2 Kings 19: Hezekiah's prayer, Isaiah's message, and the night the Assyrian camp was struck
A free study, verse by verse. Text: World English Bible. Notes come from the Hebrew. How to read a study
What happens?
Hezekiah tears his clothes, goes into Yahweh's house, and sends his officials to the prophet Isaiah, who sends back Yahweh's message: do not be afraid; the king of Assyria will hear a report, go back to his own land, and fall by the sword there. The king of Assyria sends messengers again to tell Hezekiah that no god has rescued any nation from him, and Hezekiah spreads the letter before Yahweh and prays that Yahweh will save them, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that he alone is God. Isaiah sends Yahweh's answer: the king of Assyria will not come into this city, for Yahweh will defend it for his own sake and for his servant David's sake. That night Yahweh's angel strikes one hundred eighty-five thousand in the camp of the Assyrians, and Sennacherib goes home and stays at Nineveh. As he worships in the house of his god Nisroch, Adrammelech and Sharezer strike him down with the sword.
Who is speaking?
The narrator tells the story. No verse is in gold. Hezekiah's officials give his message to Isaiah in verses 3 and 4. Isaiah gives Yahweh's message to them in verses 6 and 7, and sends Yahweh's answer to Hezekiah in verses 20 to 34 ("Yahweh, the God of Israel, says"). Those words are Isaiah's: he speaks for Yahweh, even where the message speaks as "I", so they are not in gold. In verse 9 the king of Assyria hears it said of Tirhakah, "he has come out to fight against you", and his messengers bring his words to Hezekiah in verses 10 to 13. Hezekiah prays to Yahweh in verses 15 to 19: it is his own prayer. Verse 35, that Yahweh's angel struck the camp of the Assyrians, is the narrator's words: no one speaks there. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1When King Hezekiah heard it, he tore his clothes, covered himself with sackcloth, and went into Yahweh’s house.
In plain English: When King Hezekiah heard it, he tore his clothes, covered himself with sackcloth, and went into Yahweh's house.
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2He sent Eliakim, who was over the household, Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz.
In plain English: He sent Eliakim, who was over the household, Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz.
Good to know: This is the first verse in the books of Kings that names the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz. says he saw his vision "in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah". tells this same part of the story.
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3They said to him, “Hezekiah says, ‘Today is a day of trouble, of rebuke, and of rejection; for the children have come to the point of birth, and there is no strength to deliver them.
In plain English: They said to him, "Hezekiah says this: 'Today is a day of distress (this Bible: trouble), of rebuke and of scorn (this Bible: rejection). The children have come to the moment of birth, and there is no strength to give birth (this Bible: to deliver them).
Good to know: Hezekiah's words are a picture taken from childbirth: the child has come to the moment of birth, but there is no strength to bring it out. The text does not explain the picture further.
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4It may be Yahweh your God will hear all the words of Rabshakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master has sent to defy the living God, and will rebuke the words which Yahweh your God has heard. Therefore lift up your prayer for the remnant that is left.’”
In plain English: It may be that Yahweh your God will hear all the words of the Rabshakeh, whom his master the king of Assyria has sent to taunt (this Bible: defy) the living God, and will rebuke the words that Yahweh your God has heard. So lift up a prayer for the remnant that is left (literally: that is found).'"
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5So the servants of King Hezekiah came to Isaiah.
In plain English: So King Hezekiah's servants came to Isaiah.
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6Isaiah said to them, “Tell your master this: ‘Yahweh says, “Don’t be afraid of the words that you have heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me.
In plain English: Isaiah said to them, "Tell your master this: 'Yahweh says this: Do not be afraid of the words you have heard, with which the servants (literally: young men) of the king of Assyria have insulted (this Bible: blasphemed) me.
Good to know: Isaiah gives Yahweh's message ("Yahweh says"). These are Isaiah's words, so they are not in gold, here, in verse 7, and in verses 20 to 34, even where the message speaks as "I".
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7Behold, I will put a spirit in him, and he will hear news, and will return to his own land. I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land.”’”
In plain English: Look, I will put a spirit (or: a wind, a breath; see the note) in him. He will hear a report (this Bible: news) and go back to his own land, and I will make him fall by the sword in his own land.'"
The Hebrew word: "A spirit" is ruach, which the dictionary gives as "wind; by resemblance breath", and "by resemblance spirit". The text does not say more about what Yahweh will put in him. It says what follows: he will hear a report and go back to his own land. Verses 36 and 37 tell that he went home and stayed at Nineveh, and that he was struck down with the sword as he worshiped in the house of his god.
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8So Rabshakeh returned and found the king of Assyria warring against Libnah; for he had heard that he had departed from Lachish.
In plain English: So the Rabshakeh went back and found the king of Assyria fighting against Libnah, for he had heard that the king had left Lachish.
