Useful Bible Studies > 2 Kings Commentary > chapter 18
The commander from Assyria tried first to convince Hezekiah’s government officials that they were risking their lives for no purpose. He did not even consider it necessary to explain that his army was stronger than Judah’s army. Judah’s government officials already knew that. So, the commander urged them not to pretend that they could successfully defend Jerusalem.
The officials in Judah may have felt confident of success. So, the commander from Assyria tried to show them that they had no proper reason for that confidence. They could speak bold words about their military plans and the strength of their army – but that was not the reality. Assyria’s great army had already defeated many nations like Judah. In each of those nations, the rulers had spoken boldly about their own armies. However, the defeat of those nations proved that the rulers had spoken unwisely.
Since the start of his rule, Hezekiah had boldly refused to pay the taxes that Assyria’s king demanded (18:7). In the opinion of Assyria’s commander, there was a clear reason why Hezekiah had acted so boldly. There was only one other army in the region which Assyria’s king considered to be a truly great army. That other army was the army of Egypt. So, in the commander’s opinion, Hezekiah was depending on military help from Egypt.
That was what, 8 years before, the king of northern and central Israel did (17:4). It was a foolish decision, because Egypt’s army never came to help him. So, the commander laughed at the idea that Egypt would help Hezekiah. It was like when someone depends on a very weak walking stick. That stick cannot support his weight. Instead, it breaks, and so causes him an injury.
Next part: Assyria's commander says that God will not save Judah (2 Kings 18:22)
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