Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Kings 18:31
Hearken not to Hezekiah: for thus saith the king of Assyria, Make [an agreement] with me by a present, and come out to me, and [then] eat ye every man of his own vine, and every one of his fig tree, and drink ye every one the waters of his cistern:
31. Make an agreement with me by a present ] R.V. make your peace with me. The noun is that which is often rendered ‘blessing’ in the sense of a ‘present’ (see note on 2Ki 5:15 above). And there is no example in the Bible exactly parallel to this. But the cognate verb is used of salutations (e.g. 2Ki 4:29), ‘If any man salute thee’, literally ‘bless thee’, ‘wish thee peace’. Hence it is not difficult to see how such a noun would come to have the sense of ‘peace’, exactly like shalm, which is the more usual word in such salutations.
and come out to me ] i.e. Open your gates and submit yourselves instead of staying within to die of starvation.
and then [R.V. omits then] eat ye every man [R.V. one ] of his own vine ] Cf. above 1Ki 4:25 where the description applies to the most prosperous days of the reign of Solomon.
cistern ] This was a pit or well dug for collecting water, not the sort of manufactured tank to which the name is now usually given.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Make an agreement … – Rather, Make peace with me. The word, which primarily means blessing, and secondarily a gift, has also the meaning, though more rarely, of peace. Probably it acquired this meaning from the fact that a peace was commonly purchased by presents.
eat … drink – A picture of a time of quiet and prosperity, a time when each man might enjoy the fruits of his land, without any fear of the spoilers violence. The words are in contrast with the latter part of 2Ki 18:27.
Cistern – Rather, well Deu 6:11. Each cultivator in Palestine has a well dug in some part of his ground, from which he draws water for his own use. Cisterns, or reservoirs for rain-water, are comparatively rare.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Make an agreement with me by a present, to redeem yourselves from all the calamities of a close siege, and that death which certainly will follow on them. Or, procure, or purchase a blessing from me, i.e. a blessed peace; whereby you may be delivered out of your distressed and cursed condition, and receive from me the blessings of protection and provision, which your king cannot give you.
Then eat ye every man of his own vine; upon these terms I will give you no disturbance, but quietly suffer each of you to enjoy his own possessions.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
[See comments on 2Ki 18:17]
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(31) Make an agreement with me by a present.Literally, make with me a blessing, i.e. (according to the Targum and Syriac), make peace with me. The phrase does not elsewhere occur. Perhaps it is grounded on the fact that the conclusion of peace was generally accompanied by mutual expressions of goodwill. (Gesenius says peace is a conception akin to blessing, weal.)
Come out to me.From behind your walls; surrender (1Sa. 11:3; Jer. 21:9).
And then eat ye.Omit then. The country-folk who had taken refuge in Jerusalem are invited to return to their farms, and dwell in peace, until Sennacherib has brought his Egyptian campaign to a close; then, no doubt, they will be removed from their home, but a new home will be given them equal to the old (Cheyne). We might, however, render, according to a well-known Hebrew idiom, so shall ye eat, every man of his own vine, &c., i.e., If ye surrender at once, no harm shall befall you; but ye shall enjoy your own land, until I remove you to a better. (Comp. 1Ki. 5:5.) Thenius denies the reference to the Egyptian campaign, and makes Sennacherib pose as a father who wishes to make the necessary preparations for the reception of his dear children (!).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
31. Make an agreement with me by a present A very erroneous rendering of the terse and simple Hebrew , make along with me a blessing, namely, the blessing of peace, quiet, security, and plenty, such as that portrayed in the latter part of this verse and in 2Ki 18:32.
Come out to me The blessing of peace that is promised can only be secured by a timely and cheerful surrender.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
2Ki 18:31 Hearken not to Hezekiah: for thus saith the king of Assyria, Make [an agreement] with me by a present, and come out to me, and [then] eat ye every man of his own vine, and every one of his fig tree, and drink ye every one the waters of his cistern:
Ver. 31. Make an agreement, &c. ] Heb., Make with me a blessing. The Chaldee hath it, Pacem recipite, Accept of peace upon my terms.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Make [an agreement] = Get a blessing out of my coming. Literally. Make with me a blessing.
come out: i.e. capitulate.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Make an agreement with me: or, Seek my favour, Heb. Make with me a blessing, Gen 32:20, Gen 33:11, Pro 18:16
eat ye: 1Ki 4:20, 1Ki 4:25, Zec 3:10
cistern: or, pit
Reciprocal: 1Sa 11:2 – On this 1Ki 20:6 – and they shall search 2Ki 17:3 – and Hoshea 2Ki 17:24 – Ava Isa 33:18 – receiver Isa 36:16 – Make an agreement with me by a present Jer 14:3 – pits