Hath not the same Hezekiah taken away his high places ,.... For the sense of this and the three following verses, see the notes on Isaiah 36:17 ; see Gill on Isaiah 36:18 , Isaiah 36:19 , Isaiah 36:20 read more
The weakness that bodes strength; the defiant strength that bodes shame efface. One of the most fruitful sources of strength in the individual character is according to the trustfulness that may be in it-the absence, or all but entire absence, of it on the one hand, and the larger or lesser bulk of it on the other. Trustfulness is a sure turning-point—a determining feature in the original shaping and in the growing formation of any character. The direction in which that trustfulness goes... read more
The invasion of Sennacherib: 1. A summons to surrender. I. SENNACHERIB 'S ENCAMPMENT AT LACHISH . Fifteen or eighteen hours west-south-west of Jerusalem, in the low country of Judah, on the confines of Philistia, fourteen miles north-east of Gaza, Lachish (see on 2 Chronicles 11:9 ; 2 Chronicles 25:27 )—on the monuments Lakis— according to a slab in the British Museum, was a walled town with towers and battlements, whose power of resistance was so great as to demand a... read more
Sennacherib and Hezekiah: abasement and exaltation. We have here brought out in very vivid contrast— I. THE HISTORY OF THE HAUGHTY . 1 . Appearances are all on its side. It has apparently overwhelming numbers, superior military training and equipments, the prestige of previous success and acknowledged worldly power. 2 . It is honeycombed with spiritual evil. It is (3) pride, and its accompanying vain-gloriousness ( 2 Chronicles 32:13-15 ); 3 . It draws... read more
The urgency of Sennacherib's appeal to the people was of course his way of trying to save work of actual siege, fighting, etc; to himself and his army. The how much less of the message of Sennacherib probably meant that his estimate of the your God i.e. the God of Israel, was measured partly by the comparative smallness and unwarlike character of the nation of Judah, when set side by side with the great heathen nations, and partly by the spiritual and invisible character and being of... read more
The author of Chronicles compresses into 13 verses the history which occupies in Kings a chapter and a half (2 Kings 18:17-19; where see the notes).2 Chronicles 32:10In the siege - Perhaps “in straitness” (compare Jeremiah 19:9). Jerusalem is thought by some to have been not so much besieged at this time, as distressed and straitened for supplies, because the Assyrians were masters of the open country.2 Chronicles 32:13fathers - i. e. “predecessors.” Sennacherib really belonged to a dynasty... read more
2 Chronicles 32:15. How much less shall your God deliver you Seeing I have destroyed so many nations, and some of them stronger than you, in spite of all their gods, it is not probable that your God should defend you? inasmuch as none of the others could defend their worshippers. read more
Hezekiah’s political administration (32:1-33)To the writer of Chronicles, Hezekiah’s religious reforms were the most important feature of his reign. Politically, he was able to remain independent of Assyria, but only because God intervened in response to his faith (32:1-23; see notes on 2 Kings 18:13-19:37). He also made Judah prosperous. But pride in his achievements led him to become friendly with Babylon, the rising power in the region. It was a policy that later brought disaster upon Judah... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Chronicles 32:9-23
This story of the rage and blasphemy of Sennacherib, Hezekiah's prayer, and the deliverance of Jerusalem by the destruction of the Assyrian army, we had more at large in the book of Kings, 2 Kgs. 18:1-19:37 It is contracted here, yet large enough to show these three things:? I. The impiety and malice of the church's enemies. Sennacherib has his hands full in besieging Lachish (2 Chron. 32:9), but hears that Hezekiah is fortifying Jerusalem and encouraging his people to stand it out; and... read more