2 Kings 18: Hezekiah's reforms, and the Rabshakeh at the walls of Jerusalem
A free study, verse by verse. Text: World English Bible. Notes come from the Hebrew. How to read a study
What happens?
In the third year of Hoshea, Hezekiah becomes king of Judah. He trusts in Yahweh: he removes the high places, cuts down the Asherah, and breaks in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses made, because the people were burning incense to it, and no king of Judah before or after him is like him. In his sixth year Samaria is taken. In his fourteenth year Sennacherib king of Assyria takes all the fortified cities of Judah, and Hezekiah pays him silver and gold, even gold cut from the doors of Yahweh's temple. Then the king of Assyria sends the Rabshakeh with a great army to Jerusalem, and the Rabshakeh calls out to the people on the wall, in their own language, not to let Hezekiah make them trust in Yahweh, for no god of any nation has rescued its land from the king of Assyria.
Who is speaking?
The narrator tells the story. No verse is in gold: God speaks no words of his own in this chapter. Hezekiah sends his message to the king of Assyria in verse 14. The Rabshakeh speaks in verses 19 to 25 and 27 to 35. In verses 19 to 25 and 28 to 35 he gives the words of the king of Assyria. Inside his speech he gives words of Hezekiah and the people (verses 22, 30 and 32), and in verse 25 he says Yahweh told him to go up against the land. All of these are the Rabshakeh's words, so they are not in gold. Eliakim, Shebna and Joah speak to him in verse 26. Verse 36 gives the king's command, "Don't answer him." Verse 6, that Yahweh commanded Moses, and verse 12, what Moses commanded, are the narrator's words. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1Now in the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign.
In plain English: In the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah became king.
Good to know: These are the text's own numbers. says Hoshea became king in the twelfth year of Ahaz, and this verse says Hezekiah the son of Ahaz became king in Hoshea's third year. The text gives them as they are and does not explain how they fit together.
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2He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Abi the daughter of Zechariah.
In plain English: 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.
Good to know: The dictionary gives Abi as "Hezekiah's mother". gives the same years and names her "Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah".
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3He did that which was right in Yahweh’s eyes, according to all that David his father had done.
In plain English: He did what was right in Yahweh's eyes, by all that his father (or: ancestor) David had done.
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4He removed the high places, broke the pillars, and cut down the Asherah. He also broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, because in those days the children of Israel burned incense to it; and he called it Nehushtan.
In plain English: He removed the high places, broke the sacred pillars, and cut down the Asherah. He also smashed to pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, because up to those days the children of Israel had been burning incense to it. He called it (or: It was called) Nehushtan.
The Hebrew word: Nehushtan is Nechushtan, which the dictionary gives as "something made of copper, i.e. the copper serpent of the Desert". It sounds like both nechoshet, bronze, and nachash, snake: the two words of "serpent of bronze" in (see the note there). This is the only verse in the Bible that uses the name.
What changes: The Hebrew says "and called it Nehushtan" and does not say who called it. Read as this Bible has it, Hezekiah gave it the name. Read the other way, people called it by that name. The text says only that the children of Israel had been burning incense to it and that Hezekiah broke it in pieces.
Good to know: says Moses made a serpent of bronze and set it on a pole: "If a serpent had bitten any man, when he looked at the serpent of bronze, he lived."
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5He trusted in Yahweh, the God of Israel, so that after him was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, nor among them that were before him.
In plain English: He trusted in Yahweh, the God of Israel. After him there was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, nor among those who were before him.
Good to know: The text says much the same of King Josiah in : "There was no king like him before him ... and there was none like him who arose after him." Here it is said of Hezekiah's trust in Yahweh. The text gives both and does not explain more.
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6For he joined with Yahweh. He didn’t depart from following him, but kept his commandments, which Yahweh commanded Moses.
In plain English: He held fast (this Bible: joined) to Yahweh. He did not turn away from following him, but kept his commandments, which Yahweh commanded Moses.
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7Yahweh was with him. Wherever he went, he prospered. He rebelled against the king of Assyria, and didn’t serve him.
In plain English: Yahweh was with him. Wherever he went out, he succeeded (this Bible: prospered). He rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him.
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8He struck the Philistines to Gaza and its borders, from the tower of the watchmen to the fortified city.
In plain English: He struck the Philistines as far as Gaza and its territory, from the watchmen's tower to the fortified city.
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9In the fourth year of King Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria and besieged it.
In plain English: In the fourth year of King Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria and besieged it.
Good to know: Verses 9 to 12 tell again what and told, now dated by the years of King Hezekiah of Judah. These are the text's own numbers.
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10At the end of three years they took it. In the sixth year of Hezekiah, which was the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel, Samaria was taken.
In plain English: At the end of three years they took it. In the sixth year of Hezekiah, which was the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel, Samaria was taken.
