On hearing this report, King Hezekiah tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and entered the house of the LORD. When King Hezekiah heard thisThe phrase begins with "When," indicating a specific moment in time, a reaction to a preceding event. "King Hezekiah" refers to the ruler of Judah, a man known for his faithfulness to God, as described in 2 Kings 18:5, where it is said, "He trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel." The name "Hezekiah" means "Yahweh strengthens," which is fitting given his reliance on God during times of crisis. The phrase "heard this" refers to the report of the Assyrian threat, a dire situation that tested his faith and leadership. he tore his clothes
In ancient Near Eastern cultures, tearing one's clothes was a customary expression of deep distress, mourning, or repentance. This act symbolized the rending of one's heart and was a physical manifestation of inner turmoil. Hezekiah's tearing of his clothes demonstrates his profound grief and desperation in the face of the Assyrian threat, acknowledging the gravity of the situation. put on sackcloth
Sackcloth was a coarse material, often made from goat's hair, worn as a sign of mourning or penitence. By donning sackcloth, Hezekiah was humbling himself before God, showing his contrition and earnestness in seeking divine intervention. This act of humility is a powerful reminder of the importance of approaching God with a contrite heart, as echoed in Psalm 51:17, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise." and went into the house of the LORD
The "house of the LORD" refers to the temple in Jerusalem, the central place of worship for the Israelites and the dwelling place of God's presence. Hezekiah's decision to go into the temple signifies his turning to God in prayer and supplication, seeking divine guidance and deliverance. This action underscores the importance of seeking God's presence in times of trouble, as Hezekiah places his trust in the LORD rather than relying solely on human wisdom or strength. This reflects the biblical principle found in Proverbs 3:5-6, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." Persons / Places / Events 1. King HezekiahThe king of Judah, known for his faithfulness to God and his efforts to restore proper worship in the temple. He is a central figure in this passage, demonstrating humility and reliance on God in times of crisis. 2. SackclothA coarse material worn as a sign of mourning or repentance. Hezekiah's donning of sackcloth signifies his deep distress and humility before God. 3. The House of the LORDRefers to the temple in Jerusalem, the central place of worship for the Israelites. Hezekiah's decision to go there underscores his dependence on God and the importance of seeking divine guidance. 4. The Assyrian ThreatThe context of this verse is the impending threat from the Assyrian army, led by King Sennacherib, which posed a significant danger to Judah. 5. Prophet IsaiahAlthough not mentioned in this specific verse, Isaiah plays a crucial role in the subsequent events, providing God's message to Hezekiah and offering assurance of divine intervention. Teaching Points Humility in CrisisHezekiah's tearing of clothes and wearing sackcloth is a profound act of humility. In times of crisis, believers are encouraged to humble themselves before God, acknowledging their dependence on Him. Seeking God in the TempleHezekiah's immediate response to seek God in the temple highlights the importance of turning to God in prayer and worship during difficult times. Believers today can find solace and guidance in God's presence. Faith Over FearDespite the overwhelming threat from the Assyrians, Hezekiah's actions demonstrate a faith that overcomes fear. Trusting in God's power and promises is crucial when facing seemingly insurmountable challenges. The Role of RepentanceThe act of wearing sackcloth also signifies repentance. In times of trouble, examining one's heart and turning back to God is a vital step in seeking His intervention. Bible Study Questions 1. What does Hezekiah's response to the Assyrian threat teach us about handling crises in our own lives? 2. How can we apply the practice of seeking God in His "house" today, considering the New Testament understanding of the church and personal prayer? 3. In what ways does Hezekiah's humility before God challenge our own attitudes when facing difficulties? 4. How does the account of Hezekiah in 2 Kings 19 encourage us to trust in God's deliverance, and what other biblical examples reinforce this trust? 