2 Kings 19:8-13

Sennacherib Defies the Lord

8 The Rabshakeh returned, and found the king of Assyria fighting against ¹Libnah, for he heard that the king had left ²Lachish.

9 ³Now the king heard concerning Tirhakah king of Cush, "Behold, he has set out to fight against you." So he sent messengers again to Hezekiah, saying,

10 "Thus shall you speak to Hezekiah king of Judah: 'Do not let your God ⁴in whom you trust deceive you by promising that ⁵Jerusalem will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.

11 Behold, you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands, devoting them to destruction. And shall you be delivered?

12 ⁶Have the gods of the nations delivered them, the nations that my fathers destroyed, ⁷Gozan, ⁸Haran, Rezeph, and the people of ⁹Eden who were in Telassar?

13 ¹⁰Where is the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad, the king of the city of Sepharvaim, the king of Hena, or the king of Ivvah?'"

2 Kings 19:8-13 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 2 KINGS 19

This chapter relates that King Hezekiah, on a report made to him of Rabshakeh's speech, sent a message to the prophet Isaiah to pray for him, who returned him a comfortable and encouraging answer, 2Ki 19:1-7 and that upon Rabshakeh's return to the king of Assyria, he sent to Hezekiah a terrifying letter, 2Ki 19:8-13, which Hezekiah spread before the Lord, and prayed unto him to save him and his people out of the hands of the king of Assyria, 2Ki 19:14-19, to which he had a gracious answer sent him by the prophet Isaiah, promising him deliverance from the Assyrian army, 2Ki 19:20-34, which accordingly was destroyed by an angel in one night, and Sennacherib fleeing to Nineveh, was slain by his two sons, 2Ki 19:35-37.

Cross References

• 1. Joshua 10:29
• 2. 2 Kings 18:14; Joshua 10:31
• 3. [1 Samuel 23:27]
• 4. 2 Kings 18:5
• 5. 2 Kings 18:30
• 6. 2 Kings 18:33
• 7. 2 Kings 17:6
• 8. Genesis 11:31; Ezekiel 27:23
• 9. Ezekiel 27:23; Amos 1:5
• 10. 2 Kings 18:34