2 Kings 18

2 Kings 18:1-8

A more plodless scene than the last events in Judah, where we have,

1. Hezekiah reforming his kingdom, ver. 1—6. 2. Proffering in all his undertakings, ver. 7—12. 3. Included by Samacharib, the king of Affyria, ver. 13—15. and Jerusalem befaged, ver. 17. 4. Rishbhdeh’s bishphem, ver. 18—37.

2. NOW it came to pass in the third year of Hofsea, son of Elah king of Israel, that Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign. 2. Twenty and five years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem: his mother’s name also was Abi, the daughter of Zachariah. 3. And he did that which was right in the fight of the LORD, according to all that David his father did. 4. He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brakes, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brakes, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brakes, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brakes, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brakes, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brakes, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brakes, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brakes, and cut down the groves, and

Though Israel was gone into captivity, Judah yet remained, and in a state of great prosperity, under the pious Hezekiah, who came to the crown at the age of twenty-first, and consequently must be born when his father exceeded not twelve years of age.

1. He copied after the best of his progenitors, though the son of the worst; and was, like David in heart and temper, devoted to God’s worship and service: nor did he, as some before him, begin well and end ill, but persevered to the last in constant dependance upon God, and unshaken fidelity to him under all his trials: So that in this, neither before nor after him was any like him of all the kings of Judah. Note, (1.) God in the darkest times, can raise up in his church the most burning and shining lights; let not his people therefore despair. (2.) The more obfiscates are in the way, the more does the grace of God appear great and glorious in overcoming them. (3.) Perseverance in the truth, is the crown of fidelity.

2. His zeal for God’s glory immediately appeared on his accession to the throne. He applied no palliatives to the deep and prevailing idolatry, but laid the act in the root of the tree. Undiscovered through fear of opposition, he not only destroyed the groves and images, but also removed the high places, which had so long been abodeled, and which the most pious of his predecessors connived at: even the heazen serpent which Moses had

had made, because in the late reign a superstitious coloration had been paid to it, he broke in pieces, as Nebula, no more than common head. Note, (1.) They need not fear, who boldly trust to God, in the path of duty. (2.) No length of customs can confiscate an evil practice. (3.) If our parents have dishonoured God, it is our honour to be unlike them.

9. God lifted him in all his undertakings. Having delivered the nation from the yoke of idolatry, he bravely threw off the yoke of the king of Affyria’s usurped dominion, and recovered from the land of the Philistines the cities his father had lost, 2 Cleas. xxviii. 18. Note, Fidelity in God’s service, will be ever accompanied with his blessing.

10. And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Hezekiah (which was the seventh year of Hofnes, son of Elsh king of Israel) that ‘Shalmanifer king of Affyria came up against Samaria, and besieged it. 10. And at the end of three years’ they took it, even in the sixth year of Hezekiah (that is, in the ninth year of Hofnes king of Israel) Samaria was taken. 11. And the king of Affyria did carry away Israel unto Affyria, and put them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes: 12. ‘Because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD their God, but transgreted his covenant, and all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded, and would not hear them, nor do them. 13. Now in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah, did Sennacherib king of Affyria come up against all the fenced cities of Judah, and took them. 14. And Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Affyria to Lachifh, saying, ‘I have offended, return from me: that which thou puttest on me, I will bear. And the king of Affyria appointed unto Hezekiah king of Judah, three hundred talents of silver, and thirty talents of gold. 15. And Hezekiah 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 Hezekiah cut off the gold from the doors of the temple of the LORD, and from the pillars which Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid, and gave it to the king of Affyria.

2 Kings 18:17-37

The ruin of Israel, which we had before, is again here mentioned, in order to introduce the invasion of Judah, now laid open by the subjection of Israel to the king of Affyria. The conquest the father had begun, his son Sennacherib desired to complain, by adding Judah to the former conquests.

1. He makes a successful invasion, and without much resistance feizes the frontier towns, and opens a way for the siege of Jerusalem the capital. Note, They who are most zealous for God, may be reduced, to prove their faith and confidence, to great difficulties.

2. Hezekiah’s trembling heart began to distrust his Almighty Saviour; and instead of having recourse to God, or his prophet Isaiah, feels by an inglorious submission, and a vast random of us, goes to buy off the danger. Note, Urdhaben faith at all times, and in all dangers, is not to be found. Blessed he God we have one who can be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, and though we distrust him, will not be unmindful of us.

3. And the king of Affyria sent Tartan, and Rahfarn, and Rab-shakeh from Lachifh, to king Hezekiah, with a great host against Jerusalem: and they went up and came to Jerusalem: and when they were come up, they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which is in the high-way of the fuller’s field. 18. And when they had called to the king, there came out to them Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Alagh the recorder. 19. And Rab-shakeh said unto them, Speak ye now to Hezekiah, Thus faith the great king, the king of Affyria, ‘What confidence is this wherein thou trustest? 20. Thou sayest (but they are but ye vain words)’ I have counsel and strength for the war: now on whom dost thou trust, that thou rebesist against me? 21. Now, behold thou trustest upon the staff of this bruised reed, even upon Egypt, on which if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: So is Pharaoh king of Egypt unto all that trust on him. 22. But if ye lay unto me, We trust in the LORD our God: is not that he whose high places, and whose altars Hezekiah hath taken away, and hath said to Judah and Jerusalem, Ye shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem? 23. Now therefore I pray thee give 2 pledges to my lord Vol. I.