5. Reflect on a time when you faced a significant challenge. How did your response compare to Hezekiah's, and what might you do differently in the future based on this passage? Connections to Other Scriptures Isaiah 37This chapter parallels the events of 2 Kings 19, providing additional details and insights into Hezekiah's response and God's deliverance. Psalm 50:15This verse emphasizes calling upon God in times of trouble, which aligns with Hezekiah's actions in seeking God's help. James 4:10This New Testament verse speaks about humbling oneself before the Lord, which is exemplified by Hezekiah's actions in this passage. People Adrammelech, Amoz, Assyrians, David, Eliakim, Esarhaddon, Haran, Hezekiah, Isaiah, Rabshakeh, Sennacherib, Sharezer, Shebna, TirhakahPlaces Ararat, Arpad, Assyria, Cush, Egypt, Gozan, Hamath, Haran, Hena, Ivvah, Jerusalem, Lachish, Lebanon, Libnah, Mount Zion, Nineveh, Rezeph, Sepharvaim, Telassar, Tigris-Euphrates Region, ZionTopics Clothes, Covered, Covereth, Entered, Entereth, Garments, Haircloth, Hearing, Hezekiah, Hezeki'ah, Hezekiah's, Pass, Rendeth, Rent, Robe, Sackcloth, Temple, ToreDictionary of Bible Themes 2 Kings 19:1 5258 cloth 2 Kings 19:1-2 6742 sackcloth and ashes Library 'He Uttered his Voice, the Earth Melted'
'Then Isaiah the son of Amos sent to Hezekiah, saying, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, That which thou hast prayed to Me against Sennacherib king of Assyria I have heard. 21. This is the word that the Lord hath spoken concerning him; The virgin, the daughter of Zion, hath despised thee, and laughed thee to scorn; the daughter of Jerusalem hath shaken her head at thee. 22. Whom hast thou reproached and blasphemed? and against whom hast thou exalted thy voice, and lifted up thine eyes on high? even …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy ScriptureThe Invasion of the Assyrians
(Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity, Morning.) 2 Kings xix. 15-19. And Hezekiah prayed before the Lord, and said, O Lord God of Israel, which dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the Lord, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; thou hast made heaven and earth. Lord, bow down thine ear, and hear: open, Lord, thine eyes, and see: and hear the words of Sennacherib, which hath sent him to reproach the living God. Of a truth, Lord, the kings of Assyria have destroyed the nations and their …
Charles Kingsley—Town and Country Sermons Whether Charity Requires that we Should Love Our Enemies?
Objection 1: It would seem that charity does not require us to love our enemies. For Augustine says (Enchiridion lxxiii) that "this great good," namely, the love of our enemies, is "not so universal in its application, as the object of our petition when we say: Forgive us our trespasses." Now no one is forgiven sin without he have charity, because, according to Prov. 10:12, "charity covereth all sins." Therefore charity does not require that we should love our enemies. Objection 2: Further, charity …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica The Sinner Arraigned and Convicted.
1. Conviction of guilt necessary.--2. A charge of rebellion against God advanced.--3. Where it is shown--that all men are born under God's law.--4. That no man hath perfectly kept it.--5. An appeal to the reader's conscience on this head, that he hath not.--6. That to have broken it, is an evil inexpressibly great.--7. Illustrated by a more particular view of the aggravations of this guilt, arising--from knowledge.--8. From divine favors received.--9. From convictions of conscience overborne.--10. …
Philip Doddridge—The Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul The Power of Assyria at Its Zenith; Esarhaddon and Assur-Bani-Pal
The Medes and Cimmerians: Lydia--The conquest of Egypt, of Arabia, and of Elam. As we have already seen, Sennacherib reigned for eight years after his triumph; eight years of tranquillity at home, and of peace with all his neighbours abroad. If we examine the contemporary monuments or the documents of a later period, and attempt to glean from them some details concerning the close of his career, we find that there is a complete absence of any record of national movement on the part of either Elam, …
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 8 The Golden Eagle is Cut to Pieces. Herod's Barbarity when He was Ready to Die. He Attempts to Kill Himself. He Commands Antipater to be Slain.
