2 Kings 18-19
Key Verse 18: 5a Hezekiah trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel.
The history of Hezekiah is recorded in three books: 2 kings 18-20, Isaiah 36-39, and 2 Chronicles 29-32. 2 Chronicles record much longer and details of events than 2 Kings. Though the viewpoint of 2 Chronicles differs from 2 Kings, it will help to understand 2 Kings, which is simpler. Also, the significance or the meaning of the history evolved in 2 Kings may not be fully recognized unless we see it from God’s perspective, i.e., with respect to Isaiah’s prophecy.
Hezekiah’s reform (18:1-8)
The fall of Samaria (18:9-12)
Assyrian threat and Hezekiah’s faith (18:13-19:37): the author devoted much of the details of what happened until Assyrians retreats. It can be divided into three; a) Hezekiah's attempt to pacify King Sennacherib with gold and silver. b) Assyrian demand for surrender (18:17-36) c) Sennacherib’s ridicules the word of the Lord (19:8-13) d) God defeats Assyrians (19:35-37) After b) and c) comes Hezekiah’ search for God’s help and prayer. It is shown below:
Hezekiah’s failure in an attempt to pacify Sennacherib (18:13-16)
Assyrian demand of surrender (18:17-36)
17-25: you have no means to defend yourself
26-36: no one can help you escape from my hand; you are better off under my care.
Hezekiah’s sought God’s help and receives God’s message of deliverance (18:37-19:7)
Sennacherib’s ridicule of God’s word (19:8-13)
Hezekiah’s 2nd prayer (14-19)
God’s word of deliverance (19:20-34)
God fulfills His promise (19:35-37)
Ch 20 notes two events of Hezekiah’s life that happened sometime after his reform before or during Sennacherib’s demand for surrender (18:17-36).
Hezekiah’s reform and the fall of Samaria stand as the background of the entire event, the threat of Assyria (Sennacherib). Hezekiah’s reform gave him the faith that God wanted and built great confidence in his strength. On the other hand, the story of the fall of Samaria gives a sober reality of the attack of Assyria and its foreseeable and realistic outcome unless Judah does differently. The long discourse of Assyrian attack and Hezekiah’s response speaks of what it means to live by faith; while God’s response to Hezekiah’s prayer reveals who the Lord is in His role in the sphere of the world kingdoms. These two are the commanding theme of the life of Hezekiah. In some sense, they also serve as the ultimate messages from the book of Kings for his people Israel. In addition, from Isaiah’s perspective, Hezekiah’s life serves as the typical model of the one whom God would save according to the Law of Moses (Lev 26; Deut 29). In this respect, his life stands in contrast to the life of Ahaz, who rejected God’s promise in unbelief.
HEZEKIAH’S REMARKABLE REFORM
[18:1-8] How did the reign of King Hezekiah begin (1-8)? Discuss the details of what he did and why he came to this decision to reform (2 Chr 29:3-10)
In the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, Hezekiah son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign. It is difficult to synchronize the 3rd yr of Hoshea(729/728) with the beginning of the reign of Hezekiah. But one thing is clear; as Hoshea was taken captive to Assyria with the total loss of the northern kingdom Israel, and the land being replaced by foreigners, he saw with his own eyes what was happening in more detail than many others.
2 He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother’s name was Abijah daughter of Zechariah.
At the 14 years of his reign, he was about to die and when he prayed to the Lord, God extended 15 more years, making total of 29 years of reign (it is likely that in the last 10 years of his life, his son Manasseh was his coregent). As noted above there are six major events under Hezekiah’s reign. It is important to know when he faced death and then God extended his life 15 more years. This happened during the period of Assyrian’s demand for surrender ( most likely between 3a and 3b).
3-4 describes his reform of the nation. He did this at the outset of his reign (2 Chr 29:3, the first month of the first year of his reign). Here five things are noted i) removal of the high places, (ii) destruction of altars, (iii) cutting down of the Asheroth, (iv) removal of Nehushtan.
