“After these things, and the establishment thereof, Sennacherib king of Assyria came, and entered into Judah, and encamped against the fenced cities, and thought to win them for himself. to win: Heb. to break them up”
Truth, and sincere piety of the king, God was pleased to put him to trial; (Tirinus; Menochius; Du Hamel) or, “after these things were established.” (Junius) — Sennacherib attacked Juda when Ezechias had been fifteen years on the throne, and till that time had paid the stipulated tribute, 4 Kings xviii. 13. (Calmet) — He now probably refused to pay it any longer. (Salien, the year of the world 3319.) (Menochius)
“And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib was come, and that he was purposed to fight against Jerusalem, he was: Heb. his face was to war”
Jerusalem; as many cities had fallen. The king entered into an agreement with the Assyrian, who soon broke it.
“He took counsel with his princes and his mighty men to stop the waters of the fountains which were without the city: and they did help him.”
City. The torrent Cedron afforded the only good supply of water. It was often dry, and was only three steps across, when full of melted snow or rain. The waters of Siloe and Gihon were collected in it. Yet it was no very difficult enterprise for the king to turn the stream, and introduce the waters through the rock into a large reservoir, in the city, by the canal, which is mentioned [in] 2 Esdras ii. 14., and Ecclesiasticus xlviii. 19. The besieged were more frequently deprived of water, Judith vii. 6. Babylon was taken by Semiramis, Cyrus, and Alexander, after they had turned aside the waters of the Euphrates; and Cæsar obliged the town of Cahors to surrender, by intercepting the springs. (Frontin. iii. 7.) (Calmet)
“So there was gathered much people together, who stopped all the fountains, and the brook that ran through the midst of the land, saying, Why should the kings of Assyria come, and find much water? ran: Heb. overflowed”
Land, Cedron, on the east; (Calmet; Menochius) or it may be the Gihon, which supplies Siloe, ver. 30. (Tirinus)
“Also he strengthened himself, and built up all the wall that was broken, and raised it up to the towers, and another wall without, and repaired Millo in the city of David, and made darts and shields in abundance. darts: or, swords, or, weapons”
Without, of less strength. — Mello, the palace, which was strongly situated, and Ezechias added fresh fortifications, 2 Kings v. 9. — Arms. Hebrew, “darts.”
“And he set captains of war over the people, and gathered them together to him in the street of the gate of the city, and spake comfortably to them, saying, spake: Heb. he spoke to their heart”
Gate, where there was a room for assemblies, 2 Kings xviii. 24. (Calmet) — Heart, in the most affectionate and pathetic manner. (Haydock)
“Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him:”
More: God and his angels, from whom he expected relief, and was not disappointed, 4 Kings vi. 16., and xix. 35. (Calmet)
“After this did Sennacherib king of Assyria send his servants to Jerusalem, (but he himself laid siege against Lachish, and all his power with him,) unto Hezekiah king of Judah, and unto all Judah that were at Jerusalem, saying, power: Heb. dominion”
Lachis, whence he sent Rabsaces. Other blasphemous letters were dispatched from Lobna, (ver. 17) when Sennacherib was forced to go to meet Tharaca, 4 Kings xix. 9.
“Hath not the same Hezekiah taken away his high places and his altars, and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall worship before one altar, and burn incense upon it?”
His altars. Rabsaces was ignorant of the law, and upbraids the king for a commendable action. (Calmet) — Thus our adversaries foolishly blame us for keeping holy days and abstinence. (Haydock)
“He wrote also letters to rail on the LORD God of Israel, and to speak against him, saying, As the gods of the nations of other lands have not delivered their people out of mine hand, so shall not the God of Hezekiah deliver his people out of mine hand.”
He (Sennacherib) wrote, when he was going towards Egypt. Both master and servant employed the same fallacious argument; as if the true God and idols were all upon a level, and as if past success were a sure proof of future victories, ver. 19. (Haydock)
“And the LORD sent an angel, which cut off all the mighty men of valour, and the leaders and captains in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he was come into the house of his god, they that came forth of his own bowels slew him there with the sword. slew: Heb. made him fall”
Army. Hebrew, “camp.” — Disgrace. The Jews pretend that he was deprived of his beard and hair, (St. Jerome, Trad.) misapplying the text of Isaias vii. 20. (Calmet) — Sword, to prevent their being offered as victims, to appease the idol and the people. (R. Solomon) (Lyranus) — This happened some months after the king’s return to Ninive, when he had cruelly oppressed the captive Jews and Tobias, i. 24. (Tirinus)
“And many brought gifts unto the LORD to Jerusalem, and presents to Hezekiah king of Judah: so that he was magnified in the sight of all nations from thenceforth. presents: Heb. precious things”
Many; probably strangers, 3 Kings viii. 41.
“In those days Hezekiah was sick to the death, and prayed unto the LORD: and he spake unto him, and he gave him a sign. gave: or, wrought a miracle for him”
Sign. See 4 Kings xx.
“But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem.”
Up, by riches, and the splendid embassy from Babylon. (Calmet) — Prosperity is more dangerous than adversity. (Worthington) — Few are able to bear good fortune with moderation. (Haydock)
“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; pleasant: Heb. instruments of desire”
Arms. Hebrew, “shields.” Septuagint, “arsenals.”
“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.”
Underneath the walls of the city, making them run westward, chap. xxxiii. 14.
“Howbeit in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to enquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart. ambassadors: Heb. interpreters”
Wonder, at the defeat of Sennacherib; (Grotius; Du Hamel) or rather the retrogradation of the sun, as the Chaldeans studied astronomy with diligence. (Menochius) (Tirinus) (Calmet) — Left him, in punishment of his vanity. (Haydock) — Heart. How feeble is man when destitute of the divine assistance! (Menochius) — God permitted, therefore, the king to be tempted, (Calmet) that he might know himself, and that others might have a true idea of him. (Du Hamel)
“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. chiefest: or, highest”
Above, for distinction’s sake: (Calmet) meriti prærogativa. (St. Jerome, Trad.) (Menochius) — The cell was either higher than the rest, or a sort of pyramid was erected over the tomb of Ezechias. (Calmet)