Isaiah 37

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 37

In this chapter we have a further repetition of the story which we had before in the book of Kings concerning Sennacherib. In the foregoing chapter we had him conquering and threatening to conquer. In this chapter we have him falling, and at last fallen, in answer to prayer, and in fulfillment of many of the prophecies which we have met with in the foregoing chapters. Here we have, I. Hezekiah's pious reception of Rabshakeh's impious discourse, Isa. 37:1. II. The gracious message he sent to... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 37:1-7

We may observe here, 1. That the best way to baffle the malicious designs of our enemies against us is to be driven by them to God and to our duty and so to fetch meat out of the eater. Rabshakeh intended to frighten Hezekiah from the Lord, but it proves that he frightens him to the Lord. The wind, instead of forcing the traveller's coat from him, makes him wrap it the closer about him. The more Rabshakeh reproaches God the more Hezekiah studies to honour him, by rending his clothes for the... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 37:8-20

We may observe here, 1. That, if God give us inward satisfaction in his promise, this may confirm us in our silently bearing reproaches. God answered Hezekiah, but it does not appear that he, after deliberation, sent any answer to Rabshakeh; but, God having taken the work into his own hands, he quietly left the matter with him. So Rabshakeh returned to the king his master for fresh instructions. 2. Those that delight in war shall have enough of it. Sennacherib, without provocation given to him... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 37:21-38

We may here observe, 1. That those who receive messages of terror from men with patience, and send messages of faith to God by prayer, may expect messages of grace and peace from God for their comfort, even when they are most cast down. Isaiah sent a long answer to Hezekiah's prayer in God's name, sent it in writing (for it was too long to be sent by word of mouth), and sent it by way of return to his prayer, relation being thereunto had: ?Whereas thou hast prayed to me, know, for thy comfort,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 37

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 37 In this chapter are contained Hezekiah's message to Isaiah, desiring his prayer for him and his people, in this time of sore distress, Isaiah 37:1 , the comforting and encouraging answer returned by the prophet to him, Isaiah 37:6 , the king of Assyria's letter to Hezekiah, to terrify him into a surrender of the city of Jerusalem to him, Isaiah 37:8 which Hezekiah spread before the Lord, and prayed unto him for deliverance, Isaiah 37:14 , upon which he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 37:1

And it came to pass, when King Hezekiah heard it ,.... The report that his ministers made to him of the blasphemies and threatenings of Rabshakeh, the general of the Assyrian army: that he rent his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth ; the one because of the blasphemies he heard; the other cause of the destruction he and his people were threatened with: and went into the house of the Lord ; the temple, to pray to him there: he could have prayed in his own house, but he chose... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 37:2

And he sent Eliakim, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe ,.... Two of the commissioners sent to Rabshakeh, and who heard his insolence and blasphemy, and were capable of giving a full account of it, to Isaiah the prophet: and the elders of the priests ; as the chief of those that were concerned in civil affairs, so the chief of those that were employed in sacred things, were sent: this was a very honourable embassy; and it was showing great respect to the prophet, to send... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 37:3

And they said unto him ,.... The messengers to the prophet: thus saith Hezekiah ; this is the message he has sent us with; this is what he would have us lay before thee, and has given us in charge to say unto thee: this day is a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and of blasphemy ; it was a "day of trouble" to Hezekiah and his people, because it was a "day of rebuke", in which God rebuked them for their sins; or of "reproach and reviling", as the Targum and Septuagint, in which the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 37:4

It may be the Lord thy God will hear the words of Rabshakeh ,.... He had heard them; but the sense is, that it might be that he would take notice of them, and resent them in a public manner, and punish for them; and this is said, not as doubting and questioning whether he would or not, but as hoping and encouraging himself that he would: and it may be observed, that Hezekiah does not call the Lord "my God", or "our God", because he and his people were under the chastening hand of God for... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 37:5

So the servants of King Hezekiah came to Isaiah. And delivered the above message to him from the king: these servants are mentioned Isaiah 37:2 . Musculus thinks that the third and fourth verses are the words of the king to the messengers, and not of the messengers to the prophet; and that the first clause of the "third" verse should be rendered, "that they might say unto him", &c.; and having received their instructions, here is an account of their going to the prophet with them,... read more

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