Why does it say "Kol Gibor Chayil v'Nagid v'Sar"?
Rashi (Yeshayah 37:38, citing Seder Olam 23): The verse (in Yeshayah) says that 185,000 were stricken; all were kings with crowns on their heads. Each had at least 2,000 soldiers under him (Yeshayah 36:8-9); all of them died. 1
Sanhedrin 95b: His camp was about 2,600,000,000 soldiers. Chidushei Agados Maharal (95b) - this refers to their spiritual power. The physical number was what is possible in the physical world. (NOTE: I heard from R' A. Lopiansky that the Resha'im of Tanach had great Kochos ha'Nefesh, just they misused them. - PF)
What are "Mitzi'ei Mei'av"?
'Rashi': They are his sons, like it says (Melachim II, 19:37) "Banav Hikuhu."
'Rashi' writes that his sons killed him. Why did they do so?
Rashi (Melachim II, 19:37, from Sanhedrin 96a): He said, if I am saved from the nobles, whose sons died through me (in my camp) I will sacrifice my two sons to [the board]. His sons heard this.
Radak (Melachim II, 19:37 from Tanchuma Vayikra (8): Sancheriv asked his Chachamim why Hashem loves Yisrael so much. They said, their patriarch was willing to sacrifice his son to Hashem. He said, I will offer my two sons to Him 1 ! They heard.
This is not in the Buber edition of the Midrash. The Warsaw edition says that he offered his Bechor ? "va'Yikach Es Bno? va'Ya'alehu Olah" (Melachim II, 3:27). That verse discusses Melech Mo'av! Perhaps it means, I will offer my Bechor, like Melech Mo'av did. This requires investigation. (PF)
