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
And at the end of three years they took it ,.... That is, at the first end of them, at the beginning, in which sense the phrase is taken in Deuteronomy 15:1 , even in the sixth year of Hezekiah, that is, the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel, Samaria was taken: see 2 Kings 17:6 . read more
And the king of Assyria did carry away Israel unto Assyria ,.... Of the places he disposed of them in, after mentioned; see Gill on 2 Kings 17:6 . 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
And at the end of three years they took it. The expression, "at the end of three years," does not show that the three years were complete. On the contrary, as the siege Began in Hezekiah's fourth year, probably in the spring, and was over in his sixth, say, by the autumn, the entire duration was not more than two years and a half. The plural verb, יִלְכְּדֻהָ , "they took it," is remarkable, since it would have seemed more natural to write יִלְכְּדָהּ , "he took it"—and so the LXX ;... read more
Get Bible verse every day in your inbox
Read on Mobile
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