2 Kings 18 Hezekiah king over Judah, his good reign: he is not afraid of the king of Assyria, and overcometh the Philistines, 2 Kings 18:1–8. Samaria is carried away captive by Shabnaser king of Assyria for their sins, 2 Kings 18:9–12.

In the third year; in the third of those nine years mentioned 2 Kings 17:1, of which see there. See 2 Kings 18:10.

Twenty and five years old was he when he began to reign. How is this credible? For then Ahaz, who lived but six and thirty years, 2 Kings 16:2, must beget Hezekiah at the eleventh year of his age. Answ. 1.

He removed the high places, i.e. the most of them, or such as the people most frequented; for all were not taken away, 2 Kings 23:13–14. And this he attempted to do, notwithstanding the people’s great and constant affection to them; partly because he had more zeal and courage than his predecessors;…

He trusted in the Lord God of Israel, without calling in foreign and heathenish succours to stablish or help him; which his father Ahaz did, 2 Kings 16:7, Isa. 7:0; and before him Asa, 1 Kings 15:18–19, with reflection upon whom this seems to be noted.

Departed not from following him, in the general course of his life and especially in the matters of God’s worship.

He shook off that yoke of subjection and tribute to which his father had wickedly submitted, 2 Kings 16:7, and reassumed that full and independent sovereignty which God had settled in the house of David, which Ahaz could not alienate further than for his own time.

He smote the Philistines, and recovered from them what his father had lost, 2 Chron. 28:18, and more. From the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city; of which phrase See Poole “2 Kings 17:9”.

The seventh year of Hoshea; the seventh of those nine years expressed 2 Kings 17:1.

At the end of three years, to wit, of the siege, i.e. in the third year, as this phrase is used, Deut. 14:28, Josh. 9:16–17, Jer. 34:14, compared with Ex. 21:2.

Of which See Poole “2 Kings 17:6”.

All that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded: they began with one sin, the worship of the calves; but from thence they were led by degrees into the violation of all the other commands; although indeed that one sin made them in some sort guilty of the breach of the whole law, James 2:10.

Sennacherib, the son or successor of Shalmaneser. Come up against all the fenced cities of Judah, and took them, i.e. against many of them; universal particles being frequently so used, both in Scripture and other authors; for that all were not taken appears from 2 Kings 19:8.

I have offended, to wit, against thee, i.e. I have given thee occasion of warring against me, whereof I now repent. Or his ill success might make him think that he had sinned against God in this action, and might make him willing to submit to him, though God graciously prevented it.

Which Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid; so repairing the injury which his father had done to them, and putting them into the same condition in which Solomon left them, 1 Kings 6:32.

The king of Assyria sent; having received the money, upon which he agreed to depart from Hezekiah and his land, 2 Kings 18:16. He breaks his faith with Hezekiah, thereby justifying Hezekiah’s rebellion, and preparing the way for his own approaching destruction.

When they had called the king i.e. sent a message to him to come or send to treat with them. Eliakim the son of Hilkiah; of whom see Isa. 22:20;c. Over the household, Heb. over the house; either of God; or rather, of the king here mentioned; as appears from Isa. 22:0.

Thou sayest; either to thy people, to encourage them; or rather, within thyself. But they are but vain words, or, surely, or, only words of the lips, i.e. vain, unprofitable, idle talk, without any effect; or they come not from thy heart; thou speakest this against thy own knowledge.

This bruised reed; he calls Egypt a reed, with allusion to the reeds wherewith the banks of Nilus were full; and bruised, to note their weakness and insufficiency to support him. Compare Ezek. 29:6–7. It will go into his hand, and pierce it, by some of the fragments into which it will be broken.

Whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah hath taken away; thereby robbing him of that worship and service which he had in those places. Thus boldly he speaks of these things which he understood not, judging of the great God by their false and petty gods; and judging of God’s worship according to…

Give pledges to my lord, i.e. give him hostages to secure him from thy future rebellion, and he will depart from thee. Or rather, contend with my lord in battle; seeing thou hast counsel and strength for war, do not lie lurking in thy strong hold, but come out into the open field, and let us try…

How wilt thou force him to turn his back to thee, and flee away from thee?

Without the Lord; without his consent and commission. The Lord said unto me, to wit, by secret inspiration, or by his providence. But indeed he neither owned God’s word, nor regarded his providence; but he forged this, to strike a terror into Hezekiah and the people.

Upon which these officers stood; not being willing to put themselves into the power of such a barbarous and perfidious enemy, by going out of the city.

To tell them to what extremities and miseries he will force them.

In the Jews’ language, that he might affright the people into a compliance with him, which he perceived Eliakim and his brethren endeavour to prevent.

Make an agreement with me by a present, to redeem yourselves from all the calamities of a close siege, and that death which certainly will follow on them. Or, procure, or purchase a blessing from me, i.e.

Like your own land, i.e. a fruitful and pleasant land. Because he could not conceal from them his intentions of transplanting them into another land, which he had already discovered in his dealing with the Israelites, and other nations, he assures them they shall be no losers by it; and shall only…

Hamath and Arpad; of which see Jer. 49:23. Sepharvaim; of which see 2 Kings 17:21. Hena and Ivah; the names, either, 1. Of idol gods. But why should only these two be named, and not the gods of the other places here mentioned? Or rather, 2.

The people, i.e. either these three men, this word being sometimes used of a very few men, as 1 Sam. 9:24. Or rather, the people that were with then upon the wall, 2 Kings 18:26, to whom he spake, and from whom he expected an answer.