S E C O N D K I N G S
CHAP. XVIII.
When the prophet had condemned Ephraim for lies and deceit he comforted himself with this, that Judah yet "ruled with God, and was faithful with the Most Holy," Hosea 11:12. It was a very melancholy view which the last chapter gave us of the desolations of Israel; but this chapter shows us the affairs of Judah in a good posture at the same time, that it may appear God has not quite cast off the seed of Abraham, Romans 11:1. Hezekiah is here upon the throne, I. Reforming his kingdom, 2 Kings 18:1-6. II. Prospering in all his undertakings (2 Kings 18:7; 2 Kings 18:8), and this at the same time when the ten tribes were led captive, 2 Kings 18:9-12. III. Yet invaded by Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, 2 Kings 18:13. 1. His country put under contribution, 2 Kings 18:14-16. 2. Jerusalem besieged, 2 Kings 18:17. 3. God blasphemed, himself reviled, and his people solicited to revolt, in a virulent speech made by Rabshakeh, 2 Kings 18:18-37. But how well it ended, and how much to the honour and comfort of our great reformer, we shall find in the next chapter.