181 And it cometh to pass, in the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, reigned hath Hezekiah son of Ahaz king of Judah; 2 a son of twenty and five years was he in his reigning, and twenty and nine years he hath reigned in Jerusalem, and the name of his mother 'is' Abi daughter of Zechariah. 3 And he doth that which 'is' right in the eyes of Jehovah, according to all that David his father did, 4 he hath turned aside the high places, and broken in pieces the standing-pillars, and cut down the shrine, and beaten down the brazen serpent that Moses made, for unto these days were the sons of Israel making perfume to it, and he calleth it 'a piece of brass.' 5 In Jehovah, God of Israel, he hath trusted, and after him there hath not been like him among all the kings of Judah, nor 'among any' who were before him; 6 and he cleaveth to Jehovah, he hath not turned aside from after Him, and keepeth His commands that Jehovah commanded Moses. 7 And Jehovah hath been with him, in every place where he goeth out he acteth wisely, and he rebelleth against the king of Asshur, and hath not served him; 8 he hath smitten the Philistines unto Gaza, and its borders, from a tower of watchers unto the fenced city.
9 And it cometh to pass, in the fourth year of king Hezekiah—it 'is' the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel—come up hath Shalmaneser king of Asshur against Samaria, and layeth siege to it, 10 and they capture it at the end of three years; in the sixth year of Hezekiah—it 'is' the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel—hath Samaria been captureth, 11 and the king of Asshur removeth Israel to Asshur, and placed them in Halah, and in Habor 'by' the river Gozan, and 'in' cities of the Medes, 12 because that they have not hearkened to the voice of Jehovah their God, and transgress His covenant—all that He commanded Moses, servant of Jehovah—yea, they have not hearkened nor done 'it'.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Kings 18:1-12
Commentary on 2 Kings 18:1-8
(Read 2 Kings 18:1-8)
Hezekiah was a true son of David. Some others did that which was right, but not like David. Let us not suppose that when times and men are bad, they must needs grow worse and worse; that does not follow: after many bad kings, God raised one up like David himself. The brazen serpent had been carefully preserved, as a memorial of God's goodness to their fathers in the wilderness; but it was idle and wicked to burn incense to it. All helps to devotion, not warranted by the word of God, interrupt the exercise of faith; they always lead to superstition and other dangerous evils. Human nature perverts every thing of this kind. True faith needs not such aids; the word of God, daily thought upon and prayed over, is all the outward help we need.
Commentary on 2 Kings 18:9-16
(Read 2 Kings 18:9-16)
The descent Sennacherib made upon Judah, was a great calamity to that kingdom, by which God would try the faith of Hezekiah, and chastise the people. The secret dislike, the hypocrisy, and lukewarmness of numbers, require correction; such trials purify the faith and hope of the upright, and bring them to simple dependence on God.