I. In the first thirty-seven Chapter s of Isaiah's prophecies we have a full account of the ways of the Jews at that time, and the reasons why God allowed so fearful a danger to come upon them. The first thirty-five Chapter s are a spiritual history of the Jews and the Assyrians and all the nations round them for many years. The kings of Assyria thought themselves the greatest and strongest beings in the world; they thought that their might was right, and that they might conquer, and ravage, and plunder, and oppress every country round them without being punished. They thought that they could overcome the true God of Judaea, as they had conquered the empty idols of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Iva. But Isaiah saw that they were wrong; he prophesied that a great eruption or breaking out of burning mountains would destroy the king of Assyria's army and would even shake Jerusalem itself.
II. How the Assyrians were killed we cannot exactly tell, most likely by a stream of poisonous vapour, such as often comes forth out of the ground during earthquakes and eruptions of burning mountains and kills all the men and animals who breathe it. God intended all along to teach the Jews that the earth and heaven belonged to Him and obeyed Him. He taught them and the proud king of Assyria once and for all that He was indeed the Lord, Lord of all nations and King of kings, and also Lord of the earth and all that therein is. Those who really trust in Him shall never be confounded. Those who trust in themselves are trying their paltry strength against the God who made heaven and earth, and will surely find out their own weakness, just when they fancy themselves most successful. If man dare not fight on the Lord's side against sin and evil, the Lord's earth will fight for Him. Earthquakes and burning mountains will do His work.
C. Kingsley, Sermons on National Subjects,p. 247.
References: 2 Kings 19:37. E. H. Plumptre, Expositor,2nd series, vol. iv., p. 450. 2 Kings 20:1. H. W. Beecher, Christian World Pulpit,vol. xxvii., p. 99; A. Raleigh, Thoughts for the Weary,p. 90; G. Brooks, Outlines of Sermons,p. 126. 2 Kings 20:2. J. Van Oosterzee, Year of Salvation,vol. ii., p. 482. 2 Kings 20:9-11. Hunter, Sunday Magazine,1872, p. 644. 2 Kings 20:11. J. H. Wilson, Christian World Pulpit,vol. v., p. 24. 2 Kings 20 Parker, vol. viii., p. 285. 2 Kings 21:17; 2 Kings 21:18. J. R. Macduff, Sunsets on the Hebrew Mountains,p. 184. 2 Kings 21 Parker, vol. viii., p. 298. 2 Kings 22:2. E. Monro, Practical Sermons on the Old Testament,vol. ii., p. 219. 2 Kings 22:3-12. D. G. Watt, Christian World Pulpit,vol. xxi., p. 180.