When the prophet had condemned Ephriam for lies and deceit he comforted himself with this, that Judah yet "ruled with God, and was faithful with the Most Holy," Hos 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, Rom 11:1. Hezekiah is here upon the throne, I. Reforming his kingdom (Kg2 18:1-6). II. Prospering in all his undertakings (Kg2 18:7, Kg2 18:8), and this at the same time when the ten tribes were led captive (Kg2 18:9-12). III. Yet invaded by Sennacherib, the king of Assyria (Kg2 18:13). 1. His country put under contribution (Kg2 18:14-16). 2. Jerusalem besieged (Kg2 18:17). 3. God blasphemed, himself reviled, and his people solicited to revolt, in a virulent speech made by Rabshakeh (v. 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.
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