2 Kings 18 Study Notes

18:19-22 In human terms the Assyrian official spoke the truth: Egypt was weak; Hezekiah had torn down the shrines of the Lord (though from the perspective of many who worshiped the Lord, they were illegal) so that the Lord had no reason to protect the king. In fact, the Assyrian claimed that the Lord was the deity who had sent the Assyrians to punish Hezekiah (v. 25).

18:23-24 The royal spokesman mocked the military weakness of the Israelites.

18:25 The royal spokesman claimed that the Lord had commissioned Assyria to attack and destroy Judah.

18:26 Aramaic was the standard language for international dealings, but the Assyrian diplomatic corps included Hebrew speakers.

18:27 The royal spokesman’s goal was to demoralize the population.

18:28-30 Both the Assyrian propagandist and the author of 2 Kings continue to describe the depressing state of the Israelites and their faith in the Lord. The royal spokesman insisted on shouting, in Hebrew rather than Aramaic, his discouraging message to the soldiers on the wall.

18:31-32a The royal spokesman offered temporary peace and then exile, which he described in rosy terms.

18:32b-35 The pessimistic appraisal continued with the accurate description of the helplessness of the gods of the other conquered nations. Even Samaria was mentioned. (On the nations mentioned here, see 19:12-13 and note at 19:10-13.)

18:36-37 The torn clothes were a formal declaration of grief.