II Kings 18
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Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
Now - in the third year of Hoshea - See the note on Kg2 16:1 (note), where this chronology is considered.
Open source ↗HEZEKIAH'S GOOD REIGN. (Kg2 18:1-3) Hezekiah . . . began to reign. Twenty and five years old--According to this statement (compare Kg2 16:2), he must have been born when his father Ahaz was no more than eleven years old. Paternity at an age so early is not unprecedented in the warm climates of the south, where the human frame is matured sooner than in our northern regions. But the case admits of solution in a different way. It was customary for the later kings of Israel to assume their son and heir into partnership in the government during their lives; and as Hezekiah began to reign in the third year of Hoshea (Kg2 18:1), and Hoshea in the twelfth year of Ahaz (Kg2 17:1), it is evident that Hezekiah began to reign in the fourteenth year of Ahaz his father, and so reigned two or three years before his father's death. So that, at the beginning of his reign in conjunction with his father, he might be only twenty-two or twenty-three, and Ahaz a few years older than the common calculation makes him. Or the case may be solved thus: As the ancient writers, in the computation of time, take notice of the year they mention, whether finished or newly begun, so Ahaz might be near twenty-one years old at the beginning of his reign, and near seventeen years older at his death; while, on the other hand, Hezekiah, when he began to reign, might be just entering into his twenty-fifth year, and so Ahaz would be near fourteen years old when his son Hezekiah was born--no uncommon age for a young man to become a father in southern latitudes [PATRICK].
Open source ↗Now it came to pass in the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel,.... That is, in the third year of his rebelling against the king of Assyria, when he shook off his yoke, and refused to be tributary to him any longer, see Kg2 17:1, that Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign; having finished the account of the kingdom of Israel, and the captivity of the people, the historian returns to the kingdom of Judah, and the things of it.
Open source ↗Kg2 18:1-2 Length and character of Hezekiah's reign. (Note: On comparing the account of Hezekiah's reign given in our books (2 Kings 18-20) with that in 2 Chron 29-32, the different plans of these two historical works are at once apparent. The prophetic author of our books first of all describes quite briefly the character of the king's reign (Kg2 18:1-8), and then gives an elaborate description of the invasion of Judah by Sennacherib and of his attempt to get Jerusalem into his power, together with the destruction of the proud Assyrian force and Sennacherib's hasty return to Nineveh and death (Kg2 18:13-19, Kg2 18:37); and finally, he also gives a circumstantial account of Hezekiah's illness and recovery, and also of the arrival of the Babylonian embassy in Jerusalem, and of Hezekiah's conduct on that occasion (2 Kings 20). The chronicler, on the other hand, has fixed his chief attention upon the religious reformation carried out by Hezekiah, and therefore first of all describes most elaborately the purification of the temple from all idolatrous abominations, the restoration of the Jehovah-cultus and the feast of passover, to which Hezekiah invited all the people, not only the subjects of his own kingdom, but the remnant of the ten tribes also (2 Chron 29-31); and then simply gives in 2 Kings 32 the most summary account of the attack made by Sennacherib upon Jerusalem and the destruction of his army, of the sickness and recovery of Hezekiah, and of his great riches, the Babylonian embassy being touched upon in only the most casual manner. The historical character of the elaborate accounts given in the Chronicles of Hezekiah's reform of worship and his celebration of the passover, which Thenius follows De Wette and Gramberg in throwing doubt upon, has been most successf…
Open source ↗We have here a general account of the reign of Hezekiah. It appears, by comparing his age with his father's, that he was born when his father was about eleven or twelve years old, divine Providence so ordering that he might be of full age, and fit for business, when the measure of his father's iniquity should be full. Here is, I. His great piety, which was the more wonderful because his father was very wicked and vile, one of the worst of the kings, yet he was one of the best, which may intimate to us that what good there is in any is not of nature, but of grace, free grace, sovereign grace, which, contrary to nature, grafts into the good olive that which was wild by nature (Rom 11:24), and also that grace gets over the greatest difficulties and disadvantages: Ahaz, it is likely, gave his son a bad education as well as a bad example; Urijah his priest perhaps had the tuition of him; his attendants and companions, we may suppose, were such as were addicted to idolatry; and yet Hezekiah became eminently good. When God's grace will work what can hinder it? 1. He was a genuine son of David, who had a great many degenerate ones (Kg2 18:3): He did that which was right, according to all that David his father did, with whom the covenant was made, and therefore he was entitled to the benefit of it. We have read of some of them who did that which was right, but not like David, Kg2 14:3. They did not love God's ordinances, nor cleave to them, as he did; but Hezekiah was a second David, had such a love for God's word, and God's house, as he had. Let us not be frightened with an apprehension of the continual decay of virtue, as if, when times and men are bad, they must needs, of course, grow worse and worse; that does not follow, for, after many bad kings, God raised up one that was…
Open source ↗18:1-12 The accession statement concerning Hezekiah’s reign (18:1-2) is accompanied by a lengthy evaluation of Hezekiah’s spiritual commitment (18:3-7a), followed by background details of the political situation in his time (18:7b-12). 18:1-2 the third year of King Hoshea’s reign in Israel: The date given for Hezekiah’s accession refers to his co-regency with his father, Ahaz. Since Hoshea began his reign in 732 BC, Hezekiah began to rule in about 728 BC, when he was twelve years old. When Ahaz died in 715 BC, Hezekiah began his sole reign at age twenty-five. This marks the start of his reign of twenty-nine years (715–686 BC).