2 Chr 29:3-36 describes the details. He renewed the sacrificial system anew through Levites/priests. And he wrote a letter to encourage all the people to join and they all came and celebrated the Passover (30:1-31:1). At the end of the Passover celebration, they, as a whole, went out to the towns of Judah, smashed the sacred stones, and cut down the Asherah poles. They destroyed the high places and the altars throughout Judah and Benjamin and in Ephraim and Manasseh. (31:1). This was almost like the rededication of the Temple as King Solomon did. In addition, at this time, people in their own accord, went out to remove the high places and even Hezekiah knew the wrongs of the bronze snake, though it had been there all along and no one recognized the wrong attitude of the people toward the bronze snake that Moses made as they were on the way to Canaan. As we know high places were there all along since King Solomon. Even the good kings (Jehoshaphat (1 Kgs 22:43), Joash (2 Kgs 12:4), Amaziah (2 Kgs 14:4), Azariah (2 Kgs 15:4), and Jotham (2 Kgs 15:35) failed to notice the wrongs or failed to remove them. How could he/people of Judah do this? Their spiritual discernment and their zeal or power to carry out this? Here Hezekiah’s reform started with the restoration of the temple and worship. This was followed by the celebration of Passover. These two brought the minds of people of the entire Judah to the worship of the Lord. When one worships the Lord and makes a meaningful connection with Him, he/she can discern from what the true worship of the Lord is not from what the truthful worship is.
High places and the bronze snake have some association with the worship of the Lord of the past history. But these were not a part of God’s final answer on true worship. As we know, even though the law that God established through the temple and its sacrificial system, the temple, and the sacrificial system can become like these two items if one observes them without the true understanding of the law in the spirit of obedience in faith. Jesus’ life itself is the worship that God the Father wants us all to follow. In other words, without knowing Jesus, the understanding of true worship remains within the perimeters of human understanding and more often drawn into a syncretic belief as to the high places or the bronze snake (?! Cross necklace). The Reformer came to a keen realization of this problem in the church of the middle age and cut them off radically. To do so, many of them died.
There was no such reform before and after King Hezekiah (5b). Through his reform, the nation as a whole went back to the time of King Solomon or even to the time of King David. So the writer says; “He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father David had done.”
7 And the LORD was with him; he was successful in whatever he undertook. He rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him. 8 From watchtower to fortified city, he defeated the Philistines, as far as Gaza and its territory.
This is an outworking of God's grace as the nation as a whole turned to the Lord. In these successes, God confirmed in their hearts that He was with them and was willing to do whatever they desired in His will.
ISRAEL’S FALL AND ITS LESSONS FOR JUDAH/HEZEKIAH
[9-12] What happened to Israel between the period of the fourth year and the sixth year of Hezekiah (9-11) Why (12)? Discuss what might be the effect of this on Hezekiah.
Sha’s attack and conquer of Northern Israel was recorded in ch 17:1-6. Here (vv9-12) it is repeated to emphasize how and why the northern kingdom failed, esp. to King Hezekiah. Hezekiah must know that “This happened because they had not obeyed the LORD their God, but had violated his covenant—all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded. They neither listened to the commands nor carried them out” (v12). Also, though it is difficult to ascertain clearly, it is likely that Hezekiah’s will to reform Judah came before the fall of Israel and if this was the case, then his reform was the greatest achievement among all kings of Israel/Judah. After all, through the reform accompanied by God’s blessings, Hezekiah and his people were totally renewed in spirit and their confidence was high above. In some respect, they were ready or well prepared to take on any foreseeable challenges.
SENNACHARIB’S ATTACK AND HEZEKIAH’S FAITH
Whether it was before or during this event is not clear. But it seems that there were two engaging events with Assyrian Army. The first one is v13-16 and the second one is v17-36. Though they are not two totally separated events, the first event was followed up by the second event with little interval. In my understanding, this was to allude that these two events were interposed by something important. That something might be Hezekiah’s deadly illness. This fits well with Isaiah’s prophecy. Based on this assumption, I will explore God’s purpose in and through the Assyrian attack.
Hezekiah failure in an attempt to pacify Sennacherib feared Assyria (13-16)
[13-16] In the fourteenth year, how did Hezekiah escape the total destruction of the nation from King Sennacherib (13-16)?
13 In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah’s reign, Sennacherib king of Assyria attacked all the fortified cities of Judah and captured them.