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9When he heard it said of Tirhakah king of Ethiopia, “Behold, he has come out to fight against you,” he sent messengers again to Hezekiah, saying,
In plain English: When the king of Assyria (literally: he) heard it said of Tirhakah king of Ethiopia (Hebrew: Cush), "Look, he has come out to fight against you," he sent messengers to Hezekiah again (literally: he returned and sent), saying,
Good to know: The dictionary gives Tirhakah as "a king of Kush". This Bible writes "Ethiopia" for Cush here.
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10“Tell Hezekiah king of Judah this: ‘Don’t let your God in whom you trust deceive you, saying, Jerusalem will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.
In plain English: "Tell Hezekiah king of Judah this: 'Do not let your God, in whom you trust, deceive you by saying, "Jerusalem will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria."
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11Behold, you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands, by destroying them utterly. Will you be delivered?
In plain English: Look, you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands, destroying them completely (this Bible: utterly). And will you be rescued?
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12Have the gods of the nations delivered them, which my fathers have destroyed—Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and the children of Eden who were in Telassar?
In plain English: Did the gods of the nations rescue them, the nations my fathers destroyed: Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and the people (literally: children) of Eden who were in Telassar?
Good to know: Gozan is where the king of Assyria settled the people of Israel carried away from Samaria ().
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13Where is the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, of Hena, and Ivvah?’”
In plain English: Where is the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, of Hena and of Ivvah?'"
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14Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it. Then Hezekiah went up to Yahweh’s house, and spread it before Yahweh.
In plain English: Hezekiah took the letter (Hebrew: letters) from the hand of the messengers and read it. Then Hezekiah went up to Yahweh's house and spread it out before Yahweh.
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15Hezekiah prayed before Yahweh, and said, “Yahweh, the God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, even you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth.
In plain English: Hezekiah prayed before Yahweh and said, "Yahweh, the God of Israel, you who are enthroned above (or: who sit on) the cherubim, you alone are God of all the kingdoms of the earth. You made heaven and earth.
Good to know: Hezekiah prays to Yahweh in verses 15 to 19. It is his own prayer, so it is not in gold. "Enthroned above the cherubim" is a title of Yahweh tied to the ark; see the note on .
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16Incline your ear, Yahweh, and hear. Open your eyes, Yahweh, and see. Hear the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to defy the living God.
In plain English: Turn your ear (this Bible: incline your ear), Yahweh, and hear. Open your eyes, Yahweh, and see. Hear the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to taunt (this Bible: defy) the living God.
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17Truly, Yahweh, the kings of Assyria have laid waste the nations and their lands,
In plain English: It is true, Yahweh, the kings of Assyria have laid waste the nations and their lands,
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18and have cast their gods into the fire; for they were no gods, but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone. Therefore they have destroyed them.
In plain English: and have thrown their gods into the fire, for they were not gods, only the work of human hands, wood and stone. So they destroyed them.
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19Now therefore, Yahweh our God, save us, I beg you, out of his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, Yahweh, are God alone.”
In plain English: So now, Yahweh our God, please save us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, Yahweh, alone are God."
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20Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, “Yahweh, the God of Israel, says ‘You have prayed to me against Sennacherib king of Assyria, and I have heard you.
In plain English: Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, "Yahweh, the God of Israel, says this: 'You have prayed to me about Sennacherib king of Assyria, and I have heard you.
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21This is the word that Yahweh has spoken concerning him: ‘The virgin daughter of Zion has despised you and ridiculed you. The daughter of Jerusalem has shaken her head at you.
In plain English: This is the word that Yahweh has spoken about him: The virgin daughter of Zion has despised you and mocked you. The daughter of Jerusalem has shaken her head behind you (this Bible: at you).
Good to know: The verse sets "the virgin daughter of Zion" beside "the daughter of Jerusalem": the city is spoken of as a young woman who mocks the king of Assyria.
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22Whom have you defied and blasphemed? Against whom have you exalted your voice and lifted up your eyes on high? Against the Holy One of Israel!
In plain English: Whom have you taunted (this Bible: defied) and insulted (this Bible: blasphemed)? Against whom have you raised your voice and lifted your eyes on high? Against the Holy One of Israel!
Good to know: This Bible uses the title "Holy One of Israel" in 31 verses. 25 of them are in Isaiah, as in , and this is the only one in the books of Samuel, Kings and Chronicles.
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23By your messengers, you have defied the Lord, and have said, “With the multitude of my chariots, I have come up to the height of the mountains, to the innermost parts of Lebanon, and I will cut down its tall cedars and its choice cypress trees; and I will enter into his farthest lodging place, the forest of his fruitful field.
In plain English: Through your messengers you have taunted (this Bible: defied) the Lord, and you have said, "With my many chariots I have come up to the heights of the mountains, to the farthest parts (this Bible: innermost parts) of Lebanon. I will cut down its tall cedars and its best cypress trees (or: pines). I will enter its farthest lodging place, the forest of its fruitful field (or: its garden land).
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24I have dug and drunk strange waters, and I will dry up all the rivers of Egypt with the sole of my feet.”
