2 Kings 19:32 - Exposition

Therefore thus saith the Lord concerning the King of Assyria. The oracle concludes with a general announcement, addressed to all whom it may concern, not to any one individually, concerning the existing distress. First, it is laid down what shall not be the issue. He — i.e. Sennacherib— shall not come into —rather, unto — this city — i.e. Jerusalem— nor shoot an arrow there —i.e; he shall not begin the attack, as was usually done, with discharges of arrows, to clear the walls of their defenders, and make it safe for the sappers and miners and the siege artillery to draw near— nor come before it with shield — i.e. advance close, to raise the scaling-ladders, or mine the walls, or fire the gates, under the protection of huge shields— nor east a bank against it. Much less shall he proceed to the last extremity of raising mounds against the walls, and planting upon them his balistae and his battering-rams, with the object of effecting a breach. Each of the successive stages of a siege is touched, and negatived. None of these things shall be done. There shall be no siege.