Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Chronicles 32:7
On the language, compare the marginal references, for details, see Isaiah 22:5-13; Isaiah 29:3. read more
On the language, compare the marginal references, for details, see Isaiah 22:5-13; Isaiah 29:3. read more
The faith, which Hezekiah’s words express, presently wavered, died away, and was succeeded by despair and submission (compare 2 Kings 18:14-16 notes). read more
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
Be strong, &c. Hebrew "be ye strong", &c. See note on Deuteronomy 31:6 . multitude. Compared to raging waters (Psalms 46:2 , Psalms 46:3 ). read more
2-8. when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib . . . was purposed to fight against Jerusalem—An account of the means taken to fortify Jerusalem against the threatened siege is given only in this passage. The polluting or filling up of wells, and the altering of the course of rivers, is an old practice that still obtains in the wars of the East. Hezekiah's plan was to cover the fountain heads, so that they might not be discovered by the enemy, and to carry the water by subterranean channels or pipes... 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
(1-23) 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
The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Chronicles 32:8
Resting upon words. "And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah." How far are we right and wise in building upon words, upon the words of another? I. THE FOLLY OF RESTING ON THE USE OF FORMULAE . There are some sacred forms or phrases, theological or scriptural, which have been much urged upon men, as if they had some very special potency in them; as if we could be perfectly at rest, in regard to human souls, if they did but pronounce those particular... read more