Isaiah 36

Isaiah 36:1

NOw, &c.] This relation is here inserted out of the Books of the ings and the Chronicles, to seal up the truth of Gods former promises and threatnings, concerning the deliverance of his Church, (though he suffer it to be sometime in distresse) and the destruction of her enemies. Chap. 10. and 24. and 25. and 30. and 34. and 35.

it came to passe, &c.] 2 Kings 18:13. 2 Chronicles 32:1.

in the fourteenth yeer of king Hezekiah] After he had abandoned idolatry, and setled Gods worship: 2 King. 18. 4, 6. 2 Chron. 29. and 30. and 31. yet would God exercise his faith and patience; and chastise him also, for his distrust; 2 King. 18. 14-16. and his people for their neglect of him and contempt of his word. Chap. 22. 11-13.

all the defenced cities of Judah] Most of them; not all simply, Chap. 37. 4, 8. all, some few excepted; which might seem none to speak of, in comparison of the number of the rest: so Chap. 64. 6, 7. Jeremiah 6:28. and 9 2.

Isaiah 36:2

Rabshakeh] Senacheribs chief captain: his name importeth a grand, or chief butler: which, it may be, was his office in court.

Lachish] A citie of Judah, Joshua 15:39. before which he then sate; but had not yet taken it. Chap. 37. 8.

a great armie] Heb. heavie. Chap. 32. 2.

the upper pool] Chap. 7. 3. and 22. 9.

Isaiah 36:3

came forth unto him] By the Kings appointment. vers. 21.

over the house] Advanced now to the office of high Steward, which Shebna formerly held, as was foretold. Chap. 22. 20, 21.

Shebna the scribe] Or, Secretarie. Who was high Steward before, Chap. 22. 15. And this seemeth to have been the first step of his fall, there foretold and threatned. Chap. 22. 19. Of the office see 1 Kings 4:3.

the recorder] Or, Remembrancer. Chap. 62. 6.

Isaiah 36:5

I say, sayest thou, (but they are but vain words)] Or, I say, it is onely a vain word, or, speech. Heb. a word of lips. Proverbs 14:23.

I have counsell and strength for warre] Or, but counsell and strength are for the warre. He chargeth Hezekiah, that he trusted to his own wisdom and strength; when as his trust was in God alone. 2 Chronicles 32:8. Or, he would bear him in hand, that he relied onely on vain words; having neither good advise, nor strength; which are requisite for warre. Proverbs 20:18. and Proverbs 24:6. Luke 14:31.

Isaiah 36:6

in the staff of this broken reed, &c.] Or, in this bruised (Chap. 42. 3.) staff of cane: alluding to such canes as they used commonly for walking staves; and the weaker sort, for support and stay. See Chap. 10. 20. and 50. 10. One that is altogether unable to help; Chap. 30. 5. and such as will not fail onely, Chap. 20. 5, 6. but wound and maim them, that shall trust unto him. Chap. 30. 3. See Ezek. 19 6, 7.

Isaiah 36:7

whose high places, and whose altars Hezekiah hath taken away] He laboureth to withdraw him from his trust in God; as having wronged him by demolishing the altars, which yet were not Gods, but the idols. 2 Kings 18:4. 2 Chron. 32. 12.

Isaiah 36:8

give pledges, I pray thee, to my master] Or, hostages. Heb. mingle thy self with my master. Ezra 9:2. Proverbs 20:19. and Proverbs 24:21.

and I will give thee two thousand horses, &c.] Engage thy self to be at my Masters command, if thou beest not able to finde riders enow for so many horses as he shall tender unto thee: spoken in scorn, as deriding the small number of his forces; implying that his Master could soon tender him more horse, then he was able to furnish with men.

Isaiah 36:9

How then wilt thou turn away the face of one captain, &c.] He twitteth him with his small power, as not able to make his partie good with any one the meanest of his Masters commanders: much lesse to stand out against his whole army.

on Egypt] That which the people of Judah were indeed overprone to. Chap. 31. 1. Ezekiel 29:16.

Isaiah 36:10

am I now come up without the LORD] He pretendeth a command and commission from God, and a secret one there was indeed: but such as he little dreamed of, or intended to execute. See Chap. 10. 5-8.

Go up] Or, go on; proceed. 1 King. 22. 12, 15. Chap. 35. 9.

Isaiah 36:11

Syrian] Heb. Aramite. Ezra 4:7.

understand it] Heb. heare it. Chap. 33. 19.

in the eares] Or, hearing.

Isaiah 36:13

cried] Chap. 33. 7.

Isaiah 36:15

make you trust in the LORD] See 2 Chron 32. 7, 8.

hand] Or, power. as Chap. 19. 4. Chap. 22. 14. and 37. 10.

Isaiah 36:16

thus saith the king, &c.] He would make them beleeve, that their condition should be bettered by making agreement with him.

Make an agreement with me by a present] Or, Seek my favour by a present. Heb. make with me a blessing. Genesis 33:11. 1 Samuel 25:27. 2 Kings 5:15.

come out to me] Yeeld your selves to me. 2 Kings 24:12.

eat ye every one of his vine, &c.] Enjoy freely each one his own. Proverbs 5:15.

cistern] Or, pit. Leviticus 11:36. Jeremiah 14:3.

Isaiah 36:17

a land of corn, &c.] Deuteronomy 8:8.

Isaiah 36:18

Beware lest] A defective speech. See the like, Genesis 3:22.

Hath any of the gods, &c.] Chap 7. 10-13.

Isaiah 36:19

Hamath and Arphad] Chap. 10. 9.

Sepharvaim] 2 Kings 17:24. 32.

Samaria] Chap. 10. 10, 11.

Isaiah 36:20

that the LORD should deliver Jerusalem] Thus the wicked account God no better then an idol, not apprehending, how he useth them but as scourges and instruments. Chap. 10. 5, 15. 2 Chron. 32. 13-15, 19.

Isaiah 36:21

they held their peace] As deeming it in vain to stand arguing the matter with him; when it would but incite him to further outrage. Prov. 9. 7, 8. and 26. 4. Amos 5:13.

Isaiah 36:22

with their clothes rent] In token of detestation of the blasphemie they had heard; Matthew 26:65. or, of their perplexitie and extremitie of grief. Ezra 9:3. Job 1:20. Chap. 33. 7. and 37. 1.