2 Kings 18:1-16 NIV

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

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 18:6

For he clave to the Lord ,.... To his worship and service; to the fear of the Lord, as the Targum: and departed not from following him ; from his worship, as the same paraphrase: but kept his commandments, which the Lord commanded Moses ; both moral, ceremonial, and judicial. 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 18:6

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

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

Group of Brands