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
שָׁלוֹשׁ (shâlôwsh, H7969) — three; occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multiple) thrice שָׁנֶה (shâneh, H8141) — a year (as a revolution of time) הוֹשֵׁעַ (Hôwshêaʻ, H1954) — Hoshea, the name of five Israelites בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… אֵלָה (ʼÊlâh, H425) — Elah, the name of an Edomite, of four Israelites, and also of a place in Palestine מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428) — a king יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity חִזְקִיָּה (Chizqîyâh, H2396) — Chizkijah, a king of Judah, also the name of two other Israelites אָחָז (ʼÂchâz, H271) — Achaz, the name of a Jewish king and of an Israelite יְהוּדָה (Yᵉhûwdâh, H3063) — Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the… מָלַךְ (mâlak, H4427) — to reign; inceptively, to ascend the throne; causatively, to induct into royalty; hence…
Open source ↗עֶשְׂרִים (ʻesrîym, H6242) — twenty; also (ordinal) twentieth חָמֵשׁ (châmêsh, H2568) — five שָׁנֶה (shâneh, H8141) — a year (as a revolution of time) בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… מָלַךְ (mâlak, H4427) — to reign; inceptively, to ascend the throne; causatively, to induct into royalty; hence… תֵּשַׁע (têshaʻ, H8672) — nine or (ordinal) ninth יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם (Yᵉrûwshâlaim, H3389) — Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of Palestine אֵם (ʼêm, H517) — a mother (as the bond of the family); in a wide sense (both literally and figuratively… שֵׁם (shêm, H8034) — an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority,… אֲבִי (ʼĂbîy, H21) — Abi, Hezekiah's mother בַּת (bath, H1323) — a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and… זְכַרְיָה (Zᵉkaryâh, H2148) — Zecarjah, the name of twenty-nine Israelites
Open source ↗עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application יָשָׁר (yâshâr, H3477) — straight (literally or figuratively) עַיִן (ʻayin, H5869) — an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape) יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God דָּוִד (Dâvid, H1732) — David, the youngest son of Jesse אָב (ʼâb, H1) — father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application
Open source ↗סוּר (çûwr, H5493) — to turn off (literal or figurative) בָּמָה (bâmâh, H1116) — an elevation שָׁבַר (shâbar, H7665) — to burst (literally or figuratively) מַצֵּבָה (matstsêbâh, H4676) — something stationed, i.e. a column or (memorial stone); by analogy, an idol כָּרַת (kârath, H3772) — to cut (off, down or asunder); by implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to… אֲשֵׁרָה (ʼăshêrâh, H842) — Asherah (or Astarte) a Phoenician goddess; also an image of the same כָּתַת (kâthath, H3807) — to bruise or violently strike נְחֹשֶׁת (nᵉchôsheth, H5178) — copper, hence, something made of that metal, i.e. coin, a fetter; figuratively, base (as… נָחָשׁ (nâchâsh, H5175) — a snake (from its hiss) מֹשֶׁה (Môsheh, H4872) — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
Open source ↗בָּטַח (bâṭach, H982) — figuratively, to trust, be confident or sure יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God אֱלֹהִים (ʼĕlôhîym, H430) — gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with… יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity אַחַר (ʼachar, H310) — properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various… מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428) — a king יְהוּדָה (Yᵉhûwdâh, H3063) — Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the… פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and…
