Chapter XXXII.
1–8 (compare 2 Kings xviii. 13–16).
Sennacherib’s threatened Invasion. Hezekiah’s Precautions.
The Chronicler introduces us somewhat abruptly to the Assyrian crisis. From 2 Kings we learn that Hezekiah renounced the suzerainty of Assyria (xviii. 7), which his father Ahaz had acknowledged (2 Kings xvi. 7). Thereupon Sennacherib invaded Judah, and Hezekiah was obliged to acknowledge with a heavy payment of tribute his dependence on the Assyrian king (2 Kings xviii. 13–16). Sennacherib having discovered the weakness of Judah, next demanded an unconditional surrender, intending to transport the Jews to another country (2 Kings xviii. 31, 32). This demand Hezekiah resisted, being strengthened thereto by Isaiah. The Chronicler does not refer to the earlier invasion or to the tribute—such a humiliation of the pious and devoted king being in his belief unthinkable. That any invasion should have taken place “after these things and this faithfulness” was sufficiently astonishing, until the issue showed that the anxiety and distress were only for the greater glory of Israel’s God and for the further proof of Hezekiah’s trust in Him.
¹After these things, and this faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came, and entered into Judah, and encamped against the fenced cities, and thought to win them[¹] for himself. ²And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib was come, and that he was purposed[²] to fight against Jerusalem,
[¹] Hebrew to break them up.
[²] Hebrew his face was to fight.
1. After these things, and this faithfulness] The phrase is a hendiadys and stands for, “After these faithful dealings.”
Sennacherib] This king (Sanḥērib in Hebrew, Sin-aḥi-irib [-irba] in Assyrian, the Σαναχάριβος of Herod. II. 141) reigned 705–681 B.C. He was the son of Sargon (Isaiah xx. 1), father of Esar-haddon (2 Kings xix. 37; Ezra iv. 3), and grandfather of Asshur-bani-pal, the well-known Σαρδανάπαλλος of Herod. II. 150, who is commonly identified with Osnappar (compare Ezra iv. 10). Under this dynasty Assyria reached the height of its power. The empire included Babylonia (which, however, was frequently in revolt), Assyria proper, Syria as far north as Cilicia (inclusive), and (under Esar-haddon and Asshur-bani-pal) Egypt. After Asshur-bani-pal’s death (about 626 B.C.) the Assyrian power was speedily destroyed. The form Sennacherib is derived from the LXX. through the Vulgate.
to win them] Literally to make breaches in them. According to 2 Kings xviii. 13 Sennacherib took these cites; and the Assyrian account on the “Prism Inscription” of Sennacherib which is preserved in the British Museum states that they were forty-six in number (compare Driver in Hogarth, Authority and Archaeology, pp. 104–107; or Handcock, Latest Light on Bible Lands, pp. 153 ff.).
³he took counsel with his princes and his mighty men to stop the waters of the fountains which were without the city; and they helped him.