Useful Bible Studies > 2 Kings Commentary > chapter 18
In a desperate situation, Hezekiah’s father Ahaz paid the king of Assyria to attack his enemies (16:7-9). The king of Assyria sent his army to do what Ahaz had requested. However, he caused more trouble for Ahaz than he provided help (2 Chronicles 28:20). From that time on, the king of Assyria demanded the regular payment of taxes from Judah.
Hezekiah, when he became king, refused to pay those taxes (18:7). For the first 14 years of his rule, he trusted God to protect him from Assyria’s army. However, when Assyria’s army entered Judah, Hezekiah seemed much too afraid. So, Hezekiah sent a very weak message to the king of Assyria. He offered to pay whatever the king of Assyria demanded. He hoped that the king of Assyria would then leave Judah with his (Assyria’s) army.
The king of Assyria demanded a very great payment, and Hezekiah paid it. To pay it, Hezekiah took the silver and gold from both the royal palace and the temple (God’s house). Hezekiah even took away the gold from the temple doors. That had been his special gift to God when he first became king (see 2 Chronicles 29:3).
The king of Assyria accepted this great payment; but he refused to take his army away from Judah. Instead, he decided to attack Jerusalem. He had taken Hezekiah’s silver and gold – now he wanted to take everything else that Hezekiah owned, including his whole country.
Eight years earlier, Assyria’s army had destroyed northern and central Israel and forced its people to live abroad. Now, the king of Assyria intended to do the same to Judah and Jerusalem.
Next part: Assyria's commanders bring their king's demands (2 Kings 18:17-18)
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