Annotations upon the remaining historicall part of the Old Testament. The second part. to wit, the books of Joshua, Judges, the two books of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles, and the books of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther : wherein first, all such passages in the text are explained as were thought likely to be questioned by any reader of ordinary capacity : secondly, in many clauses those things are discovered which are needfull and usefull to be known ... and thirdly, many places that might at first seem to contradict one another are reconciled ... / by Arthur Jackson.

CHAP. XVIII.

Vers. 1. NOw it came to passe in the third yeare of Hoshea sonne of Elah king of Israel, that Hezekiah the sonne of Ahaz king of Judah began to reigne.] Hoshea slew Pekah in the fourth yeare of Ahaz, as is before noted, chap. 15.30. and though he were not immediately acknowledged king of Israel, yet in the twelfth yeare of Ahaz he began his reigne in Israel, chap. 17.1. and Ahaz reign∣ed in all but sixteen years, chap. 16.2. so that the last of Ahaz his reigne seems to have been the fift yeare of Hoshea, and the first of Hezekiah perhaps the sixt of Hoshea; and yet here it is said, that the first of Hezekiah was the third of Hoshea: I answer, that though Hoshea was confirmed king in the twelfth yeare of Ahaz, and so it is said in the twelfth of Ahaz he began to reigne in Samaria; yet because he reigned then onely as a viceroy under the king of Assyria, the nine years of his ab∣solute reigne are not reckoned, till he cast off the Assyrian yoke, and took upon him to reigne as absolute king; which was it seems two years after, to wit, in the fourteenth yeare of Ahaz: and so the third of Hoshea was indeed the first of Hezekiah.

Vers. 2. Twenty and five years old was he when he began to reigne, and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem.] If we compare this place with chap. 16.2. where it is said that Ahaz Hezekiahs father was twenty years old when he began to reigne, and that he reigned sixteen years, and consequently was thirty six years old when he dyed; it may seem that Ahaz begat Hezekiah when he was lit∣tle above eleven years old: for if Hezekiah was five and twenty years old when his father was but thirty six, it must necessarily follow that Ahaz was but eleven years old when his sonne Hezekiah was born: to avoid this inconvenience some

hold that Ahaz was one and twenty years old, or nigh so much, when he began to reigne, the incomplete yeare not being reckoned, chap. 16.2. the like also they say concerning the years of his reigne, to wit, that he reigned seventeen years well nigh complete, and so was thirty eight years old when he died; on the other side they say that Hezekiah was but twenty foure years old when he began to reigne; onely be∣cause he was foure and twenty years old complete, and something more, it is here said, that he was five and twenty years old when he began to reigne. Now accor∣ding to this computation Ahaz being thirty eight eight years old when he died, and Hezekiah twenty foure, it will follow that Ahaz was fourteen years old when He∣zekiah his sonne was born, which, say they, was possible enough; but because we find elsewhere that it was so usuall with the kings of Judah and Israel, to cause their sonnes that were to succeed them to be designed kings in their life; I should rather conceive, that what is said both of Ahaz and Hezekiah, concerning their age when they began to reigne, is meant of the time when they were first designed kings, as is before noted, chap. 16.2.

His mothers name was Abi, the daughter of Zachariah.] Or Abijah 2. Chron. 29.1. and if she were, as is supposed by many, the daughter of that Zachariah, by whom so long as he lived Uzziah was kept in the way of truth, chap. 26.5. we may well think that her piety, manifested in the carefull education of this her sonne, was a chief means under God that he proved so zealous for the cause of the true Religi∣on, though his father was so extremely wicked.

