Now in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah did Sennacherib king of Assyria come up against all the fenced cities of Judah, and took them.
Ver. 13. Now in the fourteenth year, &c.] Not long after Hezekiah's great sickness and signal recovery: whereupon he received that gracious promise, 2Ki 20:6 "And I will add unto thy days fifteen years; and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria," &c.
Did Sennacherib.] The son of Salmaneser, called by Herodotus king of the Assyrians and Arabians.
Come up against all the fenced cities.] After that he had invaded Egypt, and made foul work there: "leading away prisoners, young and old, naked and barefoot, even with their buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt." Isa 20:4
And took them.] This great war with Hezekiah is set forth - as one well observeth - in manner of a comedy, having (1.) Its προθεσις in this and the three next following verses; (2.) Its επιτασις, containing four different acts, in this and the next chapter; (3.) Its καταστροφη : 2Ki 19:1-37 where we have, [1:] Solamen, comfort promised; [2.] Levamen, help vouchsafed.