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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1708)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>S E C O N D C H R O N I C L E S</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XXXII.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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<P>
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This chapter continues and concludes the history of the reign of
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Hezekiah.
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I. The descent which Sennacherib made upon him, and the care he took to
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fortify himself, his city, and the minds of his people, against that
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enemy,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+32:1-8">ver. 1-8</A>.
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II. The insolent blasphemous letters and messages which Sennacherib
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sent him,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+32:9-19">ver. 9-19</A>.
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III. The real answer God gave to Sennacherib's blasphemies, and to
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Hezekiah's prayers, in the total rout of the Assyrian army, to the
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shame of Sennacherib and the honour of Hezekiah,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+32:20-23">ver. 20-23</A>.
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IV. Hezekiah's sickness and his recovery from that, his sin and his
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recovery from that, with the honours that attended him living and dead,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+32:24-33">ver. 24-33</A>.</P>
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<A NAME="2Ch32_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch32_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch32_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch32_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch32_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch32_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch32_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch32_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Sennacherib's Invasion; Hezekiah's Patient Confidence.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 713.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 After these things, and the establishment thereof,
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Sennacherib king of Assyria came, and entered into Judah, and
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encamped against the fenced cities, and thought to win them for
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himself.
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2 And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib was come, and that he
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was purposed to fight against Jerusalem,
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3 He took counsel with his princes and his mighty men to stop
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the waters of the fountains which <I>were</I> without the city: and
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they did help him.
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4 So there was gathered much people together, who stopped all
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the fountains, and the brook that ran through the midst of the
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land, saying, Why should the kings of Assyria come, and find much
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water?
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5 Also he strengthened himself, and built up all the wall that
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was broken, and raised <I>it</I> up to the towers, and another wall
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without, and repaired Millo <I>in</I> the city of David, and made
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darts and shields in abundance.
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6 And he set captains of war over the people, and gathered them
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together to him in the street of the gate of the city, and spake
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comfortably to them, saying,
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7 Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the
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king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that <I>is</I> with him:
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for <I>there be</I> more with us than with him:
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8 With him <I>is</I> an arm of flesh; but with us <I>is</I> the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> our
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God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested
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themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here is,
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I. The formidable design of Sennacherib against Hezekiah's kingdom, and
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the vigorous attempt he made upon it. This Sennacherib was now, as
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Nebuchadnezzar was afterwards, the terror and scourge and great
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oppressor of that part of the world. He aimed to raise a boundless
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monarchy for himself upon the ruins of all his neighbours. His
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predecessor Shalmaneser had lately made himself master of the kingdom
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of Israel, and carried the ten tribes captives. Sennacherib thought, in
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like manner, to win Judah for himself. Pride and ambition put men upon
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grasping at universal dominion. It is observable that, just about this
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time, Rome, a city which afterwards came to reign more than any other
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had done <I>over the kings of the earth,</I> was built by Romulus.
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Sennacherib invaded Judah immediately after the reformation of it and
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the re-establishment of religion in it: <I>After these things he
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entered into Judah,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+32:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>.
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1. It was well ordered by the divine Providence that he did not give
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them this disturbance before the reformation was finished and
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established, as it might then have put a stop to it.
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2. Perhaps he intended to chastise Hezekiah for destroying that
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idolatry to which he himself was devoted. He looked upon Hezekiah as
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profane in what he had done, and as having thrown himself out of the
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divine protection. He accordingly considered him as one who might
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easily be made a prey of.
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3. God ordered it at this time that he might have an opportunity of
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showing himself strong on the behalf of this returning reforming
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people. He brought this trouble upon them that he might have the
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honour, and might put on them the honour, of their deliverance.
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<I>After these things, and the establishment thereof,</I> one would
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have expected to hear of nothing but perfect peace, and that none durst
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meddle with a people thus qualified for the divine favour; yet the next
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news we hear is that a threatening destroying army enters the country,
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and is ready to lay all waste. We may be in the way of our duty and yet
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meet with trouble and danger. God orders it so for the trial of our
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confidence in him and the manifestation of his care concerning us. The
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little opposition which Sennacherib met with in entering Judah induced
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him to imagine that all was his own. He thought to <I>win all the
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fenced cities</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+32:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>),
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and purposed to <I>fight against Jerusalem,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+32:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>.