Sennacherib king of Assyria attacked all the fortified cities of Judah and captured them. About 8 years before this, Northern kingdom Israel fell under Assyria after three years of siege in Samaria. Now, all the fortified cities fell by Sennacherib and only Jerusalem is left. It is surrounded by the Assyrian Army. As he saw the fall of Israel, it was all too clear that Judah would face the same fate as Israel. The true reality spoke in power to challenge the faith that he attained through the reform. Hezekiah’s heart was overwhelmed by fear. He decided to seek the mercy of Assyria. He would do whatever the King of Assyria asks for. The king demanded three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold. It was too much to bear. But Hezekiah did not have any choice but to find these treasures. To do so, he even took all the silver from the temple and stripped off the gold with which he had covered the doors and doorposts of the temple of the LORD, and gave it to the king of Assyria.
This could not be seen favorably by the Lord and God struck him with a deadly sickness. 2 Chr 32:27-30 records his pride and confidence in what he had achieved through the time of prosperity under God’s blessing. We will discuss more detail in 2 Kings 20.
Sennacherib’s demand for surrender (17-36).
[17-36] Whom did the king of Assyria sent to Jerusalem (17; 2 Chr 32:9-19; Cf. Isa 36:1-22)? What was his message to the king Hezekiah (18-25)? Find the key points of his mockery and their significance to the faith of Hezekiah and his people. What did the commander of Assyria try to do in his communication with the leaders of Israel (26-36; Cf. Isa 36:1-22)?
Even after receiving a hefty sum of gold and silver, the king of Assyria was not satisfied. He wanted to make Judah be like Israel. So, he sent his supreme commander, his chief officer, and his field commander with a large army, from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem. They came up to Jerusalem and stopped at the aqueduct of the Upper Pool, on the road to the Washerman’s Field. What was the exact enunciation of this statement is not clear. But it seems to point to the fact that what Hezekiah built up was of no use
30 It was Hezekiah who blocked the upper outlet of the Gihon spring and channeled the water down to the west side of the City of David. He succeeded in everything he undertook.(2 Chr 32)
He had great pride in what he did in preparation of the nation in anticipation of the foreign attack (Ref. 2 King 18:7-8; 2 Chr 32:28-30). In the time of prosperity and success, he prepared the nation so well and had great pride in himself or what he had done. But as he saw the attack of Assyria, he came to see that none of those things did any good. Now there was nothing left for him to defend Jerusalem. Simply, it was a matter of time for Jerusalem to fall as Samaria fell after three years of siege. While they were in a standoff, the king of Assyria sent his commander to taunt the king Hezekiah. for his foolishness.
In his first taunts (19-25), the king of Assyria disputed and mocked what Hezekiah believed. In his dispute, he questioned the validity of his trust on five things: fist his (vv. 19b–20) reliance on military counsel and strength; second (vv. 20–21) his reliance upon Egypt.; third (v. 22) their trust in their God, YHWH. He reasoned that since destroyed all the high places (v. 4), it would be a foolish thing to rely on his God or any gods. Fourth (vv. 23–24) Egyptian military power was too weak and was defeated by him. Finally, he asserted the will of God on his attack (v. 25). Since Assyria’s successes came from YHWH’s own command, it would be foolish to fight against God’s will. Instead of fighting, entrust your life of peace in the King’s hand. (Ref. 19:25–26). All these were very powerful in reason/arguments and very persuasive. Hezekiah could have counted any of these five to be worthy of his trust. But his taunt did not stop here.
The one thing that stood out from his taunts; his pride and arrogance against the Lord. He deduced that God of Judah, YHWH, was working on behalf of him, not him for the Lord because he was good and powerful. As we will notice in 19:25-26, he was able to conquer those countries because God nullified their power and strength to punish them for their wrongs not because Assyria was good or strong. Truly out of skyrocketing hubris, the king of Assyria mocked the power and authority of God of heaven and earth.
At the same time, Hezekiah’s pride was brought down to the bottom. To all these arguments of the king, Hezekiah’s men had nothing to say.
In his second taunt (26-36), the commander appealed to the leaders of Judah -Eliakim son of Hilkiah, and Shebna and Joah—and then to the people of Jerusalem. The main theme of the argument was that there was no one who could deliver Judah from the hand of Assyria. To do so, the commander spoke in Hebrew instead of Aramaic.
He tried to stir up the people to go against Hezekiah. Could Hezekiah and his people be one in the heart? This was important to stand as a nation. During the reform movement, they all became one in the spirit in removing high places. This unity in spirit seemed to be at work at this time. The success of the kingdom might be hanging on one issue if they could come together for the Lord or not. If the king fails to do, the loss of the kingdom is obvious; Also, if the people as a whole fail to trust the Lord, this will also incur the loss of the kingdom.
