2 Kings 18:34

Verse 34. Emath, Emesa.—Arphad, or Arad, an island and city on the continent, ( Calmet.) near Tyre.—Of Ana, and so forth, “of,” is not expressed in the Vulg. ( Bible.) and it may be explained as if Ana and Ava were idols of Sepharvaim. Menochius.—But they are commonly supposed to be cities. Bible.—Ana is probably a city ( D.) built on both sides of the Euphrates, four days’ journey from Bagdat. Isaias does not specify these cities in the parallel passage, but they are found in the letter addressed to Ezechias, Isaiah 37:13.—Samaria, or the inhabitants who had come from distant parts, and had perhaps revolted. We do not however find the Sennacherib had conquered them, nor does the pretend that all these conquests were made by himself. Calmet.—He gives part of the honour to his ancestors. Calmet. 19:12. 2 Chronicles 32:13. But he asserts that all the gods of the respective countries of Samaria, and so forth had yielded to his superior force. Bible.—Strange infatuation in a man who looked upon the idols as gods! They are in effect nothing. 1 Corinthians 8:4. But as their votaries were of a different persuasion, ought they not to have acted and spoken consistently? Yet Suetonius (Caius, chapter 5.) informs us, that “on the day when Germanicus died, the temples were stoned, the altars of the gods overturned, the domestic lares thrown out by some into the open air;” all to express their grief and indignation at the gods, for not preserving his life. Bible.