Sennacherib (2 Kings 18:13–16; 2 Kings 18:17–37; 2 Kings 19:1–7; 2 Kings 19:8–13; 2 Kings 19:14–34; 2 Kings 19:35–36; 2 Kings 19:37; Isaiah 36:1–22; Isaiah 37:21–38; 2 Chronicles 32:1–8; 2 Chronicles 32:9–19; 2 Chronicles 32:20–23)

King of Assyria Who Defied the Living God

The king of Assyria who came up against the fortified cities of Judah, received silver and gold from Hezekiah, sent Rabshakeh and letters against Jerusalem, saw his camp smitten by the angel of the LORD, returned to Nineveh, and was slain by his sons in the house of his god.

“Now in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah did Sennacherib king of Assyria come up against all the fortified cities of Judah, and took them” (2 Kings 18:13), and Isaiah tells it in nearly the same words (Isaiah 36:1). Chronicles says he “thought to win them for himself” (2 Chronicles 32:1). Hezekiah sent to him at Lachish, “I have offended; return from me: that which thou puttest on me will I bear” (2 Kings 18:14), and the king of Assyria appointed three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold. Then he sent Rabshakeh from Lachish to Jerusalem with a great army (2 Kings 18:17).

The words spoken at the wall are given in his name: “Thus saith the great king, the king of Assyria, What confidence is this wherein thou trustest?” (2 Kings 18:19). When Rabshakeh returned he found the king warring against Libnah, and the king sent messengers to Hezekiah with a letter (2 Kings 19:8-14); Chronicles says “He wrote also letters, to rail on Jehovah, the God of Israel” (2 Chronicles 32:17). Hezekiah spread it before the LORD, and Isaiah sent him the word: “Whom hast thou defied and blasphemed? and against whom hast thou exalted thy voice and lifted up thine eyes on high? even against the Holy One of Israel” (2 Kings 19:22).

“And it came to pass that night, that the angel of Jehovah went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred fourscore and five thousand” (2 Kings 19:35). Kings says he “departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh” (2 Kings 19:36), and Chronicles says “he returned with shame of face to his own land” (2 Chronicles 32:21). As he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, Adrammelech and Sharezer smote him with the sword, and Esar-haddon his son reigned in his stead (2 Kings 19:37).

Weaknesses

• Defied the living God
• Raging against the LORD
• Arrogancy
• Boasting of his chariots

Themes

• Assyria against Judah
• Trust in the LORD
• The gods of the nations
• The LORD's word against Assyria
• The angel in the camp

Takes the fortified cities and receives tribute (2 Kings 18:13–16; Isaiah 36:1; 2 Chronicles 32:1)

Sennacherib comes up against all the fortified cities of Judah and takes them; Hezekiah sends to him at Lachish, and the king appoints silver and gold, which Hezekiah gives.

Rabshakeh at the wall (2 Kings 18:17–37; Isaiah 36:2–22; 2 Chronicles 32:9–16; 2 Chronicles 32:18–19)

The king of Assyria sends Tartan, Rab-saris and Rabshakeh with a great army to Jerusalem; Rabshakeh speaks in the king's name, and the people answer him not a word.

Rabshakeh at the wall

“And the king of Assyria sent Tartan and Rab-saris and Rabshakeh from Lachish to king Hezekiah with a great army unto Jerusalem” (2 Kings 18:17). Rabshakeh said, “Say ye now to Hezekiah, Thus saith the great king, the king of Assyria, What confidence is this wherein thou trustest?” (2 Kings 18:19).

Hezekiah's officers asked him to speak in the Syrian language, but “Rabshakeh stood, and cried with a loud voice in the Jews’ language, and spake, saying, Hear ye the word of the great king, the king of Assyria” (2 Kings 18:28). “Thus saith the king, Let not Hezekiah deceive you” (2 Kings 18:29), and: “Who are they among all the gods of the countries, that have delivered their country out of my hand, that Jehovah should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?” (2 Kings 18:35).

“But the people held their peace, and answered him not a word; for the king’s commandment was, saying, Answer him not” (2 Kings 18:36). Isaiah tells the same scene (Isaiah 36:2-22).

Chronicles gives the message in the king's own name: “Thus saith Sennacherib king of Assyria, Whereon do ye trust, that ye abide the siege in Jerusalem?” (2 Chronicles 32:10). “And his servants spake yet more against Jehovah God, and against his servant Hezekiah” (2 Chronicles 32:16).

