Whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah hath taken away; thereby robbing him of that worship and service which he had in those places. Thus boldly he speaks of these things which he understood not, judging of the great God by their false and petty gods; and judging of God’s worship according to the vain fancies of the heathens, who measured piety by the multitude of altars. read more
Give pledges to my lord, i.e. give him hostages to secure him from thy future rebellion, and he will depart from thee. Or rather, contend with my lord in battle; seeing thou hast counsel and strength for war, do not lie lurking in thy strong hold, but come out into the open field, and let us try for mastery; and whereas thou mayest pretend thou wantest horses to fight with me, if thou wilt accept of my challenge, I will furnish thee with two thousand horses, if thou hast riders for them; as it... read more
How wilt thou force him to turn his back to thee, and flee away from thee? read more
Without the Lord; without his consent and commission. The Lord said unto me, to wit, by secret inspiration, or by his providence. But indeed he neither owned God’s word, nor regarded his providence; but he forged this, to strike a terror into Hezekiah and the people. read more
Upon which these officers stood; not being willing to put themselves into the power of such a barbarous and perfidious enemy, by going out of the city. read more
To tell them to what extremities and miseries he will force them. read more
In the Jews’ language, that he might affright the people into a compliance with him, which he perceived Eliakim and his brethren endeavour to prevent. read more
Make an agreement with me by a present, to redeem yourselves from all the calamities of a close siege, and that death which certainly will follow on them. Or, procure, or purchase a blessing from me, i.e. a blessed peace; whereby you may be delivered out of your distressed and cursed condition, and receive from me the blessings of protection and provision, which your king cannot give you. Then eat ye every man of his own vine; upon these terms I will give you no disturbance, but quietly suffer... read more
Like your own land, i.e. a fruitful and pleasant land. Because he could not conceal from them his intentions of transplanting them into another land, which he had already discovered in his dealing with the Israelites, and other nations, he assures them they shall be no losers by it; and shall only change their place, but not their condition and comforts; which they should enjoy in that land, no less than in their own. read more
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Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Kings 18:13-26
2 Kings 18:13 to 2 Kings 19:37 . Sennacherib’ s Campaign. 2 Kings 18:13 . In the fourteenth year: if Hezekiah began to reign five years before the fall of Samaria (722 B.C.), and Sennacherib did not succeed till 706 B.C., this date cannot be correct. The king of Assyria took upwards of 200,000 Jewish captives. 2 Kings 18:14 . Lachish (p. 28) was besieged by Sennacherib, and his exploits there are depicted on a bas-relief in the British Museum. 2 Kings 18:16 . which Hezekiah overlaid:... read more