2 Kings 18
2 Kings 18 marks the beginning of the reign of Hezekiah, king of Judah, who is noted for his righteous reforms and deep trust in God. During his reign, he removes idolatrous practices, destroys the bronze serpent made by Moses, and reestablishes the worship of the Lord. The chapter also recounts the threat posed by the Assyrian empire under King Sennacherib, leading to one of the most significant confrontations between Judah and Assyria. Hezekiah's faith and leadership are tested as he seeks to defend Jerusalem from the invaders.
2 Kings 18:1-5 (NKJV)
1 Now it came to pass in the third year of Hoshea the son of Elah, king of Israel, that Hezekiah the son of Ahaz, king of Judah, began to reign.
2 He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Abi the daughter of Zechariah.
3 And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father David had done.
4 He removed the high places and broke the sacred pillars, cut down the wooden image and broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made; for until those days the children of Israel burned incense to it, and called it Nehushtan.
5 He trusted in the Lord God of Israel, so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor who were before him.
Hezekiah's reign stands out because of his dedication to God. Unlike many kings before him, he sought to remove all forms of idolatry in Judah, including even the bronze serpent that Moses had made, which had become an object of worship. His commitment to reform was not limited to external changes but reflected his deep trust in the Lord. The mention of him doing "what was right in the sight of the Lord" aligns him with the legacy of David, setting him apart as a king whose faithfulness to God would have a profound impact on Judah.
2 Kings 18:6 (NKJV)
6 For he held fast to the Lord; he did not depart from following Him, but kept His commandments, which the Lord had commanded Moses.
Hezekiah’s faithfulness to the Lord is emphasized here. He is portrayed as a king who was deeply committed to obeying God’s commandments. Unlike some of his predecessors, Hezekiah did not waver or compromise in his devotion to God, adhering closely to the instructions given through Moses. His obedience was central to his success and the favor he found with God.
2 Kings 18:7-8 (NKJV)
7 The Lord was with him; he prospered wherever he went. And he rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him.
8 He subdued the Philistines, as far as Gaza and its territory, from watchtower to fortified city.
Because of Hezekiah's loyalty to God, the Lord granted him success in all his endeavors. This included his bold rebellion against the powerful Assyrian empire, refusing to continue paying tribute to them. He also achieved military victories against the Philistines, expanding Judah’s territory and influence. His ability to stand against such powerful enemies was a sign of God’s blessing and protection over his reign.
2 Kings 18:9-12 (NKJV)
9 Now it came to pass in the fourth year of King Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of Hoshea the son of Elah, king of Israel, that Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria and besieged it.
10 And at the end of three years they took it. In the sixth year of Hezekiah, that is, the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel, Samaria was taken.
11 Then the king of Assyria carried Israel away captive to Assyria, and put them in Halah and by the Habor, the River of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes,
12 because they did not obey the voice of the Lord their God, but transgressed His covenant and all that Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded; and they would neither hear nor do them.
The fall of Samaria and the captivity of the northern kingdom of Israel serve as a tragic reminder of what happens when God’s people turn away from Him. The Assyrian conquest of Israel is directly tied to their disobedience and refusal to follow God’s commandments. This contrast with Hezekiah’s faithfulness highlights the critical importance of covenant obedience in maintaining God’s favor and protection.
2 Kings 18:13-16 (NKJV)
13 And in the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah and took them.
14 Then Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria at Lachish, saying, “I have done wrong; turn away from me; whatever you impose on me I will pay.” And the king of Assyria assessed Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold.
15 So Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the house of the Lord and in the treasuries of the king’s house.
16 At that time Hezekiah stripped the gold from the doors of the temple of the Lord, and from the pillars which Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid, and gave it to the king of Assyria.
Hezekiah, despite his faithfulness, is faced with the immense power of Assyria under Sennacherib. The Assyrians capture many of Judah’s fortified cities, leading Hezekiah to seek terms of peace by offering tribute. In a desperate attempt to satisfy the Assyrian demands, he strips the temple of its gold, showing the extent of the pressure Judah was under. This moment demonstrates that even godly leaders like Hezekiah faced overwhelming challenges that required great humility and difficult decisions.
2 Kings 18:17-18 (NKJV)
17 Then the king of Assyria sent the Tartan, the Rabsaris, and the Rabshakeh from Lachish, with a great army against Jerusalem, to King Hezekiah. And they went up and came to Jerusalem. When they had come up, they went and stood by the aqueduct from the upper pool, which was on the highway to the Fuller’s Field.
18 And when they had called to the king, Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph, the recorder, came out to them.
Despite Hezekiah’s tribute, Assyria continues to threaten Judah by sending high-ranking officials with a large army to besiege Jerusalem. The meeting location, near the aqueduct, was significant because it was a vital source of water for the city. The Rabshakeh, representing Sennacherib, intends to demoralize the people and pressure them into surrender. Hezekiah’s officials come out to meet them, preparing for a confrontation that will test their faith and resolve.
