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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 36:11-22

We may hence learn these lessons:?1. That, while princes and counsellors have public matters under debate, it is not fair to appeal to the people. It was a reasonable motion which Hezekiah's plenipotentiaries made, that this parley should be held in a language which the people did not understand (Isa. 36:11), because reasons of state are secret things and ought to be kept secret, the vulgar being incompetent judges of them. It is therefore an unfair practice, and not doing as men would be done... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 36:14

Thus saith the king ,.... The king of Assyria, whom he personated, whose general and ambassador he was; so he spake to command the greater awe of the people, and the more to terrify them: let not Hezekiah deceive you ; with fair words, promising protection and safety, making preparations for the defence of the city, and to oblige the besiegers to break up the siege of it: for he shall not be able to deliver you ; but if he was not, his God, whom he served, and in whom he trusted, was... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 36:15

Neither let Hezekiah make you trust in the Lord ,.... Hezekiah trusted in the Lord himself, and he endeavoured, both by his own example, and by arguments, to persuade his people to do so likewise; of this Rabshakeh was sensible, and was more afraid of this than of any thing else, and, therefore laboured this point more than any other; see 2 Chronicles 32:6 ; saying, the Lord will surely deliver us, this city shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria : which he might... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 36:16

Hearken not to Hezekiah ,.... To his exhortations and persuasions to trust in the Lord; nor would he have them obey him in things civil, any more than hearken to him in things sacred, though their liege lord and sovereign; for his view and endeavour were to stir them up to mutiny and rebellion; and so the Targum, "do not obey Hezekiah:' or receive any orders from him, or pay any regard to them: for thus saith the king of Assyria, make an agreement with me by a present ; or, "make a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 36:17

Until I come and take you away to a land like your own land ,..... Some have thought, as Jerom observes, that the land of Media was meant, which bore some likeness to the land of Judea in situation and fruitfulness. Maimonides thinks that Africa is intended F12 See T. Bab. Sanhedrin, fol. 94. 1. . Rabshakeh names no land, nor could he name any like, or equal to, the land of Canaan; he could not conceal his intention to remove them from their own land to another; this having been always... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 36:18

Beware lest Hezekiah persuade you ,.... To trust in the Lord, stand up in your own defence and not listen to these proposals; or, lest he "deceive you" F13 פן יסית אתכם "ne forte decipiat vos", Calvin, Vatablus; "ne seducat vos", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator. ; with vain words; whom he would represent not only as not being their lawful king, and therefore never gives him that title, but also as a deceiver and impostor, of whom they should be cautious, and guard against: ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 36:19

Where are the gods of Hamath and Arphad ?.... What is become of them? where are they to be found? where's their power to protect and defend the people they presided over? thus they might be justly derided, but not so the God at Israel; these places are mentioned in Isaiah 10:9 . Hamath was a city in Syria, thought by some to be the same afterwards called Antiochia and Epiphania, from Antiochus Epiphanes: Arphad is joined with it in Jeremiah 49:23 as a city of Syria; perhaps originally... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 36:20

Who are they amongst all the gods of these lands, that have delivered their land out of my hand ?.... Not one of them, it is suggested; wherefore then should it be thought practicable, that the Lord should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand ? thus blasphemously setting the Lord God of Israel upon a level with the fictitious gods of the Gentiles; though these could not, the Lord could, being the Lord God Almighty. If Rabshakeh was an apostate Jew, he must have known better; but the malice... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 36:15

This city shall not be delivered - ולא velo , And this city. Ten of Kennicott's MSS., and nine of De Rossi's, with one (ancient) of my own, add the conjunction. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 36:16

Make an agreement - ברכה berachah , make a blessing with me; i.e., Give me a ransom for the city, and I will not destroy it; give me the yearly tribute thou hast promised. read more

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