In this second taunt, finally, he nailed down his request to the three representatives of King Hezekiah.
31 "Do not listen to Hezekiah. This is what the king of Assyria says: Make peace with me and come out to me. Then each of you will eat fruit from your own vine and fig tree and drink water from your own cistern, 32 ..Choose life and not death! "Do not listen to Hezekiah, for he is misleading you when he says, 'The LORD will deliver us.
He made what seemed to be the ultimate blow to their trust in the Lord
33 Has the god of any nation ever delivered his land from the hand of the king of Assyria? 34 Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah? Have they rescued Samaria from my hand? 35 Who of all the gods of these countries has been able to save his land from me? How then can the LORD deliver Jerusalem from my hand?"
Here he dishonored the God of Israel and showed his contempt for His authority and power. Actually, these are the questions and doubts raised by the people of the world as much as it was for Judah. Actually, the entire story of Judah’s struggle against Assyria was not just what God will or will not do for His people but who He is to the people and kingdoms of the world. In this regard, the question ‘could he or could he not answer this question?’ was a more serious one for Hezekiah. The rest of the story was geared to give this answer.
Hezekiah sought god’s help and God gave a message of deliverance (18:37-19:7)
First, Hezekiah sought God’s help and His mercy. As soon as he received this message from Eliakim son of Hilkiah, and Shebna and Joah, he understood the situation as this:
3 They told him, "This is what Hezekiah says: This day is a day of distress and rebuke and disgrace, as when children come to the moment of birth and there is no strength to deliver them.
2 Kings gave two separate reports, one for the matter in dealing with the nation and Sennacherib’s attack, and the other, his personal sickness. But 2 Chron saw these two events tied up together.
24 In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. He prayed to the LORD, who answered him and gave him a miraculous sign. 25 But Hezekiah’s heart was proud and he did not respond to the kindness shown him; therefore, the LORD’S wrath was on him and on Judah and Jerusalem. (2 Chr 32)
The faith of Hezekiah was a vital part of the survival of the nation. A great reform followed by great successes led him to his pride and that pride was shattered when the nation lost everything but Jerusalem. In fear, he attempted to pacify Assyria. But it became clear that that was a futile and foolish effort. Then there was a drastic change in his attitude. After listening to the details of their mockery, he and his staff’s minds drastically changed. They were gripped with the holy anger of the Lord. Hezekiah repented of his pride and saved his life, Jerusalem, and his country. (2 Chr 32:26)
How did he show his repentance? He went to the temple of the Lord; seeking God’s help. And he sent his man to the prophet Isaiah to ask him for help: In his message to Isaiah, he conveyed three messages:
a) This day is a day of distress and rebuke and disgrace, as when children come to the moment of birth and there is no strength to deliver them.
b) 4 It may be that the LORD your God will hear all the words of the field commander, whom his master, the king of Assyria, has sent to ridicule the living God, and that he will rebuke him for the words the LORD your God has heard.
c) Therefore pray for the remnant that still survives."
He understood this as God’s rebuke of his sin and pride. Hezekiah made a tremendous reformation of the nation and was able to turn the heart of the nation to the Lord. Nevertheless, when the real situation came whereby faith was definitely needed, he and his people were not able to deliver! If the baby cannot be delivered, the baby and mother will die! This was the existential crisis of him and the nation as a whole. Second, he saw the most critical issue; the living God was ridiculed by Assyrians. Though their wellbeing was important and was the first priority for him, his attention was given to God’s name and honor to His name. Often the focus of many prayers is on personal salvation or rescue from troubles. But Hezekiah hoped that God would rebuke Assyria for their defamation of God’s authority. Third, he prayed that God may save the remnant (Cf. 20:19). In his prayer, there is no demand but expectation and hope for God’s mercy, not for himself but for the nation and for the remnants. Whether God punishes one or not, whether He punishes one over the other has to do with His will and His glory! God punishes his chosen one because of his love for them. Facing his own death as well as the grim fate of the nation was in sight, he repented sincerely and sought God’s mercy. There is no great man in the eyes of the Lord. The true greatness of a man is not in what he can do or how he can live godly life so well but is the one who repents and shows his true dependence on the Lord seeking His purpose. Moses was such a man and David was great not just because he feared the Lord but because he repented of his sin and accepted God’s mercy. In this regard, Hezekiah was as great as David. All men are sinners. Great men are those who repent and uphold God’s will at the expense of their own lives. Then God delivered him a message of deliverance
5 When King Hezekiah's officials came to Isaiah, 6 Isaiah said to them, "Tell your master, 'This is what the LORD says: Do not be afraid of what you have heard--those words with which the underlings of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me. 7 Listen! When he hears a certain report, I will make him want to return to his own country, and there I will have him cut down with the sword.
