18 4 Hezekiah king of Judah putteth down the brazen serpent, and destroyeth the idols, 7 and prospereth. 11 Israel is carried away captive. 30 The blasphemy of Sennacherib.

Now in the third year of Hoshea, son of Elah king of Israel, (A)Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign.

He was five and twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned nine and twenty years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name also was Abi the daughter of Zechariah,

And he did [a]uprightly in the sight of the Lord, according to all that David his father had done.

He took away the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the (B)brazen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it, and he called it [b]Nehushtan.

He trusted in the Lord God of Israel: so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, neither were there any such before him.

For he clave to the Lord and departed not from him, but kept his commandments, which the Lord had commanded Moses.

So the Lord was with him, and he prospered in all things which he took in hand, also he rebelled against the king of Assyria, and served him not.

He smote the Philistines unto Gaza, and the coasts thereof, [c]from the watchtower unto the defensed city.

(C)And in the fourth year of King Hezekiah, (which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel) Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria, and besieged it.

10 And after three years they took it, even in the sixth year of Hezekiah: that is, (D)the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel was Samaria taken.

11 Then the king of Assyria did carry away Israel unto Assyria, and put them in Halah and in Habor, by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes,

12 Because they would not obey the voice of the Lord their God, but transgressed his covenant: that is, all that Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded, and would neither obey nor do them.

13 (E)Moreover, in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah, Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the strong cities of Judah, and took them.

14 Then Hezekiah king of Judah sent unto the king of Assyria to Lachish, saying, [d]I have offended: depart from me, and what thou layest upon me, I will bear it. And the king of Assyria appointed unto Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver, and thirty talents of gold.

15 Therefore Hezekiah gave all the silver that was found in the house of the Lord, and in the treasures of the king’s house.

16 At the same season did Hezekiah pull off the plates of the doors of the Temple of the Lord, and the pillars (which the said Hezekiah king of Judah had covered over) and gave them to the king of Assyria.

17 ¶ And the king of Assyria sent [e]Tartan, and Rabsaris, and Rabshakeh from Lachish to king Hezekiah with a great host against Jerusalem. And they went up, and came to Jerusalem, and when they were come up, they stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which is by the path of the fuller’s field,

18 And called to the king. Then came out to them Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, which was steward of the house, and Shebna the chancellor, and Joah the son of Asaph the [f]recorder.

19 And Rabshakeh said unto them, Tell ye Hezekiah, I pray you, Thus saith the great king, even the great king of Assyria, What confidence is this wherein thou trustest?

20 Thou thinkest, Surely I have [g]eloquence, [h]but counsel and strength are for the war. On whom then doest thou trust, that thou rebellest against me?

21 Lo, thou trustest now in this broken staff of reed, to wit, on [i]Egypt, on which if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt unto all that trust on him.

22 But if ye say unto me, We trust in the Lord our God, is not that he whose high places, and whose altars Hezekiah hath [j]taken away, and hath said to Judah and Jerusalem, Ye shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem?

23 Now therefore give [k]hostages to my lord the king of Assyria, and I will give thee two thousand horses, if thou be able to set riders upon them.

24 For how canst thou despise any captain of the least of my master’s servants, and put thy trust on Egypt for chariots and horsemen?

25 Am I now come up without the [l]Lord to this place, to destroy it? the Lord said to me, Go up against this land, and destroy it.

26 Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebna, and Joah said unto Rabshakeh, Speak I pray thee, to thy servants in the [m]Aramites’ language, for we understand it, and talk not with us in the Jews’ tongue, in the audience of the people that are on the wall.

27 But Rabshakeh said unto them, Hath my master sent me to thy master and to thee to speak these words, and not to the men which sit on the wall, that they may eat their own dung, and drink [n]their own piss with you?