2 Kings 18:19-22 (NKJV)
19 Then the Rabshakeh said to them, “Say now to Hezekiah, ‘Thus says the great king, the king of Assyria: “What confidence is this in which you trust?
20 You speak of having plans and power for war; but they are mere words. And in whom do you trust, that you rebel against me?
21 Now look! You are trusting in the staff of this broken reed, Egypt, on which if a man leans, it will go into his hand and pierce it. So is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him.
22 But if you say to me, ‘We trust in the Lord our God,’ is it not He whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah has taken away, and said to Judah and Jerusalem, ‘You shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem’?”’”
The Rabshakeh begins his speech by mocking Hezekiah’s trust, both in military strength and in alliances, particularly with Egypt. He likens Egypt to a weak reed, unable to support Judah. He also challenges Judah’s reliance on the Lord, questioning whether Hezekiah’s reforms have angered God by removing high places and centralizing worship in Jerusalem. The Rabshakeh’s words aim to shake the faith of the people and turn them against their king.
2 Kings 18:23-25 (NKJV)
23 Now therefore, I urge you, give a pledge to my master the king of Assyria, and I will give you two thousand horses—if you are able on your part to put riders on them!
24 How then will you repel one captain of the least of my master’s servants, and put your trust in Egypt for chariots and horsemen?
25 Have I now come up without the Lord against this place to destroy it? The Lord said to me, ‘Go up against this land, and destroy it.’”
The Rabshakeh continues to mock Judah by suggesting that even if Assyria gave them horses, they wouldn’t have enough men to ride them. He belittles their military capability and confidence in Egypt’s help. He then takes a bold and deceptive step by claiming that it was God who sent Assyria to destroy Judah. This claim is meant to confuse and further discourage the people, making them doubt that God is on their side.
2 Kings 18:26-27 (NKJV)
26 Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, Shebna, and Joah said to the Rabshakeh, “Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, for we understand it; and do not speak to us in Hebrew in the hearing of the people who are on the wall.”
27 But the Rabshakeh said to them, “Has my master sent me to your master and to you to speak these words, and not to the men who sit on the wall, who will eat and drink their own waste with you?”
Hezekiah’s officials ask the Rabshakeh to speak in Aramaic, a language of diplomacy, to avoid alarming the people listening on the city walls. However, the Rabshakeh refuses, insisting that his message is for everyone to hear. His reference to the people being forced to endure terrible conditions during a siege (eating and drinking their own waste) is a psychological tactic, aimed at spreading fear and demoralizing the citizens of Jerusalem.
2 Kings 18:28-31 (NKJV)
28 Then the Rabshakeh stood and called out with a loud voice in Hebrew, and spoke, saying, “Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria!
29 Thus says the king: ‘Do not let Hezekiah deceive you, for he shall not be able to deliver you from his hand;
30 nor let Hezekiah make you trust in the Lord, saying, “The Lord will surely deliver us; this city shall not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.”’
31 Do not listen to Hezekiah; for thus says the king of Assyria: ‘Make peace with me by a present and come out to me; and every one of you eat from his own vine and every one from his own fig tree, and every one of you drink the waters of his own cistern.’”
The Rabshakeh raises his voice in Hebrew, directly addressing the people of Jerusalem, attempting to turn them against Hezekiah. He urges them not to trust their king’s assurances that the Lord will deliver them. Instead, he offers a false sense of security, promising them peace and prosperity under Assyrian rule if they surrender. His words are designed to undermine Hezekiah’s leadership and create division within the city.
2 Kings 18:32-35 (NKJV)
32 “Until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of olive groves and honey, that you may live and not die. But do not listen to Hezekiah, lest he persuade you, saying, ‘The Lord will deliver us.’
33 Has any of the gods of the nations at all delivered its land from the hand of the king of Assyria?
34 Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim and Hena and Ivah? Indeed, have they delivered Samaria from my hand?
35 Who among all the gods of the lands have delivered their countries from my hand, that the Lord should deliver Jerusalem from my hand?’”
The Rabshakeh continues his manipulation by offering the people a seemingly favorable relocation to a prosperous land, painting it as a better option than trusting Hezekiah. He then compares the God of Israel to the idols of the nations Assyria has already conquered, arguing that no other gods have been able to save their people. By listing these defeated nations, he implies that the Lord is powerless to deliver Jerusalem, reinforcing his argument that resistance is futile.
2 Kings 18:36-37 (NKJV)
36 But the people held their peace and answered him not a word; for the king’s commandment was, “Do not answer him.”
37 Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph, the recorder, came to Hezekiah with their clothes torn, and told him the words of the Rabshakeh.
Despite the Rabshakeh’s attempts to incite fear and rebellion, the people of Jerusalem remain silent, obeying Hezekiah’s command to not engage with him. The tearing of the officials' clothes symbolizes their distress and grief over the situation, showing how serious and threatening Assyria’s words were. They return to Hezekiah, fully aware of the gravity of the threat they face, setting the stage for the king’s response in the next chapter.