Matthew Henry's Complete Bible Commentary

2 Kings 18

When the prophet had condemned Ephraim for lies and deceit he comforted himself with this, that Judah yet “ruled with God, and was faithful with the Most Holy,” Hosea 11:12. It was a very melancholy view which the last chapter gave us of the desolations of Israel; but this chapter shows us the affairs of Judah in a good posture at the same time, that it may appear God has not quite cast off the seed of Abraham, Romans 11:1. Hezekiah is here upon the throne, I. Reforming his kingdom, 2 Kings 18:1-18:6. II. Prospering in all his undertakings (2 Kings 18:7, 18:8), and this at the same time when the ten tribes were led captive, 2 Kings 18:9-18:12. III. Yet invaded by Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, 2 Kings 18:13. 1. His country put under contribution, 2 Kings 18:14-18:16. 2. Jerusalem besieged, 2 Kings 18:17. 3. God blasphemed, himself reviled, and his people solicited to revolt, in a virulent speech made by Rabshakeh, 2 Kings 18:18-18:37. But how well it ended, and how much to the honour and comfort of our great reformer, we shall find in the next chapter. MHBCC 332.1