2 Kings 18

2 Kings · Chapter 18

2 Kings 18:37

1Now it came to pass in the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign.2Twenty and five years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name also was Abi, the daughter of Zachariah.3And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father did.4He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan.5He trusted in the LORD God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him.6For he clave to the LORD, and departed not from following him, but kept his commandments, which the LORD commanded Moses.7And the LORD was with him; and he prospered whithersoever he went forth: and he rebelled against the king of Assyria, and served him not.8He smote the Philistines, even unto Gaza, and the borders thereof, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city.9And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria, and besieged it.10And at the end of three years they took it: even in the sixth year of Hezekiah, that is the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel, Samaria was taken.11And the king of Assyria did carry away Israel unto Assyria, and put them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes:12Because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD their God, but transgressed his covenant, and all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded, and would not hear them, nor do them.13Now in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah did Sennacherib king of Assyria come up against all the fenced cities of Judah, and took them.14And Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria to Lachish, saying, I have offended; return from me: that which thou puttest on me will I bear. And the king of Assyria appointed unto Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold.15And Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king’s house.16At that time did Hezekiah cut off 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.17And the king of Assyria sent Tartan and Rabsaris and Rabshakeh from Lachish to king Hezekiah with a great host against Jerusalem. And they went up and came to Jerusalem. And when they were come up, they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which is in the highway of the fuller’s field.18And when they had called to the king, there came out to them Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder.19And Rabshakeh said unto them, Speak ye now to Hezekiah, Thus saith the great king, the king of Assyria, What confidence is this wherein thou trustest?20Thou sayest, (but they are but vain words,) I have counsel and strength for the war. Now on whom dost thou trust, that thou rebellest against me?21Now, behold, thou trustest upon the staff of this bruised reed, even upon Egypt, on which if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt unto all that trust on him.22But if ye say unto me, We trust in the LORD our God: is not that he, whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah hath taken away, and hath said to Judah and Jerusalem, Ye shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem?23Now therefore, I pray thee, give pledges to my lord the king of Assyria, and I will deliver thee two thousand horses, if thou be able on thy part to set riders upon them.24How then wilt thou turn away the face of one captain of the least of my master’s servants, and put thy trust on Egypt for chariots and for horsemen?25Am 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.26Then said Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebna, and Joah, unto Rabshakeh, Speak, I pray thee, to thy servants in the Syrian language; for we understand it: and talk not with us in the Jews’ language in the ears of the people that are on the wall.27But Rabshakeh said unto them, Hath my master sent me to thy master, and to thee, to speak these words? hath he not sent me to the men which sit on the wall, that they may eat their own dung, and drink their own piss with you?28Then Rabshakeh stood and cried with a loud voice in the Jews’ language, and spake, saying, Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria:29Thus saith the king, Let not Hezekiah deceive you: for he shall not be able to deliver you out of his hand:30Neither let Hezekiah make you trust in the LORD, saying, The LORD will surely deliver us, and this city shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria.31Hearken not to Hezekiah: for thus saith the king of Assyria, Make an agreement with me by a present, and come out to me, and then eat ye every man of his own vine, and every one of his fig tree, and drink ye every one the waters of his cistern:32Until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of corn and wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of oil olive and of honey, that ye may live, and not die: and hearken not unto Hezekiah, when he persuadeth you, saying, The LORD will deliver us.33Hath any of the gods of the nations delivered at all his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria?34Where are the gods of Hamath, and of Arpad? where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah? have they delivered Samaria out of mine hand?35Who are they among all the gods of the countries, that have delivered their country out of mine hand, that the LORD should deliver Jerusalem out of mine hand?36But the people held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king’s commandment was, saying, Answer him not.37Then came Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder, to Hezekiah with their clothes rent, and told him the words of Rabshakeh.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
37Then came Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder, to Hezekiah with their clothes rent, and told him the words of Rabshakeh.Then Hilkiah’s son Eliakim the palace administrator, Shebna the scribe, and Asaph’s son Joah the recorder came to Hezekiah with their clothes torn, and they relayed to him the words of the Rabshakeh.Then came Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder, to Hezekiah with their clothes rent, and told him the words of Rabshakeh.