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See
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ki+18:7,13">2 Kings xviii. 7, 13</A>.</P>
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<P>
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II. The preparation which Hezekiah prudently made against this storm
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that threatened him: <I>He took counsel with his princes</I> what he
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should do, what measures he should take,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+32:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>.
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With their advice he provided,
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1. That the country should give him a cold reception, for he took care
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that he should find no water in it (and then his army must perish for
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thirst), or at least that there should be a scarcity of water, by which
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his army would be weakened and unfitted for service. A powerful army,
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if it want water but a few days, will be but a heap of dry dust. All
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hands were set immediately to work to <I>stop up the fountains,</I> and
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<I>the brook that ran through the midst of the land,</I> turning that
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(it is probable) into the city by pipes under-ground. Such as this is
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the policy commonly practised now-a-days of destroying the forage
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before an invading army.
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2. That the city should give him a warm reception. In order to this he
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repaired the wall, raised towers, and made darts (or, as it is in the
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margin, <I>swords</I> or <I>weapons</I>) and shields in abundance
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+32:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>),
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and appointed captains,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+32:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>.
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Note, Those that trust God with their safety must yet use proper means
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for their safety, otherwise they tempt him, and do not trust him.
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<I>God will provide,</I> but so must we also.</P>
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<P>
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III. The encouragement which he gave to his people to depend upon God
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in this distress. He gathered them together in a broad open street, and
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<I>spoke comfortably to them,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+32:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>.
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He was himself undaunted, being confident the invasion would issue
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well. He was not like his father, who had much guilt to terrify him and
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no faith to encourage him, so that, in a time of public danger, <I>his
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heart was moved, as the trees of the wood are moved with the wind,</I>
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and then no marvel that <I>the heart of his people was so too,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+7:2">Isa. vii. 2</A>.
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With what he said he put life into his people, his captains especially,
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and <I>spoke to their heart,</I> as the word is.
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1. He endeavoured to keep down their fears: "<I>Be strong and
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courageous;</I> do not think of surrendering the city or capitulating,
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but resolve to hold it out to the last man; do not think of losing the
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city, nor of falling into the enemy's hand; there is no danger. Let the
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soldiers be bold and brave, make good their posts, stand to their arms,
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and fight manfully, and let the citizens encourage them to do so: <I>Be
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not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria.</I>" The prophet had
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thus encouraged them from God
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+10:24">Isa. x. 24</A>):
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<I>Be not afraid of the Assyrians;</I> and here the king from him. Now
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it was that <I>the sinners in Zion were afraid</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+33:14">Isa. xxxiii. 14</A>),
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but the righteous <I>dwelt on high</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+33:15,16">Isa. xxxiii. 15, 16</A>)
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and <I>meditated on terror</I> so as to conquer it. See
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+33:18">Isa. xxxiii. 18</A>,
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which refers to what is recorded here.
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2. He endeavoured to keep up their faith, in order to the silencing and
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suppressing of their fears. "Sennacherib has a <I>multitude with
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him,</I> and yet there are <I>more with us than with him;</I> for we
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have God with us, and how many do you reckon him for? With our enemy is
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an arm of flesh, which he trusts to; but <I>with us is the Lord,</I>
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whose power is irresistible, our God, whose promise is inviolable, a
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God in covenant with us, <I>to help us, and to fight our battles,</I>
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not only to help us to fight them, but to fight them for us if he
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please:" and so he did here. Note, A believing confidence in God will
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raise us above the prevailing fear of man. He that <I>feareth the fury
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of the oppressor forgetteth the Lord his Maker,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+51:12,13">Isa. li. 12, 13</A>.