28 So Rabshakeh stood, and spake, saying, Hear the words of the great king, of the king of Assyria.

29 Thus saith the king, Let not Hezekiah deceive you: for he shall not be able to deliver you [o]out of mine hand.

30 Neither let Hezekiah make you to trust in the Lord, saying, The Lord will surely deliver us, and this city shall not be given over into the hand of the king of Assyria.

31 Hearken not unto Hezekiah: for thus saith the king of Assyria, Make [p]appointment with me, and come out to me, that every man may eat of his own vine, and every man of his own fig tree, and drink every man of the water of his own well,

32 Till [q]I come, and bring you to a land like your own land, even a land of wheat and wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of olive’s oil, and honey, that ye may live and not die: and obey not Hezekiah, for he deceiveth you, saying, The Lord will deliver us.

33 Hath any of the gods of the nations delivered his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria?

34 Where is the god of Hamath, and of Arpad? where is the god of Sepharvaim, Hena and Ivah? how have they delivered Samaria out of mine hand?

35 Who are they among all the gods of the nations, that have delivered their land out of mine hand, that the [r]Lord should deliver Jerusalem out of mine hand?

36 But the people held their peace, and answered not him a word: for the king’s commandment was, saying, Answer ye him not.

37 Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah which was steward of the house, and Shebna the chancellor, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder came to Hezekiah with their clothes rent, and told him the words of Rabshakeh.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 18:3 Although they of Judah were given to idolatry and impiety, as they of Israel were, yet God for his promise sake was merciful unto the throne of David, and yet by his judgment toward the other, provoked to repentance.
  2. 2 Kings 18:4 That is, a piece of Brass: thus he calleth the serpent by contempt, which notwithstanding was set up by the word of God, and miracles were wrought by it: yet when it was abused to idolatry this good king destroyed it, not thinking it worthy to be called a serpent, but a piece of brass.
  3. 2 Kings 18:8 Read 2 Kings 17:9.
  4. 2 Kings 18:14 As his zeal was before praised, so his weakness is here set forth, that none should glory in himself.
  5. 2 Kings 18:17 After certain years, when Hezekiah ceased to send the tribute appointed by the king of the Assyrians, he sent his captains and army against him.
  6. 2 Kings 18:18 Or, writer of Chronicles, or secretary.
  7. 2 Kings 18:20 Hebrew, talk of the lips.
  8. 2 Kings 18:20 Thou thinkest that words will serve to persuade thy people, or to move my master.
  9. 2 Kings 18:21 Egypt shall not only not be able to succor thee, but shall be an hurt unto thee.
  10. 2 Kings 18:22 Thus the idolaters think that God’s religion is destroyed, when superstition and idolatry are reformed.
  11. 2 Kings 18:23 Meaning, that it was best for him to yield to the king of Assyria, because his power was so small that he had not men to furnish two thousand horses.
  12. 2 Kings 18:25 The wicked always in their prosperity flatter themselves, that God doth favor them. Thus he speaketh to fear Hezekiah that by resisting him he should resist God.
  13. 2 Kings 18:26 Or, Syrians.
  14. 2 Kings 18:27 Hebrew, the water of their feet.
  15. 2 Kings 18:29 Or, by his hand.
  16. 2 Kings 18:31 Hebrew, blessing: meaning the conditions of peace.
  17. 2 Kings 18:32 He maketh himself so sure, that he will not grant them truce, except they render themselves to him to be led away captives.
  18. 2 Kings 18:35 This is an execrable blasphemy against the true God, to make him equal with the idols of other nations: therefore God did most sharply punish it.

1 He hath hitherto stirred them up, to mark diligently what things are to be considered in Melchizedek, 15 wherein he is like unto Christ. 20 Wherefore the Law should give place to the Gospel.

For this [a]Melchizedek (A)was King of Salem, the Priest of the most high God, who met Abraham, as he returned from the slaughter of the Kings, and [b]blessed him:

To whom also Abraham gave the tithe of all things: who first is by interpretation King of righteousness: after that, he is also King of Salem, that is, King of peace,

[c]Without father, without mother, without kindred, and hath neither beginning of his days, neither end of life: but is likened unto the Son of God, and continueth a Priest forever.

