Vers. 4. And Rabshekeh said vnto them, Tell you Hezekiah* 1.1 I pray you, Thus saith the great king, the king of Ashur, What confidence is this wherein thou trustest?
THe Prophet shewes that these three Am∣bassadors (which represented in a maner the whole state of the kingdome) were not only repulsed, but receiued disgracefullie, & galled with insupportable iniuries by the Captaine of this Tyrant. For he is so impu∣dent as to aske how Hezekias durst presume to rebell, no lesse then if he had bin a man conuinced of Rebellion. Some expound the particle Na, I pray you, but it can not well stand with the honor (as you would say) of so proud and insolent a Tyrant, to come vnto them by way of intreatie. He speakes rather like those who impose conditions vpon o∣thers, who are either vanquished, or are rea∣die to yeeld themselues for feare, whome such are minded to receiue to mercie, which we commonlie call, Sommer, that is, To call vpon, or To Summon one. But that his Sum∣mons might be of the greater authoritie, this Captaine speakes in the person of his King: and with big words sets forth his greatnes; the rather to daunt the heart of Hezekias, when he should heare he had to deale with so power∣full an enemie. For his meaning was not only to say that Hezekiah was farre inferior to his Master the chiefe Monarch of the world; in comparison of whom, Hezekiah was to be e∣steemed no better then a meane Gentleman: but he calles him the great King, the King of Ashur; that by these titles of his power and magnificence he might as it were darken the glorie of all other Kings, that so all might seeme to rest in him alone. Which thunder∣bolts had bin sufficient to haue terrified and feared the heart of Hezekiah, especiallie see∣ing he was mued vp, as I said before, within the walles of the Citie, out of which he could not escape; much lesse was he any way able to make his partie good against the violence of this Tyrant.