Westminster Annotations, 2 Kings (4 Kings) · Chapter 18
CHAP. XVIII.
Vers. 1. IN the third yeer] After he began to reign as an absolute, and not as a tributary king. See the notes on chap. 17. v. 1.
Hezekiah the son of …haz king of Judah began to reign] 2 Chro. 28. 27. and 29. 1. He is called Ezekias, Matth. 1. 9.
V. 2. Twenty and five yeers] See the notes on chap. 16. 2.
his mothers name] See the notes on 1 King. 15. 10.
Abi] Abijah, 2 Chron. 29. 1.
Zachariah] The king of Israel (as some suppose) mentioned chap. 14. 29.
V. 3. right] Agreeable to the rule or law of God: and therein pleasing and acceptable to him.
David] See 1 King. 15. 5.
V. 4. removed] According to the commandment of the LORD, Deut. 7. 5.
images] Heb. statues.
brasen serpent that Moses had made] Num. 21. 9.
Nehushtan] Brasse, or brasen. Hereby he gave them to understand, that it was but a piece of brasse, there was no deity in it: and therefore not to be worshipped.
V. 5. n…ne like him] This is a proverbiall speech, which highly commends one. Proverbs carry a generall sense, wherein they hold true, though one or two particulars may seem to make against them. The like is said of Josiah, chap. 23. v. 25. So in discommendation, sundry wicked ones are said to do worse then any before them, as 1 King. 16. 25, 30.
V. 6. cla…e] With his whole heart, and entire affection, Deut. 10. 20.
from following him] Heb. from after him.
V. 7. with him] As with Abraham, Gen 21. 22.
he rebelled] Not that he brake any covenant which he himself had made, but in that he refused to be tributary to the king of Assyria, as his father was forced to be, chap. 16. 7.
V. 8. Philistines] Who had in the reign of Ahaz, taken many cities from Judah, 2 Chron. 28. 18.
Gaza] Heb. Azzah.
from the tower] Every where. See the notes on chap. 17 v. 9.
V. 9. it came to passe in the fourth yeer of king Hezekiah] The beginning of it. Chap. 17. 3.
the seventh] After he had revolted from the king of Assyria. See the notes on v. 1. The history of carrying Israel into captivity is before set down, chap. 17. v. 6, 7.
V. 10. the ninth, &c.] Chap. 17. 6.
V. 13. In the fourteenth yeer of king Hezekiah] 2 Chro. 32. 1. Isai. 36. 1.
Sennacherib] Heb. Sanherib. Son of Salmeneser, chap. 19. 12.
took them] Many of them. He thought to do more then he did, 2 Chron. 32 1.
V. 14. La…hish] Where the king of Assyria was with his army. See the notes on chap. 14. v. 19.
I have offended] By refusing to be tributary, as v. 7.
three hundred talents of silver] An hundred and fourteen thousand and five hundred pound sterling. See the notes on 1 King 16 24.
thirty talents of cold] After the sacred talent, an hundred and fourteen thousand and five hundred pound sterling. See the notes on 1 King. 9. 14.
V. 15. all the silver] See the notes on chap. 16. v. 8.
V. 16. which Hezekiah] Piety moved Hezekiah in the beginning of his reign, to repair with gold what his father had pulled off, (2 Chron. 29. 3.) and now fear makes him pull off the same again.
it] Heb. them.
V. 17. sent] He received the present, but stood not to the condition.
with a great host] Heb. heavy. To terrifie Hezekiah, and make him yeeld to his demands.
the conduit] Which was without Jerusalem, into which water was let out of a lake in a field, where fullers washed and dried their clothes. Hereof mention is made, Isai. 7. 3.
V. 18. called to the king] To speak with him: for they were not admitted into the city.
Eliakim] That pious governour. Of whom see Isai. 22. 20.
over the houshold] See the notes on 1 King. 4. 6.
Shebna] That proud states-man, described, Isai. 22. 15, &c.
scribe] Or, secretary. See the notes on 1 King. 4. 3. He was also over the kings house, Isai. 22. 15.
recorder] See the notes on 1 King. 4. 3.
V. 19. What confidence] He sleighteth all confidence but his own.
V. 20. sayest] Or, talkest.
vain words] Heb. word of the lips.
counsel and strength for the war] Or, but counsel and strength are for the war. The two most necessary things for defence against an enemy. This by way of derision he objecteth to Hezekiah, as if he had neither.
V. 21. trustest] Heb. trustest thee.
staff of this bruised reed] Egypt is here resembled to a staff, by reason of that pretence which he maketh of help and support: to a reed, by reason of his impotency: to a bruised or broken reed, by reason of the damage he doth: for a reed broken is sharp and full of teeth, and pierceth into a mans flesh, Isai. 36. 6. Ezek. 29. 6, 7.
V. 22. whose altars] He accounts reformation of religion to be impiety against God.
V. 23. give pledges] Or, hostages. Submit your selves, and give hostages for assurance of your fidelity.
if thou be able] A scoff: as if Judah had not two thousand horses, nor two thousand men, able to be troopers.
V. 24. turn away the face] Be able to resist and put to flight.
V. 25. Am I now] This he speaks of his master: who most falsly pretends commission from God, to terrifie them the more.
V. 26. Eliakim] He, as the mouth of all: the rest standing by and giving consent.
in the ears] To the understanding of the souldiers who ward on the wall.
V. 27. But Rabshakeh said] To trouble the people (2 Chro. 32. 18.) that by casting fears into their heads, they might murmure, mutine, and yeeld to the king of Assyria.
that they may eat] That if they persist and yeeld not, they may endure all the extremities of a siege.
their own pisse] Heb. the water of their feet?
V. 28. loud] Heb. great. He lift up his voice the higher, that more might hear him, and be (as he supposed) affrighted.
V. 29. not able] He was not well acquainted with Gods almighty power.
V. 30. The Lord] See v. 33.
will surely deliver us] Heb. delivering will deliver us.
V. 31. Make an agreement] Or, seek my favour. Heb. make with me a blessing. Word for word, or make peace with me, or tender a present to me.
then eat ye] Then shall ye eat by my permission.
cistern] Or, pit.
V. 32. take you away] So was Israel dealt withall, chap. 17. v. 6.
a land of corn, &c.] A land abounding with all needfull commodities: as Deut. 32. 13, 14.
perswadeth] Or, deceiveth.
V. 33. delivered] Heb. delivering delivered. He equals the idols of the nations to Jehovah the onelyonly true God. See v. 35.
V. 34. Where is, &c.] An insolent insultation.
Hamath and Arpad] Cities of Syria, Jere. 49. 23.
Sepharvaim, Hena, Ivah] Other cities vanquished by kings of Assyria, chap. 17. v. 24. Sundry of their gods names are expressed, chap. 17. v. 30, 31.
have they delivered] Or some of these countries gods were worshipped in Samaria, before it was overcome by the Assyrians: or the gods of Samaria are understood under this relative they.
V. 35. that the Lord] See v. 33.
V. 36. Answer him not] See Prov. 26. 4.
V. 37. Eliakim, &c.] See v. 18.
clothes rent] This rite was of old used upon occasion of grief, as an expression of much passion, Gen. 37. 34. Judg. 11. 35. and upon apprehension of Gods displeasure, as a sign of deep contrition, 2 King. 22. 11, 19. And also used, upon hearing of blasphemy, as an evidence of great indignation, Matth. 26. 65. All these may here be applied.