2 Kings 19:37

“SENNACHERIB SLAIN. (Kg2 19:37) as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch--Assarae, or Asshur, the head of the Assyrian Pantheon, represented not as a vulture-headed figure (that is now ascertained to be a priest), but as a winged figure in a circle, which was the guardian deity of Assyria. The king is represented on the monuments standing or kneeling beneath this figure, his hand raised in sign of prayer or adoration. his sons smote him with the sword--Sennacherib's temper, exasperated probably by his reverses, displayed itself in the most savage cruelty and intolerable tyranny over his subjects and slaves, till at length he was assassinated by his two sons, whom, it is said, he intended…”

“The death of Sennacherib, which took place many years afterward (680 B.C.), is related here, as, from the divine point of view, the sequel to his Syrian expeditions. Nisroch his god - Nisroch has not been as yet identified with any known Assyrian deity. The word may not be the name of a god at all but the name of the temple, as Josephus understood it. Assyrian temples were almost all distinguished by special names. If this be the true solution, the translation should run - “As he was worshipping his god in the house Nisroch.” They escaped into the land of Armenia - literally, “the land of Ararat,” or the northeastern portion of Armenia, where it adjoined Media. The Assyrian inscriptions show…”

“Was worshipping, &c. - The God of Israel had done enough to convince him, that he was the only true God. Yet he persists in his idolatry. Justly then is his blood mingled with his sacrifices, who will not be convinced by so dear - bought a demonstration, of his folly in worshipping idols. Next: 4 Kings (2 Kings) Chapter 20”

“19:37 his sons . . . killed him: Although Sennacherib’s assassination took place twenty years later in 681 BC, the narrator includes it here to conclude his discussion of the Assyrian king and to point out the irony in his death. He had boasted that no gods were able to rescue the peoples he attacked, yet his god failed to defend him against assassins from his own family! • At Sennacherib’s death, his son, Esarhaddon, succeeded him and reigned until 669 BC.”

“Nisroch: Kg2 19:10, Kg2 18:5, Kg2 18:30; Deu 32:31; Ch2 32:14, Ch2 32:19; Isa 37:37, Isa 37:38 his sons smote: Kg2 19:7; Ch2 32:21 the land: Armenia or Ararat is a province of Asia, comprising the modern Turcomania and part of Persia; having Georgia on the north, Curdistan, or the ancient Assyria on the south, and Asia Minor, now Natolia, on the west. Armenia: Heb. Ararat, Gen 8:4; Jer 51:27 Esarhaddon: Ezr 4:2 Next: 4 Kings (2 Kings) Chapter 20”