2 Chronicles 32:21

21 The LORD sent an angel who exterminated all the soldiers, officials, and commanders in the Assyrian king's camp. Humiliated, Sennacherib returned to his own country. When he went into the temple of his god, some of his own sons killed him with a 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 They spoke about the God of Jerusalem as if he were one of the gods made by human hands and worshiped by the people in other countries.
20 Then King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah, son of Amoz, prayed about this and called to heaven.
21 The LORD sent an angel who exterminated all the soldiers, officials, and commanders in the Assyrian king's camp. Humiliated, Sennacherib returned to his own country. When he went into the temple of his god, some of his own sons killed him with a sword.
22 So the LORD saved Hezekiah and the people living in Jerusalem from King Sennacherib of Assyria and from everyone else. The LORD gave them peace with all their neighbors.
23 Many people still went to Jerusalem to bring gifts to the LORD and expensive presents to King Hezekiah of Judah. From then on, he was considered important by all the nations.
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