2 Kings 19

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Kings 19

Jerusalem's great distress we read of in the foregoing chapter, and left it besieged, insulted, threatened, terrified, and just ready to be swallowed up by the Assyrian army. But in this chapter we have an account of its glorious deliverance, not by sword or bow, but by prayer and prophecy, and by the hand of an angel. I. Hezekiah, in great concern, sent to the prophet Isaiah, to desire his prayers (2 Kgs. 19:1-5) and received from him an answer of peace, 2 Kgs. 19:6, 7. II. Sennacherib sent a... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Kings 19:1-7

The contents of Rabshakeh's speech being brought to Hezekiah, one would have expected (and it is likely Rabshakeh did expect) that he would call a council of war and it would be debated whether it was best to capitulate or no. Before the siege, he had taken counsel with his princes and his mighty men, 2 Chron. 32:3. But that would not do now; his greatest relief is that he has a God to go to, and what passed between him and his God on this occasion we have here an account of. I. Hezekiah... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Kings 19:8-19

Rabshakeh, having delivered his message and received no answer (whether he took this silence for a consent or a slight does not appear), left his army before Jerusalem, under the command of the other generals, and went himself to attend the king his master for further orders. He found him besieging Libnah, a city that had revolted from Judah, 2 Kgs. 8:22. Whether he had taken Lachish or no is not certain; some think he departed from it because he found the taking of it impracticable, 2 Kgs.... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Kings 19:20-34

We have here the gracious copious answer which God gave to Hezekiah's prayer. The message which he sent him by the same hand (2 Kgs. 19:6, 7), one would think, was an answer sufficient to his prayer; but, that he might have strong consolation, he was encouraged by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, Heb. 6:18. In general, God assured him that his prayer was heard, his prayer against Sennacherib, 2 Kgs. 19:20. Note, The case of those that have the prayers of God's... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Kings 19:35-37

Sometimes it was long ere prophecies were accomplished and promises performed; but here the word was no sooner spoken than the work was done. I. The army of Assyria was entirely routed. That night which immediately followed the sending of this message to Hezekiah, when the enemy had just set down before the city and were preparing (as we now say) to open the trenches, that night was the main body of their army slain upon the spot by an angel, 2 Kgs. 19:35. Hezekiah had not force sufficient to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 19

INTRODUCTION TO 2 KINGS 19 This chapter relates that King Hezekiah, on a report made to him of Rabshakeh's speech, sent a message to the prophet Isaiah to pray for him, who returned him a comfortable and encouraging answer, 2 Kings 19:1 and that upon Rabshakeh's return to the king of Assyria, he sent to Hezekiah a terrifying letter, 2 Kings 19:8 , which Hezekiah spread before the Lord, and prayed unto him to save him and his people out of the hands of the king of Assyria, 2 Kings... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 19:1-37

And it came to pass, when King Hezekiah heard it ,.... The report of Rabshakeh's speech, recorded in the preceding chapter: that he rent his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth ; rent his clothes because of the blasphemy in the speech; and he put on sackcloth, in token of mourning, for the calamities he feared were coming on him and his people: and he went into the house of the Lord; the temple, to pray unto him. The message he sent to Isaiah, with his answer, and the threatening... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Kings 19

Hezekiah as greatly distressed, and sends to Isaiah to pray for him, 2 Kings 19:1-4 . Isaiah returns a comfortable answer, and predicts the destruction of the king of Assyria and his army, 2 Kings 19:5-8 . Sennacherib, hearing that his kingdom was invaded by the Ethiopians, sends a terrible letter to Hezekiah, to induce him to surrender, 2 Kings 19:9-13 . Hezekiah goes to the temple, spreads the letter before the Lord, and makes a most affecting prayer, 2 Kings 19:14-19 . Isaiah is... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Kings 19:2

To Isaiah the prophet - His fame and influence were at this time great in Israel; and it was well known that the word of the Lord was with him. Here both the Church and the state unite in fervent application to, and strong dependence upon, God; and behold how they succeed! read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Kings 19:3

The children are come to the birth - The Jewish state is here represented under the emblem of a woman in travail, who has been so long in the pangs of parturition, that her strength is now entirely exhausted, and her deliverance is hopeless, without a miracle. The image is very fine and highly appropriate. A similar image is employed by Homer, when he represents the agonies which Agamemnon suffers from his wound: - Οφρα οἱ αἱμ ' ετι θερμον ανηνοθεν εξ ωτειλης·π Λυταρ... read more

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