In plain English: I have dug and drunk foreign (this Bible: strange) waters, and with the soles of my feet I will dry up all the streams (this Bible: rivers) of Egypt."
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25Haven’t you heard how I have done it long ago, and formed it of ancient times? Now I have brought it to pass, that it should be yours to lay waste fortified cities into ruinous heaps.
In plain English: Have you not heard how I did it (literally: made it) long ago, and formed it (or: planned it) in days of old? Now I have brought it about, that you should turn fortified cities into ruined heaps.
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26Therefore their inhabitants had little power. They were dismayed and confounded. They were like the grass of the field and like the green herb, like the grass on the housetops and like grain blasted before it has grown up.
In plain English: So their people (literally: inhabitants) had little strength (literally: were short of hand). They were terrified and put to shame. They were like the plants of the field and like the green grass, like grass on the housetops, and like grain scorched (this Bible: blasted) before it has grown up.
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27But I know your sitting down, your going out, your coming in, and your raging against me.
In plain English: But I know when you sit down, when you go out and when you come in, and how you rage against me.
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28Because of your raging against me, and because your arrogance has come up into my ears, therefore I will put my hook in your nose, and my bridle in your lips, and I will turn you back by the way by which you came.’
In plain English: Because you rage against me, and because your arrogance has come up into my ears, I will put my hook in your nose and my bit (this Bible: bridle) in your lips, and I will turn you back by the way you came.'
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29“This will be the sign to you: This year, you will eat that which grows of itself, and in the second year that which springs from that; and in the third year sow and reap, and plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
In plain English: "This will be the sign for you: this year you will eat what grows by itself, and in the second year what springs up from that. In the third year sow and reap, plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
Good to know: Here the message stops speaking to the king of Assyria. The sign is for "you" (Hezekiah, to whom Isaiah sent the message in verse 20): what will grow this year and the next, and sowing and reaping in the third year. Verse 30 speaks of "the house of Judah".
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30The remnant that has escaped of the house of Judah will again take root downward, and bear fruit upward.
In plain English: The survivors (literally: the escaped) of the house of Judah who are left will again take root below and bear fruit above.
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31For out of Jerusalem a remnant will go out, and out of Mount Zion those who shall escape. Yahweh’s zeal will perform this.
In plain English: For a remnant will go out from Jerusalem, and survivors (this Bible: those who shall escape) from Mount Zion. The zeal of Yahweh will do this.
Good to know: has much the same words, and there it is "the zeal of Yahweh of Armies". Here the Hebrew letters have only "Yahweh", though the word-by-word meaning reads "Yahweh of hosts".
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32“Therefore Yahweh says concerning the king of Assyria, ‘He will not come to this city, nor shoot an arrow there. He will not come before it with shield, nor cast up a mound against it.
In plain English: "So Yahweh says this about the king of Assyria: 'He will not come into this city or shoot an arrow there. He will not come before it with a shield or build (this Bible: cast up) a siege mound against it.
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33He will return the same way that he came, and he will not come to this city,’ says Yahweh.
In plain English: He will go back by the way he came, and he will not come into this city,' says Yahweh (literally: is the saying of Yahweh).
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34‘For I will defend this city to save it, for my own sake and for my servant David’s sake.’”
In plain English: 'For I will defend (or: shield) this city to save it, for my own sake and for the sake of my servant David.'"
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35That night, Yahweh’s angel went out and struck one hundred eighty-five thousand in the camp of the Assyrians. When men arose early in the morning, behold, these were all dead bodies.
In plain English: That night Yahweh's angel went out and struck down one hundred eighty-five thousand in the camp of the Assyrians. When people (literally: they) got up early in the morning, look, all of them were dead bodies.
Good to know: The text says only that Yahweh's angel went out and struck them, and that in the morning they were all dead bodies. The angel speaks no words here, so nothing is in gold. tells the same. says "Yahweh sent an angel, who cut off all the mighty men of valor, the leaders, and captains in the camp of the king of Assyria".
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36So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, went home, and lived at Nineveh.
In plain English: So Sennacherib king of Assyria left, went back home (literally: went and returned), and stayed at Nineveh.
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37As he was worshiping in the house of Nisroch his god, Adrammelech and Sharezer struck him with the sword; and they escaped into the land of Ararat. Esar Haddon his son reigned in his place.
In plain English: As he was bowing down (this Bible: worshiping) in the house of Nisroch his god, Adrammelech and Sharezer struck him down with the sword, and they escaped to the land of Ararat. His son Esar Haddon became king in his place.
Good to know: tells the same and calls Adrammelech and Sharezer "his sons". The Hebrew letters of this verse, and this Bible, do not have those words, though the word-by-word meaning for "Sharezer" reads "Sharezer his sons". says "those who came out of his own body killed him there with the sword". Adrammelech is also the name of a god of Sepharvaim in (see the note there). Ararat is the land of the mountains where Noah's ship rested ().
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