32:5 Also he strengthened himself, and built up all the wall
that was broken, and raised [it] up to the towers, and
another wall without, and repaired a Millo [in] the b
city of David, and made c darts and shields in abundance.
(a) He made a double wall.
(b) Read (2Sa 5:9).
(c) Some read, swords or daggers.
32:8 With him [is] an d arm of flesh; but with us [is] the e
LORD our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the
people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of
Judah.
(d) That is, the power of man.
(e) This declares that Hezekiah always put his trust in
God, and yet made himself strong and used lawful means,
lest he should seem to tempt God.
32:9 After this did Sennacherib king of Assyria send his
servants to Jerusalem, (but he [himself laid siege] f
against Lachish, and all his power with him,) unto Hezekiah
king of Judah, and unto all Judah that [were] at Jerusalem,
saying,
(f) While he besieged Lachish.
32:12 Hath not the same Hezekiah taken away his high places and
his g altars, and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, saying,
Ye shall worship before one altar, and burn incense upon
it?
(g) Thus the wicked put no difference between true
religion and false, God and idols: for Hezekiah only
destroyed idolatry and replaced it with true religion.
Thus the papists slander the servants of God: for when
they destroy idolatry, they say that they abolish
religion.
32:14 Who [was there] among all the h gods of those nations
that my fathers utterly destroyed, that could deliver his
people out of mine hand, that your God should be able to
deliver you out of mine hand?
(h) This is his blasphemy that he will compare the living
God to vile idols.
32:15 Now therefore let not Hezekiah deceive you, nor persuade
you on this manner, neither yet believe him: for no god of
any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people out
of i mine hand, and out of the hand of my fathers: how
much less shall your God deliver you out of mine hand?
(i) When man has prosperity, he swells in pride, and
thinks himself able to resist and overcome even God
himself.
32:16 And his servants spake yet [more] against the LORD God,
and against his k servant Hezekiah.
(k) In this we see that when the wicked speak evil of the
servants of God, they care not to blaspheme God
himself for if they feared God, they would love his
servants.
32:18 Then they l cried with a loud voice in the Jews' speech
unto the people of Jerusalem that [were] on the wall, to
affright them, and to trouble them; that they might take
the city.
32:19 And they spake against the God of Jerusalem, as against
the gods of the people of the earth, [which were] the m
work of the hands of man.
(m) Which were invented, made and authorized by man.
32:20 And for this [cause] Hezekiah the king, and the prophet
Isaiah the son of Amoz, n prayed and cried to heaven.
(n) This shows what the best refuge in all troubles and
dangers is.
32:21 And the LORD sent an angel, which cut off all the mighty
men of valour, and the leaders and o captains in the
camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of
face to his own land. And when he was come into the house
of his god, they that came forth of his p own bowels
slew him there with the sword.
(o) To the number of 185,000 as in (2Ki 19:35,36).
(p) Meaning, Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons.
32:23 And many brought gifts unto the LORD to Jerusalem, and
presents to Hezekiah king of Judah: so that he was q
magnified in the sight of all nations from thenceforth.
(q) Thus after trouble God sends comfort to all them who
patiently wait on him, and constantly put their trust
in his mercies.
32:24 In those days Hezekiah was sick to the death, and prayed
unto the LORD: and he spake unto him, and he gave him r
a sign.
(r) To confirm his faith in God's promise, who declared to
him by his prophet that his life would be prolonged
fifteen years.
32:25 But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit
[done] unto him; for his heart s was lifted up:
therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and
Jerusalem.
(s) He was lifted up with the pride of his victory and
treasures, and shows them for an ostentation to the
ambassadors of Babylon.
32:30 This same Hezekiah also stopped the upper watercourse of
t Gihon, and brought it straight down to the west side
of the city of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all his
works.
(t) Which also was called Shiloh, of which mention is made
in (Isa 8:6, Joh 9:7).
32:31 Howbeit in [the business of] the ambassadors of the
princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to enquire of the
wonder that was [done] in the land, God left him, to u
try him, that he might know all [that was] in his heart.
(u) Here we see the reason why the faithful are tempted,
which is to determine whether they have faith or not,
and that they may feel the presence of God who does
not allow them to be overcome by temptations, but in
their weakness administers strength.
