View 2nd Kings 18 in the note window.
Hezekiah reforms his kingdom, ver. 1 - 6.
Prospers in all his undertakings, even at the time the ten tribes are
led captive, ver. 7 - 12.
Yet is invaded, and his country put under contribution by Sennacherib,
ver. 13 - 16.
Jerusalem is besieged, ver. 17.
The virulent speech of Rabshakeh, ver. 18 - 25.
He incites the people to revolt, ver. 26 - 37.
2: To reign - It is not certain that Ahaz lived only thirty six
years, for those sixteen years which he reigned, may be computed, not from
the first beginning of his reign, when he reigned with his father; which
was at the twentieth year of his age, but from the beginning of his reigning
alone.
4: Serpent - The most of them, or such as the people most frequented:
for all were not taken away, (2Ki 23:13,14), tho' his own father had
set them up. We must never dishonour God, in honour to our earthly parents.
Brazen serpent - Which had been hitherto kept as a memorial of God's
mercy; but being now commonly abused to superstition, was destroyed.
To it - Not doubtless as to a god, but only as to an instrument of God's
mercy, by and through which, their adoration was directed to God, and given
to that only for God's sake. Nehushtan - He said, this serpent, howsoever
formerly honoured, and used by God as a sign of his grace, yet now it is
nothing but a piece of brass which can do you neither good nor hurt.
5: Trusted - Without calling in foreign succours to establish or
help him; which his father Ahaz did; and before him Asa.
Before him - Of the kings of Judah only; for David and Solomon
were kings of all Israel. The like is said of Josiah,(2Ki 23:25). Each of them, excelled the other in several respects.
Hezekiah in this, that he fell upon this work in the beginning of his
reign, which Josiah did not, and with no less resolution, undertaking
to do that which none of his predecessors durst do, even to remove the
high places, wherein Josiah did only follow his example.
7: Rebelled - He shook off that yoke of subjection, to which his
father had wickedly submitted, and reassumed that full and independent
sovereignty which God had settled in the house of David.
And Hezekiah's case differs much from that of Zedekiah, who is
blamed for rebellion against the king of Babylon, both because he had
engaged himself by a solemn oath and covenant, which we do not read of
Ahaz; and because he broke the covenant which he himself had made; and
because God had actually given the dominion of his own land and people to
the king of Babylon, and commanded both Zedekiah and his people to
submit to him. And whereas Hezekiah is here said to rebel; that
word implies, only a defection from that subjection which had been performed
to another; which sometimes may be justly done, and therefore that word doth
not necessarily prove this to be a sin. And that it was not a sin in him,
seems certain, because God owned and assisted him therein; and did not at
all reprove him for it, in that message which he sent to him by Isaiah,
nor afterwards, though he did particularly reprove him, for his vain - glory,
and ostentation, (2Ch 32:25,26).
13: Them - Many of them; universal particles being frequently so used
both in scripture, and other authors; and this success God gave him; to lift
him up to his own greater and more shameful destruction: to humble and
chastise his own people for their manifold sins, and, to gain an eminent
opportunity to advance his own honour by that miraculous deliverance which
he designed for his people.
14: Three hundred talents, &c. - Above two hundred thousand pounds.
17: Sent - Having received the money, upon which he agreed to depart
from Hezekiah and his land, he breaks his faith with Hezekiah,
thereby justifying his revolt, and preparing the way for his own
destruction.
19: Thus saith, &c. - But what are the greatest men when they come
to compare with God, or when God comes to contend with them?
21: This broken reed - Whoever trusts in man, leans on a broken reed:
but God is the rock of ages.
22: Is not, &c. - Thus boldly he speaks of the things which he
understood not, judging of the great God, by their petty gods; and of God's
worship by the vain fancies of the Heathens, who measured piety by the
multitude of altars.
25: Am I, &c. - He neither owned God's word, nor regarded his
providence; but he forged this, to strike a terror into Hezekiah
and the people.
27: To the men - To tell them to what extremities and miseries he
will force them.
28: Jews language - The tradition of the Jews is, that
Rabshaketh was an apostate Jew. If so, his ignorance of the God
of Israel was the less excusable, and his enmity the less strange:
for apostates are usually the most bitter and spiteful enemies.
31: A present - Upon which terms, I will give you no disturbance; but
quietly suffer each of you to enjoy his own possession.