[d]Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the Patriarch Abraham gave the tithe of the spoils.

For verily they which are the children of Levi, which receive the office of the Priesthood, have a (B)commandment to take, according to the Law, tithes of the people (that is, of their brethren) though they [e]came out of the loins of Abraham.

But he whose kindred is not counted among them, received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.

And [f]without all contradiction the less is blessed of the greater.

And here men that die, receive tithes: but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed, that he liveth.

[g]And to say as the thing is, Levi also which receiveth tithes, payeth tithes in Abraham.

10 For he was yet in the loins of his father Abraham, when Melchizedek met him.

11 [h]If therefore [i]perfection had been by the Priesthood of the Levites (for under it the Law was established to the people) what needed it furthermore, that another Priest should rise after the order of Melchizedek, and not to be called after the order of Aaron?

12 [j]For if the Priesthood be changed, then of necessity must there be a change of the [k]Law.

13 For he of whom these things are spoken, pertaineth unto another tribe, whereof no man [l]served at the altar.

14 For it is evident, that our Lord sprung out of Judah, concerning the which tribe Moses spake nothing, touching the Priesthood.

15 [m]And it is yet a more evident thing, because that after the similitude of Melchizedek, there is risen up another Priest,

16 [n]Which is not made Priest after the [o]Law of the carnal commandment, but after the power of the endless life.

17 For he testifieth thus, (C)Thou art a Priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.

18 [p]For the [q]commandment that went afore, is disannulled, because of the weakness thereof, and unprofitableness.

19 For the Law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope made perfect, whereby we draw near unto God.

20 [r]And forasmuch as it is not without an oath (for these are made Priests without an oath:

21 But this is made with an oath by him that said unto him, (D)The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a Priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.)

22 By so much is Jesus made a surety of a better Testament.

23 [s]And among them many were made Priests, because they were not suffered to endure, by the reason of death.

24 But this man, because he endureth ever, hath a Priesthood, which [t]cannot pass from one to another.

25 Wherefore, he is [u]able also perfectly to save them that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth, to make intercession for them.

26 [v]For such an high Priest it became us to have, which is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens:

27 Which needeth not daily as those high Priests to offer up sacrifice, (E)first for his own sins, and then for the peoples: [w]for [x]that did he [y]once, when he offered up himself.