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It is probable that Hezekiah said more to this purport, and that the
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people rested themselves upon what he said, not merely upon his word,
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but on the things he said concerning the presence of God with them and
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his power to relieve them, the belief of which made them easy. Let the
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good subjects and soldiers of Jesus Christ rest thus upon his word, and
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boldly say, <I>Since God is for us, who can be against us?</I></P>
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<A NAME="2Ch32_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch32_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch32_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch32_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch32_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch32_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch32_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch32_16"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch32_17"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch32_18"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch32_19"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch32_20"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch32_21"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch32_22"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch32_23"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Destruction of the Assyrians.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 713.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>9 After this did Sennacherib king of Assyria send his servants
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to Jerusalem, (but he <I>himself laid siege</I> against Lachish, and
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all his power with him,) unto Hezekiah king of Judah, and unto
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all Judah that <I>were</I> at Jerusalem, saying,
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10 Thus saith Sennacherib king of Assyria, Whereon do ye trust,
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that ye abide in the siege in Jerusalem?
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11 Doth not Hezekiah persuade you to give over yourselves to
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die by famine and by thirst, saying, The L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> our God shall
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deliver us out of the hand of the king of Assyria?
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12 Hath not the same Hezekiah taken away his high places and
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his altars, and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall
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worship before one altar, and burn incense upon it?
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13 Know ye not what I and my fathers have done unto all the
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people of <I>other</I> lands? were the gods of the nations of those
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lands any ways able to deliver their lands out of mine hand?
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14 Who <I>was there</I> among all the gods of those nations that my
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fathers utterly destroyed, that could deliver his people out of
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mine hand, that your God should be able to deliver you out of
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mine hand?
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15 Now therefore let not Hezekiah deceive you, nor persuade you
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on this manner, neither yet believe him: for no god of any nation
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or kingdom was able to deliver his people out of mine hand, and
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out of the hand of my fathers: how much less shall your God
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deliver you out of mine hand?
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16 And his servants spake yet <I>more</I> against the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> God, and
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against his servant Hezekiah.
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17 He wrote also letters to rail on the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> God of Israel, and
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to speak against him, saying, As the gods of the nations of
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<I>other</I> lands have not delivered their people out of mine hand,
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so shall not the God of Hezekiah deliver his people out of mine
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hand.
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18 Then they cried with a loud voice in the Jews' speech unto
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the people of Jerusalem that <I>were</I> on the wall, to affright
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them, and to trouble them; that they might take the city.
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19 And they spake against the God of Jerusalem, as against the
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gods of the people of the earth, <I>which were</I> the work of the
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hands of man.
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20 And for this <I>cause</I> Hezekiah the king, and the prophet
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Isaiah the son of Amoz, prayed and cried to heaven.
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21 And the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> sent an angel, which cut off all the mighty men
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of valour, and the leaders and captains in the camp of the king
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of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land.
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And when he was come into the house of his god, they that came
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forth of his own bowels slew him there with the sword.
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22 Thus the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of
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Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and
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from the hand of all <I>other,</I> and guided them on every side.
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23 And many brought gifts unto the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> to Jerusalem, and
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presents to Hezekiah king of Judah: so that he was magnified in
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the sight of all nations from thenceforth.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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This story of the rage and blasphemy of Sennacherib, Hezekiah's prayer,
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and the deliverance of Jerusalem by the destruction of the Assyrian
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army, we had more at large in the book of Kings,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ki+18:1-19:37">2 Kings xviii. and xix.</A>
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It is contracted here, yet large enough to show these three
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things:--</P>
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<P>
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I. The impiety and malice of the church's enemies. Sennacherib has his
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hands full in besieging Lachish
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+32:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>),
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but hears that Hezekiah is fortifying Jerusalem and encouraging his
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people to stand it out; and therefore, before he come in person to
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besiege it, he sends messengers to make speeches, and he himself writes
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letters to frighten Hezekiah and his people into a surrender of the
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city. See,
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1. His great malice against the king of Judah, in endeavouring to
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withdraw his subjects from their allegiance to him. He did not treat
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with Hezekiah as a man of honour would have done, nor propose fair
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terms to him, but used mean and base artifices, unbecoming a crowned
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head, to terrify the common people and persuade them to desert him. He
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represented Hezekiah as one who designed to deceive his subjects into
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their ruin and betray them <I>to famine and thirst</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+32:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>),
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as one who had done them great wrong and exposed them already to the
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divine displeasure by taking away the high places and altars
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+32:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>),
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and who, against the common interest of his people, held out against a
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force that would certainly be their ruin,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+32:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>.
