13 Now in the fourteenth H702 H6240 year H8141 of king H4428 Hezekiah H2396 did Sennacherib H5576 king H4428 of Assyria H804 come up H5927 against all the fenced H1219 cities H5892 of Judah, H3063 and took H8610 them.
Now it came to pass in the fourteenth H702 H6240 year H8141 of king H4428 Hezekiah, H2396 that Sennacherib H5576 king H4428 of Assyria H804 came up H5927 against all the defenced H1219 cities H5892 of Judah, H3063 and took H8610 them. And the king H4428 of Assyria H804 sent H7971 Rabshakeh H7262 from Lachish H3923 to Jerusalem H3389 unto king H4428 Hezekiah H2396 with a great H3515 army. H2426 And he stood H5975 by the conduit H8585 of the upper H5945 pool H1295 in the highway H4546 of the fuller's H3526 field. H7704 Then came forth H3318 unto him Eliakim, H471 Hilkiah's H2518 son, H1121 which was over the house, H1004 and Shebna H7644 the scribe, H5608 and Joah, H3098 Asaph's H623 son, H1121 the recorder. H2142 And Rabshakeh H7262 said H559 unto them, Say H559 ye now to Hezekiah, H2396 Thus saith H559 the great H1419 king, H4428 the king H4428 of Assyria, H804 What confidence H986 is this wherein thou trustest? H982 I say, H559 sayest thou, (but they are but vain H8193 words) H1697 I have counsel H6098 and strength H1369 for war: H4421 now on whom dost thou trust, H982 that thou rebellest H4775 against me? Lo, thou trustest H982 in the staff H4938 of this broken H7533 reed, H7070 on Egypt; H4714 whereon if a man H376 lean, H5564 it will go H935 into his hand, H3709 and pierce H5344 it: so is Pharaoh H6547 king H4428 of Egypt H4714 to all that trust H982 in him. But if thou say H559 to me, We trust H982 in the LORD H3068 our God: H430 is it not he, whose high places H1116 and whose altars H4196 Hezekiah H2396 hath taken away, H5493 and said H559 to Judah H3063 and to Jerusalem, H3389 Ye shall worship H7812 before H6440 this altar? H4196 Now therefore give pledges, H6148 I pray thee, to my master H113 the king H4428 of Assyria, H804 and I will give H5414 thee two thousand H505 horses, H5483 if thou be able H3201 on thy part to set H5414 riders H7392 upon them. How then wilt thou turn away H7725 the face H6440 of one H259 captain H6346 of the least H6996 of my master's H113 servants, H5650 and put thy trust H982 on Egypt H4714 for chariots H7393 and for horsemen? H6571 And am I now come up H5927 without H1107 the LORD H3068 against this land H776 to destroy H7843 it? the LORD H3068 said H559 unto me, Go up H5927 against this land, H776 and destroy H7843 it. Then said H559 Eliakim H471 and Shebna H7644 and Joah H3098 unto Rabshakeh, H7262 Speak, H1696 I pray thee, unto thy servants H5650 in the Syrian language; H762 for we understand H8085 it: and speak H1696 not to us in the Jews' language, H3066 in the ears H241 of the people H5971 that are on the wall. H2346 But Rabshakeh H7262 said, H559 Hath my master H113 sent H7971 me to thy master H113 and to thee to speak H1696 these words? H1697 hath he not sent me to the men H582 that sit H3427 upon the wall, H2346 that they may eat H398 their own dung, H2716 H6675 and drink H8354 their own piss H4325 H7272 H7890 with you? Then Rabshakeh H7262 stood, H5975 and cried H7121 with a loud H1419 voice H6963 in the Jews' language, H3066 and said, H559 Hear H8085 ye the words H1697 of the great H1419 king, H4428 the king H4428 of Assyria. H804 Thus saith H559 the king, H4428 Let not Hezekiah H2396 deceive H5377 you: for he shall not be able H3201 to deliver H5337 you. Neither let Hezekiah H2396 make you trust H982 in the LORD, H3068 saying, H559 The LORD H3068 will surely H5337 deliver H5337 us: this city H5892 shall not be delivered H5414 into the hand H3027 of the king H4428 of Assyria. H804 Hearken H8085 not to Hezekiah: H2396 for thus saith H559 the king H4428 of Assyria, H804 Make H6213 an agreement with me by a