2 Kings 20:12-19

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 20:12-18

The sunshine of prosperity a greater danger than the storms of adversity. When Sennacherib threatens, when his messengers blaspheme, when the huge battalions of the most powerful kingdom in the world have entered his territory and are about to march upon his capital, the Jewish monarch remains firm; his faith is unshaken; he casts his care upon God, looks to him and him only; believes in him, trusts in him, regards prayer as the only door of safety. Similarly, when disease prostrates him,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 20:12-19

The embassy of Merodach-Baladan . Soon after his recovery, Hezekiah received an embassy from a new quarter. Hitherto Babylon and Judaea had been isolated from one another, and had perhaps scarcely known of each other's existence. Assyria had stood between them, and Babylonia had been for the most part an Assyrian dependency. But recently Babylonia had asserted herself. In B.C. 722, on the death of Shalmaneser, a native Chaldean named Meredach-Baladan had made himself king of the country,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 20:12-19

The Babylonian embassy. Berodach-Baladan, or as he is more correctly termed in Isaiah, Merodach-Baladan ( Isaiah 39:1 ), at this time held possession of the throne of Babylon, and was everywhere casting about for alliances to strengthen him against Assyria. We have here the account of his embassy to Hezekiah. I. RECEPTION OF THE BABYLONIAN MESSENGERS . 1. Hezekiah ' s visitors . In the streets of Jerusalem were seen strange men, in princely robes, with servants... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 20:12-21

Hezekiah and the ambassadors. Friendly greetings are always welcome. They are especially so after a time of sickness. Hezekiah's illness, no doubt, called forth many expressions of sympathy, and, among the rest, a message and present from Merodach-Baladan King of Babylon. The ambassadors who bore the message and the present were very courteously received by Hezekiah. Unfortunately, he allowed himself to be unduly elated by the honor done to him by the heathen king. He showed the messengers... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 20:13

And Hezekiah hearkened unto them. Hezekiah was dazzled by the prospect that opened upon him. It was a grand thing that his fame should have reached so far as Babylon, a still grander thing to be offered such an alliance. It must be remembered that he and his counselors were inclined from the first to meet Assyrian menace by calling in foreign aid ( 2 Kings 18:21-24 ; Isaiah 20:6 ; Isaiah 30:2-7 ; Isaiah 36:6 ). He had not yet accepted the view of Isaiah, that human aid was vain, and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 20:14

Then came Isaiah the prophet unto King Hezekiah; and said unto him. When a prophet came, unsummoned, into king's presence, it was usually to rebuke him. What said these men? and from whence came they unto thee? Isaiah does not ask because he does not know, but to obtain a confession, on which he may base the message that he has to deliver. And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country, even from Babylon. Note first, that Hezekiah does not give any answer to the prophet's first... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 20:15

And he said, What have they seen in thine house? i.e. What hast thou shewed them? Hast thou treated them like ordinary ambassadors, or hast thou gone out of thy way to court an alliance with their master? And Hezekiah answered, All the things that are in mine house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not showed them. The reply is open and straightforward. Hezekiah is not ashamed of what he has done, or at any rate, will not, to escape blame, take refuge in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 20:16

And Isaiah said unto Hezekiah, Hear the word of the Lord. This is a phrase of warning very common in the mouth of the prophets, when they are about to deliver a rebuke or solemn condemnation. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 20:17

Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store unto this day, shall be carried into Babylon. These treasures of thy royal house, whereof thou art so proud, and which thou hast of thine own accord made known to the Babylonians, to obtain their alliance, will in fact excite their cupidity, and the time will come when they, or what remains of them and represents them, will be carried off as plunder to Babylon by a conquering monarch, who... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 20:18

And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget. Under "sons" are included by the Hebrew idiom all descendants, however remote. The princes carried off from Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar were Hezekiah's descendants, either in the fourth or the fifth generation. Shall they take away. Among the descendants of Hezekiah taken to Baby]on by Nebuchadnezzar were Jehoiachin ( 2 Kings 24:15 ), Zedekiah ( 2 Kings 25:7 ), Daniel ( Daniel 1:3 ), and others. And they shall be... read more

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