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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

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 19:1

And it came to pass, when King Hezekiah heard it, that he rent his clothes —following the example of his chief officers, who came into his presence "with their clothes rent" (see 2 Kings 18:37 )— and covered himself with sackcloth. A sign of grief and self-humiliation (comp. Genesis 37:34 ; 2 Samuel 3:31 ; 2 Samuel 21:10 ; 1 Kings 20:31 , 1 Kings 21:27 ; 2 Kings 6:30 , etc.). It was natural that the king should be even more strongly affected than his ministers. And went into... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 19:1

The great king ' s retreat . At this point "the great king," the King of Assyria, his boasting effectually silenced, disappears forever from Jewish history. He "departed, and went and returned, and dwelt in Nineveh." No more is heard of his exploits in these pages. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 19:1-7

A good man's prayers sought. Hezekiah is in deep distress of spirit at the haughty, defiant, confident tone of Rabshakeh. He wants help in his trouble. He sends not to his men of war, not to his statesmen, for advice, but to the man of God. I. CHARACTER GIVES CONFIDENCE . Isaiah was known to live near to God. Therefore Hezekiah had confidence in him. Here is a good test of the character of your companions and associates . Would you go to them in time of trouble? Would you... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 19:1-7

Hezekiah and Isaiah. The messengers whom Hezekiah had sent having returned and reported to him the words of Rabshakeh ( 2 Kings 18:37 ), the king was plunged in unspeakable distress. We have now to observe his behavior in his trouble. I. HEZEKIAH 'S GRIEF . 1. He assumed the signs of deepest mourning . The messengers had come to him with their clothes rent. Hezekiah now rent his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth. His humiliation was sincere. The words he had... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 19:1-35

The wisdom of trust in God, and the foolishness of trust in self. The contrast between the devout, God-fearing, God-trusting Hezekiah, and the proud, self-trusting, self-asserting Sennacherib is one of the most striking and instructive in Scripture. The two are set one over against the other in the most graphic way. I. THE PICTURE OF HEZEKIAH shows him: 1. Jealous of God ' s honor. Sennacherib's words against God strike him with horror, appear to him such shocking... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 19:1-37

SECOND EXPEDITION OF SENNACHERIB AGAINST HEZEKIAH ( continued ). The chapter falls into four portions: read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 19:1-37

A nation's calamities, counselor, and God. "And it came to pass, when King Hezekiah heard it, that he rent his clothes," etc. Our purpose in our sketches on this book has not allowed us to inquire into all the minute particulars of the characters or events recorded, or into the authorship of the book, or into the right of the prophet or prophets so frequently to say, "Thus saith the Lord," but simply in the briefest way to develop for practical purposes the truths either expressed or... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Kings 19:1

Hezekiah, like his officers, probably rent his clothes on account of Rab-shakeh’s blasphemies: and he put on sackcloth in self-humiliation and in grief. The only hope left was in Yahweh, for Egypt could not be trusted to effect anything of importance. Rab-shakeh’s boldness had told upon Hezekiah. He was dispirited and dejected. He perhaps began to doubt whether he had done right in yielding to the bolder counsels of Eliakim and Isaiah. He had not lost his faith in God; but his faith was being... read more

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