Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Chronicles 32:20
And for this [cause] Hezekiah the king, and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz, prayed and cried to heaven.
20. And for this cause Hezekiah prayed ] R.V. And Hezekiah prayed because of this.
heaven ] Here used reverently for “God”; cp. 2Ch 28:9; Dan 4:26; Luk 15:21.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
20 23 (cp. 2Ki 19:1-4; 2Ki 19:14-19; 2Ki 19:35-37). Hezekiah and Isaiah pray. The Deliverance
This section is a very brief epitome of 2 Kings 19. The Chronicler assumes here as elsewhere that his readers have access to the fuller sources of information.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
2Ch 32:20
Prayed and cried to heaven.
True prayer
True prayer is not pestering the Throne with passionate entreaties that a certain method of deliverance which seems best to us, should be forthwith effected; but is a calm utterance of need, and a patient, submissive expectance of fitting help, of which we dare not define the manner or the time. They are wisest, most trustful and reverent, who do not seek to impose their notions or wills on the clearer wisdom and deeper love to which they betake themselves, but are satisfied with leaving all to His arbitrament. True prayer is the bending of our own wills to the Divine, not the urging of ours on it. When Hezekiah received the insolent letter from the invader, he took it and spread it before the Lord, asking God to read it, leaving all else to Him to determine: as if he had said, Behold, Lord, this boastful page. I bring it to Thee, and now it is Thine affair more than mine. The burden which we roll on God lies lightly on our own shoulders; and if we do roll it thither, we need not trouble ourselves with the question of how He will deal with it. (Alex. Maclaren, D.D.)
Fire upwards
A story of the wars of the first Napoleon has often come back to me. He was trying in a winter campaign to cut off the march of the enemy across a frozen lake. The gunners were told to fire on the ice and break it, but the cannon balls glanced harmlessly along the surface. With one of the sudden flashes of genius he gave the word, Fire upwards! and the balls crashed down full weight, shattering the whole sheet into fragments, and the day was won. You can fire upwards in this battle even if you are shut out from fighting it face to face. You can do your share within the four walls of your room. (Miss Trotter.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
And for this cause Hezekiah the king, and the prophet Isaiah, the son of Amoz, prayed and cried to heaven. To God in heaven; of the prayer of Hezekiah on this account, see Isa 37:15, and the notes there; [See comments on Isa 37:15] [See comments on Isa 37:16] [See comments on Isa 37:17] [See comments on Isa 37:18] [See comments on Isa 37:19] [See comments on Isa 37:20]
and though we read not of the prayer of Isaiah, no doubt he made one, as Hezekiah desired, and since he received a message from the Lord, which he sent to Hezekiah, Isa 37:4.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Prayer of King Hezekiah and of the prophet Isaiah for the help of the Lord. – 2Ch 32:20. The main contents of Hezekiah’s prayer are communicated in 2Ki 19:14-19 and Isa 37:15-19. There it is not expressly said that Isaiah also prayed, but it may be inferred from the statement in 2Ki 19:2. and Isa 37:2. that Hezekiah sent a deputation to the prophet with the request that he would pray for the people. In answer Isaiah promised the ambassadors deliverance, as the word of the Lord. , on account of this, i.e., on account of the contempt shown for the God of Israel, which was emphatically dwelt upon both in the prayer of Hezekiah (2Ki 19:16) and in the word of Isaiah, v. 22ff.
2Ch 32:21 The deliverance: cf. 2Ki 19:35.; Isa 37:36. The number of Assyrians smitten by the angel of the Lord is not stated, as it was not of importance, the main fact being that the whole Assyrian host was annihilated, so that Sennacherib had to return with disgrace into his own land. This is what is signified by the rhetorical phrase: The angel of Jahve destroyed all the valiant warriors, and the leaders and princes of the king of Assyria, and he returned with shame of face (cf. Ezr 9:7; Psa 44:16) to his land, where his sons slew him in the temple. In regard to the facts, see on 2Ki 19:37 and Isa 37:38. The Keth. is an orthographical error for , a contraction of and from , a passive formation with intransitive signification: some of those who went forth from his own bowels, i.e., some of his sons; cf. the similar formation miyliydeey, 1Ch 20:4.
2Ch 32:22 Conclusion of this event. So the Lord helped, etc., , and out of the hand of all, sc. his enemies; but we need not on that account, with some manuscripts, bring into the text. , and protected them round about. , to lead, guide, with the additional idea of care and protection (Psa 31:4; Isa 49:10; Isa 51:18); and consequently here, protect, defend. There is therefore no need of the conjecture erut , which Berth. holds to be the original reading, without considering that, though is a current phrase with the chronicler (cf. 2Ch 14:6; 2Ch 15:15; 2Ch 20:30; 1Ch 22:18), the supposition that these words became by an orthographical error is not at all probable.
