Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

Vers. 15. Neither let Hezekiah make you to trust in the Lord saying, The Lord will surely deliver us: this City shall not be given over into the hand of the King of Ashur.

Vers. 15. Neither let Hezekiah make you to trust in the Lord saying, The Lord will surely deliuer vs: this Citie shall not be giuen ouer into the hand of the King of Ashur.

Now Rabshekeh recites Hezekias his exhortation, by which he encouraged the people, and adds his refutation, as if it had been but a vain speech, even the inventions of his own brain: whence it appears, that the wicked make none account at all of the power of God, although they can speak of it to serve their own turn. For albeit he denies not plainly that God is able to help his people if he would, but makes them believe he is angry with them, and therefore is their enemy, yet in overthrowing their faith (as much as in him lies) he abolisheth the power of God, because his meaning was so to smite the hearts of this poor people with terror, that they should be constrained through despair to subject themselves to the laws of this victorious Tyrant.

NOw Rabshekeh recites Hezekias his exhortation, by which he encoraged the people, and addes his refutation, as if it had been but a vaine speech, euen the inuentions of his owne braine: whence it appeares, that the wicked make none account at all of the power of God, although they can speake of it to serue their owne turne. For albeit he denies not plainly that God is able to help his people if he would, but makes them beleeue he is angrie with them, and therefore is their enemie, yet in ouerthrowing their faith (as much as in him lies) he abolisheth the power of God, because his meaning was so to smite the hearts of this poore people with terror, that they should be constreined through despaire to subiect themselues to the lawes of this victorious Tyrant.