ramparts, with all the extremities of starvation before them; and Rabshakeh now appealed from the king and his advisers to the rank and file of his army (in violation of all honourable usage).... [ Continue Reading ]
COME OUT] i.e. capitulate, before incurring the further calamities of a protracted siege.... [ Continue Reading ]
HAMATH, etc.] For most of the towns here named see on 2 Kings 17:24. Arpad has been identified with some ruins NW. of Aleppo.... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT THE LORD SHOULD DELIVER, etc.] The Assyrian argued that the national god of a little state like Judah would not be able to defend His people more effectually than the deities of other nations, subdued by the Assyrians, had done. He had to learn that the God of the Jews was also the Lord of all... [ Continue Reading ]