Open source ↗דָּבַק (dâbaq, H1692) — properly, to impinge, i.e. cling or adhere; figuratively, to catch by pursuit יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God סוּר (çûwr, H5493) — to turn off (literal or figurative) אַחַר (ʼachar, H310) — properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various… שָׁמַר (shâmar, H8104) — properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to,… מִצְוָה (mitsvâh, H4687) — a command, whether human or divine (collectively, the Law) צָוָה (tsâvâh, H6680) — (intensively) to constitute, enjoin מֹשֶׁה (Môsheh, H4872) — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver
Open source ↗יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God שָׂכַל (sâkal, H7919) — to be (causatively, make or act) circumspect and hence, intelligent יָצָא (yâtsâʼ, H3318) — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and… מָרַד (mârad, H4775) — to rebel מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428) — a king אַשּׁוּר (ʼAshshûwr, H804) — Ashshur, the second son of Shem; also his descendants and the country occupied by them… עָבַד (ʻâbad, H5647) — to work (in any sense); by implication, to serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc.
Open source ↗נָכָה (nâkâh, H5221) — to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively) פְּלִשְׁתִּי (Pᵉlishtîy, H6430) — a Pelishtite or inhabitant of Pelesheth עַזָּה (ʻAzzâh, H5804) — Azzah, a place in Palestine גְּבוּל (gᵉbûwl, H1366) — properly, a cord (as twisted), i.e. (by implication) a boundary; by extension the… מִגְדָּל (migdâl, H4026) — a tower (from its size or height); by analogy, a rostrum; figuratively, a (pyramidal) bed… נָצַר (nâtsar, H5341) — to guard, in a good sense (to protect, maintain, obey, etc.) or a bad one (to conceal,… מִבְצָר (mibtsâr, H4013) — a fortification, castle, or fortified city; figuratively, a defender עִיר (ʻîyr, H5892) — a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere…
Open source ↗רְבִיעִי (rᵉbîyʻîy, H7243) — fourth; also (fractionally) a fourth שָׁנֶה (shâneh, H8141) — a year (as a revolution of time) מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428) — a king חִזְקִיָּה (Chizqîyâh, H2396) — Chizkijah, a king of Judah, also the name of two other Israelites שְׁבִיעִי (shᵉbîyʻîy, H7637) — seventh הוֹשֵׁעַ (Hôwshêaʻ, H1954) — Hoshea, the name of five Israelites בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… אֵלָה (ʼÊlâh, H425) — Elah, the name of an Edomite, of four Israelites, and also of a place in Palestine יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity שַׁלְמַנְאֶסֶר (Shalmanʼeçer, H8022) — Shalmaneser, an Assyrian king אַשּׁוּר (ʼAshshûwr, H804) — Ashshur, the second son of Shem; also his descendants and the country occupied by them… עָלָה (ʻâlâh, H5927) — to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of… שֹׁמְרוֹן (Shômᵉrôwn, H8111) — Shomeron, a place in Palestine צוּר (tsûwr, H6696) — to cramp, i.e. confine (in many applications, literally and figuratively, formative or…
Open source ↗קָצֶה (qâtseh, H7097) — an extremity שָׁלוֹשׁ (shâlôwsh, H7969) — three; occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multiple) thrice שָׁנֶה (shâneh, H8141) — a year (as a revolution of time) לָכַד (lâkad, H3920) — to catch (in a net, trap or pit); generally, to capture or occupy; also to choose (by… שֵׁשׁ (shêsh, H8337) — six (as an overplus beyond five or the fingers of the hand); as ord. sixth חִזְקִיָּה (Chizqîyâh, H2396) — Chizkijah, a king of Judah, also the name of two other Israelites תֵּשַׁע (têshaʻ, H8672) — nine or (ordinal) ninth הוֹשֵׁעַ (Hôwshêaʻ, H1954) — Hoshea, the name of five Israelites מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428) — a king יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity שֹׁמְרוֹן (Shômᵉrôwn, H8111) — Shomeron, a place in Palestine
