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As the upper pool lay outside the city walls}and would supply the wants of a besieging
army, Hezekiah covered it in, and by an aqueduct brought its waters into a large reservoir
or "lake," "between the two walls" of the upper and the lower city (Isaiah 22:11; comp. 2
Kings 20:20; 2 Chronicles 32:30). But some writers conjecture that in ancient times
(although not at present) there may have been a spring or brook near the upper port,
which Hezekiah also covered in, diverting its waters into the city (2 Chronicles 32:30).
Further, he repaired all the walls that were broken down, "and raised (heightened) upon it
(the) towers," and repaired (built?) "the other wall without" - probably that which
inclosed the lower city - as well as "Millo, in the city of David," probably a strong tower
with fortified buildings at the western side of the Tyropoeon, or Valley of
Cheesemongers.
- For a quite different location of Hezekiah's work at Siloah, comp. Herzog's Real-
Encykl, vol. vi., p. 567.
** The Lxx. had evidently read, instead of "through the midst of the land," "in the midst
of the city."
*** So in all probability the text should be emendated (see the Vulgate).
Similarly, arms of defense were prepared and officers appointed. Best of all, he gathered
his men and captains, and encouraged them with the chief of all comforts, the assurance
that Another, greater and stronger than all the might of Assyria, was with them, not "an
arm of flesh," but Jehovah their God, to help them and to fight their battles.
When from this account we turn to the prophetic narrative in Isaiah 22, we feel that it had
not been always so (ver. 11), but that through the admonitions of the prophet, what had
been at first confidence in the strength of their defenses, became transformed into trust in
the living God. Indeed, the prophet could not have sympathized with the whole previous
policy of Hezekiah, which led up to the humiliating embassy to Lachish. But now he
could bring them the assurance of Divine deliverance in that mood of spiritual repentance
which was the outcome of his ministrations, and which appeared most fully during the
siege of Jerusalem, and at the later summons for its surrender. We shall have to revert to
this when telling of Hezekiah's bearing towards the ambassadors of Merodach-Baladan,
who visited the Jewish capital before these events, probably some time before the
commencement of this campaign.
The second event recorded in Scripture is the embassy of Hezekiah to Lachish, and the
tribute there imposed upon him of "three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of
gold" (2 Kings 18:14-16). The impost, although not greatly differing from that which
Menahem had to pay to Tiglath-pileser (2 Kings 15:19), was heavy, amounting in gold to
200,000 pounds, and in silver to 110,000 pounds* and it necessitated the surrender of all
the treasures in the Temple and the palace. It is remarkable that neither in the prophecy of
(^)