the king of Affyria, and I will deliver thee two thousand shores, if thou be able on thy part to set riders upon them. 24. How then wilt thou turn away the face of one captain of the leath of my master’s servants, and put thy trust on Egypt for chariots and for horsemen? 25. Am I now come up without the LORD against this place to destroy it? The LORD said to me, Go up against this land, and destroy it. 26. Then said Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebna, and Joah, unto Rab-shakeh, Speak, I pray thee, unto thy servants in the Syrian language (for we understand it) and talk not with us in the Jews language, in the ears of the people that are on the wall. 27. But Rab-shakeh said unto them, Hath my master sent me to thy master, and to thee, to speak these words: And as not for me to the men which sit on the wall, that they may eat their own dung, and drink their own pills with you? 28. Then Rab-shakeh stood and cried with a loud voice in the Jews language, and speak, saying, Hear the word of the great king, the king of Affyria. 29. Thus faith the king, Let not Hezekiah deceive you, for he shall not be able to deliver you out of his hand: 30. Neither let Hezekiah make you trust in the LORD, saying, the LORD will surely deliver us, and this city shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Affyria. 31. Hearless not unto Hezekiah: for thus faith the king of Affyria, Make an agreement with me by a present, and come out to me, and then eat ye every man of his own vine, and every one of his fig-tree, and drink ye every one the waters of his cistern: 32. Until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of corn and wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of oil-olive, and of honey, that ye may live and not die: and hearken not unto Hezekiah when he persuaded you, saying, The LORD will deliver us. 33. Hath any of the gods of the nations delivered at all his land out of the hand of the king of Affyria? 34. Where are the gods of Hamash, and of Arpad? where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hene, and Ivah? have they delivered Samaria out of mine hand? 35. Who are they among all the gods of the countries, that have delivered their country 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 king’s commandment was, saying, ‘Answer him not. 37. Then came Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Alagh the recorder, to Hezekiah with their clothes rent, and told him the words of Rab-shakeh.

Hezekiah had dearly purchased his peace; but when he thought he had now appealed the thorn, to his surprise he sees Jerusalem surrounded by the hosts of perfidious Affyrians. Note, (1.) They who neglecting to trust in God, fly to human confidences, will wholly find the evil they attempt to avert increasing upon them. (2.) Treaties are flight hands to wicked kings.

1. We have the confidence between Hezekiah’s commissioners and the Affyrian chiefs, with Rabshakeh at their head. They make him only one request, to speak to them in the Affyrian language, as they were near the gate, where the people might hear, v. 26. but Rabshakeh, who had begun his infirmity speech, only talked the louder and prouder. Note, They who have to do with unreasonable and wicked men, must expect from them little complications.

2. Rabshakeh’s speech is artful, infolent, and blasphemous; admirably suited with lying insinuations to carry his point with the people, and lead them to surrender, and shews a great wicked man. [1.] He represents their defenceless state, and the folly of resisting. Their confidences he supposes to be either their own strength, v. 20. the assistance of Egypt, v. 21. or the interposition of their God, v. 22. neither of which could profit. Their own strength he despises, v. 23. If they could produce two thousand men, he would give them horses; and, after that, the meanest captain in his army were strong enough to rout them. Egypt was a broken reed; their confidence there was vain, and would destroy instead of supporting them, v. 21. And as for God, he neither would nor could help them. He insinuates as if Hezekiah had offended him by taking away the high places, v. 22. and that himself had a commission from him to avenge his quarrel, v. 25. nay, that should he attempt to discover them, it were vain; blasphemously concluding him as impotent to save, as the idol gods whom he proudly boasts his master had vanquished,

5 P v. 33, 35. Before Christ Jim.

v. 33, 35. Nate, (1.) Men’s deeds do not usually correspond to their proud boasting. (2.) Human confidence are certainly a broken reed; they who trust on them may expect disappointment. (3.) Ignorant and wicked men often reproach God’s people for that which is their highest honour. (4.) Many pretend God’s commission, whose fallhood will soon be detected. (2.) He boasts of the power of his king, the great king, whose conquests made him look to big, and whose armies rendered him to formidable, that all opposition against him was useless. Nate, Worldly greatness is almost idolized in the eyes of carnal men, whilst the eye of faith looks upon a great wicked man only as a great worm. (3.) He endeavours to exude them into immediate surrender, and to buy their peace with a pretext, as if it would be their own interest to do so. They would life be reduced to the greatest extremities, v. 31. If they dared to resist. But, if they submitted, he promises them to let them continue for a while in their present positions, and then remove them into a land as good as their own, where was plenty of every thing. Nate, (1.) By lying prunities the tongue hails his book; but experience too late discovers the terrible deception. (2.) We may not trust the fair words of an enemy. Many a flourish tongue hath under it the golden of ripe.

3. The commissioners of Hezekiah, according to his command, made no reply, but rent their clothes, in token of distress, as well as in detestation of the blasphemy, and told the king what he’d pulled, that he might consider of an answer. Nate, The best answer to incident those is silence. It but exasperates to answer a fool according to his folly.