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|
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2. His great impiety against the God of Israel, <I>the God of
|
|
Jerusalem</I> he is called
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+32:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>),
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|
|
|
because that was the place he had chosen to put his name there, and
|
|
because that was the place which was now threatened by the enemy and
|
|
which the divine Providence had under its special protection. This
|
|
proud blasphemer compared the great Jehovah, the Maker of heaven and
|
|
earth, with the dunghill gods of the nations, the work of men's hands,
|
|
and thought him no more able to deliver his worshippers than they were
|
|
to deliver theirs
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+32:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>),
|
|
|
|
as if an infinite and eternal Spirit had no more wisdom and power than
|
|
a stone or the stock of a tree. He boasted of his triumphs over the
|
|
gods of the nations, that they could none of them protect their people
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+32:13-15"><I>v.</I> 13-15</A>),
|
|
|
|
and thence inferred not only, <I>How shall your God deliver you?</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+32:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>),
|
|
|
|
but, as if he were inferior to them all, <I>How much less shall your
|
|
God deliver you?</I> as if he were less able to help than any of them.
|
|
Thus did they rail, rail in writing (which, being more deliberate, is
|
|
so much the worse), <I>on the Lord God of Israel,</I> as if he were a
|
|
cipher and an empty name, like all the rest,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+32:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>.
|
|
|
|
Sennacherib, in the instructions he gave, said more than enough; but,
|
|
as if his blasphemies had been too little, his servants, who learned
|
|
insolence from their master, spoke yet more than he bade them
|
|
<I>against the Lord God and his servant Hezekiah,</I>
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+32:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>.
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|
And God resents what is said against his servants, and will reckon for
|
|
it, as well as what is said against himself. All this was intended to
|
|
frighten the people from their hope in God, which David's enemies
|
|
sought to take him off from
|
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|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+11:1,42:10">Ps. xi. 1; xlii. 10</A>),
|
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|
|
saying, <I>There is no help for him in God,</I>
|
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|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+3:2,71:11">Ps. iii. 2; lxxi. 11</A>.
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|
Thus they hoped to take the city by weakening the hands of those that
|
|
should defend it. Satan, in his temptations, aims to destroy our faith
|
|
in God's all-sufficiency, knowing that he shall gain his point if he
|
|
can do that; as we keep our ground if our <I>faith fail not,</I>
|
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|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:32">Luke xxii. 32</A>.</P>
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<P>
|
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|
II. The duty as well as the interest of the church's friends, and that
|
|
is in the day of distress to pray and cry to Heaven. So Hezekiah did,
|
|
and the prophet Isaiah,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+32:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>.
|
|
|
|
It was a happy time when the king and the prophet joined thus in
|
|
prayer. Is any troubled? Is any terrified? Let him pray. So we engage
|
|
God for us; so we encourage ourselves in him. Praying to God is here
|
|
called <I>crying to Heaven,</I> because we are, in prayer, to eye him
|
|
as our Father in heaven, whence he beholds the children of men, and
|
|
where he has prepared his throne.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. The power and goodness of the church's God. He is able both to
|
|
control his enemies, be they ever so high, and to relieve his friends,
|
|
be they ever so low.</P>
|
|
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|
<P>
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|
1. As the blasphemies of his enemies engage him against them
|
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|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+32:27">Deut. xxxii. 27</A>),
|
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|
|
so the prayers of his people engage him for them. They did so here.
|
|
|
|
(1.) The army of the Assyrians was cut off by the sword of an angel,
|
|
which triumphed particularly in the slaughter of the mighty men of
|
|
valour, and the leaders and captains, who defied the sword of any man.