Vers. 4. He removed the high places, and brake the images, &c.] Other parti∣culars are expressed in the Chronicles which are not here mentioned; as first, that in the first moneth of the first yeare of his reigne he opened the doores of the Temple, which Ahaz had shut up, and repaired them, to wit, by overlaying them with gold where they were decayed. Secondly, that having called together the priests and Le∣vites, he exhorted them to sanctifie themselves, and to cleanse the house of God, wil∣ling them to consider that all the calamities which had lately fallen upon them, were for those foul corruptions in Religion which were crept in amongst them, and that this the priests and Levites did carefully, as he enjoyned them; and so the king, with the rulers of the citie, came up immediately to the Temple, and offered sacrifices there in a most solemne manner unto the Lord. Thirdly, that upon advice taken, because they could not keep the passeover at the usuall time, they resolved to keep it on the fourteenth day of the second moneth, to this end proclamation was made through∣out the kingdome for the assembly of the people; yea the king sent posts with let∣ters to the Israelites of the ten tribes, to perswade them also to return unto the Lord, and to come up unto Jerusalem to keep the passeover, and the feast of unleavened bread; wherein he prevailed with divers of them (though the most of them laughed his messengers to scorn) and so there was a great assembly both of the men of Judah and Israel, in Jerusalem, where they kept the feast with exceeding great joy: at which time it was that the people by the kings encouragement beginning first in Je∣rusalem, and afterward procceeding to the other cities of Judah, yea, and to some cities of the Israelites too, brake down all the idols and their appurtenance, as is here relalated; yea, and removed the high places too, which had hitherto stood in the dayes of their best king. And fourthly, that he ordered the courses of the priests and Le∣vites,

and provided both for their work and maintainance, wherein he sound the peo∣ple very forward.

And he called it Nehushtan.] That is a lump or little piece of brasse: to inti∣mate the folly of the people in worshiping the brasen serpent, when he had broken it, he called it Nehushtan.

Vers. 5. After him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor a••y that were before him.] That is, he excelled all that were before him, and all that were after him: for the kings that were before him the case is clear; for the com∣parison is not betwixt him and David or Solomon, but betwixt him and the kings of Judah, that sate in the throne of David, ever since the kingdome was rent into two kingdomes, the kingdome of Judah, and the kingdome of the ten tribes: now all these he excelled, in that he removed the high places, which neither Jehoshaphat nor any other of the good kings of Judah had hitherto done. But how did he ex∣cell all that were after him? seeing of Josiah his grandchild it is said, chap. 23.25. that there was no king before him like unto him? I answer; this needs not seem strange, if we consider, that though Josiah might excell him in some things, as in∣deed he did; yet Hezekiah might excell Josiah in other things: as first, in that He∣zekiah was the first that removed the high places, though none before him had done it, yet he would not suffer them to stand; but when Josiah removed the high places, he had the example of this his good grandfather to encourage him: and secondly, in his many victories over the Philistines, wherein Josiah was never so successefull.

Vers. 7. And he rebelled against the king of Assyria, and served him not.] If when Ahaz did send to the Assyrian to aid him against Rezin king of Syria, and Pekah king of Israel, chap. 16.7. he did not onely hire him thereto with a great summe of money, but did al••o covenant to become his vassall, and to pay him a yearely tribute; and yet within a while after, when Hezekiah succeeded his father Ahaz in the kingdome, encouraged with his victories over the Philistines and others, he resolved to cast off the yoke of the Assyrian, and so withheld the tribute that had been formerly paid; then no wonder it is, though it be said here of Hezekiah, that he rebelled against the king of Assyria: some Expositours excuse, yea, com∣mend this fact of Hezekiahs; and that either by supposing that Ahaz had covenan∣ted to pay tribute for some certain yeares, and so that term of years being now ex∣pired, Hezekiah was free; or else by pleading that it was unlawfull for Ahaz to subject Gods free people to the yoke of a heathen prince; and therefore it was law∣full for Hezekiah to cast off his yoke: but rather I conceive, it was a weaknesse and errour in Hezekiah to do this, though he did it out of a zeal against the subjection of Gods people to a forrain power: and that first, because it is here expressely termed rebellion▪ and he rebelled against the king of Assyria, and served him not: secondly, because Hezekiah did himself acknowledge afterwards, that he had offen∣ded herein, vers. 14. and Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria to Lachish▪ saying, I have offended, &c. and thirdly, because we find elsewhere, that Zedekiah king of Judah was sharply condemned for casting off the yoke of the Ba∣bilonian king, contrary to the covenant that had been made with him; as is largely expressed▪ Ezek. 17.12, 13. &c.