This was a great comfort for Hezekiah and his people. But this was not the end yet. They had to wait and see what God promised to happen.
Sennacherib’s ridicule of god’s word (19:8-13)
[19:8-37] What message did King Sennacherib send to King Hezekiah (8-13; Isa 37:1-13)? From whom and how did Hezekiah seek the solution (14-19 Cf. Isa 37:14-20)? What was God’s answer to his prayer (21-34)? How was it delivered to him (20, Isa 37:21-38)? How was God’s word fulfilled (35-37; Cf. 2 Chr 32:20-21)?
Upon receiving God’s word of deliverance from Isaiah, Hezekiah saw the field command of Assyria withdrawing.
2 Kings 19:8 When the field commander heard that the king of Assyria had left Lachish, he withdrew and found the king fighting against Libnah.
As Hezekiah was receiving this message from the Lord, the field commander left to help his king Sennacherib at Libnah who was going to fight against the Cush-Egypt alliance. It looked as if the word of God was being fulfilled in front of their eyes. But soon, the commander came back to encircled Jerusalem and delivered this message:
10 "Say to Hezekiah king of Judah: Do not let the god you depend on deceive you when he says, 'Jerusalem will not be given into the hands of the king of Assyria.'
He forced a belief that his return spoke of the failure of God’s word. He further substantiated his reason:
11 Surely you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all the countries, destroying them completely. And will you be delivered? 12 Did the gods of the nations that were destroyed by my predecessors deliver them--the gods of Gozan, Harran, Rezeph and the people of Eden who were in Tel Assar? 13 Where is the king of Hamath or the king of Arpad? Where are the kings of Lair, Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah?"
Hezekiah thought, a moment before, that God’s word was being fulfilled. Instead, the commander’s return and the message delivered was biting and penetrating deeply into his heart, unraveling his trust in God’s word. The return of the field commander looked as clear evidence that God’s promise was not true. His word and his return seemed to serve as a clear sign that what God promised was not happening or undone. Hezekiah’s mind was gripped in quandary in between fear/doubt and faith in the word of God. His faith in Him and His word was being tested up to the limit. If he surrenders then, it would be the end of all. If he would not surrender, then he and his people must go through such a tragic time—total annihilation by ferocious Assyrians.
The world tests our faith to the last minute, close to the door of death. Why did the Lord not fulfill His word immediately so that his fear and stress might be alleviated quickly? Or why does the world test his faith up to the last minute? The world does everything up to the last minute to make their success. Hezekiah must not doubt God’s promise even if the current reality seems to testify to the failure of fulfilling God’s promise. Regardless, at all costs, and to the end, i.e., to the point of death, he must trust God’s word and must endure until the end for surely in His time God will surely fulfill His promise. This is the true facet of genuine faith, the faith that God wants from His people. Hezekiah reformed the nation. It was great and testified of his faith. But that faith fell short when he faced the Assyrian attack. God could have defeated at his first prayer. But God did not. Strangely the commander of Assyria came back to deliver the word of King Sennacherib to defy God’s word of promise to deliver. It was to help King Hezekiah and his people to taste what it means to have faith in the Lord.
This was a great test of Haz’s faith. What did Hezekiah do?
Hezekiah’s all-in prayer (14-19)
After the initial message from the commander of Assyria, he went to the temple to pray and sent his staff to Isaiah to seek God’s word. On receiving the second message, he went up to the temple again and spread the letter before the Lord and prayed.
15 And Hezekiah prayed to the LORD: "LORD, the God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. 16 Give ear, LORD, and hear; open your eyes, LORD, and see; listen to the words Sennacherib has sent to ridicule the living God. 17 "It is true, LORD, that the Assyrian kings have laid waste these nations and their lands. 18 They have thrown their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods but only wood and stone, fashioned by human hands. 19 Now, LORD our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone, LORD, are God."
