The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-01-14
g. Lessons.
C. Notes.

o. Notes.
l. Received the letter XII, 70: II, and H.,
81 II. We have no account Of the issue Of a let
ter but we may be sure Rabshakeh had written
instructions and was furnished a letter 10 hand
90 Hezekiah. Though HI, 10 ., simply states
Sennacherib sent messengers, it is plainly de-
cared in V. II that Hezskiah received a letter
and read it, We do not know who the messen-
gers were that brought it 70 him. Not unlikely
Rsbshakeh headed the delegation. He was
military chief under the Assyrian King. His
na9e signifies chief eup-bearoT. Him" (V. IS,
XII, 49, doubtless means Rgbshakeh. Curl
ously. IsG., 81 IL, Omits the prOnOuu.
2. Spread it before the Lord 2 XII, 10: IL
and Isa-. 81: IA. The expression, spread forth
the hands, has the meaning Of prayer Us, /:
lj.) So we may understand simply that HeZe-
kiah prayed to God in reference to the matter.
IL is generally held, however, that Hezekiah
took the letter with him as If to show it to God.
At any rate, he went into details, telling God
all his troubles.
3. Before the Lord. 2 XII. 10: II, and Isa.,
81: Ii. lie went into the temple, probably
into the Court of the Women. He could not,
Of course. gain access TO the Holy Place. much
less TO the Holy Of Holes Hence, pictures
representing him in prayer before the Ark and
the Cherubim thereon are not to be accepted.
4. Cherubim. 2 XII, 10: Is. and Isa. 81 Is.
On the upper surface of the Ark in the Holy of
HOLES there was at each end the bending form
of a cherub or angel. The two faced each other
with faces looking down on the Ark. The
space between them was where Jehovah mani
tested his glory and held communication, as
from the burning bush, with the High Priest,
who each year on the day Of AtOnement en-
tered the Holy Of HOLES.
5. In 2 Xii, 10: l6, We have "bOw down."
while in Isa., 81 Il, We find incline" The
Revised Version is translated alike in both
To- he Iahr e..
taw) is the same.
6. Cast their gods into the fire." V.1a.
The custom in the East differed in this respect
from that Of Rome. Rome permitted those
whom il subdned to retain their objects of
worship. So originated the Pantheon. Thus
was set an example of the separateness Of
Church and State. At any rate, the West was
tolerant of all religions. q
z. AnthrOpOmorphism ia common Ia the BIZ
bic, to wit. the attributing to God Of human
parts as, for example, eyes and cars as in 2 XII,
10: IS, and Isa., 81: IL.
g. Notice the connection between praye q
XII, 10: 10, and Isa., 81 :2O) and the answer TO
prayer q XII, 10: "a and Isa., 81: So. The
prayer was save thou" the answer, ~ will
save it"
g. "God of all the Kingdoms Of the earth"
q XII, 10: ID, and Isa.. 81 I6.) This gives idea
of MOnOtheism. There is only one God. The
belief current was that each land had its own
exclusive God. We have. too, suggested the God
Of Gentiles as well as Jews. and hence an inti-
nation of st. Mt. %: 49, 1t is evident the in
tentiOn was to show the folly Of believing in
merely imagined deities as referred to in 2 XII,
IL: %; Is IS; Is, 30: Is, 20; 81: 1912; OF.
1 XII, 20: %.
10. One will find interest in comparing the
prayer of Hezekiah with the dedicatOry prayer
offered by Solomon.
a. The cause of the prayer. Hezekiah was dis
turbed on account of the menaeing attitude Of
the Assyrian King. See l XII, 10: 16, and Isa.,
81: IL. Compare 1 XII, 8: So 81, "A.
b. Notice the use throughout by Hezekiah of
titles very similar to those used by Solomon
C. We find in l XII, 10: IA, and Isa.. 81 IA,
that Hezekiah went up into the house Of the
Lord" Compare / XII, 8: 20 80.
a. Between the cherubim." 2 XII, 10: IS,
and Isa.. 81 10. Compare 1 XII, $50 z. In
connection with the last reference read, XII,
6: %. 80.
c. Spread II before the Lord" 2Ki,.1e:
hands" XII, 8: %
!. "Thou are the God, even thou alone" .
HI, 10: 10, and Isa., 81 10. Compare 1 XII,
8: %.
Q. "GOd of all the earth" 2Ki., 10: : Is. and
Isa-, 81: l6. Compare XII. 8: 4I-43
Il. - Bow down thine ear" Hi, Is: I6. and
" Incline thine ear" Is, 81 H. Also notice
- Af"AD MI . ~oB oOB Oog aJI OS /
/. "open thine eyes" xxi, 10: 16, and Isa..
81: IL Compare l XII, 1923, So. AnthrO-
j. Then see how strong parallel there is be- |
tween the prayers of Solomon and Hezekah in |
the use of argument in prayer, or the assign |
ment of reasons why the prayer should be /
answered. The words of XII, 10: /
IS, and lsa., 81: 20, are almost word for word /
like those in XII, 3: 60. Also add XII, 9:
81, So
III. HEzEKIAH's PRAYER ANSWERED.
/. Data.
We have two accounts almost identically
XII, 10: 3237 incl and Isa., 81: 80
o 50 (inel) And one must read also 2 Ch., 32:
Il, %; Tobit, l: 81; and Mac, Is: %.
Though TObit is an apOcryphal book, the stu