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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadPaul Kretzmann Commentary - 2 Chronicles 32:21 - 32:33
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The Assyrians Destroyed. The End of Hezekiah's Reign.
v. 21. And the Lord sent an angel, which cut off all the mighty men of valor, the veteran soldiers, and the leaders and captains in the camp of the king of Assyria, 2Ki_19:35-37. So he, who had boasted so inordinately of his invincible army, returned with shame of face to his own land, utterly humiliated, even in the eyes of his own subjects. And when he was come into the house of his god, when, after some time, he was worshiping in the temple of his chief idol, they that came forth of his own bowels, his own sons, slew him there with the sword.
v. 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, whatever other enemies had designs against him, and guided them on every side, giving to His people the full measure of protection.
v. 23. And many, including members of the neighboring nations, brought gifts unto the Lord to Jerusalem, for they also had received the benefit of Jehovah's interposition, and presents to Hezekiah, king of Judah, so that he was magnified in the sight of all nations from thenceforth.
v. 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, wrought a miracle in making him well. Cf 2Ki_20:1-11; Isaiah 38.
v. 25. But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him; for his heart was lifted up, he yielded to a degree of pride in boastfully exhibiting his treasures to the ambassadors of the king of Babylon, 2Ki_20:15; therefore there was wrath upon him and upon Judah and Jerusalem.
v. 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, Isa_39:8; 2Ki_20:19.
v. 27. And Hezekiah had exceeding much riches, in personal possessions and in gifts brought to him by neighboring nations, and honor; and he made himself treasuries for silver, and for gold, and for precious stones, and for spices, and for shields, costly gilded weapons, and for all manner of pleasant jewels, various articles which were highly prized in those days;
v. 28. storehouses also for the increase of corn and wine and oil, and stalls for all manner of beasts, and cotes for flocks, folds for his small cattle.
v. 29. Moreover, he provided him cities, probably to be understood of the watch-towers erected for the use of the shepherds, and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance; for God, the Giver of all good gifts, had given him substance very much.
v. 30. This same Hezekiah also stopped the upper watercourse of Gihon, namely, at the approach of Sennacherib's army, and brought it straight down to the west side of the City of David, in a special subterranean canal. And Hezekiah prospered in all his works. Hezekiah's Pool, or reservoir, in the northwest part of Jerusalem still remains, and at least a part of the subterranean channel dug by him has been laid open. 2)
v. 31. 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, very likely the king's miraculous recovery, God left him, to try him, that He might know all that was in his heart; it was a test of Hezekiah's faith and sincerity, especially in the matter of giving all glory to God alone, both for his health and for his possessions.
v. 32. Now, the rest of the acts of Hezekiah and his goodness, all the various displays of his kindness, behold, they are written in the vision of Isaiah, the prophet, the son of Amoz, Isaiah 36-39, and in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel, 2 Kings 18-20.
v. 33. And Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the chiefest of the sepulchers of the sons of David, in a place higher on the slope than the tombs then occupied. And all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honor at his death, by the usual burning of spices, as in the case of Asa, 2Ch_16:14. And Manasseh, his son, reigned in his stead. Hezekiah died in the true faith and was given the testimony that he was a king after the Lord's heart. Blessed is everyone that heeds the warning of the Lord's servants in time and willingly returns from the way of error.