Chapter 18:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 1 Kings 1 Chronicles
2 Kings 18
Concise Complete
Good reign of Hezekiah in Judah, Idolatry. (1-8)
Sennacherib invades Judah. (9-16) Rabshakeh's blasphemies. (17-37)
Verses 1-8
Hezekiah was a true son of David. Some others did that which was right, but not
like David. Let us not suppose that when times and men are bad, they must needs
grow worse and worse; that does not follow: after many bad kings, God raised one
up like David himself. The brazen serpent had been carefully preserved, as a
memorial of God's goodness to their fathers in the wilderness; but it was idle
and wicked to burn incense to it. All helps to devotion, not warranted by the
word of God, interrupt the exercise of faith; they always lead to superstition
and other dangerous evils. Human nature perverts every thing of this kind. True
faith needs not such aids; the word of God, daily thought upon and prayed over,
is all the outward help we need.
Verses 9-16 The
descent Sennacherib made upon Judah, was a great calamity to that kingdom, by
which God would try the faith of Hezekiah, and chastise the people. The secret
dislike, the hypocrisy, and lukewarmness of numbers, require correction; such
trials purify the faith and hope of the upright, and bring them to simple
dependence on God.
Verses 17-37
Rabshakeh tries to convince the Jews, that it was to no purpose for them to
stand it out. What confidence is this wherein thou trustest? It were well if
sinners would submit to the force of this argument, in seeking peace with God.
It is, therefore, our wisdom to yield to him, because it is in vain to contend
with him: what confidence is that which those trust in who stand out against
him? A great deal of art there is in this speech of Rabshakeh; but a great deal
of pride, malice, falsehood, and blasphemy. Hezekiah's nobles held their peace.
There is a time to keep silence, as well as a time to speak; and there are those
to whom to offer any thing religious or rational, is to cast pearls before
swine. Their silence made Rabshakeh yet more proud and secure. It is often best
to leave such persons to rail and blaspheme; a decided expression of abhorrence
is the best testimony against them. The matter must be left to the Lord, who has
all hearts in his hands, committing ourselves unto him in humble submission,
believing hope, and fervent prayer.
Chapter 18:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 1 Kings 1 Chronicles
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalm
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation
