King James Bible - with Strong’s numbers (EN)

1And it came to pass, when kingH4428 HezekiahH2396 heardH8085 it, that he rentH7167 his clothesH899, and coveredH3680 himself with sackclothH8242, and wentH935 into the houseH1004 of the LORDH3068. 2And he sentH7971 EliakimH471, who was over the householdH1004, and ShebnaH7644 the scribeH5608, and the eldersH2205 of the priestsH3548 coveredH3680 with sackclothH8242, unto IsaiahH3470 the prophetH5030 the sonH1121 of AmozH531. 3And they saidH559 unto him, Thus saithH559 HezekiahH2396, This dayH3117 is a dayH3117 of troubleH6869, and of rebukeH8433, and of blasphemyH5007: for the childrenH1121 are comeH935 to the birthH4866, and there is not strengthH3581 to bring forthH3205 . 4It may be the LORDH3068 thy GodH430 will hearH8085 the wordsH1697 of RabshakehH7262, whom the kingH4428 of AssyriaH804 his masterH113 hath sentH7971 to reproachH2778 the livingH2416 GodH430, and will reproveH3198 the wordsH1697 which the LORDH3068 thy GodH430 hath heardH8085 : wherefore lift upH5375 thy prayerH8605 for the remnantH7611 that is leftH4672 . 5So the servantsH5650 of kingH4428 HezekiahH2396 cameH935 to IsaiahH3470. 6And IsaiahH3470 saidH559 unto them, Thus shall ye sayH559 unto your masterH113, Thus saithH559 the LORDH3068, Be not afraidH3372 ofH6440 the wordsH1697 that thou hast heardH8085, wherewith the servantsH5288 of the kingH4428 of AssyriaH804 have blasphemedH1442 me. 7Behold, I will sendH5414 a blastH7307 upon him, and he shall hearH8085 a rumourH8052, and returnH7725 to his own landH776; and I will cause him to fallH5307 by the swordH2719 in his own landH776. 8So RabshakehH7262 returnedH7725, and foundH4672 the kingH4428 of AssyriaH804 warringH3898 against LibnahH3841: for he had heardH8085 that he was departedH5265 from LachishH3923. 9And he heardH8085 sayH559 concerning TirhakahH8640 kingH4428 of EthiopiaH3568, He is come forthH3318 to make warH3898 with thee. And when he heardH8085 it, he sentH7971 messengersH4397 to HezekiahH2396, sayingH559, 10Thus shall ye speakH559 to HezekiahH2396 kingH4428 of JudahH3063, sayingH559, Let not thy GodH430, in whom thou trustestH982, deceiveH5377 thee, sayingH559, JerusalemH3389 shall not be givenH5414 into the handH3027 of the kingH4428 of AssyriaH804. 11Behold, thou hast heardH8085 what the kingsH4428 of AssyriaH804 have doneH6213 to all landsH776 by destroying them utterlyH2763 ; and shalt thou be deliveredH5337 ? 12Have the godsH430 of the nationsH1471 deliveredH5337 them which my fathersH1 have destroyedH7843, as GozanH1470, and HaranH2771, and RezephH7530, and the childrenH1121 of EdenH5729 which were in TelassarH8515? 13Where is the kingH4428 of HamathH2574, and the kingH4428 of ArphadH774, and the kingH4428 of the cityH5892 of SepharvaimH5617, HenaH2012, and IvahH5755? 14And HezekiahH2396 receivedH3947 the letterH5612 from the handH3027 of the messengersH4397, and readH7121 it: and HezekiahH2396 went upH5927 unto the houseH1004 of the LORDH3068, and spreadH6566 it beforeH6440 the LORDH3068. 15And HezekiahH2396 prayedH6419 unto the LORDH3068, sayingH559, 16O LORDH3068 of hostsH6635, GodH430 of IsraelH3478, that dwellestH3427 between the cherubimsH3742, thou art the GodH430, even thou alone, of all the kingdomsH4467 of the earthH776: thou hast madeH6213 heavenH8064 and earthH776. 17InclineH5186 thine earH241, O LORDH3068, and hearH8085 ; openH6491 thine eyesH5869, O LORDH3068, and seeH7200 : and hearH8085 all the wordsH1697 of SennacheribH5576, which hath sentH7971 to reproachH2778 the livingH2416 GodH430. 18Of a truthH551, LORDH3068, the kingsH4428 of AssyriaH804 have laid wasteH2717 all the nationsH776, and their countriesH776, 19And have castH5414 their godsH430 into the fireH784: for they were no godsH430, but the workH4639 of men'sH120 handsH3027, woodH6086 and stoneH68: therefore they have destroyedH6 them. 20Now therefore, O LORDH3068 our GodH430, saveH3467 us from his handH3027, that all the kingdomsH4467 of the earthH776 may knowH3045 that thou art the LORDH3068, even thou only. 21Then IsaiahH3470 the sonH1121 of AmozH531 sentH7971 unto HezekiahH2396, sayingH559, Thus saithH559 the LORDH3068 GodH430 of IsraelH3478, Whereas thou hast prayedH6419 to me against SennacheribH5576 kingH4428 of AssyriaH804: 22This is the wordH1697 which the LORDH3068 hath spokenH1696 concerning him; The virginH1330, the daughterH1323 of ZionH6726, hath despisedH959 thee, and laughed thee to scorn;H3932 the daughterH1323 of JerusalemH3389 hath shakenH5128 her headH7218 at theeH310. 23Whom hast thou reproachedH2778 and blasphemedH1442 ? and against whom hast thou exaltedH7311 thy voiceH6963, and lifted upH5375 thine eyesH5869 on highH4791? even against the Holy OneH6918 of IsraelH3478. 24ByH3027 thy servantsH5650 hast thou reproachedH2778 the LordH136, and hast saidH559, By the multitudeH7230 of my chariotsH7393 am I come upH5927 to the heightH4791 of the mountainsH2022, to the sidesH3411 of LebanonH3844; and I will cut downH3772 the tallH6967 cedarsH730 thereof, and the choiceH4005 fir treesH1265 thereof: and I will enterH935 into the heightH4791 of his borderH7093, and the forestH3293 of his CarmelH3760. 25I have diggedH6979, and drunkH8354 waterH4325; and with the soleH3709 of my feetH6471 have I dried upH2717 all the riversH2975 of the besieged placesH4693. 26Hast thou not heardH8085 long agoH7350, how I have doneH6213 it; and of ancientH6924 timesH3117, that I have formedH3335 it? now have I broughtH935 it to pass, that thou shouldest be to lay wasteH7582 defencedH1219 citiesH5892 into ruinousH5327 heapsH1530. 27Therefore their inhabitantsH3427 were of smallH7116 powerH3027, they were dismayedH2865 and confoundedH954 : they were as the grassH6212 of the fieldH7704, and as the greenH3419 herbH1877, as the grassH2682 on the housetopsH1406, and as corn blastedH7709 beforeH6440 it be grown upH7054. 28But I knowH3045 thy abodeH3427, and thy going outH3318, and thy coming inH935, and thy rageH7264 against me. 29Because thy rageH7264 against me, and thy tumultH7600, is come upH5927 into mine earsH241, therefore will I putH7760 my hookH2397 in thy noseH639, and my bridleH4964 in thy lipsH8193, and I will turn thee backH7725 by the wayH1870 by which thou camestH935 . 30And this shall be a signH226 unto thee, Ye shall eatH398 this yearH8141 such as growethH5599 of itself; and the secondH8145 yearH8141 that which springethH7823 of the same: and in the thirdH7992 yearH8141 sowH2232 ye, and reapH7114, and plantH5193 vineyardsH3754, and eatH398 the fruitH6529 thereof. 31And the remnantH7604 that is escapedH6413 of the houseH1004 of JudahH3063 shall againH3254 take rootH8328 downwardH4295, and bearH6213 fruitH6529 upwardH4605: 32For out of JerusalemH3389 shall go forthH3318 a remnantH7611, and they that escapeH6413 out of mountH2022 ZionH6726: the zealH7068 of the LORDH3068 of hostsH6635 shall doH6213 this. 33Therefore thus saithH559 the LORDH3068 concerning the kingH4428 of AssyriaH804, He shall not comeH935 into this cityH5892, nor shootH3384 an arrowH2671 there, nor come beforeH6923 it with shieldsH4043, nor castH8210 a bankH5550 against it. 34By the wayH1870 that he cameH935, by the same shall he returnH7725, and shall not comeH935 into this cityH5892, saithH5002 the LORDH3068. 35For I will defendH1598 this cityH5892 to saveH3467 it for mine own sake, and for my servantH5650 David'sH1732 sake. 36Then the angelH4397 of the LORDH3068 went forthH3318, and smoteH5221 in the campH4264 of the AssyriansH804 a hundredH3967 and fourscoreH8084 and fiveH2568 thousandH505: and when they arose earlyH7925 in the morningH1242, behold, they were all deadH4191 corpsesH6297. 37So SennacheribH5576 kingH4428 of AssyriaH804 departedH5265, and wentH3212 and returnedH7725, and dweltH3427 at NinevehH5210. 38And it came to pass, as he was worshippingH7812 in the houseH1004 of NisrochH5268 his godH430, that AdrammelechH152 and SharezerH8272 his sonsH1121 smoteH5221 him with the swordH2719; and they escapedH4422 into the landH776 of ArmeniaH780: and EsarhaddonH634 his sonH1121 reignedH4427 in his stead.


Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary
 1   We may observe here, 1. That the best way to baffle the malicious designs of our enemies against us is to be driven by them to God and to our duty and so to fetch meat out of the eater. Rabshakeh intended to frighten Hezekiah from the Lord, but it proves that he frightens him to the Lord. The wind, instead of forcing the traveller's coat from him, makes him wrap it the closer about him. The more Rabshakeh reproaches God the more Hezekiah studies to honour him, by rending his clothes for the dishonour done to him and attending in his sanctuary to know his mind. 2. That it well becomes great men to desire the prayers of good men and good ministers. Hezekiah sent messengers, and honourable ones, those of the first rank, to Isaiah, to desire his prayers, remembering how much his prophecies of late had plainly looked towards the events of the present day, in dependence upon which, it is probable, he doubted not but that the issue would be comfortable, yet he would have it to be so in answer to prayer: This is a day of trouble, therefore let it be a day of prayer. 3. When we are most at a plunge we should be most earnest in prayer: Now that the children are brought to the birth, but there is not strength to bring forth, now let prayer come, and help at a dead lift. When pains are most strong let prayers be most lively; and, when we meet with the greatest difficulties, then is a time to stir up not ourselves only, but others also, to take hold on God. Prayer is the midwife of mercy, that helps to bring it forth. 4. It is an encouragement to pray though we have but some hopes of mercy (Isa 37:4): It may be the Lord thy God will hear; who knows but he will return and repent? The it may be of the prospect of the haven of blessings should quicken us with double diligence to ply the oar of prayer. 5. When there is a remnant left, and but a remnant, it concerns us to lift up a prayer for that remnant, Isa 37:4. The prayer that reaches heaven must be lifted up by a strong faith, earnest desires, and a direct intention to the glory of God, all which should be quickened when we come to the last stake. 6. Those that have made God their enemy we have no reason to be afraid of, for they are marked for ruin; and, though they may hiss, they cannot hurt. Rabshakeh has blasphemed God, and therefore let not Hezekiah be afraid of him, Isa 37:6. He has made God a party to the cause by his invectives, and therefore judgment will certainly be given against him. God will certainly plead his own cause. 7. Sinners' fears are but prefaces to their falls. He shall hear the rumour of the slaughter of his army, which shall oblige him to retire to his own land, and there he shall be slain, Isa 37:7. The terrors that pursue him shall bring him at last to the king of terrors, Job 18:11, Job 18:14. The curses that come upon sinners shall overtake them.

 8   We may observe here, 1. That, if God give us inward satisfaction in his promise, this may confirm us in our silently bearing reproaches. God answered Hezekiah, but it does not appear that he, after deliberation, sent any answer to Rabshakeh; but, God having taken the work into his own hands, he quietly left the matter with him. So Rabshakeh returned to the king his master for fresh instructions. 2. Those that delight in war shall have enough of it. Sennacherib, without provocation given to him or warning given by him, went forth to war against Judah; and now with as little ceremony the king of Ethiopia goes forth to war against him, Isa 37:9. Those that are quarrelsome may expect to be quarrelled with; and God sometimes checks the rage of his enemies by giving it a powerful diversion. 3. It is bad to talk proudly and profanely, but it is worse to write so, for this argues more deliberation and design, and what is written spreads further, lasts longer, and does the more mischief. Atheism and irreligion, written, will certainly be reckoned for another day. 4. Great successes often harden sinners' hearts in their sinful ways and make them the more daring. Because the kings of Assyria have destroyed all lands (though, in fact, they were but a few that fell within their reach), therefore they doubt not but to destroy God's land; because the gods of the nations were unable to help they conclude the God of Israel is so; because the idolatrous kings of Hamath and Arphad became an easy prey to them therefore they doubt not but to destroy God's land; because the idolatrous kings of Hamath and Arphad became an easy prey to them therefore the religious reforming king of Judah must needs be so too. Thus is this proud man ripened for ruin by the sunshine of prosperity. 5. Liberty of access to the throne of grace, and liberty of speech there, are the unspeakable privilege of the Lord's people at all times, especially in times of distress and danger. Hezekiah took Sennacherib's letter, and spread it before the Lord, not designing to make any complaints against him but those grounded upon his own handwriting. Let the thing speak itself; here it is in black and white: Open thy eyes, O Lord! and see. God allows his praying people to be humbly free with him, to utter all their words, as Jephthah did, before him, to spread the letter, whether of a friend or an enemy, before him, and leave the contents, the concern of it, with him. 6. The great and fundamental principles of our religion, applied by faith and improved in prayer, will be of sovereign use to us in our particular exigencies and distresses, whatever they are; to them therefore we must have recourse, and abide by them; so Hezekiah did here. He encouraged himself with this, that the God of Israel is the Lord of hosts, of all hosts, of the hosts of Israel, to animate him, of the hosts of their enemies, to dispirit and restrain them, - that he is God alone, and there is none that can stand in competition with him, - that he is the God of all the kingdoms of the earth, and disposes of them all as he pleases; for he made heaven and earth, and therefore both can do any thing and does every thing. 7. When we are afraid of men that are great destroyers we may with humble boldness appeal to God as the great Saviour. They have indeed destroyed the nations, who had thrown themselves out of the protection of the true God by worshipping false gods, but the Lord, the God alone, is our God, our King, our lawgiver, and he will save us, who is the Saviour of those that believe. 8. We have enough to take hold of, in our wrestling with God by prayer, if we can but plead that his glory is interested in our case, that his name will be profaned if we are run down and glorified if we are relieved. Thence therefore will our most prevailing pleas be drawn: Do it for thy glory's sake.

 21   We may here observe, 1. That those who receive messages of terror from men with patience, and send messages of faith to God by prayer, may expect messages of grace and peace from God for their comfort, even when they are most cast down. Isaiah sent a long answer to Hezekiah's prayer in God's name, sent it in writing (for it was too long to be sent by word of mouth), and sent it by way of return to his prayer, relation being thereunto had: Whereas thou hast prayed to me, know, for thy comfort, that thy prayer is heard. Isaiah might have referred him to the prophecies he had delivered (particularly that ch. 10) and bid him pick out an answer from thence; but, that he might have abundant consolation, a message is sent him on purpose. The correspondence between earth and heaven is never let fall on God's side. 2. Those who magnify themselves, especially who magnify themselves against God and his people, do really vilify themselves, and made themselves contemptible, in the eyes of all wise men: The virgin, the daughter of Zion, has despised Sennacherib, and all his impotent malice and menaces; she knows that, while she preserves her integrity, she is sure of the divine protection, and that though the enemy may bark he cannot bite. All his threats are a jest; it is all but brutum fulmen - a mere flash, 3. Those who abuse the people of God affront God himself; and he takes what is said and done against them as said and done against himself: Whom hast thou reproached? Even the Holy One of Israel, whom thou hast therefore reproached because he is a Holy One. And it aggravated the indignity Sennacherib did to God that he not only reproached him himself, but set his servants on to do the same: By thy servants, the abjects, thou hast reproached me. 4. Those who boast of themselves and their own achievements reflect upon God and his providence: Thou hast said, I have digged, and drunk water; I have done mighty feats, and will do more; and wilt not own that I have done it, Isa 37:24-Isa 37:26. The most active men are no more than God makes them, and God makes them no more than of old he designed to make them: What I have formed of ancient times, in an eternal counsel, now have I brought to pass (for God does all according to the counsel of his will), that thou shouldst be to lay waste defenced cities; it is therefore intolerable arrogance to make it thy own doing. 5. All the malice, and all the motions and projects, of the church's enemies, are under the cognizance and check of the church's God. Sennacherib was active and quick, here, and there, and every where, but God knew his going out and coming in, and had always an eye upon him, Isa 37:28. And that was not all; he had a hand upon him too, a strict hand, a strong hand, a hook in his nose and a bridle in his lips, with which, though he was very headstrong and unruly, he could and would turn him back by the way which he came, Isa 37:29. Hitherto he shall come and no further. God had signed Sennacherib's commission against Judah (Isa 10:6); here he supersedes it. He has frightened them, but he must not hurt them, and therefore is discharged from going any further; nay, his commitment is here signed, by which he is clapped up, to answer for what he had done beyond his commission. 6. God is his people's bountiful benefactor, as well as their powerful protector, both a sun and a shield to those that trust in him. Jerusalem shall be defended (Isa 37:35), the besiegers shall not come into it, no, nor come before it with any regular attack, but they shall be routed before they begin the siege, Isa 37:33. But this is not all; God will return in mercy to his people, and will do them good. Their land shall be more than ordinarily fruitful, so that their losses shall be abundantly repaired; they shall not feel any of the ill effects either of the enemies' wasting the country or of their own being taken off from husbandry. But the earth, as at first, shall bring forth of itself, and they shall live and live plentifully upon its spontaneous productions. The blessing of the Lord can, when he pleases, make rich without the hand of the diligent. And let them not think that the desolations of their country would excuse them from observing the sabbatical year, which happened (as it should seem) the year after, and when they were not to plough or sow; no, though they had not now their usual stock beforehand for that year, yet they must religiously observe it, and depend upon God to provide for them. God must be trusted in the way of duty. 7. There is no standing before the judgments of God when they come with commission. (1.) The greatest numbers cannot stand before them: one angel shall, in one night, lay a vast army of men dead upon the spot, when God commissions him so to do, Isa 37:36. Here are 185,000 brave soldiers in an instant turned into so many dead corpses. Many think the 76th Psalm was penned upon occasion of this defeat, where from the spoiling of the stout-hearted, and sending them to sleep their long sleep (Isa 37:5), it is inferred that God is more glorious and excellent than the mountains of prey (Isa 37:4), and that he, even he, is to be feared, Isa 37:7. Angels are employed, more than we are aware of, as ministers of God's justice, to punish the pride and break the power of wicked men. (2.) The greatest men cannot stand before them: The great king, the king of Assyria, looks very little when he is forced to return, not only with shame, because he cannot accomplish what he had projected with so much assurance, but with terror and fear, lest the angel that had destroyed his army should destroy him; yet he is made to look less when his own sons, who should have guarded him, sacrificed him to his idol, whose protection he sought, Isa 37:37, Isa 37:38. God can quickly stop their breath who breathe out threatenings and slaughter against his people, and will do it when they have filled up the measure of their iniquity; and the Lord is known by these judgments which he executes, known to be a God that resists the proud. Many prophecies were fulfilled in this providence, which should encourage us, as far as they look further, and are designed as common and general assurances of the safety of the church and of all that trust in God, to depend upon God for the accomplishment of them. He that has delivered does and will deliver. Lord, forgive our enemies; but, so let all thy enemies perish, O Lord!