|
|
God delights to abase the proud and secure. The Targum says, The Word
|
|
of the Lord (the eternal Word) sent Gabriel to do this execution, and
|
|
that it was done with lightning, and in the passover night: that was
|
|
the night in which the angel destroyed the first-born of Egypt. But
|
|
that was not all.
|
|
|
|
(2.) The king of the Assyrians, having received this disgrace, was cut
|
|
off by the sword of his own sons. Those that <I>came forth of his own
|
|
bowels slew him,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+32:21"><I>v.</I> 21</A>.
|
|
|
|
Thus was he mortified first, and then murdered--shamed first, and then
|
|
slain. Evil pursues sinners; and, when they escape one mischief, they
|
|
run upon another unseen.</P>
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|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. By this work of wonder,
|
|
|
|
(1.) God was glorified, as the protector of his people. Thus he saved
|
|
Jerusalem, not only from the hand of Sennacherib, but from the hand
|
|
<I>of all others,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+32:22"><I>v.</I> 22</A>;
|
|
|
|
for such a deliverance as this was an earnest of much mercy in store;
|
|
and he <I>guided them,</I> that is, he guarded them, on every side. God
|
|
defends his people by directing them, shows them what they should do,
|
|
and so saves them from what is designed or done against them. For this
|
|
<I>many brought gifts unto the Lord,</I> when they saw the great power
|
|
of God in the defence of his people. Strangers were thereby induced to
|
|
supplicate his favour and enemies to deprecate his wrath, and both
|
|
brought gifts to his temple, in token of their care and desire.
|
|
|
|
(2.) Hezekiah was magnified as the favourite and particular care of
|
|
Heaven. Many <I>brought presents to him</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+32:22,23"><I>v.</I> 22, 23</A>),
|
|
|
|
in token of the honour they had for him, and to make an interest in
|
|
him. By the favour of God enemies are lost and friends gained.</P>
|
|
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|
<A NAME="2Ch32_24"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="2Ch32_25"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="2Ch32_26"> </A>
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|
<A NAME="2Ch32_27"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="2Ch32_28"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="2Ch32_29"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="2Ch32_30"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="2Ch32_31"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="2Ch32_32"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="2Ch32_33"> </A>
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|
<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Death of Hezekiah.</I></FONT></TD>
|
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 698.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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|
<FONT SIZE=+1>24 In those days Hezekiah was sick to the death, and prayed
|
|
unto the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>: and he spake unto him, and he gave him a sign.
|
|
25 But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit
|
|
<I>done</I> unto him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore there was
|
|
wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem.
|
|
26 Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of
|
|
his heart, <I>both</I> he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that
|
|
the wrath of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah.
|
|
27 And Hezekiah had exceeding much riches and honour: and he
|
|
made himself treasuries for silver, and for gold, and for
|
|
precious stones, and for spices, and for shields, and for all
|
|
manner of pleasant jewels;
|
|
28 Storehouses also for the increase of corn, and wine, and
|
|
oil; and stalls for all manner of beasts, and cotes for flocks.
|
|
29 Moreover he provided him cities, and possessions of flocks
|
|
and herds in abundance: for God had given him substance very
|
|
much.
|
|
30 This same Hezekiah also stopped the upper watercourse of
|
|
Gihon, and brought it straight down to the west side of the city
|
|
of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all his works.
|
|
31 Howbeit in <I>the business of</I> the ambassadors of the princes
|
|
of Babylon, who sent unto him to enquire of the wonder that was
|
|
<I>done</I> in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know
|
|
all <I>that was</I> in his heart.
|
|
32 Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and his goodness,
|
|
behold, they <I>are</I> written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet,
|
|
the son of Amoz, <I>and</I> in the book of the kings of Judah and
|
|
Israel.
|
|
33 And Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in
|
|
the chiefest of the sepulchres of the sons of David: and all
|
|
Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honour at his
|
|
death. And Manasseh his son reigned in his stead.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here we conclude the story of Hezekiah with an account of three things
|
|
concerning him:--</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. His sickness and his recovery from it,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+32:24"><I>v.</I> 24</A>.