Vers. 8. He smote the Philistines even unto Gaza, &c.] The Philistines had

taken many strong cities from his father Ahaz, 2. Chron. 28.18. The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the low-countrey, and of the south of Judah, and had ta∣ken Beth-shemesh▪ and Aialon, and Gederoth, and Shocho with the villages thereof. Hezekiah therefore did now make war upon them, and did mightily prevail, taking from them all that they had gotten, as farre as Gaza, from the tower of the watch∣men to the fenced city. Concerning which expression see the note, chap. 17.9.

Vers. 13. Now in the fourteenth yeare of king Hezekiah, did Sennacherib king of Assyria come up against all the fenced cities of Judah, &c.] Because Hezekiah had rebelled against the Assyrian Sennacherib, therefore the sonne of Shalmaneser in the fourteenth yeare of Hezekiah, which was eight years after Shalmaneser had taken Samaria, and carried away the Israelites into captivity, raised a mighty army and invaded the kingdome of Judah; and thus did the Lord both punish the wickednesse of the people, which was the more insufferable because it was under the government of so pious a prince; and withall exercised the patience, and tried the faith of good Hezekiah.

Vers. 14. And Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria to Lachish, saying, I have offended &c.] At the first entrance of Sennacherib into the kingdome, Hezekiah buckled himself with all diligence to defend himself and his kingdome a∣gainst him; and to that end by the advice of his counsel and captains, he cut off the waters that were likely to be usefull to the Assyrian army, and fortified Jerusalem•• and calling together his souldiers and men of warre, he spake comfortably to them, and assured them of Gods assistance, 2. Chron. 32.2, 8. but it seems, when he saw how suddenly the Assyrian had taken many cities of Judah, and that proceeding on in his victories he had also besieged Lachish; he began to fear the worst, and so re∣solved to try if he could buy his peace, and sent his ambassadours to acknowledge his offence, and to entreat his favour, yielding withall to pay what ever tribute he would impose upon him.

Vers. 17. And the king of Assyria sent Tartan, and Rabsaris, and Rabshakeh from Lachish, &c.] Having gotten the money above mentioned into his hands, vers. 14. The king of Assyria appointed unto Hezekiah king of Judah, three hun∣dred talents of silver, and thirty talents of gold: he notwithstanding went forward in his enterprize of subduing them; and therefore not onely continued the siege of Lachish, but also sent a good part of his army under the command of three of his captains, whereof Rabshakeh was chief (and therefore is onely mentioned by Isai∣ah, chap. 36.2.) And the king of Assyria sent Rabshakeh from Lachish to Jerusalem to Hezekiah king of Judah:) to besiege Jerusalem, 2. Chron. 32.9. After this did Sennacherib king of Assyria send his servants to besiege Jerusalem, but he himself laid siege against Lachish: even now he had a purpose, as it seems, to invade Egypt, and was therefore resolved not to leave this kingdome of Judah behind him, to joyn with the Egyptian, and so to annoy him: rather he desired to make Jerusalem a place of retreat for his army; and therefore though he thought good to dissemble with He∣zekiah, and to condescend seemingly to accept of a tribute; yet so soon as he had got∣ten the gold and silver into his hands, he perfidiously went forwards in his warres, and now nothing would serve him, but to have Jerusalem delivered up into his hands.

