Matthew Poole and continuators on 2 Kings 19:29

29 And this shall be a sign unto thee , Ye shall eat this year such things as grow of themselves, and in the second year, that which springeth of the same, and in the third year sow ye, and reap, and plant vineyards, and eat the fruits thereof.

To wit, of the certain accomplishment of the Promises here made to thee; That Zion should Triumph over this Insulting Enemy, ver. 21. That God would not onely preserve the City from his present Fury, ver. 34. but also, That God would bless his People with a durable Prosperity, and an happy Increase, ver. 30, 31. And thus, it is not onely a sign of a short Deliverance, which would be past before this sign was Fulfilled, (though there are instances of such Signs as followed the thing done; as Exod. 3. 12. Isa. 7. 14.) but of a future Mercy, which was to continue long after that sign. And this Sign was the more necessary, because otherwise Hezekiah and his people had cause to fear, That the Assyrians would be greatly enraged for their shameful Repulse, and the Destruction of their Army, and would quickly recruit their Army, and return against them with far greater Force and Violence. But some affirm, That Sennacherib when he heard of Tirhakah's March against him, of which, ver. 9. went with his Army to meet him, and overthrew him, and the Egyptian who was joyned with him, as was noted before; and prosecuted his Victory, by following them into Egypt, and Ethiopia: in the Conquest of which, he spent Two Years; in which space, the People did eat such things as grew of themselves: and in the Third Year returned to Ierusalem, intending to Besiege it. It is true, it is said, and so the Sign went before the thing, (which may be objected against the Truth of this Relation) ver. 9. That when he heard of Tirhakah, he sent messengers to Hezekiah, pretending as if he would forthwith come against him; but it is not said, that he did so: nor is it set down, what he did with Tirhakah, because the Design of the Sacred Writer, was onely to write the History of the Iewish Nation; not of others, but onely with respect to them.

This was an excellent Sign, for it was miraculous; especially, considering the waste and havock which the Assyrians had made in the Land; and that the Iews had been forced to retire into their strong Hold, and consequently to neglect their Tilling, and Sowing, and Reaping; and yet this Year they should have sufficient Provision from those Fruits of the Earth which the Assyrian left; and the Second Year, which probably was the Year of Release, in which they might neither Sow, nor Reap, from such Fruits as the Earth brought forth of its own accord; and so in the Third Year.

You shall not Sow, and another Reap, as lately you did; but you shall Enjoy the Fruit of your own Labours.