He did not say anything about his life or the wellbeing of the nation. It was a great contrast to his early prayer (Ch 20:2-3). The main concern in his prayer was God’s honor and His glory. The primary goal of his request was to let all the kingdoms of the earth know that you alone are God. Hezekiah, like any other human being, was wrapped up with concerns about himself and his well-being (20:3-10, 20). Now his heart was all to and for the glory of the Lord. How can God’s glory be honored in and through this matter? How can God be glorified in and through my life in this matter? God showed his favor when he was young in faith. Now through these trials of faith, he grew to have the faith that God wanted; the faith that concerns Father’s glory. Moses did not honor Him enough before the people of Israel and was not allowed to enter the land of God’s promise
20:12 But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them." (Num 20:12 NIV)
He said about Eli and his sons
2:30 "Therefore the LORD, the God of Israel, declares: 'I promised that members of your family would minister before me forever. ' But now the LORD declares: 'Far be it from me! Those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disdained. (1Sa 2:30 NIV)
More often than not, our prayers are filled with the immediate necessities of our personal lives. They are good. But the primary and the most important concern in our prayer is the glory of the Lord. Hezekiah’s faith grew from the personal wellbeing-faith to the faith in and through which God’s glory becomes the utmost importance. Jesus, our Lord, and Savior, lived for the glory of the Father. In the Gospel of John, the revelation of God’s glory was the most important theme of Jesus’ life (Jn 1:14; 17:4, 22). Upon receiving this glory from Hezekiah, the Lord delivered the victory against the enemy Assyria.
Isaiah described Ahaz’s unbelief on God’s promise of delivery. As we noted he was the prominent king in Judah who adopted the way of Jeroboam, pagan and syncretic belief. After him, Isaiah devoted more than 3 chapters to describe God’s work in the life of Hezekiah (ch 36-39) In contrast to Ahaz, Hezekiah’s life stands tall as the one who came to have genuine faith in and through which the Lord was willing to impart His blessing. Isaiah began to speak about the crushing of Assyria from ch 14:25. This promise passed (had to pass) through the period of Judah’s struggle (ch 28-35) among formidable powers of the time: Egypt, and Assyria. On receiving the faith that the Lord wanted to see in Hezekiah, He finally delivers what he had promised; the destruction of Assyria. In other words, the faith of Hezekiah and God’s delivery of Judah from Assyria serves the acme of Judah’s history that fulfilled God’s promise. At the same time, the faith of Hezekiah and God’s demonstration of his power to deliver His nation from the claws of world powers serves as the example of how He would do in an eschatological time when the ultimate delivery of His kingdom will come. That delivery will come through the faith that Hezekiah came to have. Anything less than his faith may not find God’s power or empowerment. In this sense, Hezekiah’s faith is a shadow of the faith that Jesus demonstrated through his life on the earth.
Then on receiving the faith that He wanted to see, what did the Lord
God’s word of deliverance (19:20-34)
20 Then Isaiah son of Amoz sent a message to Hezekiah: "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I have heard your prayer concerning Sennacherib king of Assyria.
Here God called himself the God of Israel through King Hezekiah and his people in Jerusalem called for help. Though northern kingdom Israel was swallowed up by Assyria and all the major cities of Judah were overrun by Sennacherib, and only Jerusalem was left hanging, God is the God of Israel and he did not desert or rejected the Covenant that He made with Israel. Even now as only Jerusalem is hanging on the balance, it is in God’s will for her; He is still standing tall among all nations to be identified as the God of Israel.
Hezekiah and his people were called collectively virgin daughter Zion.
21 This is the word that the LORD has spoken against him: "'Virgin Daughter Zion despises you and mocks you. Daughter Jerusalem tosses her head as you flee. 22 Who is it you have ridiculed and blasphemed? Against whom have you raised your voice and lifted your eyes in pride? Against the Holy One of Israel!
