plRCe nt the east gate of the city (see on cb. xxix. 4), 6. The soldiers fflitably addressed. He encouraged them in their work of defence, as at the great Passover he had encouraged the Levites in their temple duties (eh. xxx. 32). (1) Spirited exhortations. (a) "Be strong." So the Philistine generals charged their troops when fighting against Israel (1 Sam. iv. 9); so David, dying, exhorted Solomon succeeding (1 Kings ii. 2); so Oded counselled Asa returning from war (eh, xv. 7); so Paul recommends Christians for the fight of faith (1 Cor. xvi. 13; Eph. vi. 10; 2 Tim. ii. I). (b) "Be courageous." So Joab had encouraged David's army against the Syrians (2 ::lam. x. 12);_ and Jehoshaphat the !-,evites e.n~ priests in their duties (eh, xix. 11); so Peter advises the followers of Christ (2 Pet. 1. 6). (c) "Be not afraid or dismayed." So Jahaziel to Jehoshaphat's troops (eh. xx. 15-17); and Isaiah to Ahaz when threatened by Rezin and Pekah (eh. vii. 4); so Christ to his disciples (John vi. 20). (2) Effective arguments. (a) General: that a Greater was with them than with the invader (cf. 2 Kings vi. 16; Rom. viii. 31; 1 John iv. 4). (b) Particular: that he had only frail human power to lean upon-men and horses without number, but still only "an arm of flesh" ( cf. J er. xvi i. 5 ; Ps. lvi. 5 ; Isa. xxi. 3); whereas they had ,Jch?vah thei: __God to keep them and fight their battles, as Moses (Exod. xiv. 14), Ah1Jah (eh. xm. 12), and Jehoshaphat (eh. xx.17) had; and as Christians may have (Matt. xxviii. 20; Rom. viii. 31). 7. 'I'he confidence of the people raised. They rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah (ver. 8). In the face of Isaiah's accusa- tion (xxii. 11) this can hardly mean that they placed an unroRerved and exclusive trust in Jehovah. The prophet rather charges them with trusting less to him than to their dcfensi ve preparations. LESSONS. 1. The military spirit essentially an aggressive spirit. 2. The best bulwarks of a nation are the pious lives of its people. 3. The necessity of combining faith and works in ordinary matters as well as in things of the spirit. 4. Confidence in God the best protection against fear of man. 5. The certainty that none can be victorious who fight against God, or be defeated for whom God fights.-W.
Vers. 9-16.-The invasion ef Sennacherio: I. A summons to surrender. I. SEKKACRERIB's ENCAMPMENT AT LACHIBH. Fifteen or eighteen hours west-south-west of Jerusalem, in the low country of Judah, on the confines of Philistia, fourteen miles north-east of Gaza, Lachish (see on eh. xi. 9; xxv. 27)-on the monuments Lakis- a.ccording to a slab in the British Museum, was a walled town with towers and battle- ments, whose power of resistance was so great as to demand a protracted siege. 1. Sennacherib's route thither. From the north-not by the military road through Nnzareth, Jczreel, Sicbem, Bethel, Ai, Michm.ash, Geba, Rama, Gibeah, Anathoth, Nob (Isa. x. 28---32), Sargon's route (Sayce, 'Fresh Light,' etc., p. 137), but by Sidon, Akko, Joppa, Bene-berak, Beth-dagon, Ekron, and Ashdod (Schrader, p. 386). 2. Sennacherib's employment there. (1) Besieging Lachish. Sennacherib's annals furnish no account of this siege; but some sculptured slabs in the British Museum represent a large city "defended by double walls, with battlements and towers and by fortified outworks," for the capture of which Sennacherib brought up his whole army," and raised against the fortifications as many as ten banks or mounts, completely built of ,;tones, bricks, earth, and branches of trees" (Layard, 'Nineveh and Babylon,' p. 149). That this was Lachish is rendered probable by the circumstance that one of these slabs depicts the capture of Lachish, the inscription reading, "Sennacherib, the king of multitudes, the King of Assyria, sat on an upright throne, and the spoil of the city of Lachish passed before him" (ibid., p. 150). "'l'he besieged defended them- selves with great determination, thronged the battlements and towers, showering arrows, javelins, stones, and blazing torches upon the assailants," while the Assyriane " poured water with large ladles upou the flaming brands which threatened to destroy their engines" (ibid., p. 149). The stubborn resistance of Lachish no doubt delayed the advance of Sennacherib's whole force against Jerusalem (' Records,' etc., i. 35). (2) Receiving Hezekiah's submission. Hezekiah had rebelled against the Assyrian supremacy in the days of Shalmaneser (2 ~ings xviii. 7), but ~ad agai~ been placed under it by Sargon. On Sargon's assass1nat1on (n.o. 705) the kings of Bidon, Ascalon, and Judah formed an alliance with Egypt and Ethiopia. to once more break the oppres- ~ive yoke of Assyria. The league was joined by the Ekrouites, against the will of OH. nxu.1-33,l THE SECOND BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. 395