2Ch 32:23 Many brought gifts to the Lord to Jerusalem, and presents to King Hezekiah. is not to be restricted to Israelites, but probably denotes chiefly neighbouring peoples, who by the destruction of the Assyrian army were also freed from this dreaded enemy. They, too, might feel impelled to show their reverence for the God of Israel, who had so wonderfully delivered His people by their gifts.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
See note on 2Ki 19:35
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(20) For this cause.Upon this (al zth). The reference is to the Assyrian blasphemies against Jehovah, which Hezekiah urged in his prayer for deliverance (2Ki. 19:16), and to which Isaiah referred in his prophetic answer (Isa. 37:23). The prayer of Hezekiah is given in 2Ki. 19:15-19; Isa. 37:15-20. The parallel passages do not say that Isaiah also prayed; but 2Ki. 19:2-4, and Isa. 37:2-4, report that the king sent a deputation of nobles to the prophet, requesting his prayers for the remnant that were left.
Cried to heaven.Comp. 2Ch. 30:27; 1Sa. 5:12.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
2Ch 32:20 And for this [cause] Hezekiah the king, and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz, prayed and cried to heaven.
Ver. 20. For this cause. ] See 2Ki 19:2-3 , &c.
And the prophet Isaiah prayed.] And at the same time prophesied comfortably. 2Ki 19:14-19
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
prayed and cried. This is what Hezekiah refers to in his “Songs of the degrees” (Psa 120:1; Psa 123:1-3; Psa 130:1, Psa 130:2). Compare Isa 38:10-20. 2Ki 19:15-19; 2Ki 20:2, 2Ki 20:3. See App-67. One of the few O.T. instances of united prayer.
heaven. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Subject), for God Himself. “Heaven” used here because the prayer was made to God, as “the Maker of heaven and earth” (2Ki 19:15. Isa 37:16). This is referred to in Hezekiah’s “Songs of the degrees” (Psa 121:1, Psa 121:2; Psa 123:1; Psa 124:8).
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
2Ch 32:20-23
2Ch 32:20-23
SENNACHERIB’S ARMY SLAIN BY AN ANGEL
“And Hezekiah the king, and Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz, prayed because of this, and cried to heaven. And Jehovah sent an angel, who cut off all the mighty men of valor, and the leaders and the captains in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he was come into the house of his god, they that came forth from his own bowels slew him with the sword. Thus Jehovah saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and from the hand of all others, and guided them on every side. And many brought gifts unto Jehovah to Jerusalem, and precious things to Hezekiah king of Judah; so that he was exalted in the sight of all nations from thenceforth.”
E.M. Zerr:
2Ch 32:20. This verse is a brief account of the exercises of these two great men on behalf of the Israelite nation when the Assyrians were threatening it. See 2 Kings 19.
2Ch 32:21. Sennacherib had a strong force of soldiers who were in camp under him. When the letter and prayer of Isaiah and Hezekiah were come up before God, he sent a destroying angel out through the camp and cut off all the mighty men of valor. 2Ki 19:35 says the number was 185,000. This humbled the haughty king, and he left the position at Libnah for his home land. But the return home did not give him any honor, for some of his own offspring murdered him while he was performing service to his heathen god.
2Ch 32:22. The same God whom the Assyrians had so wickedly blasphemed, overcame all opposition and brought deliverance to his people. In bringing this great victory to them over the Assyrians, other threatening nations were brought down also.
2Ch 32:23. In this verse we have the words gifts and presents both used. This indicates some distinction although the words are generally used interchangeably. For the general meaning as used *in the Bible, see my comments at Gen 32:13 and 1Sa 10:27. According to the definitions in the lexicon, the gifts were things of practical use, such as could be put on the altar of sacrifices, or be appropriated to the financial support of the kingdom. The presents were things considered desirable because of being rare, such as precious gems. But the outstanding thought is the same in both articles, and means that the nations made public and official recognition of the kingdom of Judah.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
Hezekiah: 2Ki 19:14-19, Isa 37:1, Isa 37:14-20
the prophet: 2Ki 19:2-4, Isa 37:2-4
prayed: 2Ch 14:11, 2Ch 20:6-12, Psa 50:15, Psa 91:14, Psa 91:15
Reciprocal: Gen 32:9 – Jacob 1Ki 8:44 – shall pray 1Ki 18:37 – Hear me 2Ki 19:4 – lift up 2Ki 19:15 – prayed 2Ki 19:20 – I have heard 1Ch 5:20 – for they cried 2Ch 6:34 – they pray Psa 34:17 – cry Psa 76:8 – didst Psa 108:6 – and answer me Pro 11:11 – the blessing Pro 28:2 – but Isa 33:6 – fear Isa 37:4 – lift up Jer 26:19 – did he Jer 27:18 – let them Joh 9:31 – him Joh 12:38 – Esaias Phi 4:6 – in Heb 11:34 – turned Jam 5:16 – The effectual
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
32:20 And for this [cause] Hezekiah the king, and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz, {n} prayed and cried to heaven.
(n) This shows what the best refuge in all troubles and dangers is.