After these things. Thirteen years after the events in chapter 31. establishment = "[done in] faithfulness". to win. Hebrew to break them up. Supply Figure of speech Ellipsis, thus: "to break them up [and annex them] for himself". read more
THE INVASION OF JUDAH BY SENNACHERIB;HEZEKIAH'S SICKNESS;THE EMBASSY FROM BABYLON; CONCLUSION OF HEZEKIAH'S REIGNSee my commentary on Isaiah (pp. 329-361) for a discussion of Sennacherib's invasion and the other events mentioned in this chapter. Also, the same material has been discussed in our Commentary on Second Kings 18-20. There is no need whatever for any further discussion of the historical events of this chapter. Montgomery referred to these several accounts as "parallel and... read more
1. After these things, and the establishment thereof—that is, the restoration of the temple-worship. The precise date is given, :-. Determined to recover the independence of his country, Hezekiah had decided to refuse to pay the tribute which his father had bound himself to pay to Assyria. Sennacherib . . . entered into Judah, and encamped against the fenced cities—The whole land was ravaged; the strong fortresses of Ashdod ( :-) and Lachish had fallen; the siege of Libnah had commenced, when... read more
4. The invasion by Sennacherib 32:1-23In a few details this account differs from the one in 2 Kings 18-20 and Isaiah 36-37. It was after Hezekiah’s acts of faithfulness that God tested his trust (2 Chronicles 32:1). Many of Judah’s other good kings had followed God faithfully, only to abandon faith in Him later in life as a result of pride (e.g., Solomon, Uzziah, et al.). In this respect, Hezekiah failed too (2 Chronicles 32:25).Hezekiah’s preparations for Sennacherib’s siege did not indicate... read more
M. Hezekiah chs. 29-32In contrast to Ahaz, we can see Hezekiah’s love for Yahweh in how he cared for the temple. Ahaz’s reign was full of war, but Hezekiah enjoyed peace. God rewarded Hezekiah’s spiritual restoration of Judah with a remarkable military deliverance. Yet "good king" Hezekiah was not the completely faithful Son of David whose kingdom God had promised to establish forever (1 Chronicles 17:11-14)."He is the ’golden boy’ of Chronicles." [Note: Wilcock, p. 242.] The Chronicler gave... read more
Reign of Hezekiah (concluded)This chapter abbreviates the account of Sennacherib’s invasion as related in 2 Kings 18:13; 2 Kings 20:21, but supplements it by various particulars respecting Hezekiah’s preparation to meet the attack.3. To stop the waters, etc.] The chief spring which was thus stopped (or ’hidden’) was the fountain of Gihon: see 2 Chronicles 32:30. 4. The brook] lit. ’torrent-valley.’ The Gihon spring was in the ravine of the Kidron.6. The street of the gate] RV ’the broad place... read more
(1) After these things, and the establishment thereof.—Rather, After these matters, and this faithfulness (2 Chronicles 31:20). For the date, see Note on 2 Kings 18:13.Sennacherib.—So the Vulg. The LXX. gives Σενναχηριμ or είμ; Herodotus, Σαναχάριβος; Josephus, Σενναχήριβος. The Hebrew is Sanchçrib. The real name as given by the Assyrian monuments is Sin-ahi-iriba, or erba (“Sin,” i.e.,the moon-god,”multiplied brothers”).And thought to win them for himself.—Literally, and said to himself that... read more
(1-23) Invasion and Divine overthrow of Sennacherib. ( Comp. 2 Kings 18:13 to 2 Kings 19:37. ) The Assyrian monarch’s own record of the campaign may be read on his great hexagonal prism of terra-cotta, preserved in the British Museum, containing an inscription in 487 lines of cuneiform writing, which is lithographed in the Cuneiform Inscriptions of Western Asia, III. 38, 39, and printed in G. Smith’s History of Sennacherib. read more
HEZEKIAH: THE RELIGIOUS VALUE OF MUSIC2 Chronicles 29:1-36; 2 Chronicles 30:1-27; 2 Chronicles 31:1-21; 2 Chronicles 32:1-33THE bent of the chronicler’s mind is well illustrated by the proportion of space assigned to ritual by him and by the book of Kings respectively. In the latter a few lines only are devoted to ritual, and the bulk of the space is given to the invasion of Sennacherib, the embassy from Babylon, etc., while in Chronicles ritual occupies about three times as many verses as... read more
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Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 2 Chronicles 32:1-33
Hezekiah’s political administration (32:1-33)To the writer of Chronicles, Hezekiah’s religious reforms were the most important feature of his reign. Politically, he was able to remain independent of Assyria, but only because God intervened in response to his faith (32:1-23; see notes on 2 Kings 18:13-19:37). He also made Judah prosperous. But pride in his achievements led him to become friendly with Babylon, the rising power in the region. It was a policy that later brought disaster upon Judah... read more