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11The king of Assyria carried Israel away to Assyria, and put them in Halah, and on the Habor, the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes,
In plain English: The king of Assyria carried Israel away to Assyria, and led them to Halah, to the Habor, the river of Gozan, and to the cities of the Medes,
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12because they didn’t obey Yahweh their God’s voice, but transgressed his covenant, even all that Moses the servant of Yahweh commanded, and would not hear it or do it.
In plain English: because they did not obey (literally: listen to the voice of) Yahweh their God, but broke his covenant, all that Moses the servant of Yahweh commanded. They would not listen to it or do it.
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13Now in the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah and took them.
In plain English: In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah and took them.
Good to know: From here to , much of the story is told again, often in the same words, in Isaiah 36 to 39, beginning at . Isaiah does not have verses 14 to 16: after this verse it goes straight on to the Rabshakeh (). also tells of Sennacherib's coming.
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14Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria at Lachish, saying, “I have offended you. Withdraw from me. That which you put on me, I will bear.” The king of Assyria appointed to Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold.
In plain English: Hezekiah king of Judah sent this message to the king of Assyria at Lachish: "I have done wrong (literally: I have sinned). Turn back (this Bible: withdraw) from me. Whatever you put on me, I will bear." The king of Assyria laid on Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold.
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15Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in Yahweh’s house and in the treasures of the king’s house.
In plain English: Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in Yahweh's house and in the treasuries of the king's house.
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16At that time, Hezekiah cut off the gold from the doors of Yahweh’s temple, and from the pillars which Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid, and gave it to the king of Assyria.
In plain English: At that time Hezekiah cut off the gold from the doors of Yahweh's temple and from the doorposts (this Bible: pillars) that Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid, and gave it to the king of Assyria. (The Hebrew does not have the word "gold" here: it says he cut off the doors and the doorposts he had overlaid.)
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17The king of Assyria sent Tartan, Rabsaris, and Rabshakeh from Lachish to King Hezekiah with a great army to Jerusalem. They went up and came to Jerusalem. When they had come up, they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which is in the highway of the fuller’s field.
In plain English: The king of Assyria sent the Tartan, the Rabsaris and the Rabshakeh (or, as titles: the commander in chief, the chief official and the chief commander; see the note) from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem, with a great army. They went up and came to Jerusalem. When they had come up, they came and stood by the channel (this Bible: conduit) of the upper pool, which is on the highway of the fuller's field (literally: the washer's field).
The Hebrew words: The dictionary gives Tartan as "an Assyrian", and Rabsaris and Rabshakeh each as "a Babylonian official". The word-by-word meanings read all three as titles: "the commander in chief", "the chief court official" and "the chief commander". The first part of the last two is rav, which the dictionary gives as "abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality)", here: chief.
What changes: Read as names, as this Bible has them, the king sends three men named Tartan, Rabsaris and Rabshakeh. Read as titles, he sends three of his high officers, and the text does not give their names. Either way, the one who speaks from verse 19 on is the Rabshakeh. names only the Rabshakeh.
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18When they had called to the king, Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebnah the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder came out to them.
In plain English: They called for 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.
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19Rabshakeh said to them, “Say now to Hezekiah, ‘The great king, the king of Assyria, says, “What confidence is this in which you trust?
In plain English: The Rabshakeh said to them, "Tell Hezekiah: 'The great king, the king of Assyria, says this: What is this confidence (literally: trust) that you are trusting in?
Good to know: From here to verse 25, and again in verses 27 to 35, the Rabshakeh speaks. These are his words, not God's, so none of them are in gold. In verse 25 he says that Yahweh told him to go up against the land: that is his own claim, and the narrator does not say that Yahweh told him this. In verse 22 he speaks of the high places Hezekiah removed, which verse 4 told of, and also speaks of altars.
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20You say (but they are but vain words), ‘There is counsel and strength for war.’ Now on whom do you trust, that you have rebelled against me?
In plain English: You say, "There is counsel (or: a plan) and strength for war," but those are only empty words (literally: a word of lips). (Or: Do you think mere words are a plan and strength for war?) Now, whom are you trusting in, that you have rebelled against me?
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21Now, behold, you trust in the staff of this bruised reed, even in Egypt. If a man leans on it, it will go into his hand and pierce it. So is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust on him.
In plain English: Look, you are trusting in the staff of this crushed (this Bible: bruised) reed, Egypt. If anyone leans on it, it will go into his hand (literally: palm) and pierce it. That is what Pharaoh king of Egypt is to all who trust in him.
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22But if you tell me, ‘We trust in Yahweh our God,’ isn’t that he whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah has taken away, and has said to Judah and to Jerusalem, ‘You shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem’?