The first word against him (2 Kings 19:1–7; Isaiah 37:1–7)

When Hezekiah sends to Isaiah, the LORD answers that the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed him, and that he will put a spirit in the king, who shall hear tidings, return to his own land, and fall by the sword there.

The letter from Libnah (2 Kings 19:8–14; Isaiah 37:8–14; 2 Chronicles 32:17)

Rabshakeh finds the king of Assyria warring against Libnah; hearing of Tirhakah king of Ethiopia, the king sends messengers again to Hezekiah with a letter, and Chronicles says he wrote letters to rail on the LORD, the God of Israel.

Hezekiah's prayer and the word of the LORD (2 Kings 19:14–34; Isaiah 37:14–35; 2 Chronicles 32:20)

Hezekiah spreads the letter before the LORD and prays; Isaiah sends the LORD's word that he has defied the Holy One of Israel and will be turned back by the way he came.

Hezekiah's prayer and the word of the LORD

“And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it; and Hezekiah went up unto the house of Jehovah, and spread it before Jehovah” (2 Kings 19:14). He prayed, “hear the words of Sennacherib, wherewith he hath sent him to defy the living God” (2 Kings 19:16).

Then Isaiah sent to Hezekiah: “Whereas thou hast prayed to me against Sennacherib king of Assyria, I have heard thee” (2 Kings 19:20). “By thy messengers thou hast defied the Lord, and hast said, With the multitude of my chariots am I come up to the height of the mountains” (2 Kings 19:23).

“Because of thy raging against me, and because thine arrogancy is come up into mine ears, therefore will I put my hook in thy nose, and my bridle in thy lips, and I will turn thee back by the way by which thou camest” (2 Kings 19:28). “By the way that he came, by the same shall he return, and he shall not come unto this city, saith Jehovah” (2 Kings 19:33).

The angel in the camp (2 Kings 19:35–36; Isaiah 37:36–37; 2 Chronicles 32:21–22)

The angel of the LORD smites the camp of the Assyrians in the night; Sennacherib departs and dwells at Nineveh, and Chronicles says he returned with shame of face to his own land.

The angel in the camp

“And it came to pass that night, that the angel of Jehovah went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when men arose early in the morning, behold, these were all dead bodies” (2 Kings 19:35). Isaiah has “a hundred and fourscore and five thousand” (Isaiah 37:36).

“So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh” (2 Kings 19:36).

Chronicles tells it this way: “And Jehovah sent an angel, who cut off all the mighty men of valor, and the leaders and captains, in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land” (2 Chronicles 32:21). Earlier the word to Hezekiah had said, “he shall hear tidings, and shall return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land” (2 Kings 19:7).

Slain in the house of Nisroch (2 Kings 19:37; Isaiah 37:38; 2 Chronicles 32:21)

As he worships in the house of Nisroch his god, Adrammelech and Sharezer smite him with the sword, and Esar-haddon his son reigns in his stead.

Slain in the house of Nisroch

“And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer smote him with the sword: and they escaped into the land of Ararat. And Esar-haddon his son reigned in his stead” (2 Kings 19:37).

Isaiah adds that they were “his sons” (Isaiah 37:38). Chronicles says, “when he was come into the house of his god, they that came forth from his own bowels slew him there with the sword” (2 Chronicles 32:21).

Hezekiah (2 Kings 18:13–16; 2 Kings 19:14; 2 Chronicles 32:1–2)

King of Judah, who sent to him at Lachish, received his letter, and spread it before the LORD.

Rabshakeh (2 Kings 18:17–37; 2 Kings 19:8; Isaiah 36:2–22)

His servant, sent from Lachish with a great army, who spoke at the wall in the name of the king of Assyria.

Isaiah (2 Kings 19:6–7; 2 Kings 19:20–34; Isaiah 37:21–35)

The prophet, son of Amoz, who sent Hezekiah the word of the LORD concerning Sennacherib.

The LORD (2 Kings 19:16; 2 Kings 19:27–28; 2 Kings 19:35)

Sennacherib sent his words to defy the living God; the LORD knew his raging, and sent an angel who smote his camp.

Adrammelech and Sharezer (2 Kings 19:37; Isaiah 37:38)

His sons, who smote him with the sword in the house of Nisroch his god.

Esar-haddon (2 Kings 19:37; Isaiah 37:38)

His son, who reigned in his stead.

Major sections

• 2 Kings 18:13–19:37
• Isaiah 36–37
• 2 Chronicles 32:1–23

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