2 Chronicles 32:21

21 And the LORD sent an angel, who cut off all the mighty warriors and commanders and officers in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with 1shame of face to his own land. And when he came into the house of his god, some of his own sons struck him down there with the sword.

2 Chronicles 32:21 Meaning and Commentary

2 Chronicles 32:21

And the Lord sent an angel
The Targum is,

``the Word of the Lord sent Gabriel;''

Josephus F1 takes this angel, or messenger sent of God, to be the pestilence; and others suppose it to be a hot pestilential wind, common in the eastern countries, called "Samiel", or the poison wind, by which multitudes are sometimes destroyed at once; of which Thevenot and other travellers make mention, (See Gill on Job 27:21), (See Gill on Psalms 91:6), but be it as it may, it was sent of God, was under his direction, and by his power and providence did the execution according to his prediction:

which cut off all the mighty men of valour, and the leaders and
captains in the camp of the king of Assyria;
the generals and officers of his army, with the common soldiers, to the number of 185,000, ( Isaiah 36:1 ) , among these, no doubt, were the three generals sent with railing letters to Hezekiah, particularly Rabshakeh, (See Gill on Isaiah 37:36)

so he returned with shame of face to his own land;
Assyria, particularly to Nineveh, the metropolis of it, ( Isaiah 37:37 )

and when he was come into the house of his god;
the temple of his idol, whose name was Nisroch:

they that came forth of his own bowels slew him there with the sword;
his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer, ( Isaiah 37:38 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F1 Antiqu. l. 10. c. 1. sect. 5.

2 Chronicles 32:21 In-Context

19 And they spoke of the God of Jerusalem as they spoke of the gods of the peoples of the earth, which are the work of men's hands.
20 Then Hezekiah the king and Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, prayed because of this and cried to heaven.
21 And the LORD sent an angel, who cut off all the mighty warriors and commanders and officers in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he came into the house of his god, some of his own sons struck him down there with the sword.
22 So the LORD saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib king of Assyria and from the hand of all his enemies, and he provided for them on every side.
23 And many brought gifts to the LORD to Jerusalem and precious things to Hezekiah king of Judah, so that he was exalted in the sight of all nations from that time onward.

Cross References 1

  • 1. [Psalms 44:15; Jeremiah 7:19]
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.