present, H1293 and come out H3318 to me: and eat H398 ye every one H376 of his vine, H1612 and every one H376 of his fig tree, H8384 and drink H8354 ye every one H376 the waters H4325 of his own cistern; H953 Until I come H935 and take you away H3947 to a land H776 like your own land, H776 a land H776 of corn H1715 and wine, H8492 a land H776 of bread H3899 and vineyards. H3754 Beware lest Hezekiah H2396 persuade H5496 you, saying, H559 The LORD H3068 will deliver H5337 us. Hath any H376 of the gods H430 of the nations H1471 delivered H5337 his land H776 out of the hand H3027 of the king H4428 of Assyria? H804 Where are the gods H430 of Hamath H2574 and Arphad? H774 where are the gods H430 of Sepharvaim? H5617 and have they delivered H5337 Samaria H8111 out of my hand? H3027 Who are they among all the gods H430 of these lands, H776 that have delivered H5337 their land H776 out of my hand, H3027 that the LORD H3068 should deliver H5337 Jerusalem H3389 out of my hand? H3027 But they held their peace, H2790 and answered H6030 him not a word: H1697 for the king's H4428 commandment H4687 was, saying, H559 Answer H6030 him not. Then came H935 Eliakim, H471 the son H1121 of Hilkiah, H2518 that was over the household, H1004 and Shebna H7644 the scribe, H5608 and Joah, H3098 the son H1121 of Asaph, H623 the recorder, H2142 to Hezekiah H2396 with their clothes H899 rent, H7167 and told H5046 him the words H1697 of Rabshakeh. H7262
After H310 these things, H1697 and the establishment H571 thereof, Sennacherib H5576 king H4428 of Assyria H804 came, H935 and entered H935 into Judah, H3063 and encamped H2583 against the fenced H1219 cities, H5892 and thought H559 to win H1234 them for himself. And when Hezekiah H3169 saw H7200 that Sennacherib H5576 was come, H935 and that he was purposed H6440 to fight H4421 against Jerusalem, H3389 He took counsel H3289 with his princes H8269 and his mighty men H1368 to stop H5640 the waters H4325 of the fountains H5869 which were without H2351 the city: H5892 and they did help H5826 him. So there was gathered H6908 much H7227 people H5971 together, H6908 who stopped H5640 all the fountains, H4599 and the brook H5158 that ran H7857 through the midst H8432 of the land, H776 saying, H559 Why should the kings H4428 of Assyria H804 come, H935 and find H4672 much H7227 water? H4325 Also he strengthened H2388 himself, and built up H1129 all the wall H2346 that was broken, H6555 and raised it up H5927 to the towers, H4026 and another H312 wall H2346 without, H2351 and repaired H2388 Millo H4407 in the city H5892 of David, H1732 and made H6213 darts H7973 and shields H4043 in abundance. H7230 And he set H5414 captains H8269 of war H4421 over the people, H5971 and gathered them together H6908 to him in the street H7339 of the gate H8179 of the city, H5892 and spake H1696 comfortably H3824 to them, saying, H559 Be strong H2388 and courageous, H553 be not afraid H3372 nor dismayed H2865 for H6440 the king H4428 of Assyria, H804 nor for all the multitude H1995 that is with him: for there be more H7227 with us than with him: With him is an arm H2220 of flesh; H1320 but with us is the LORD H3068 our God H430 to help H5826 us, and to fight H3898 our battles. H4421 And the people H5971 rested H5564 themselves upon the words H1697 of Hezekiah H3169 king H4428 of Judah. H3063 After H310 this did Sennacherib H5576 king H4428 of Assyria H804 send H7971 his servants H5650 to Jerusalem, H3389 (but he himself laid siege against Lachish, H3923 and all his power H4475 with him,) unto Hezekiah H3169 king H4428 of Judah, H3063 and unto all Judah H3063 that were at Jerusalem, H3389 saying, H559 Thus saith H559 Sennacherib H5576 king H4428 of Assyria, H804 Whereon do ye trust, H982 that ye abide H3427 in the siege H4692 in Jerusalem? H3389 Doth not Hezekiah H3169 persuade H5496 you to