(22) Thus.--And. The whole verse is the chronicler's own comment on the preceding narrative. (Comp. 2Kings 18:7.) The hand of all.--Some MSS. appropriately add his enemies, an expression which may have fallen out of the text. And guided them on every side (round about).--A somewhat unusual phrase. The conjecture, "and gave them rest round about (wayy?nah I?hem for wayy?nah?l?m), appears correct. (See 2Chronicles 14:6; 2Chronicles 15:15; 2Chronicles 20:30; 1Chronicles 22:18.) So the LXX. and Vulg. Verse 22. - This verse, with the notification of Hezekiah's great deliverance from the hand of the King of Assyria, summarizes also his various other deliverances, with tacit reference to such suggestion of other conflicts as we have in 2 Kings 18:7, 8. Guided them on every side. The Septuagint reads, gave them rest. This suits the connection as regards meaning best, and also as regards the immediately following adverb, "on every side." It has also in our present book the correspondences of ch. 14:6; 15:15; and especially 2 Chronicles 20:30, with the Hebrew words of which, an easily supposed rectification brings it into exact agreement. 32:1-23 Those who trust God with their safety, must use proper means, else they tempt him. God will provide, but so must we also. Hezekiah gathered his people together, and spake comfortably to them. A believing confidence in God, will raise us above the prevailing fear of man. Let the good subjects and soldiers of Jesus Christ, rest upon his word, and boldly say, Since God is for us, who can be against us? By the favour of God, enemies are lost, and friends gained.Thus the Lord saved Hezekiah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria,.... As most clearly appeared; for no stroke was struck but by him:and from the hand of all other; the Arabic version adds,"who were round about them;''who by this defeat were deterred from attacking them: and guided them on every side: and guarded them all around, as a shepherd leads his flock, where they may be secure from all dangers. |
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