And it came to pass in the fourth year of King Hezekiah ,.... In the beginning of it: which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel : the beginning of his seventh: that Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria, and besieged it ; see 2 Kings 17:5 . read more
In the fourth year - This history has been already given, 2 Kings 17:3 , etc. read more
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
And it came to pass in the fourth year of King Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah King of Israel. Hezekiah Began to reign before Hoshea had completed his third year ( 2 Kings 18:1 ). His first year thus ran parallel with part of Hoshea's third and part of his fourth; his fourth with part of Hoshea's sixth and part of his seventh; his sixth with part of Hoshea's eighth and part of his ninth. That Shalmaneser King of Assyria came up against Samaria, and besieged it ... read more
THE PUNISHMENT OF SAMARIA FOR DISOBEDIENCE . In contrast with Hezekiah's piety and consequent prosperity, the author places the disobedience ( 2 Kings 18:12 ) and consequent extinction of the sister kingdom ( 2 Kings 18:9-11 ), which Belonged to Hezekiah's earlier years, and was an event of the greatest importance to him, since it made his dominions conterminous with those of Assyria, and exposed his northern frontier to attack at any moment from the Assyrian forces. According... read more
Captivity and its cause. (See homily on preceding chapter, 2 Kings 18:6-23 .)—C.H.I. read more
These verses repeat the account given in the marginal reference. The extreme importance of the event may account for the double insertion. read more
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
it came to pass. Compare 2 Kings 17:3-6 . Shalmaneser. Commenced the siege; Sargon, his successor, completed it after three years. Compare 2 Kings 17:5 , 2 Kings 17:6 , where we have the same interval as here. In Saigon's own inscription he refers to the "tributes imposed upon them by the former king". read more
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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