2 Kings 18:4 NIV

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 2 Kings 18:4

2 Kings 18:4. He removed the high places Which none of his predecessors had had the courage to attempt. But, it is likely, the dreadful judgments of God, executed upon the ten tribes, and the carrying them away captive for their superstition and idolatry, had been the means of mightily awakening both him and all the people, for the present, (while these calamities were fresh before their eyes,) to observe the law of God very strictly. “It was a great demonstration,” says Dr. Dodd, “of... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 18:1-12

18:1-25:30 HISTORY TO THE FALL OF JUDAHNew policies under Hezekiah (18:1-12)With the destruction of the kingdom of Israel in the north and the disastrous reign of Ahaz in the south, Assyrian influence in Palestine was at its peak. In spite of this, the young king Hezekiah set out on the bold task of reforming Judah’s religion and freeing Judah from Assyrian power. He destroyed all the local idolatrous shrines (something that no king since David had been able to do), and because of this the... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 2 Kings 18:4

groves = 'Asherah, singular. See note on Exodus 34:13 , and App-42 . brasen serpent. Compare Numbers 21:9 . Now 835 years old. (From 1452 to 617 = 835). children = sons. Nehushtan = a brass thing. read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - 2 Kings 18:4

2 Kings 18:4. He removed the high places, &c.— It was a great demonstration of Hezekiah's sincere piety and zeal towards God, that he began so soon to reform the corruption of religion, and did not stay till he had established himself in his throne. He might, however, think that the surest way so to establish himself, was, to establish the true worship of God; though he could not but foresee that he ran a great hazard in attempting the abolition of idolatry, which had been confirmed by so... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 2 Kings 18:4

4. He removed the high places and brake the images, c.—The methods adopted by this good king for extirpating idolatry, and accomplishing a thorough reformation in religion, are fully detailed (2 Chronicles 20:3 2 Chronicles 31:19). But they are indicated very briefly, and in a sort of passing allusion. brake in pieces the brazen serpent—The preservation of this remarkable relic of antiquity (Numbers 21:5-10) might, like the pot of manna and Aaron's rod, have remained an interesting and... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 2 Kings 18:1-12

1. Hezekiah’s goodness 18:1-12Hezekiah began reigning as his father Ahaz’s vice-regent in 729 B.C. and ruled as such for 14 years. In 715 B.C. he began his sole rule over Judah that lasted until 697 B.C. (18 years). He then reigned with his son Manasseh who served as his vice-regent for 11 more years (697-686 B.C.). His 29-year reign (2 Kings 18:2) was from 715-686 B.C. [Note: See J. Barton Payne, "The Relationship of the Reign of Ahaz to the Accession of Hezekiah," Bibliotheca Sacra 125:501... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Kings 18:1-37

Hezekiah and SennacheribThis chapter describes the reign of Hezekiah of Judah, his religious reforms, and the invasion of Judah by Sennacherib, king of Assyria, who sent one of his officers to demand the surrender of Jerusalem.1. Now it came to pass, etc.] The northern kingdom having been destroyed, the history is henceforward confined to the events connected with Judah only.2. Twenty and five years old] Probably an error, for if Ahaz was only 36 at his death (2 Kings 16:2) his son could... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 2 Kings 18:4

(4) He removed.—He it was who removed. According to this statement, Hezekiah made the Temple of Jerusalem the only place where Jehovah might be publicly worshipped. (Comp. 2 Kings 18:22, and the fuller account in 2 Chronicles 29:3-36.)Brake the images.—Shattered the pillars (1 Kings 14:23; Hosea 3:4; 2 Chronicles 14:2).The groves.—Heb., the Asherah. It should probably be plural, the Asherim, as in 2 Chronicles 31:1, and all the versions here. (See Note on 2 Kings 17:16.)Brake in pieces the... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - 2 Kings 18:1-37

2 Kings 18:4 I. Turning to Hezekiah's mode of dealing with the brazen serpent, we see that he acted on the principle, common to all genuine reformers, that idolatry is a disease which requires heroic treatment. The only effectual way of getting rid of the superstition was to cut the roots of it. Without hesitation, therefore, he broke the image in pieces. Something would have been wanting to the thoroughness of his action if he had simply destroyed the serpent without giving any reason for... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 18:1-37

HEZEKIAHB.C. 715-6862 Kings 18:1-37"For Ezekias had done the thing that pleased the Lord, and was strong in the ways of David his father, as Esay the prophet, who was great and faithful in his vision, had commanded him."- Sirach 48:22THE reign of Hezekiah was epoch-making in many respects, but especially for its religious reformation, and the relations of Judah with Assyria and with Babylon. It is also most closely interwoven with the annals of Hebrew prophecy, and acquires unwonted luster from... read more

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 2 Kings 18:4

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 18:1-12

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 2 Kings 18:4

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - 2 Kings 18:4

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 2 Kings 18:4

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 2 Kings 18:1-12

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Kings 18:1-37

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 2 Kings 18:4

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - 2 Kings 18:1-37

Expositor's Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 18:1-37

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