First, virgin daughter Zion will find great joy in seeing you run away. The term “virgin daughter” used in conjunction with a city: Zion (19:21; Lam 2:13), Jerusalem (19:21), Babylon (Isa 47:1), Sidon (Isa 23:12), Egypt (Jer 46:11), Judah (Lam 1:15). Virgin daughter of a particular city/country is a collective term to call those who are well protected and enjoys all the blessings of the city/country. Figuratively speaking it is about those who live in the secure ‘city, nation, or country’ enjoying all protections from outsiders and enjoys the riches and peace. This phrase is used to denote what will happen to those who find rest and enjoyment in such a protected city/country/nation. When it is used along with Zion, it seems to carry a positive affect, either because they find rest in God’s provision or His promise in all that Zion embodies or because God, the owner of this city, cares for those in His city. Here Jerusalem was under siege by Sennacherib for quite a while and suffered anxiety, fear, and even famine. Yet the most vulnerable of the city, virgin daughter, will see the mighty army of Assyria retreating because of God’s mighty hand. They taunted Zion but now virgin daughters of Zion, who were protected by the Father over Zion, taste His protection and rejoice in what the Lord has done on behalf of them. The daughter of Zion was helpless, powerless, and hopeless under the siege. But now their hearts are exuding with victory, hope, and great joy in jubilance. She is calling all to join in her joy for what the Father has done. Who can partake in this joy? They are those who put their unbridled commitment to the Lord’s righteousness and holiness by faith. It is not what or how much one has, not how many soldiers or armors, how well-fortified the city that one lives in, but the trust in the Lord who ordains all things according to His righteousness and holiness.
Second, you ridiculed and blasphemed the Lord. This pride began with the previous kings of Assyria, and eventually, King Sennacherib’s pride reached its peak to the extent whereby God’s judgment was warranted. This theme, human pride/blasphemy, flows deeply in the book of Daniel through God’s prophecies about all the kingdoms of the world. There God’s will and plan to destroy the kingdoms of the world were vividly revealed through dreams/visions. The characteristic of these kings is their pride, playing against the authority that belongs only to God only. Isaiah’s prophecy to destroy Assyria (Isa 14:25) was fulfilled in this word of God. How and why He did this serves as the commanding principle of how He would deal with the kingdoms of the world when His kingdom people went under those kings in the coming years. At the same time, Assyria stands for the kingdom that suppresses and annihilate his kingdom people in arrogance, His will expressed in this passage serves as a prophetic warning to all kings and kingdoms of the world in coming ages. God ordained their fall; God planned it long ago, like the grass that comes up and scorched away. What you did against them was not of your power but of my plan for them. (25-26; Isa 14:25). God knew that, in time, Assyria would move further her ways to her satisfaction and violate God’s authority. That arrogance would be unveiled and induced when she met resistance from God’s people.
Third, I know your whereabouts and how you rage against me. That is to say that your life is in my hand. Your insolence reached me and I will put my hook on your nose and bit in your mouth and force your turn by the way you came. (27-28)
The sign for Hezekiah (29-31)
The land will produce food for them this year and the next year though they did not plant and cultivate. Simply God would feed them even if they did not labor at all. In the third year, they can plant and grow crops to sustain their lives for a long time. In this way, the Lord will make Jerusalem, i.e., the mount of Zion, the place whereby the remnant can sustain their lives and flourish. By this time all the towns of Judah suffered defeat from the Assyrian attack. It was likely that the minds of the people of those towns might have dissipated and lost hope in God’s kingdom. Nevertheless, those who live in Jerusalem, Mount Zion, and who experienced this delivery from Assyria, would not lose hope of the restoration of God’s kingdom. Actually, their spirit would be sustained by the Lord till the end of ages.
God fulfills His promise (35-37)
King Sennacherib will not enter the city, and will not come before the city. Instead, he will return by the way he came. With high hope and arrogance, he came. But he will go back unfulfilled and in frustration. Why?
34 I will defend this city and save it, for my sake and for the sake of David my servant.’
This was the city of David and here David sacrificed for the forgiveness of the sins that he committed against the Lord. This is the city where he prepared to build the temple of the Lord. This was the city where God gave his promise to David about sending an everlasting king through one of his descendants.
The same phrase is found in 20:6. The primary reason for extending the life of Hezekiah was to deliver not only Hezekiah but also this city. After a long struggle against Sennacherib, by destroying his army, God proved again that He would sustain the promise given to David and He would surely restore His kingdom. If there was a difference then and now, it might be that now he came up to the faith of David. In other words, what God did in and through the life of Hezekiah speaks of one thing; God will surely restore the kingdom of God through the promise given to David despite the attacks of many world powers. It shall be done through the kind of faith that Hezekiah demonstrated at the struggle against King Sennacherib.
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