28 For the Law maketh men high Priests, which have infirmity: but the [z]word of the oath [aa]that [ab]was since the Law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 7:1 Declaring those words, According to the order of Melchizedek, whereupon that comparison standeth of the Priesthood of Christ with the Levitical: first Melchizedek himself is considered as the figure of Christ, and these are the hands of that comparison, Melchizedek was a King and a Priest: and such an one indeed is Christ alone. He was a King of peace and righteousness: such an one indeed is Christ alone.
  2. Hebrews 7:1 With a solemn and Priestly blessing.
  3. Hebrews 7:3 Another figure: Melchizedek set before us to be considered as one without beginning and without ending, for neither his father, nor his mother, nor his ancestors, nor his death are written of: and such an one indeed is the Son of God, to wit, an everlasting Priest: as he is God, without mother wonderfully begotten: as he is man, without father wonderfully conceived.
  4. Hebrews 7:4 Another figure: Melchizedek in consideration of his Priesthood was above Abraham, for he took tenths of him, and blessed him as a Priest: Such an one indeed is Christ, upon whom dependeth even Abraham’s sanctification, and all the believers, and whom all men ought to worship and reverence as the author of all.
  5. Hebrews 7:5 Were begotten by Abraham.
  6. Hebrews 7:7 He speaketh of the public blessing which the Priests used.
  7. Hebrews 7:9 A double amplification: The first, that Melchizedek took the tenths, as one immortal (to wit, in respect, that he is the figure of Christ, for his death is in no place made mention of, and David setteth him forth as an everlasting Priest) but the Levitical Priests, as mortal men, for they succeed one another: the second, that Levi himself was tithed in Abraham by Melchizedek. Therefore the Priesthood of Melchizedek (that is, Christ’s who is pronounced to be an everlasting Priest according to his order) is more excellent than the Levitical.
  8. Hebrews 7:11 The third treatise of this Epistle, wherein after he hath proved Christ to be a King, a Prophet, and a Priest, he now handleth distinctly the condition and excellency of all these offices, showing that all these were but shadows in all other, but in Christ they are true and perfect. And he beginneth with the Priesthood, wherewith also the former treatise ended, that by this means all the parts and members of this disputation, may better hang together. And first of all he proveth that the Levitical Priesthood was imperfect because another Priest is promised a long time after according to another order, that is to say, of another manner of rule and fashion.
  9. Hebrews 7:11 If the priesthood of Levi could have made any man perfect.
  10. Hebrews 7:12 He showeth how that by the institution of the new Priesthood, not only the imperfection of the Priesthood of Levi was declared, but also that it was changed for this: for these two cannot stand together, because that first appointment of the tribe of Levi, did shut forth the tribe of Judah, and made it also inferior to Levi: and this latter doth place the Priesthood in the tribe of Judah.
  11. Hebrews 7:12 Of the institution of Aaron.
  12. Hebrews 7:13 Had anything to do about the altar.
  13. Hebrews 7:15 Lest any man might object, that the Priesthood indeed was translated from Levi to Judah, but yet notwithstanding the same remaineth still, he both weigheth and expoundeth these words of David, forever, according to the order of Melchizedek, whereby also a divers institution of priesthood is well perceived.
  14. Hebrews 7:16 He proveth the diversity and excellency of the institution of Melchizedek’s Priesthood, by this, that the priesthood of the Law did stand upon an outward and bodily anointing: but the sacrifice of Melchizedek is set out to be everlasting and more spiritual.
  15. Hebrews 7:16 Not after the ordination, which commandeth frail and transitory things, as was done in Aaron’s consecration, and all that whole Priesthood.
  16. Hebrews 7:18 Again, that no man might object that the last Priesthood was added to make a perfect one, by the coupling of them both together, he proveth that the first was abrogated by the latter as unprofitable, and that by the nature of them both. For how could those corporal and transitory things sanctify us, either of themselves, or being joined with another?
  17. Hebrews 7:18 The ceremonial law.
  18. Hebrews 7:20 Another argument whereby he proveth that the Priesthood of Christ is better than the Priesthood of Levi, because his was established with an oath, but theirs was not so.
  19. Hebrews 7:23 Another argument tending to the same purpose. The Levitical Priests (as mortal men) could not be everlasting, but Christ as he is everlasting, so hath he also an everlasting Priesthood making most effectual intercession for them which by him come unto God.
  20. Hebrews 7:24 Which cannot pass away.
  21. Hebrews 7:25 He is fit and meet.
  22. Hebrews 7:26 Another argument: There are required in an high Priest innocency, and perfect pureness, which may separate him from sinners, for whom he offereth. But the Levitical high Priests shall not be found to be such, for they offer first for their own sins: But Christ only is such a one; and therefore the true and only high Priest.
  23. Hebrews 7:27 Another argument which notwithstanding he handleth afterward: The Levitical Priests offered sacrifice after sacrifice, first for themselves, and then for the people. But Christ offered not for himself, but for others, not sacrifices, but himself, not oftentimes, but once. And this ought not to seem strange; saith he, forsomuch as they are weak, but this man is consecrated an everlasting Priest, and that by an oath.
  24. Hebrews 7:27 That sacrifice which he offered.
  25. Hebrews 7:27 It was so done, that it needeth not be repeated or offered again anymore.
  26. Hebrews 7:28 The commandment of God which was bound with an oath.
  27. Hebrews 7:28 Another argument taken of the time: former things are taken away by the latter.
  28. Hebrews 7:28 Exhibited.

