Read & Study the Bible Online - Bible Portal
Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Kings 18:1-8

We have here a general account of the reign of Hezekiah. It appears, by comparing his age with his father?s, that he was born when his father was about eleven or twelve years old, divine Providence so ordering that he might be of full age, and fit for business, when the measure of his father's iniquity should be full. Here is, I. His great piety, which was the more wonderful because his father was very wicked and vile, one of the worst of the kings, yet he was one of the best, which may... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 18:7

And the Lord was with him ,.... The Word of the Lord was for his help, as the Targum: and he prospered whithersoever he went forth ; that is, to war: and he rebelled against the king of Assyria : which is explained in the next clause: and served him not ; he refused to be his servant, as his father Ahaz had been, 2 Kings 16:7 , to which he was not obliged by any agreement of his; and, if it was in his power, might lawfully shake off his yoke, which is all that is meant by... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 18:8

He smote the Philistines even unto Gaza, and the borders thereof ,.... Who in his father's time had invaded Judah, and taken many cities and towns in it, which Hezekiah now recovered, and drove them to their own territories, of which Gaza was one; see 2 Chronicles 28:18 . from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city ; that is, places both great and small, cities, towns, and villages; of this phrase, see 2 Kings 17:9 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Kings 18:8

From the tower of the watchmen - See the same words, 2 Kings 17:9 ; (note). It seems a proverbial mode of expression: he reduced every kind of fortification; nothing was able to stand before him. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 18:1-8

THE EARLY YEARS Or HEZEKIAH . From his narrative of the destruction of the kingdom of Samaria, the writer turns, with evident relief, to the accession of the good king Hezekiah in Judah, and to a brief account of The narrative is still exceedingly brief, and has to be filled out from the Second Book of Chronicles, where the religious reformation of Hezekiah is treated with great fullness (2 Kings 29-31.). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 18:1-8

The secret of a successful fife; or, trust in God, and its results. What a refreshing contrast to some of the lives we have been considering, is this description of the life of Hezekiah! How pleasant it is to read of such a life as his, after we have read of so many kings of Judah and Israel, that "they did evil in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the ways of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin"! It is a pleasant contrast even to the life of Hezekiah's own father Ahaz. It... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 18:1-8

Hezekiah the good . It is with a sense of relief that we emerge from the dark and oppressive atmosphere of the time of Ahaz into the "clear shining" ( 2 Samuel 23:4 ) of a reign like that of Hezekiah. Once more Divine mercy gave Judah a king in whom the best traditions of the theocracy were revived. I. RIGHT CONDUCT . 1. An evil upbringing belied . As if to set laws of heredity at defiance, the worst King of Judah hitherto is succeeded by one of the best—the best after... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 18:1-37

A striking reformation, a ruthless despotism, and an unprincipled diplomacy. "How it came to pass," etc. Amongst the incidents recorded and the characters mentioned in this chapter, there stand out in great prominence three subjects for practical contemplation: The many strange and somewhat revolting historic events that make up the bulk of this chapter will come out in the discussion of these three subjects. I. A STRIKING REFORMATION . Hezekiah, who was now King of Judah, and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 18:5-7

God's service not really a hard service. God's service is not the hard service that some suppose it to be. No doubt it involves a certain amount of pain and suffering. For, first, there is no true service of God without self-denial; and self-denial is painful. Secondly, it involves chastening at the hand of God; for "whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth" ( Hebrews 12:6 ); and chastening is "not joyous, but grievous' ( Hebrews 12:11 ). But there... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 18:7

And the Lord was with him. Of no other King of Judah or Israel is this said, except only of David ( 2 Samuel 5:10 ). It was the promise made to Moses ( Exodus 3:12 ), repeated to Joshua ( Joshua 1:5 , Joshua 1:7 ), and by implication given in them to all those who would rule his people faithfully. And he prospered whithersoever he went forth; rather, in all his goings—in cunctis ad quae procedebat (Vulgate). Hezekiah's prosperity is enlarged upon by the writer of Chronicles, who says... read more

Group of Brands