John Gill Commentary Isaiah 36:16

"Hearken not to Hezekiah: for thus saith the king of Assyria, Make your peace with me, and come out to me; and eat ye every one of his vine, and every one of his fig-tree, and drink ye every one the waters of his own cistern;" — Isaiah 36:16 (ASV)

Hearken not to Hezekiah: To his exhortations and persuasions to trust in the Lord; nor would he have them obey him in things civil, any more than hearken to him in things sacred, though their liege lord and sovereign; for his view and endeavour were to stir them up to mutiny and rebellion; and so the Targum, "do not obey Hezekiah:" or receive any orders from him, or pay any regard to them.

For thus says the king of Assyria, make an agreement with me by a present ^F9; or, "make a blessing with me"; either send a large and liberal gift to secure his favour, and your happiness; a most insolent and unrighteous demand this, when he had already received three hundred talents of silver, and thirty talents of gold, to withdraw his army; or make a blessed peace with me; suggesting that it would turn more to your account to give up yourselves to him, than to be in the condition you were; so the Targum, "make peace with me:" this sense Ben Melech gives; and the Septuagint version is, "if you would be blessed" ^F11, or happy,

Come out to me; forsake your king, throw off your allegiance to him, surrender yourselves and city to me: and eat you everyone of his vine, and everyone of his fig tree: and drink you everyone the waters of his own cistern; promising liberty and property, but does not tell them how long they should enjoy them; he signifies that they should enjoy everything that was necessary, convenient, and delightful; vines and fig trees are mentioned, because common in Judea, and all had cisterns near them for their use; unless this last clause is to be understood of everyone having their own wives; see (Proverbs 5:15) as the other clauses may design the enjoyment of their estates and possessions, without any molestation or infringement of them; see (Micah 4:4) .

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FOOTNOTES:

• F9: facit mecum benedictionem", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus.
• F11: (ei boulesye euloghyhnai) , Sept.