2 Chronicles 32

Who would for a moment risk his life for a painting or a statue? much less should we hazard the salvation of the soul on a point of taste. Thus did not Hezekiah: “In every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the laws, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart and prospered.” The remainder of this book, consisting almost entirely of the repetitions of circumstances already related in the Second Book of Kings, we shall refer our readers to the expository remarks there offered. Jehoiada was a priest of the house of Aaron, and grandson of Seriah, who was high priest in the reign of Zedekiah. ((2 Kings 25:18). compared with (Ezra 7)) In this canonical book, from (2 Chronicles 4:8), to (2 Chronicles 6:19); also

Notes on the verses

Chap. XXXII. Ver. 1. After these things.—After Hezekiah had put down idolatry, and celebrated this solemn passover. Then Sennacherib came and attacked the fenced cities in the boundaries of Judah. Ver. 4. Stopped all the fountains.—This was well done; for, without water, how could an immense army subsist in an arid country? No doubt the Assyrian army suffered much through this; as a Christian army did, through the same cause, 1800 years afterwards. See Harmer.—Bagster. Ver. 9. Sennacherib sent his servants.—The remainder of this chapter will be found to correspond (in substance) with the 18th, 19th, and 20th chapters of the Second Book of Kings. Ver. 12. Taken away his high places.—This was artfully malicious: many of the people had sacrificed to Jehovah on high places, ((2 Chronicles 31:1).;) and Hezekiah had removed them, as incentives to idolatry. Hence Rab-shakeh insinuates that, by so doing, he had offended Jehovah, deprived the people of their religious rights, and that, consequently, he could neither expect the blessing of God nor the co-operation of the people.—Bagster. Ver. 30. Stopped upper water-courses.—[Or, ‘* Hezekiah stopped the upper going out, (motza, i.e. the egress into the open air,) of the waters of Gihon and brought them, underneath, (temattah, by a subterraneous course,) to the west of the city of David:” See note on (1 Kings 2:45).]—Bagster. Ver. 31. Ambassadors.—See margin. Interpreters were probably generally sent as ambassadors, on account of their skill in foreign languages, (2 Chronicles 33)This chapter throughout corresponds nearly with the 21st of the 2d Book of Kings.