---
title: "Bullinger"
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---

**third year of Hoshea.** Hoshea began in the twelfth year of Ahaz. Therefore Hezekiah began in the fifteenth year of Ahaz. Ahaz reigned sixteen years, but was deposed by Shalmaneser ([2 Kings 17:3](../../../kjv/2-kings/17/3) , [2 Kings 17:4](../../../kjv/2-kings/17/4) ), who set up Hezekiah. Hezekiah rebelled ([2 Kings 18:7](../../../kjv/2-kings/18/7) ), which shows he was under Assyria till then. See App-50 .

**Abi.** In [2 Chronicles 29:1](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/29/1) it is "Abijah", but "Abi" may be the abbreviation of "Abijah", the "i" or "j" standing for "jah".

**the LORD.** Hebrew. *Jehovah.* App-4 .

**groves** = *'Asherah,* singular. See note on [Exodus 34:13](../../../kjv/exodus/34/13) , and App-42 .
**brasen serpent.** Compare [Numbers 21:9](../../../kjv/numbers/21/9) . Now 835 years old. (From 1452 to 617 = 835).
**children** = sons.
**Nehushtan** = a brass thing.

**trusted** = confided. Hebrew. *batah.* App-69 .
**God.** Hebrew. *Elohim.* App-4 .
**none like him:** i.e. for trust in Jehovah. Same praise given of Josiah ([2 Kings 23:25](../../../kjv/2-kings/23/25) ), but in a different respect.

**and.** This "and" is contained in some codices, two early printed editions, Syriac, and Vulgate. The Figure of speech *Polysyndeton* ( App-6 ) emphasizing the Figure of speech *Synonymies,* by which the phrases are heaped up to express Hezekiah's goodness,

**it came to pass.** Compare [2 Kings 17:3-6](../../../kjv/2-kings/17/3-6) .
**Shalmaneser.** Commenced the siege; Sargon, his successor, completed it after three years. Compare [2 Kings 17:5](../../../kjv/2-kings/17/5) , [2 Kings 17:6](../../../kjv/2-kings/17/6) , where we have the same interval as here. In Saigon's own inscription he refers to the "tributes imposed upon them by the former king".

**the end of three years.** See note on [2 Kings 17:5](../../../kjv/2-kings/17/5) .
**they.** Septuagint and Syriac read "he": i.e. Sargon. See note on [2 Kings 17:5](../../../kjv/2-kings/17/5) , [2 Kings 17:6](../../../kjv/2-kings/17/6) . Sargon took it after Shalmanoser's death.

**Halah.** Some codices, with two early printed editions, read "Halath".

**Moses the servant of the LORD.** See note on [Deuteronomy 34:5](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/34/5) .

**the fourteenth year.** This was the first invasion of Judah which Sennacherib's inscription enlarges upon, but is only mentioned here. See note on [2 Kings 18:17](../../../kjv/2-kings/18/17) . Compare [Isaiah 36](../../../kjv/isaiah/36) , [Isaiah 37](../../../kjv/isaiah/37) , and [2 Chronicles 32](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/32) .
**all the fenced cities.** Forty-six are mentioned in the inscriptions (see App-67 ).

**sent.** Sennacherib had not approached Jerusalem yet.
**I have offended.** See [2 Kings 18:7](../../../kjv/2-kings/18/7) .
**three hundred talents.** The Assyrian inscriptions say 800, the exact equivalent of 300 Hebrew (silver) talents. See note on "twenty" ([2 Kings 15:27](../../../kjv/2-kings/15/27) ).