|
|
|
|
The account of his sickness is but briefly mentioned here; we had a
|
|
large narrative of it,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ki+20:1-11">2 Kings xx.</A>
|
|
|
|
His disease seemed likely to be mortal. In the extremity of it he
|
|
prayed. God answered him, and gave him a sign that he should recover,
|
|
the going back of the sun ten degrees.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. His sin and his repentance for it, which were also more largely
|
|
related,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ki+20:12-21">2 Kings xx. 12</A>,
|
|
|
|
&c. Yet several things are here observed concerning his sin which we
|
|
had not there.
|
|
|
|
1. The occasion of it was the king of Babylon's sending an honourable
|
|
embassy to him to congratulate him on his recovery. But here it is
|
|
added that they came to enquire of <I>the wonder that was done in the
|
|
land</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+32:31"><I>v.</I> 31</A>),
|
|
|
|
either the destruction of the Assyrian army or the going back of the
|
|
sun. The Assyrians were their enemies; they came to enquire concerning
|
|
their fall, that they might triumph in it. The sun was their god; they
|
|
came to enquire concerning the favour he had shown to Hezekiah, that
|
|
they might honour him whom their god honoured,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+32:31"><I>v.</I> 31</A>.
|
|
|
|
These miracles were wrought to alarm and awaken a stupid careless
|
|
world, and turn them from dumb and lame idols to the living God; and
|
|
men were startled by them, but not converted till a greater wonder was
|
|
done in that land, in the appearing of Jesus Christ,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+2:1,2">Matt. ii. 1, 2</A>.
|
|
|
|
2. God left him to himself in it, to try him,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+32:31"><I>v.</I> 31</A>.
|
|
|
|
God, by the power of his almighty grace, could have prevented the sin;
|
|
but he permitted it for wise and holy ends, that, by this trial and his
|
|
weakness in it, he might know, that is, it might be known (a usual
|
|
Hebraism), what was in his heart, that he was not so perfect in grace
|
|
as he thought he was, but had his follies and infirmities as other men.
|
|
God left him to himself to be proud of his wealth, to keep him from
|
|
being proud of his holiness. It is good for us to know ourselves, and
|
|
our own weakness and sinfulness, that we may not be conceited or
|
|
self-confident, but may always think meanly of ourselves and live in a
|
|
dependence upon divine grace. We know not the corruption of our own
|
|
hearts, nor what we shall do if God leave us to ourselves. <I>Lord,
|
|
lead us not into temptation.</I>
|
|
|
|
3. His sin was the <I>his heart was lifted up,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+32:25"><I>v.</I> 25</A>.
|
|
|
|
He was proud of the honour God had put upon him in so many instances,
|
|
the honour his neighbours did him in bringing him presents, and now
|
|
that the king of Babylon should send an embassy to him to caress and
|
|
court him: this exalted him above measure. When Hezekiah had destroyed
|
|
other idolatries he began to idolize himself. O what need have great
|
|
men, and good men, and useful men, to study their own infirmities and
|
|
follies, and their obligations to free grace, that they may never think
|
|
highly of themselves, and to beg earnestly of God that he will hide
|
|
pride from them and always keep them humble!
|
|
|
|
4. The aggravation of his sin was the he made so bad a return to God
|
|
for his favours to him, making even those favours the food and fuel of
|
|
his pride
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+32:25"><I>v.</I> 25</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>He rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him.</I>
|
|
Note, It is justly expected that those who have received mercy from God
|
|
should study to make some suitable returns for the mercies they have
|
|
received; and, if they do not, their ingratitude will certainly be
|
|
charged upon them. Though we cannot render an equivalent, or the
|
|
payment of a debt, we must render the acknowledgment of a favour.
|
|
<I>What shall I render</I> that may be so accepted?