In plain English: But if you tell me, "We trust in Yahweh our God," is he not the one whose high places and altars Hezekiah has removed, telling Judah and Jerusalem, "You must worship (literally: bow down) before this altar in Jerusalem"?
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23Now therefore, please give pledges to my master the king of Assyria, and I will give you two thousand horses if you are able on your part to set riders on them.
In plain English: So now, please make a wager (this Bible: give pledges) with my master the king of Assyria: I will give you two thousand horses, if you are able to put riders on them.
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24How then can you turn away the face of one captain of the least of my master’s servants, and put your trust on Egypt for chariots and for horsemen?
In plain English: How then can you turn away (literally: turn back the face of) even one governor (this Bible: captain), one of the least of my master's servants, while you trust in Egypt for chariots and for horsemen?
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25Have I now come up without Yahweh against this place to destroy it? Yahweh said to me, ‘Go up against this land, and destroy it.’”’”
In plain English: Have I now come up against this place to destroy it without Yahweh? Yahweh said to me, "Go up against this land and destroy it."'"
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26Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, Shebnah, and Joah, said to Rabshakeh, “Please speak to your servants in the Syrian language, for we understand it. Don’t speak with us in the Jews’ language, in the hearing of the people who are on the wall.”
In plain English: Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, Shebna and Joah said to the Rabshakeh, "Please speak to your servants in Aramaic (this Bible: the Syrian language), for we understand it. Do not speak with us in the Jews' language (literally: in Judean) in the hearing of the people on the wall."
The Hebrew words: "The Syrian language" is Aramit, Aramaic, the language of Aram (this Bible: Syria). "The Jews' language" is Yehudit, the language of Judah. The officials ask him to speak Aramaic "in the hearing of the people who are on the wall". In verse 28 he calls out in the Jews' language instead.
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27But Rabshakeh said to them, “Has my master sent me to your master and to you, to speak these words? Hasn’t he sent me to the men who sit on the wall, to eat their own dung, and to drink their own urine with you?”
In plain English: But the Rabshakeh said to them, "Has my master sent me to speak these words only to your master and to you? Has he not sent me to the men who sit on the wall, to eat their own dung and to drink their own urine (literally: the water of their feet) with you?"
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28Then Rabshakeh stood and cried with a loud voice in the Jews’ language, and spoke, saying, “Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria.
In plain English: Then the Rabshakeh stood and called out with a loud voice in the Jews' language: "Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria.
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29The king says, ‘Don’t let Hezekiah deceive you, for he will not be able to deliver you out of his hand.
In plain English: The king says this: 'Do not let Hezekiah deceive you, for he will not be able to rescue you out of his hand.
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30Don’t let Hezekiah make you trust in Yahweh, saying, “Yahweh will surely deliver us, and this city shall not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.”
In plain English: Do not let Hezekiah make you trust in Yahweh by saying, "Yahweh will surely rescue us, and this city will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria."
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31Don’t listen to Hezekiah.’ For the king of Assyria says, ‘Make your peace with me, and come out to me; and everyone of you eat from his own vine, and everyone from his own fig tree, and everyone drink water from his own cistern;
In plain English: Do not listen to Hezekiah.' For the king of Assyria says this: 'Make peace with me (literally: make a blessing with me) and come out to me. Then each of you will eat from his own vine and from his own fig tree, and each will drink water from his own cistern,
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32until 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 trees and of honey, that you may live and not die. Don’t listen to Hezekiah when he persuades you, saying, “Yahweh will deliver us.”
In plain English: 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 trees (literally: olive trees of oil) and honey, so that you may live and not die. Do not listen to Hezekiah when he misleads you (this Bible: persuades you) by saying, "Yahweh will rescue us."
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33Has any of the gods of the nations ever delivered his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria?
In plain English: Has any of the gods of the nations ever rescued his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria?
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34Where are the gods of Hamath and of Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim, of Hena, and Ivvah? Have they delivered Samaria out of my hand?
In plain English: Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena and Ivvah? Have they rescued Samaria out of my hand?
Good to know: People from Hamath, Sepharvaim and Avva (the same name as Ivvah here) were settled in the cities of Samaria (; see the note there). The dictionary gives Arpad as "a place in Syria".
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35Who are they among all the gods of the countries, that have delivered their country out of my hand, that Yahweh should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?’”
In plain English: Who among all the gods of the lands has rescued his land out of my hand, that Yahweh should rescue Jerusalem out of my hand?'"
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36But the people stayed quiet, and answered him not a word; for the king’s commandment was, “Don’t answer him.”
In plain English: But the people kept quiet and did not answer him a word, for the king's command was, "Do not answer him."
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37Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, came with Shebna the scribe and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder to Hezekiah with their clothes torn, and told him Rabshakeh’s words.
In plain English: 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 Rabshakeh's words.
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