2 Kings 18

Hizkia becometh king over Juda, verse 1, &c. is very religion is not afraid of the king of Assyria and overcometh the Philistines, 3 Salmanasser taketh Samaria, and Israel is carried away captive to Assyria, 9 Sanherib invadeth the land of Juda and Hazkia payeth him tribute, 13. notwithstanding be summoneth Jerusalem, 27. rabsake stirreth up the people to mutiny, and blasphemeth God, 19. which is told the Kings, 37

1. Now it came to pass in the third year of hosea the son of Ela, king of Israel, [to wi, of the nine last years, mentioned above chapter 17.1.] that hazkia [Called Ezekia, Ma.1.9.] the son of Achaz, the king of Juda became King.

2. He was five and twenty years old, when he became Kig, [Heb. A son of five and twenty years] and he reigned nine and twenty years at Jerusalem and his mother’s name was Abi [she is also called Abia, 2 chron 2.1] a daughter of Zacharia. [some hold this man to have been the king of Israel, of whom mention is made above chapter 14.29]

3. And he did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD: according to all that David his father had done.

4. He took away the high places, and brake the reared images and destroyed the groves: and he brake in places the copper serpent, [see of this serpent, num. 21.8,9.] which Moses had made: because the children of Israel had burnt incense unto it until those dayes, and he called it Nebustan. [i.e copper-work, or a piece of copper, or something that is of copper. So the king called the copper serpent to show that there was nothing divine init, and consequently no reason to give divine honor unto it by offerings and invocations. Oth. They called it, &c. that is, the people had given it a name, as their idol.]

5. He trusted in the LORD the God of Israel; so that after him (there) was not like him manner among all the kings of Juda, nor (among those) that had been before him. [To wit, in reforming and restoring the pure religion or worship of God. To wit. Forthwith in the beginning of the reign. Otherwise this must be understood with the exception of David and Josia: of David, to whom he is equaled and not held to be more transcendent, ab. V.3. of Josia, to whom this commendation is likewise given, that before and after him there was no king like unto him, below chapter 23. 25.

6. For he clave unto the Lord, he departed not from following him. [Heb. From after him. See 1 Kings 9. on. V. 6.] and he kept his commandments, which the LORD had commanded Moseh.

7. So the Lord was with him; [see Ge. 21 on v. 22 and 26. on v. 25 and Num. 14. on v. 9.] he delt valiantly whithersoever he went forth: besides, he revolted from the King of Assyria, (so) that he served him not. [i.e. paid him no tribute no tax. His revolting fom the king of Assyria is related here in respect of his father Achaz, who had made himself subject to the King of Assyria as his Vassal and tributary. See above chapter 16.7.]

8. He smote the Philistines, [That had taken away many cities from his father and a great part of his land. See 2 chron. 28.18.] unto Gaza and the borders thereof, from the watch-tower, to the fenced cities [i.e. every where in divers places. See above chapter 17. on v. 9.]

9. Now it came to pass n the fourth year that King Hizkia, (which was the seventh year of Hosea and son of Ela, King of Isael) [counting from the beginning of nine years mentioned above cha. 17.1.] that Salmaneser the king of Assyria marched up against Samaria,and besieged it.

10. And they took it at the end of three years, [to wit, of the siege] in the sixth year of Hizkia: it was the ninth year of Hosea King of Israel, when Samaria was taken.

11. and the king of Assyria carried Israel away under Assyria and caused them to put in Halah,and in Habon the river of Gozon and in the cities of the Medes. [see of these lands above chapter 17 on verse 6.]

12. Because they had not been obedient to the voice of the Lord their god, but had transgressed his covenant (and all that Moseh the servant of the LORD had commanded, that they had not heard, [i.e. would not hear] nor done.

13. but in the fourteenth ear of Kingg hizkia, Sanherib King of Assyria marched up against all the fenced cities of Judah, and took them. [to wit, some of them.]

14. then Hizkia King of Juda sent to the King of Assyria to Lachis. [Which city he then besieged and fought against] saying; I have sinned, turn away from me, what thou shalt lay upon me, I will hear: then the king of Assyria laid upon Hizkkia King of Juda, three hundred talents of silver, [see Exod. 25 on v. 39.] and thirty talents of gold.

15. So hizkia gave (him) all the silver that was found in the house of the Lord, and in the treasures of the king’s house.

16. At that time did hizkia cut off all (the gold) from the doors of the temple of the Lord and form the psost which Hizkia the King of Juda had caused to be overlaid, [the meaning is, that he pulled off the golden plated, wherewith he had formerly overlaid the door and posts of the temple, when he opened again the temple, which whichhis father had shut up, 2 chron. 29.3.] and gave that. [Hebr. To wit, the doors and posts; that is, the gold, wherewith they had been overlaid.]

17. Nevertheless, the King of Assyria sent tartan, not keeping his word, when he had received the mony] and Rabsaris, [the word signifieth the chief courtier, or Chamberlain; as it is translated by some] and rabsake from Lachis unto Hizkia with an heavy host to Jerusalem: and they marched up and came to Jerusalem: And when they marched up, and were come they stayed b the conduit [Hereby many do understand a certain watercourse, without Jerusalem, into which water was descended out of a river that was near it, wherein the fuller washed their woolen cloth. Compare Isaiah 7:3.] of the upper pool called the lower, Isa.22.9.] which is by the highway [understand a high and rode way, which (as some conceive) was paved with stone] of the fullers field. [where the fullers dress their cloth.]