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+116:12">Ps. cxvi. 12</A>.
|
|
|
|
5. The divine displeasure he was under for this sin; though it was but
|
|
a heart-sin, and the overt-act seemed not only innocent but civil (the
|
|
showing of his treasures to a friend), yet wrath came upon him and his
|
|
kingdom for it,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+32:25"><I>v.</I> 25</A>.
|
|
|
|
Note, Pride is a sin that God hates as much as any, and particularly in
|
|
his own people. Those that exalt themselves must expect to be abased,
|
|
and put under humbling providences. Wrath came on David for his pride
|
|
in numbering the people.
|
|
|
|
6. His repentance for this sin: <I>He humbled himself for the pride of
|
|
his heart.</I> Note,
|
|
|
|
(1.) Though God may, for wise and holy ends, suffer his people to fall
|
|
into sin, yet he will not suffer them to lie still in it; they <I>shall
|
|
not be utterly cast down.</I>
|
|
|
|
(2.) Heart-sins are to be repented of, though they go no further.
|
|
|
|
(3.) Self-humiliation is a necessary branch of repentance.
|
|
|
|
(4.) Pride of heart, by which we have lifted up ourselves, is a sin for
|
|
which we ought in a special manner to humble ourselves.
|
|
|
|
(5.) People ought to mourn for the sins of their rulers. The
|
|
inhabitants of Jerusalem humbled themselves with Hezekiah, because they
|
|
either knew that they also had been guilty of the same sin, or at least
|
|
feared that they might share in the punishment. When David, in his
|
|
pride, numbered the people, they all smarted for his sin.
|
|
|
|
7. The reprieve granted thereupon. The wrath came not in his days.
|
|
While he lived the country had peace and truth prevailed; so much does
|
|
repentance avail to put by, or at least to put off, the tokens of God's
|
|
anger.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. Here is the honour done to Hezekiah,
|
|
|
|
1. By the providence of God while he lived. He had <I>exceeding much
|
|
riches and honour</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+32:27"><I>v.</I> 27</A>),
|
|
|
|
replenished his stores, victualled his campus, fortified his city, and
|
|
did all he wished to do; for God <I>had given him very much
|
|
substance,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+32:29"><I>v.</I> 29</A>.
|
|
|
|
Among his great performances, his turning the water-course of Gihon is
|
|
mentioned
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+32:30"><I>v.</I> 30</A>),
|
|
|
|
which was done upon occasion of Sennacherib's invasion,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+32:3,4"><I>v.</I> 3, 4</A>.
|
|
|
|
The water had come into that which is called the <I>old pool</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+22:11">Isa. xxii. 11</A>)
|
|
|
|
and the <I>upper pool</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+7:3">Isa. vii. 3</A>);
|
|
|
|
but he gathered the waters into a new place, for the greater
|
|
convenience of the city, called the <I>lower pool,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+22:9">Isa. xxii. 9</A>.
|
|
|
|
And, in general, he <I>prospered in all his works,</I> for they were
|
|
good works.
|
|
|
|
2. By the respect paid to his memory when he was dead.
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1.) The prophet Isaiah wrote his life and reign
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+32:32"><I>v.</I> 32</A>),
|
|
|
|
his acts and his goodness or piety, or which it is part of the honour
|
|
to be recorded and remembered, for examples to others.
|
|
|
|
(2.) The people <I>did him honour at his death</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+32:33"><I>v.</I> 33</A>),
|
|
|
|
buried him in the chief of the sepulchres, made as great a burning for
|
|
him as for Asa, or, which is a much greater honour, made great
|
|
lamentation for him, as for Josiah. See how the honour of serious
|
|
godliness is manifested in the consciences of men. Though it is to be
|
|
feared that the generality of the people did not heartily comply with
|
|
the reforming kings, yet they could not but praise their endeavours for
|
|
reformation, and the memory of those kings was blessed among them. It
|
|
is a debt we owe to those who have been eminently useful in their day
|
|
to do them honour at their death, when they are out of the reach of
|
|
flattery and we have seen the end of their conversation. The due
|
|
payment of this debt will be an encouragement to others to do
|
|
likewise.</P>
|
|
|
|
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1708)
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