give H5414 over yourselves to die H4191 by famine H7458 and by thirst, H6772 saying, H559 The LORD H3068 our God H430 shall deliver H5337 us out of the hand H3709 of the king H4428 of Assyria? H804 Hath not the same Hezekiah H3169 taken away H5493 his high places H1116 and his altars, H4196 and commanded H559 Judah H3063 and Jerusalem, H3389 saying, H559 Ye shall worship H7812 before H6440 one H259 altar, H4196 and burn incense H6999 upon it? Know H3045 ye not what I and my fathers H1 have done H6213 unto all the people H5971 of other lands? H776 were the gods H430 of the nations H1471 of those lands H776 any ways H3201 able H3201 to deliver H5337 their lands H776 out of mine hand? H3027 Who was there among all the gods H430 of those nations H1471 that my fathers H1 utterly destroyed, H2763 that could H3201 deliver H5337 his people H5971 out of mine hand, H3027 that your God H430 should be able H3201 to deliver H5337 you out of mine hand? H3027 Now therefore let not H3808 Hezekiah H2396 deceive H5377 you, nor persuade H5496 you on this manner, neither yet believe H539 him: for no god H433 of any nation H1471 or kingdom H4467 was able H3201 to deliver H5337 his people H5971 out of mine hand, H3027 and out of the hand H3027 of my fathers: H1 how much less shall your God H430 deliver H5337 you out of mine hand? H3027 And his servants H5650 spake H1696 yet more against the LORD H3068 God, H430 and against his servant H5650 Hezekiah. H3169 He wrote H3789 also letters H5612 to rail H2778 on the LORD H3068 God H430 of Israel, H3478 and to speak H559 against him, saying, H559 As the gods H430 of the nations H1471 of other lands H776 have not delivered H5337 their people H5971 out of mine hand, H3027 so shall not the God H430 of Hezekiah H3169 deliver H5337 his people H5971 out of mine hand. H3027 Then they cried H7121 with a loud H1419 voice H6963 in the Jews' speech H3066 unto the people H5971 of Jerusalem H3389 that were on the wall, H2346 to affright H3372 them, and to trouble H926 them; that they might take H3920 the city. H5892 And they spake H1696 against H5921 the God H430 of Jerusalem, H3389 as against the gods H430 of the people H5971 of the earth, H776 which were the work H4639 of the hands H3027 of man. H120 And for this cause Hezekiah H3169 the king, H4428 and the prophet H5030 Isaiah H3470 the son H1121 of Amoz, H531 prayed H6419 and cried H2199 to heaven. H8064 And the LORD H3068 sent H7971 an angel, H4397 which cut off H3582 all the mighty men H1368 of valour, H2428 and the leaders H5057 and captains H8269 in the camp H4264 of the king H4428 of Assyria. H804 So he returned H7725 with shame H1322 of face H6440 to his own land. H776 And when he was come H935 into the house H1004 of his god, H430 they that came forth H3329 of his own bowels H4578 slew H5307 him there with the sword. H2719 Thus the LORD H3068 saved H3467 Hezekiah H3169 and the inhabitants H3427 of Jerusalem H3389 from the hand H3027 of Sennacherib H5576 the king H4428 of Assyria, H804 and from the hand H3027 of all other, and guided H5095 them on every side. H5439 And many H7227 brought H935 gifts H4503 unto the LORD H3068 to Jerusalem, H3389 and presents H4030 to Hezekiah H3169 king H4428 of Judah: H3063 so that he was magnified H5375 in the sight H5869 of all nations H1471 from thenceforth. H310
