1.

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.

After these things. Thirteen years after the events in chapter 31.
establishment = "[done in] faithfulness". to win. Hebrew to break them up. Supply Figure of speech Ellipsis, thus: "to break them up [and annex them] for himself".

2.

And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib was come, and that he was purposed to fight against Jerusalem,

3.

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.

to stop. By covering up the fountain En-rogel (now known as "The Virgin's Fount"), or Gihon (upper pool), on east side of Ophel. Discovered by Sir Charles Warren in 1867. This was brought down to the west side of the city by Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 32:30 . Compare 2 Kings 20:20 ). En-rogel was stopped on the east side, and a channel cut through to the lower pool of Gihon on the west, and south to Siloam, a shaft running down to the water beneath Zion: referred to in Psalms 46:4 . This -is contrasted with the Assyrian host, which is compared in the previous verse to raging waters. Isaiah refers to these works (Isaiah 22:9-11 ).

4.

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?

the brook = the overflow: i.e. Gihon, which frequently did so.
kings = the [great] king. Plural of majesty.

5.

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.

repaired Millo. See notes on 2 Samuel 5:9 . 1 Kings 11:27 .

6.

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,

street = broad space.
spake comfortably. Compare Isaiah 40:2 .

7.

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:

Be strong, &c. Hebrew "be ye strong", &c. See note on Deuteronomy 31:6 .
multitude. Compared to raging waters (Psalms 46:2 , Psalms 46:3 ).

8.

With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.

9.

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,

After this. Omitting the account of the surrender of 2 Kings 18:14 .
send his servants. Compare 2 Kings 18:17-37 ; 2 Kings 19:1-35 .Isaiah 10:8-11 ; Isa 10:36 ; Isa 10:37 .
against Lacnish. A difficult task, for Rab-shakeh found Sennacherib had abandoned the siege (2 Kings 19:8 ). Joshua had found it the same (see note on "second day", Joshua 10:31 , Joshua 10:32 ). In Jeremiah 34:7 it still belonged to Judah.
power = royal retinue.

10.

Thus saith Sennacherib king of Assyria, Whereon do ye trust, that ye abide in the siege in Jerusalem?

Whereon . . . ? Note the Figure of speech Erotesis ( App-6 ), used throughout Rabshakeh's message, verses: 2 Chronicles 32:32 ; 2 Chronicles 32:10-14 .
trust = confide. Hebrew. batah. App-69 . Note the reference to Hezekiah's "trust in Jehovah" in his Songs of the degrees (121:3; 125.:1-3; 127:1; 130:5-8, and see App-67 .

11.

Doth not Hezekiah persuade you to give over yourselves to die by famine and by thirst, saying, The LORD our God shall deliver us out of the hand of the king of Assyria?

deliver = rescue.

12.

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?

the same Hezekiah. Contrast Ahaz (2 Chronicles 28:22 ). See App-67 .

13.

Know ye not what I and my fathers have done unto all the people of other lands? were the gods of the nations of those lands any ways able to deliver their lands out of mine hand?

people = peoples.

14.

Who was there among all the gods of those nations that my fathers utterly destroyed, that could deliver his people out of mine hand, that your God should be able to deliver you out of mine hand?

Who . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 .

15.

Now therefore let not Hezekiah deceive you, nor persuade you on this manner, neither yet believe him: for no god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people out of mine hand, and out of the hand of my fathers: how much less shall your God deliver you out of mine hand?

god. Hebrew. 'eloah. App-4 .
God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 . Plural, with verb "deliver" in sing

16.

And his servants spake yet more against the LORD God, and against his servant Hezekiah.

God. Elohim (with Art.) = the [true] God.

17.

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.

to rail. It is this railing which is referred to in Hezekiah's "Songs of the degrees": e.g. Psalms 120:2 , Psalms 120:3 ; Psalms 123:3 , Psalms 123:4 ; Psalms 129:5-7 .

18.

Then they cried with a loud voice in the Jews' speech unto the people of Jerusalem that were on the wall, to affright them, and to trouble them; that they might take the city.

19.

And they spake against the God of Jerusalem, as against the gods of the people of the earth, which were the work of the hands of man.

God of Jerusalem. A remarkable title used by heathen.

20.

And for this cause Hezekiah the king, and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz, prayed and cried to heaven.

prayed and cried. This is what Hezekiah refers to in his "Songs of the degrees" (Psalms 120:1 ; Psalms 123:1-3 ; Psalms 130:1 , Psalms 130:2 ). Compare Isaiah 38:10-20 . 2 Kings 19:15-19 ; 2 Kings 20:2 , 2 Kings 20:3 . See App-67 . One of the few O.T. instances of united prayer.
heaven. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Subject), for God Himself. "Heaven" used here because the prayer was made to God, as "the Maker of heaven and earth" (2 Kings 19:15 .Isaiah 37:16; Isaiah 37:16 ). This is referred to in Hezekiah's "Songs of the degrees" (Psalms 121:1 , Psalms 121:2 ; Psalms 123:1 ; Psalms 124:8 ).

21.

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.

returned with shame. This is referred to in Hezekiah's "Songs of the degrees" (Psalms 129:4 , Psalms 129:5 ). Revised Version "be ashamed and turned backward". See App-67 .
they that came forth of his own bowels. The phrase occurs only here. See notes on 2 Kings 19:37 .

22.

Thus the LORD saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and from the hand of all other, and guided them on every side.

23.

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.

brought gifts . . . presents. This explains 2 Chronicles 32:27 , and tells us how he could show treasures to the ambassadors from Babylon (2 Kings 20:13 .Isaiah 39:1 , Isaiah 39:2 ), after he had stripped himself for Sennacherib in 2 Kings 18:15 .
nations = the nations.

24.

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.

In those days. While Sennacherib's host was still surrounding Jerusalem. This is a brief summary of what is described in 2 Kings 2 0 and Isaiah 38 .
gave him a sign. Recorded in 2 Chronicles 20:1-11 . The going back of the shadow on the sun-dial of Ahaz ten degrees, which caused him to give the title of the fifteen "Songs of the degrees" (Psa 120 - 134). See App-67 .

25.

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.

26.

Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah.

the pride = the lifting up. Compare 2 Chronicles 32:25 .

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.

wine = new wine. Hebrew. tirosh. App-27 .
cotes. Anglo-Saxon for enclosures.

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.

stopped. The latest discoveries prove that the upper pool (Gihon) is identical with En-rogel (= the Fuller ' s Spring), now "the Virgin ' s Fount". A rock-hewn channel was cut from this westward to "the lower pool of Gihon, and eastward to Siloam". On the water supply at that time, see Isaiah 7:3 ; Isaiah 8:6 ; Isaiah 22:9-11 ; Isaiah 36:2 . Compare 2 Chronicles 32:3 , 2 Chronicles 32:4 and 2 Kings 20:20 .

31.

Howbeit in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to inquire 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.

Babylon. The first occurrence of the name in connection with Judah.
the wonder. Compare 2 Chronicles 32:24 . 2Ki 20:10 , 2 Kings 20:11 .Isaiah 38:7 , Isaiah 38:8 .

32.

Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and his goodness, behold, they are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, and in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.

goodness = kindnesses.
Isaiah. See Isa 36-39.
and in , or [following] upon.

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.

slept with his fathers. See note on Deuteronomy 31:16 .