1 To prove more certainly that the ceremonies of the Law are abrogated, 5 he showeth that they were appointed to serve the heavenly pattern. 8 He bringeth in the place of Jeremiah, 13 to prove the amendment of the old covenant.

Now [a]of the things which we have spoken, this is the sum, that we have such an high Priest, that sitteth at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heavens,

[b]And is a minister of the [c]Sanctuary, [d]and of that [e]true Tabernacle which the Lord pitched, and not man.

[f]For every high Priest is ordained to offer both gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it was of necessity, that this man should have somewhat also to offer.

[g]For he were not a Priest, if he were on the earth, seeing there are Priests that according to the Law offer gifts,

Who serve unto the pattern and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was warned by God when he was about to finish the Tabernacle. (A)See, said he, that thou make all things according to the pattern, showed to thee in the mount.

[h]But now our high Priest hath obtained a more excellent office, inasmuch as he is the Mediator of a better Testament, which is established upon better promises.

[i]For if that first Testament had been unblameable, no place should have been sought for the second.

For in rebuking them he saith, (B)Behold, the days will come, saith the Lord, when I shall make with the [j]house of Israel, and with the house of Judah a new Testament:

Not like the Testament that I made with their fathers, in the day that I took them by the hand, to lead them out of the land of Egypt: for they continued not in my Testament, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.

10 For this is the Testament that I will make with the house of Israel, After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my Laws in their mind, and in their heart I will write them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least of them to the greatest of them.

12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and I will remember their sins and their iniquities no more.

13 [k]In that he saith a new Testament, he hath abrogated the old: now that which is disannulled and waxed old, is ready to vanish away.

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 8:1 He briefly repeateth that, whereunto all these things are to be referred, to wit, we have a far other high Priest than those Levitical high Priests are, even such an one as sitteth at the right hand of the most high God in heaven.
  2. Hebrews 8:2 They of Levi were high Priests in an earthly sanctuary, but Christ is in the heavenly.
  3. Hebrews 8:2 Of heaven.
  4. Hebrews 8:2 They of Levi exercised their Priesthood in a frail tabernacle, but Christ beareth about with him a far other tabernacle, to wit, his body which God himself made to be everlasting, as it shall afterward be declared, Heb. 9:11.
  5. Hebrews 8:2 Of his body.
  6. Hebrews 8:3 He bringeth a reason why it must needs be that Christ should have a body (which he calleth a tabernacle which the Lord pight and not man) to wit, that he might have what to offer: for otherwise he could not be an high Priest. And the selfsame body is both the tabernacle and the sacrifice.
  7. Hebrews 8:4 He giveth a reason why he said that our high Priest is in the heavenly sanctuary and not in the earthly: because, saith he, if he were now on the earth, he could not minister in the earthly sanctuary, seeing there are yet Levitical Priests, which are appointed for him, that is to say, to be patterns of that perfect example. And to what purpose should the patterns serve when the true and original example is present.
  8. Hebrews 8:6 He entereth into the comparison of the old and transitory Testament or covenant being but for a time, whereof the Levitical Priests were mediators with the new the everlasting Mediator whereof is Christ, to show that this is not only better than that in all respects, but also that that was abrogated by this.
  9. Hebrews 8:7 He proveth by the testimony of Jeremiah, that there is a second Testament or covenant, and therefore that the first was not perfect.
  10. Hebrews 8:8 He calleth it an house, as it were one family of the whole kingdom: for whereas the kingdom of David was divided into two factions, the Prophet giveth us to understand that through the new Testament they shall be joined together again in one.
  11. Hebrews 8:13 The conclusion: Therefore by the latter and the new, the first and old is taken away, for it could not be called new if it differed not from the old. And again that same is at length taken away: which is subject to corruption, and therefore imperfect.

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