2 Kings 21:12 - Exposition

Therefore thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Behold, I am bringing such evil upon Jerusalem and Judah, that whosoever heareth of it, both his ears shall tingle. "As a sharp discordant note," says Bahr, "pains one's ears, so the news of this harsh punishment shall give pain to all who hear of it." The phrase is one never uttered by any other lips than those of Jehovah ( 1 Samuel 3:11 ; Jeremiah 19:3 ). "It denotes" (Keil) "such a judgment as has never been heard of before, and excites alarm and horror." Not the Jews only, but the other neighboring nations, when they heard of the sufferings endured in the siege ( 2 Kings 25:8 ), and the severities exercised upon the king ( 2 Kings 21:7 .) and the city ( 2 Kings 21:9 , 2 Kings 21:10 ) and. the inhabitants ( 2 Kings 21:11 ), would have a thrill of pain go through them at the hearing, partly unselfish, partly perhaps selfish, since the treatment that was dealt out to others might also be reserved for them.