Jerusalem’s great distress we read of in the foregoing chapter, and left it besieged, insulted, threatened, terrified, and just ready to be swallowed up by the Assyrian army.

The contents of Rabshakeh’s speech being brought to Hezekiah, one would have expected (and it is likely Rabshakeh did expect) that he would call a council of war and it would be debated whether it was best to capitulate or no.

Rabshakeh, having delivered his message and received no answer (whether he took this silence for a consent or a slight does not appear), left his army before Jerusalem, under the command of the other generals, and went himself to attend the king his master for further orders.

We have here the gracious copious answer which God gave to Hezekiah’s prayer. The message which he sent him by the same hand , one would think, was an answer sufficient to his prayer; but, that he might have strong consolation, he was encouraged by two immutable things, in which it was impossible…

Sometimes it was long ere prophecies were accomplished and promises performed; but here the word was no sooner spoken than the work was done. I. The army of Assyria was entirely routed.