Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary

Adam Clarke Commentary

They shall be eunuchs - Perhaps this means no more than that they should become household servants to the kings of Babylon. See the fulfillment, 2 Kings 24:13-15, and Daniel 1:1-3.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible

This prophecy had two fulfillments, each complementary to the other. Manasseh, Hezekiah‘s actual son, was “carried to Babylon” 2 Chronicles 33:11, but did not become a eunuch in the palace. Daniel and others, not his actual sons, but of the royal seed Daniel 1:3, and therefore Hezekiah‘s descendants, are thought by some to have literally fulfilled the latter part of the prophecy, being eunuchs in the palace of Nebuchadnezzar.

Wesley's Explanatory Notes

And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.

Thy sons — Of thy grand-children.

Eunuchs — They shall be servants to that heathen monarch, whereby both their bodies will be subject to slavery, and their souls exposed to the peril of idolatry, and all sorts of wickedness.

Scofield's Reference Notes

they shall

Fulfilled. Daniel 1:3.

John Trapp Complete Commentary

2 Kings 20:18 And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.

Ver. 18. And of thy sons that shall issue from thee.] A heavy judgment on so good a man, on so light an offence, as some would think. But these spiritual lusts, as pride, carnal confidence, self-flattery, presumption, &c., in the saints, are great provocations, as lying more up in the heart of the country. Let us be wise by others’ woes; setting a memorandum on God’s punishments, and marking his spits with our stars.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

Which thou shalt beget, i.e. of thy grandchildren, who are oft called sons. They shall be servants to that heathen monarch, whereby both their bodies will be subject to slavery, and the lusts of their lords, and their souls exposed to the peril of idolatry, and all sorts of wickedness; which must needs be very grievous to so good a man as Hezekiah, and was indeed a very sore judgment; whereby God would teach the world the great evil of sin, yea, even of those sins which are generally esteemed but small and venial; for such were those sins of Hezekiah, noted upon 2 Kings 20:17.

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

18.Thy sons — Thy descendants. For the fulfilment of this prophecy, see 2 Kings 24:11-16; 2 Kings 25:1-21.

They shall be eunuchs — They shall serve the king of Babylon in all those offices in which eunuchs were accustomed to serve. The word need not be pressed in its most literal sense to signify that all the Jewish captives who thus served would be castrated, for many would serve, like Daniel and his companions, (Daniel 1:3-7,) who were not eunuchs in the stricter sense.

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments

2 Kings 20:18. And of thy sons, &c. — Thy grand-children, who are often called sons. They shall be eunuchs, &c. — They shall be servants to that heathen monarch, whereby both their bodies will be subject to slavery, and their souls exposed to the peril of idolatry, and all sorts of wickedness. This was a very sore judgment, and by it God would teach the world the great evil of sin; yea, even of those sins which are generally esteemed but small or venial.

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

Eunuchs; servants, Daniel i. 3. We only read of Manasses, who was taken to Babylon. (Calmet) --- But he might have many brothers, who might be reduced to a menial condition; (Salien) as the text seems to refer to the immediate sons of Ezechias. (Haydock) --- It may, however, be explained of his descendants. (Menochius) (Chap. xxiv. 12.)

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

they. Hebrew text reads "he". But some codices with 3 early printed editions, read "they". Compare Isaiah 39:7.

eunuchs: i.e. courtiers, chamberlains, &c. Compare Genesis 37:36 and Daniel 1:3, Daniel 1:4.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(18) Thy sons . . . beget—i.e., thy descendants. Comp, the fulfilment (Daniel 1:3). Ewald refers to the captivity of Hezekiah’s own son Manasseh (2 Chronicles 33:11).

Eunuchs.—Rather, courtiers, palace attendants (so Josephus). Cheyne, “chamberlains” (so Thenius: kämmerer).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.

thy sons

24:12; 25:6; 2 Chronicles 33:11

they shall be

"Fulfilled in Da. 1:3-7."

Reciprocal: Psalm 87:4 - Babylon;  Jeremiah 20:5 - I will deliver;  Jeremiah 29:2 - eunuchs;  Jeremiah 39:9 - carried;  Micah 4:10 - shalt thou