Open source ↗מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428) — a king אַשּׁוּר (ʼAshshûwr, H804) — Ashshur, the second son of Shem; also his descendants and the country occupied by them… גָּלָה (gâlâh, H1540) — to denude (especially in a disgraceful sense); by implication, to exile (captives being… יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity נָחָה (nâchâh, H5148) — to guide; by implication, to transport (into exile, or as colonists) חֲלַח (Chălach, H2477) — Chalach, a region of Assyria חָבוֹר (Châbôwr, H2249) — Chabor, a river of Assyria נָהָר (nâhâr, H5104) — a stream (including the sea; expectation the Nile, Euphrates, etc.); figuratively,… גּוֹזָן (Gôwzân, H1470) — Gozan, a province of Assyria עִיר (ʻîyr, H5892) — a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere… מָדַי (Mâday, H4074) — Madai, a country of central Asia
Open source ↗שָׁמַע (shâmaʻ, H8085) — to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively,… קוֹל (qôwl, H6963) — a voice or sound יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God אֱלֹהִים (ʼĕlôhîym, H430) — gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with… עָבַר (ʻâbar, H5674) — to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive,… בְּרִית (bᵉrîyth, H1285) — a compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh) מֹשֶׁה (Môsheh, H4872) — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver עֶבֶד (ʻebed, H5650) — a servant צָוָה (tsâvâh, H6680) — (intensively) to constitute, enjoin עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
Open source ↗אַרְבַּע (ʼarbaʻ, H702) — four עָשָׂר (ʻâsâr, H6240) — ten (only in combination), i.e. -teen; also (ordinal) -teenth שָׁנֶה (shâneh, H8141) — a year (as a revolution of time) מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428) — a king חִזְקִיָּה (Chizqîyâh, H2396) — Chizkijah, a king of Judah, also the name of two other Israelites סַנְחֵרִיב (Çanchêrîyb, H5576) — Sancherib, an Assyrian king אַשּׁוּר (ʼAshshûwr, H804) — Ashshur, the second son of Shem; also his descendants and the country occupied by them… עָלָה (ʻâlâh, H5927) — to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of… בָּצַר (bâtsar, H1219) — to gather grapes; also to be isolated (i.e. inaccessible by height or fortification) עִיר (ʻîyr, H5892) — a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere… יְהוּדָה (Yᵉhûwdâh, H3063) — Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the… תָּפַשׂ (tâphas, H8610) — to manipulate, i.e. seize; chiefly to capture, wield, specifically, to overlay;…
Open source ↗חִזְקִיָּה (Chizqîyâh, H2396) — Chizkijah, a king of Judah, also the name of two other Israelites מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428) — a king יְהוּדָה (Yᵉhûwdâh, H3063) — Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the… שָׁלַח (shâlach, H7971) — to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications) אַשּׁוּר (ʼAshshûwr, H804) — Ashshur, the second son of Shem; also his descendants and the country occupied by them… לָכִישׁ (Lâkîysh, H3923) — Lakish, a place in Palestine אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) חָטָא (châṭâʼ, H2398) — properly, to miss; hence (figuratively and generally) to sin; by inference, to forfeit,… שׁוּב (shûwb, H7725) — to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not… נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) נָשָׂא (nâsâʼ, H5375) — to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative שׂוּם (sûwm, H7760) — to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and… שָׁלוֹשׁ (shâlôwsh, H7969) — three; occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multiple) thrice מֵאָה (mêʼâh, H3967) — a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction
Open source ↗Cross-references
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Ahaz his son, Hezekiah his son, Manasseh his son,
Then Hoshea son of Elah led a conspiracy against Pekah son of Remaliah. In the twentieth year of Jotham son of Uzziah, Hoshea attacked Pekah, killed him, and reigned in his place.
In the fourth year of Hezekiah’s reign, which was the seventh year of the reign of Hoshea son of Elah over Israel, Shalmaneser king of Assyria marched against Samaria and besieged it.
Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. And unlike David his father, he did not do what was right in the eyes of the LORD his God.