1. Now Herod's distemper became more and more severe to him, and this because these his disorders fell upon him in his old age, and when he was in a melancholy condition; for he was already seventy years of age, and had been brought by the calamities that happened to him about his children, whereby he had no pleasure in life, even when he was in health; the grief also that Antipater was still alive aggravated his disease, whom he resolved to put to death now not at random, but as soon as he should …
Flavius Josephus—The Wars of the Jews or History of the Destruction of Jerusalem A Discourse of the House and Forest of Lebanon
OF THE HOUSE OF THE FOREST OF LEBANON. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. That part of Palestine in which the celebrated mountains of Lebanon are situated, is the border country adjoining Syria, having Sidon for its seaport, and Land, nearly adjoining the city of Damascus, on the north. This metropolitan city of Syria, and capital of the kingdom of Damascus, was strongly fortified; and during the border conflicts it served as a cover to the Assyrian army. Bunyan, with great reason, supposes that, to keep …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3 It is Strange that These Delightful Promises Affect us Coldly...
It is strange that these delightful promises affect us coldly, or scarcely at all, so that the generality of men prefer to wander up and down, forsaking the fountain of living waters, and hewing out to themselves broken cisterns, rather than embrace the divine liberality voluntarily offered to them (Jer. 2:13). "The name of the Lord," says Solomon, "is a strong tower; the righteous runneth into it, and is safe." (Pr. 18:10) Joel, after predicting the fearful disaster which was at hand, subjoins the …
John Calvin—Of Prayer--A Perpetual Exercise of Faith Scriptural Types.
1. The material world is full of analogies adapted to the illustration of spiritual things. No teacher ever drew from this inexhaustible storehouse such a rich variety of examples as our Saviour. His disciples are the salt of the earth, the light of the world, and a city set on a hill. From the ravens which God feeds and the lilies which God clothes, he teaches the unreasonableness of worldly anxiety. The kingdom of heaven is like seed sown in different soils, like a field of wheat and tares …
E. P. Barrows—Companion to the Bible Letter xxviii (Circa A. D. 1130) to the Abbots Assembled at Soissons
To the Abbots Assembled at Soissons [45] Bernard urges the abbots zealously to perform the duty for which they had met. He recommends to them a great desire of spiritual progress, and begs them not to be delayed in their work if lukewarm and lax persons should perhaps murmur. To the Reverend Abbots met in the name of the Lord in Chapter at Soissons, brother Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux, the servant of their Holiness, health and prayer that they may see, establish, and observe the things which are …
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux—Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux A Living Book
[Illustration: (drop cap T) Symbol of "Asshur", the principal Assyrian idol.] There is only one Book that never grows old. For thousands of years men have been writing books. Most books are forgotten soon after they are written; a few of the best and wisest are remembered for a time. But all at last grow old; new discoveries are made; new ideas arise; the old books are out of date; their usefulness is at an end. Students are the only people who still care to read them. The nations to which the …
Mildred Duff—The Bible in its Making The First Commandment
Thou shalt have no other gods before me.' Exod 20: 3. Why is the commandment in the second person singular, Thou? Why does not God say, You shall have no other gods? Because the commandment concerns every one, and God would have each one take it as spoken to him by name. Though we are forward to take privileges to ourselves, yet we are apt to shift off duties from ourselves to others; therefore the commandment is in the second person, Thou and Thou, that every one may know that it is spoken to him, …
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments The Prophet Amos.
GENERAL PRELIMINARY REMARKS. It will not be necessary to extend our preliminary remarks on the prophet Amos, since on the main point--viz., the circumstances under which he appeared as a prophet--the introduction to the prophecies of Hosea may be regarded as having been written for those of Amos also. For, according to the inscription, they belong to the same period at which Hosea's prophetic ministry began, viz., the latter part of the reign of Jeroboam II., and after Uzziah had ascended the …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament Kings
The book[1] of Kings is strikingly unlike any modern historical narrative. Its comparative brevity, its curious perspective, and-with some brilliant exceptions--its relative monotony, are obvious to the most cursory perusal, and to understand these things is, in large measure, to understand the book. It covers a period of no less than four centuries. Beginning with the death of David and the accession of Solomon (1 Kings i., ii.) it traverses his reign with considerable fulness (1 Kings iii.-xi.), …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links 2 Kings 19:1 NIV2 Kings 19:1 NLT2 Kings 19:1 ESV2 Kings 19:1 NASB2 Kings 19:1 KJV
2 Kings 19:1 Commentaries
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