The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Kings — Section 353

Vers. 8-19.-Sennacherib's letter. While the foregoing events were taking place, Tiabshakeh had returned to his royal master. The siege of Lachish had been con- cluded-adding another to the score of victories-and Sennacherib was now at Libna.h, Here the news came that Tirhaka.h was on his march against him, and naturally Sennacherib wished to secure the capitulation of Jerusalem before the Ethiopian could arrive. To this end he sent another message to Hezekiah-this time in the form of a letter-renewing the attempt to frighten the Jewish king into surrender. I. SEKNACHERIB's PROUD BOASTINGS. The letter is an echo of the speech of Rab- sbakeb, and is couched in the same boastful spirit. 1. He 'TIW,kes light of the power of Jehovah. "Let not thy God in whom thou trustest deceive thee," etc. Sennacherib assumes that Hezekiah may have received true oracles from bis God, but he warns him not to trust them. In his arrogance, he defies all gods as well as men. 'l'o him Jehovah was but one god among many-the god of one small nation-not for a moment to be compared with the powerful Asshur. His idea of the morality of the gods is Feen in the supposition that they practised deceit upon their worshippers. 2. He eztols his own prowess. He again recounts the victories which he and previous kings of Assyria had gained. Their conquests had extended to all lands; gods and kings bad everywhere gone down before them: how should Hezekiah escape? As an induction, Sennacherib's argument seems very complete. The countries he names had been conquered; their gods had not availed to save them ; their kings had been over- thrown. Logic seemed on his side. Only faith could furnish a sufficient answer. 3. He is certain beforehand of victory. In bis assurance that he would overcome Hezekiah, Sennacherib is the type of many boasters. Often has the voice of the adversary been raised in exultation at bis prospective victory over the people of God. Pao-anilllil, Mohammedanism, and infidelity have each boasted that they would extinguish Christianity. Voltaire predicted that in a century from his time the Bible would be found only in antiquarian libraries. The same scoffer said that it took twelve men to found Christianity, but he would show that one man was sufficient to overthrow it. Modern unbelieving science sometimes speaks in the same strain. The argument per enumerationem is often employed, as it was by Sennacherib. All other religions show a tendency to collapse; their miracles are exploded, belief in witchcraft, etc., ilisappeare before the march of enlightenment; therefore Cb!'istianity cannot hope to stand. But arroo:ance is a bad prophet. " Before honour is humility;" but "pride goetb before dest;nction, and a haughty spirit before a fall" (Prov. xvi. 18; xviii. 12). It was so with Sennacherib, and it will be found to be so by his !Dodern imitators. II. HEZEKIAH's PB.AYER. When Hezekiah received this insulting epistle, he went ait before to the temple, and spread it out before the Lord. He did a~ we should all do with our troubles, carried it straight to the presence-chamber. God in truth knows all we have need of before we ask him; but that is no reason why we should not present ::>ur petitions. God knew all that was in this boastful letter; but that was no reason why Hezekiah should not place it before him, and make its contents the basis of his prayer. The prayer he offered contained: 1. An acknowledgment ef God's supremacy. To Sennacherib's false idea of Jehovah, Hezekiah opposes the true one, '.fhe Lord God of I~rael was no local deity, but the God of the whole earth. (1) He 1s the God cf rP-velation. "0 Lord God of Israel, which sittest upon the cherubim." It was because OH, XIX, 1-37 .] THE SECO.N.Li BOOK OF THE KINGS. 401