Matthew Henry on 2 Chronicles 32:9-23
This story of the rage and blasphemy of Sennacherib, Hezekiah's prayer, and the deliverance of Jerusalem by the destruction of the Assyrian army, we had more at large in the book of Kings, 2 Kings 18 and 19. It is contracted here, yet large enough to show these three things: -
I. The impiety and malice of the church's enemies. Sennacherib has his hands full in besieging Lachish (Ch2 32:9), but hears that Hezekiah is fortifying Jerusalem and encouraging his people to stand it out; and therefore, before he come in person to besiege it, he sends messengers to make speeches, and he himself writes letters to frighten Hezekiah and his people into a surrender of the city. See, 1. His great malice…
Read the whole note in the consoleJamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Chronicles 32:9
(See on 2Ki. 18:17-35; also 2Ki. 19:8-34).
Adam Clarke on 2 Chronicles 32:17
Wrote also letters - See Kg2 19:9, Kg2 19:14.
John Gill on 2 Chronicles 32:17
He wrote also letters to rail on the Lord God of Israel,.... See 2 Kings 19:9.
Tyndale Open Study Notes on 2 Chronicles 32:10-19
The Assyrian king’s threats clarified the critical issues for the people of Jerusalem. The real question was whether or not to trust in God. The enemy king suggested that Hezekiah could not be trusted (32:11-12) because he had offended the Lord by tearing down God’s shrines and altars. However, just the opposite was true. This reform was Hezekiah’s greatest act of faithfulness to the Lord. The question came down to whether God could be trusted against the power of Assyria (32:11-15).
Rashi on 2 Chronicles 32:17
And he wrote letters to blaspheme the Lord, the God of Israel And in II Kings (19:14) and in Isaiah (37:14) it is written: “And Hezekiah took the letters from the hand of the messengers and read it; he went up to the House of the Lord, and Hezekiah spread it out before the Lord.”
