2 Kings 18

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Kings 18

When the prophet had condemned Ephraim for lies and deceit he comforted himself with this, that Judah yet ?ruled with God, and was faithful with the Most Holy,? Hos. 11:12. It was a very melancholy view which the last chapter gave us of the desolations of Israel; but this chapter shows us the affairs of Judah in a good posture at the same time, that it may appear God has not quite cast off the seed of Abraham, Rom. 11:1. Hezekiah is here upon the throne, I. Reforming his kingdom, 2 Kgs.... read more

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

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Kings 18:9-16

The kingdom of Assyria had now grown considerable, though we never read of it till the last reign. Such changes there are in the affairs of nations and families: those that have been despicable become formidable, and those, on the contrary, are brought low that have made a great noise and figure. We have here an account, I. Of the success of Shalmaneser, king of Assyria, against Israel, his besieging Samaria (2 Kgs. 18:9), taking it (2 Kgs. 18:10), and carrying the people into captivity (2... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Kings 18:17-37

Here is, I. Jerusalem besieged by Sennacherib's army, 2 Kgs. 18:17. He sent three of his great generals with a great host against Jerusalem. Isa. this the great king, the king of Assyria? No, never call him so; he is a base, false, perfidious man, and worthy to be made infamous to all ages; let him never be named with honour that could do such a dishonourable thing as this, to take Hezekiah's money, which he gave him upon condition he should withdraw his army, and then, instead of quitting his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 18

INTRODUCTION TO 2 KINGS 18 This chapter begins with the good reign of Hezekiah king of Judah, the reformation he made in the kingdom, and the prosperity that attended him when Israel was carried captive, 2 Kings 18:1 and gives an account of the siege of Jerusalem by the king of Assyria, and of the distress Hezekiah was in, and the hard measures he was obliged to submit unto, 2 Kings 18:13 and of the reviling and blasphemous speech of Rabshakeh, one of the generals of the king of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 18:1

Now it came to pass in the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel ,.... That is, in the third year of his rebelling against the king of Assyria, when he shook off his yoke, and refused to be tributary to him any longer, see 2 Kings 17:1 , that Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign ; having finished the account of the kingdom of Israel, and the captivity of the people, the historian returns to the kingdom of Judah, and the things of it. read more

John Gill

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

Twenty and five years old was he when he began to reign ,.... Now as Ahaz his father began to reign at twenty, and reigned sixteen, he must die at thirty six; so that this son of his must be born to him when at eleven years of age, for only so many years there be between twenty five and thirty six, which may seem wonderful; but, as Grotius observes, Hezekiah had now entered into the twenty fifth year, and he might be just turned of twenty four, and so his father might be twelve years of age... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 18:3

And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that David his father did. Some of the kings of Judah, that were better than some others, are said to do that which was right, but not like David; or they did as he did, but not according to all that he did, as is here said of Hezekiah. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 18:4

He removed the high places ,.... Which the best of the kings of Judah never attempted, and which is observed of them to their discredit: and broke the images, and cut down the groves ; the idols his father set up and served, 2 Kings 16:4 , groves and idols in them, were early instances of idolatry; See Gill on Judges 3:7 , and their use for temples are still continued, not only among some Indian nations F12 See Dampier's Voyage, vol. 1. p. 411. , but among some Christians in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 18:5

He trusted in the Lord God of Israel ,.... To be his protector and defender, and had no dependence on idols as an arm of flesh; the Targum is, he trusted in the Word of the Lord God; not in Nehushtan, but in him the brasen serpent was a type of, even in the Word and Son of God, his alone Saviour and Redeemer: so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah : for though Josiah was like him in some things, yet not in all: nor any that were before him ; from the times... read more

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