18. And they called to the king, so there came out of their Eliakm the son of Hilkia the steward, [see of this virtuous and religious steward Isaiah 22:20. of such an office see 1 kings 4. on v. 6. Heb who was over the house] and Sebna the scibe, [oth. Notary, or secretary: to wit of the king. See 1 kings 4 on verse 3.] and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder, Remembrancer. So also v. 37. item I kings 4.3. see the annotate.]

19. And Rabsake said unto them; say now to Hizkia; that saith the great King, the King of Assyria; whatconfidence is this wherewith thou trustest?

20. Thou sayest, (but it is word of the lips) [That is, vain, idle, fruitless, altogether nothing, of which there will be, or come nothing: or understand a word that is, only in the mouth, and preceedeth not from the heart; which is not meant, nor shall be confirmed by the deed] there is counsel and strength for the war: [oth thou speakest, but there are nothing but words: counsel and strength (are required) for the war. Oth. Thou speakest but a word of the lip, but (there must) be counsel and strength for war. Mocking thus at the prayers and encouragements made which Hizkia used] now on whom dost thou that thou rebellest against me?

21. behold now, thou trustest upon that broken [Or, bruised] staffe of reed, [understand by this comparison an help, or aid, that is weak, unfaithfull and uncostant. So Isaiah 36:6 Ezek. 29 v.6,7.] upon Egypt, on which if any man lean, it will go into his hand and pierce it: so is Pharoah King of Egypt, to all those that trust on him.

22. But if ye say unto me; we trust on the LORD our God: is not that he, whose high place and whose altars Hizkia hath taken away and hath said to Juda, and to Jerusalem; you shall bow yourselves before this altar[To wit, this only altar: As it is said, 2 Chro. 32.12. that is before none othe] at Jerusalem.

23. Now then, I pray thee lay a wager which my Lord the King of Assyria’ [or give pledges or sureties to my Lord,] and I will give thee two thousand horses, if thou shalt be able for thy (part) to give riders upon them.

24. How wilt thou then turn away [i.e. drive away.] the face of one prince, of the meanest of my lord’s servants? But thou trustest on Egypt, for charets and for horsemen.

25. Am I (now) come up without the Lord against this place to destroy it? The Lord said unto me March up against that land and destroys it. [He speaketh this falsly in a presuming way, to affrighten and astonishes the people of God. Although it otherwise hapned by Gods secret providence, which notwithstanding, was unknown to his. See below chapter 19 verse 15. Isaiah 10:5, 6,7.]

26. Then said Eliakim the son of Hizkia, and Sebna and Joah unto Rabsake; speak, we pray unto thy servants in the Syrian, for we understand it (well) [Heb. We are hearing; that is, we do understand, and are skilled in that language. See gen. 11 on v.7.] and talk not with us in the Jewish language before the ears of the people that are on the wall.

27. But Rabsake said unto them, hath my Lord sent me to thy LORD, and to thee, to speak these words? Is it not to he men who sit on the wall, that they may eat their (own) dung, and drink their (own) piss with you? [that is, that they may be warned that by means of strict and close siege most terrible calamities should come upon them, insomuch that they should be forced to eat their own dung and to drink their own water, to satisfie their hunger and thirst, if they would not deliver up themselves.]

28. So Rabsake stood, and cryed with a loud voice [Heb. Great voce] in the jewish Language; and he spake and said, hear the word of the great king the king of Assyria.

29. Thus saith the king; let not Hizkia deceive you; for he shall not be able to deliver you out of his hand.

30. Moreover, let not Hizkia make you trust on the LORDsaying; the Lord will surely deliver. [Heb. Delivering, deliver] us and this city shall not delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria.

31. hearken not to Hizkia: for thus saith the king of Assyria; deal with me by a present, [The Hebrew word rendered here present, signifieth properly blessing; but it is also taken for a present. See Genesis 33:11 with the annotate. The meaning is, that he offereth the Jews a treaty of peace, that they might not experimentally feel his power and cruel siege, with the consequences thereof.] and come forth to me, and eat (ye) every man (of) his (own) vine and every man (of) his own fig tree and drink (ye) every man the worst of his (own) well;

32. Until I come, and bring you into a land like your (own) land, and land of corn, and of new wine a land of bread, and of vineyards a land of olives of soil and of honey; [understand by these all temporal good things, wherewith the LORD doth bless and prosper a land. See Exodus 3:8. Deut.32.12.13,14. Job 20:17. with the annotate.] so ye shall live and not die; And hearken not to Hizkia; for he stirreth you up [oth. When he seduceth, or encourageth, or perswadeth you] saying; the Lord shall deliver us.

33. Have the Gods of the Nations in any wife delivered [Heb. Delivering, delivered] everyone has his land, out of the hand of the king of Assyria.

34. Where are the Gods of hammth and Arpad? [see of these two cities also joined together, Jerem. 49.23.] where are the Gods Sepharvaim, Hena and Juva? [we have here the names of the cities and lands, which the king of Assyria had taken. See above chapter 17. on v. 24 and Isaiah 37:13. as concerning Hena and juva, some hold these to be proper names of the countries: (compare above chapter 17.31.) others translate the word thus: he hath removed and overturned them, Isaiah 36:19. these words are left out] Yea have they delivered Samaria out of mine hand?

35. Who are they among all the goods of the lands that have delivered their land out of mine hand; that the Lord should deliver Jerusalem out of mine hand?

36. But the people held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the kings commandment was saying; ye shall not answer him.

37. Then came Aliakim thee son of Hilkia the steward, [Heb. Who was over the house. See of this man above on v. 18 also below cha. 19.2.] and Schna the scribe, and joah the son Asaph the chancellour, to Hizkia with (their) garments rent: [see Gen. 37. on verse 29. Heb. rent off garments] and they acquainted him with the words of Rabsake.