and mistaken reading of the whole facts of history and of human life. The view which history presents to one who denies the postulates of revelation will differ entirely from the view which it presents to a Christian believer. Belief in God is the right centre for understanuing everything. III. THE ANSWER OF SILEN0E. 'l'o these harangues of Rabshakeh the people "answered not a word." Hezekiah had given this in~truction to hie officers, and they, when the people gathered, doubtless spread among them the knowledge of the kin<Y's wish. .Accordingly tliey " held their peace." There were many reasons why this answer of silence was a. wise one. 1. Rabshakeh'8 words did not deserve an answer. His address to the people on the wall v;a,s a. breach of all diploma.tic courtesy ; it had for its object to sow the seeds of mutiny, and set the people against their king; it was obviously insincere in its tone and promises, scrupling at nothing which would induce the people to surrender their liberties; in relation to J ehova.h, it was profane and blasphemous. Speeches of that kind are best left, unanswered. .A tempter is fittingly met with silence. .A man who makes insincere proposals does not deserve to be reasoned with. Profanity and blasphemy should be left without reply (Matt. vii. 6). 2. From Rabshakeh's point of view no reply was possible. This has freely to be conceded. What would it have availed to point out to him that the gods of these other nations were no gods, and that Jehovah was the one living and true God? Such statements would have but provoked a. new burst of mockery. It was bett,er, therefore, to say nothing. In all reasoning with an opponent there must be a. basis of common grounu. "When we reach a. fundamental divergence of first principles, it is time to stop. .At least, if argument is to proceed, it must go back on these first principles, and try to find a. deeper unity. Failing in that, it must cease. Between the Christian and unchristian views of the world, e.g., there is no middle term. 3. Evmfrom the Jewish point of view no reply was ready. God was to be trusted, but would he indeed save? What if the iniquities of the people had provoked him to deliver them up, as J.e had delivered up Samaria.? Deliverance was conditional on repentance: did the state of morals in the city show much sign of repentance'! Or, if God meant to deliver them, how would he do it? 'l'hey seemed fast in the lion's jaws. The way of efcape froa1 their present predicament was not obvious, yea, no way seemed possible. What, then, should they answer? At most, their belief in Jehovah's interposition was an act, of faith, for which no justification could be given in outwanl appearances. In such crises, when all rests on faith, nothing on sight, the best attitude of the soul, at lea.ilt in presence of the worldly, is silence. "Be still, and know that I am God," is the counsel given in the psalm supposed to commemorate this deliverance (P~. xlvi. 10).-J. 0.
EXPOSITION.
OHAPTER XIX. who camo into his presence "with their clothes rent" (see eh. xviii. 37)-and covered Vers. 1-37.-SECOND EXPEDITION OP himself with eackoloth. A sign of grief and SENNACHERIB AGAINST HEZEKIAH (con- self-humiliation (comp. Gen. xxxvii. 34; tinued). The chapter falls into four por- 2 Se.m. iii. 31 ; xxi. 10; l Kiags xx. 31 : xxi. 27; eh. vi. 30, etc.). It was natural tions: (1) The sequel to the embassy of the.t the king should be even more stronglv Rabshakeh (vers. 1-8); (2) the insulting affected than his miaisters. And went into letter of Sennacherib (vers. 9-14); (3) Heze- the house of tho Lord; to open liis griefs, ask lrie.h's prayer, e.nd God's a.newer to it by the counsel, and beg for a.id. mouth of Isaiah (vers. 15-34); and (4) the Ver. 2.-And he sent Elie.kim, which we.a destruction of Sennooherib's liost, his hurried over the household, e.nd Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests. "The el,lers flight, and his murder e.t Nineveh by his of the priests" ore aged men holdiag the sons (vere. 85-87). The ne.rre.tive runs priestly office, not necessarily tho higli pe.re.llel with the.t in lee.. xxxvii., with which priest, or the most note.hie or most dignified it corresponds almost word for word. of the priests. The king felt that his best hope, so far e.s 1lle.n we.a concerned, la v in Ver. 1.-And it ea.me to pass, when Xing the prophetical order. Isaiah, Hosea, j oel Hezekiah heard it, that he rent his olothes- Micah, e.nd perhaps Obadiah, were th~ following the example of his chief ollloen, prophets of the time; but it is Qot ole~r tlla$ 382 THE SECO~D BOOK OF THE KINGS. [cH. XIX. 1-37.