**treasures** = treasuries. See note on [Isaiah 39:2](../../../kjv/isaiah/39/2) .

**pillars** , or supports.
**it** = them.

**king of Assyria.** Some suppose Sargon, and treat Sennacherib as a mistake here. But probably Sennacherib was the co-regent in the field. Compare Jerusalem's being taken by Nebuchadnezzar, while Nabo-polassar was king in Babylon. So Belshazzar was co-regent with Nabonnedus at the taking of Babylon.
**sent.** The gift of verses: [2 Kings 18:14-16](../../../kjv/2-kings/18/14-16) did not prevent a further assault. Compromise seldom does.
**Tartan.** A title = commander-in-chief.
**Rabsaris.** A title = chief of the heads.
**Rab-shakeh.** A title = chief of the captains; possibly a political officer.
**Lachish.** Ten miles south-east of Jerusalem, on Sennacherib's way to Egypt. See note on [2 Kings 19:8](../../../kjv/2-kings/19/8) .
**great host** = heavy force.
**against Jerusalem.** See note on [Judges 1:8](../../../kjv/judges/1/8) .
**upper pool.** On east side of Jebus = Gihon.

**household** = palace.

**Rab-shakeh said.** See the references to this in Hezekiah's "Songs of the degrees". [Psalms 120:2](../../../kjv/psalms/120/2) , [Psalms 120:3](../../../kjv/psalms/120/3) ; [Psalms 128:3](../../../kjv/psalms/128/3) , [Psalms 128:4](../../../kjv/psalms/128/4) , and compare [Isaiah 37:4](../../../kjv/isaiah/37/4) . See App-67 .
**What confidence . . . ?** Note the Figure of speech *Erotesis* ( App-6 ), which the Rab-shakeh constantly uses. See verses: [2 Kings 18:18](../../../kjv/2-kings/18/18) ; [2 Kings 18:20](../../../kjv/2-kings/18/20) ; 2Ki 20:22 , 2Ki 20:24 , 2Ki 20:25 , 2Ki 20:27 , 2Ki 20:33 , 2Ki 20:34 , 2Ki 20:35 . Figure used for emphasis.

**vain words.** Hebrew word of lips = lip-words.

**trustest, &c.** A policy opposed by Isaiah ([Isaiah 30:2](../../../kjv/isaiah/30/2) ; [Isaiah 31:4](../../../kjv/isaiah/31/4) ).
**bruised reed.** Compare [Ezekiel 29:6](../../../kjv/ezekiel/29/6) .
**king of Egypt.** Probably Shabako, the successor of So. See note on [2 Kings 19:9](../../../kjv/2-kings/19/9) , and Compare [2 Kings 17:3](../../../kjv/2-kings/17/3) , [2 Kings 17:4](../../../kjv/2-kings/17/4) .

**if ye say.** [Isaiah 36:7](../../../kjv/isaiah/36/7) . If thou say. Spoken to one, but meant for all.

**Syrian** = Aramaic.

**word** = message. Some codices, with two early printed editions, Septuagint, and Syriac, read "words".

**deceived raise false hopes.** Note the ( *Lamed* ) here, as in the first occurrence ([Genesis 3:13](../../../kjv/genesis/3/13) ).
**his hand** = his [i.e. Asshurs king's] hand. Some codices, with one early printed edition, and Vulgate, read "my hand".

**Make [an agreement]** = Get a blessing out of my coming. Literally. Make with me a blessing.
**come out:** i.e. capitulate.

**a land.** Note the Figure of speech *Anaphora* ( App-6 ) for emphasis.
**wine.** Hebrew tirosh. see App-27 .
**deliver** = rescue

**Hamath.** Compare [2 Kings 17:24](../../../kjv/2-kings/17/24) .
**Arpad.** A city of Syria, north-west of Aleppo. Now identified with *Tell Erfud.*
**Sepharvairn.** On the Euphrates, north of Babylon. See note on [2 Kings 17:24](../../../kjv/2-kings/17/24) .
**Hena, and Ivah.** Probably the names of gods or goddesses.
**Samaria.** See note on 2Ki 17:5 , [2 Kings 17:24](../../../kjv/2-kings/17/24) . Hamath, Arpad, and Samaria are all mentioned in the inscriptions at Khorsabad. See note on [2 Kings 17:21](../../../kjv/2-kings/17/21) .

**without the LORD.** Either said in pretence, or from having heard Jehovah's prophecies (Compare [2 Kings 19:25](../../../kjv/2-kings/19/25) with [Isaiah 10:5](../../../kjv/isaiah/10/5) ).

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