The LORD H3068 shall bring H935 upon thee, and upon thy people, H5971 and upon thy father's H1 house, H1004 days H3117 that have not come, H935 from the day H3117 that Ephraim H669 departed H5493 from Judah; H3063 even the king H4428 of Assyria. H804 And it shall come to pass in that day, H3117 that the LORD H3068 shall hiss H8319 for the fly H2070 that is in the uttermost part H7097 of the rivers H2975 of Egypt, H4714 and for the bee H1682 that is in the land H776 of Assyria. H804 And they shall come, H935 and shall rest H5117 all of them in the desolate H1327 valleys, H5158 and in the holes H5357 of the rocks, H5553 and upon all thorns, H5285 and upon all bushes. H5097 In the same day H3117 shall the Lord H136 shave H1548 with a razor H8593 that is hired, H7917 namely, by them beyond H5676 the river, H5104 by the king H4428 of Assyria, H804 the head, H7218 and the hair H8181 of the feet: H7272 and it shall also consume H5595 the beard. H2206 And it shall come to pass in that day, H3117 that a man H376 shall nourish H2421 a young H1241 cow, H5697 and two H8147 sheep; H6629 And it shall come to pass, for the abundance H7230 of milk H2461 that they shall give H6213 he shall eat H398 butter: H2529 for butter H2529 and honey H1706 shall every one eat H398 that is left H3498 in H7130 the land. H776 And it shall come to pass in that day, H3117 that every place H4725 shall be, where there were a thousand H505 vines H1612 at a thousand H505 silverlings, H3701 it shall even be for briers H8068 and thorns. H7898 With arrows H2671 and with bows H7198 shall men come H935 thither; because all the land H776 shall become briers H8068 and thorns. H7898 And on all hills H2022 that shall be digged H5737 with the mattock, H4576 there shall not come thither H935 the fear H3374 of briers H8068 and thorns: H7898 but it shall be for the sending forth H4916 of oxen, H7794 and for the treading H4823 of lesser cattle. H7716
Now therefore, behold, the Lord H136 bringeth up H5927 upon them the waters H4325 of the river, H5104 strong H6099 and many, H7227 even the king H4428 of Assyria, H804 and all his glory: H3519 and he shall come up H5927 over all his channels, H650 and go over H1980 all his banks: H1415 And he shall pass H2498 through Judah; H3063 he shall overflow H7857 and go over, H5674 he shall reach H5060 even to the neck; H6677 and the stretching out H4298 of his wings H3671 shall fill H4393 the breadth H7341 of thy land, H776 O Immanuel. H6005 H410
Ephraim H669 feedeth H7462 on wind, H7307 and followeth H7291 after the east wind: H6921 he daily H3117 increaseth H7235 lies H3577 and desolation; H7701 and they do make H3772 a covenant H1285 with the Assyrians, H804 and oil H8081 is carried H2986 into Egypt. H4714 The LORD H3068 hath also a controversy H7379 with Judah, H3063 and will punish H6485 Jacob H3290 according to his ways; H1870 according to his doings H4611 will he recompense H7725 him.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on 2 Kings 18
Commentary on 2 Kings 18 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 18
When the prophet had condemned Ephriam for lies and deceit he comforted himself with this, that Judah yet "ruled with God, and was faithful with the Most Holy,' Hos. 11:12. It was a very melancholy view which the last chapter gave us of the desolations of Israel; but this chapter shows us the affairs of Judah in a good posture at the same time, that it may appear God has not quite cast off the seed of Abraham, Rom. 11:1. Hezekiah is here upon the throne,
But how well it ended, and how much to the honour and comfort of our great reformer, we shall find in the next chapter.
2Ki 18:1-8
We have here a general account of the reign of Hezekiah. It appears, by comparing his age with his father's, that he was born when his father was about eleven or twelve years old, divine Providence so ordering that he might be of full age, and fit for business, when the measure of his father's iniquity should be full. Here is,
2Ki 18:9-16
The kingdom of Assyria had now grown considerable, though we never read of it till the last reign. Such changes there are in the affairs of nations and families: those that have been despicable become formidable, and those, on the contrary, are brought low that have made a great noise and figure. We have here an account,
2Ki 18:17-37
Here is,