Vers. 18. There came out to them Eliakim the sonne of Hilkiah, which was over the houshold, and Shebna the Scribe, &c.] This Eliakim was he of whom Isaiah had prophecyed, that he should be advanced to that place of dignity in Hezekiahs court, which at that time Shebna did enjoy, Isaiah 22.20▪ 21. And it shall come to passe in that day, that I will call my servant Eliakim the sonne of Hilkiah, and I will cloath him with thy robe, and strengthen him with thy girdle, and commit thy go∣vernment into his hand: and indeed what is there said of Shebna, that he was over the house, Isaiah 22.15. (Get thee unto this treasurer, even unto Shebna, which is over the house:) is here said of Eliakim; and for the Shebna here mentioned, the kings scribe or secretary, it was not (as I conceive) that wicked Shebna, in whose place the Prophet foretold that Eliakim should succeed, but another officer of Heze∣kiah of the same name; and therefore perhaps it is so expressed, Isaiah 22.15. Get thee unto this treasurer, even unto Shebna, which is over the house, to distinguish him from this Shebna the secretary or scribe.

Vers. 19. Speak ye now to Hezekiah, Thus saith the great king, the king of Assyria.] It is conceived, that this manner of speech they might use by way of deri∣ding the prophets of Israel, who in their prophecying did ordinarily begin after this manner, Thus saith the Lord God.

Vers. 25. Am I now come up without the Lord against this place to destroy it? &c.] This Rabshakeh might speak onely to terrifie the people, though in truth he had never any such thought concerning the all-ruling providence of God; but be∣sides having heard of Hezekiahs taking away the high places and altars, whereon for many years together the people had worshipped the God of Israel, he might per∣swade himself that this marvellous successe, which the Assyrians had had in their warres against Judah, proceeded from the wrath of the God of Israel against his people; and so urgeth them with this, that doubtlesse their own God had brought his master against them, to punish them for this which Hezekiah had done.

Vers. 26. Then said Eliakim the sonne of Hilkiah, and Shebna, and Joah, &c.] That is, one of them in the name of them all: though these three men came out to parley with Rabshaketh and the other Assyrian captains, yet it seems Rab∣shaketh when he spake to them, spake so loud, and that in the Jewes language, that all the souldiers that were on the wall might heare what he said; which he did pur∣posely to affright the people, as is expressely noted, 2. Chron. 32.18. Then they cryed with a loud voice in the Jews speech unto the people of Jerusalem that were on the wall, to affright them, and to trouble them, that they might take the ci∣ty: Eliakim therefore, and those that were with him, desired Rabshaketh to speak in the Syrian and not in the Jews language, Speak I pray thee to thy servants in the Syrian language (for we understand it) and talk not with us in the Jews language, in the eares of the people that are on the wall: a strange request indeed this may seeme, to be made to an enemy, who they might be sure would do what he could to discourage the people, and to raise sedition amongst them: but first, it is no won∣der, that men in danger should seek to help themselves in those wayes, whereby there is little or no likelyhood that they should do themselves any good: and secondly, perhaps they desired this of him as refusing to continue the parley, unlesse he would speak to them in the Syrian language; upon which ground they might conceive

he would yeild to them, as hoping that upon this parley they would surrender the citie to him peaceably.

Vers. 32. Ʋntill I come and take you away to a land like your own land, &c.] Because the Assyrian king had lately carried away the Israelites captives into a strange countrey, this people could not but feare the like measure, by way of answer∣ing these their fears; therefore he addes these words, wherein he yeilds indeed, that they might expect that at his return (for their purpose was to go against Egypt, as∣soon as they had perfected the conquest of Judea) they should be removed out of their countrey; but withall he addes that they should be carried to a land as good as their own.

Vers. 36. But the people held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the kings commandment was, saying, Answer him not.] To wit, lest they should rashly either exasperate the enemy, or discover their fears, or give any other advantage to them, by any thing they should say; and because there was no better way to pull down the swelling pride of this insolent tyrant, then thus to seeme not to mind what he said, or at least, not to judge his words worthy an answer.

Vers. 37. Then came Eliakim the sonne of Hilkiah which was over the hous∣hold, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the sonne of Asaph the recorder, to Heze∣kiah with their clothes rent, &c.] To wit, because of the blasphemy of Rabsha∣keh, and the great distresse whereinto they were all like to fall.