In context

Who is speaking and to whom, what is happening, when and where, and why it matters, each with its sources. Coming with the context cards.

Original Hebrew words

EnglishHebrewSay itStrong'sMeaning
and he wentוַיָּבֹ֣אvai-ya-VO'H0935G
to come (in): come

בּוֹא (bo) : come/go_in 1) to go in, enter, come, go, come in 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to enter, come in 1a2) to come 1a2a) to come with 1a2b) to come upon, fall or light upon, attack (enemy) 1a2c) to come to pass 1a3) to attain to 1a4) to be enumerated 1a5) to go 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to lead in 1b2) to carry in 1b3) to bring in, cause to come in, gather, cause to come, bring near, bring against, bring upon 1b4) to bring to pass 1c) (Hophal) 1c1) to be brought, brought in 1c2) to be introduced, be put

Eliakimאֶלְיָקִ֣ים'el-ya-KIMH0471G
Eliakim

אֶלְיָקִים (el.ya.qim) A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Ki.18.18; son of: Hilkiah (H2518) § Eliakim = "God raises" or "God sets up" 1) the son of Hilkiah, master of Hezekiah's household 2) Josiah's son, enthroned by Pharaoh 3) a priest who assisted Nehemiah

[the] son ofבֶּן־ben-H1121A
son: child

בֵּן (ben) : child/son

Hilkiahחִלְקִיָּ֣הchil-ki-YAHH2518G
Hilkiah

חִלְקִיָּהוּ (chil.qiy.yah) A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Ki.18.18; father of: Eliakim (H0471) § Hilkiah = "my portion is Jehovah" 1) father of Eliakim, an officer of Hezekiah 2) high priest in the reign of Josiah 3) a Merarite Levite, son of Amzi 4) another Merarite Levite, 2nd son of Hosah 5) one of those who stood on the right of Ezra when he read the law and probably a Levite and a priest 6) a priest of Anathoth, father of the prophet Jeremiah 7) father of Gemariah who was one of Zedekiah's envoys to Babylon

whoאֲשֶׁר־'a-SHER-H0834A
which

אֲשֶׁר (a.sher) A: 1) (relative part.) 1a) which, who 1b) that which 2) (conj) 2a) that (in obj clause) 2b) when 2c) since 2d) as 2e) conditional if B: Beth+ 1) in (that) which 2) (adv) 2a) where 3) (conj) 3a) in that, inasmuch as 3b) on account of C: Mem+ 1) from (or than) that which 2) from (the place) where 3) from (the fact) that, since D: Kaph+ 1) (conj.), according as, as, when 1a) according to that which, according as, as 1b) with a causal force: in so far as, since 1c) with a temporal force: when

[was] overעַל־'al-H5921A
upon

עַל (al) prep 1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against 1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards 1b) above, beyond, over (of excess) 1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence) 1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition) 1e) over (of suspension or extension) …

the houseהַ֠בַּיִתHA-ba-yitH1004QNo entry
and Shebnaוְשֶׁבְנָ֨אve-shev-NA'H7644
Shebna

שֶׁבְנָא (shev.na) A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Ki.18.18; also called Shebnah at 2Ki.18.18,26; § Shebna = "vigour" a person of high position in the court of king Hezekiah of Judah; subsequently the secretary of Hezekiah

the scribeהַסֹּפֵ֜רha-so-FERH5608B
secretary

סֹפֵר (so.pher) 1) enumerator, muster-officer, secretary, scribe 1a) enumerator, muster-officer, secretary 1b) learned man, scribe Aramaic equivalent: sa.pher (סָפִר "scribe" H5613)

and Joahוְיוֹאָ֨חve-yo-'ACHH3098G
Joah

יוֹאָח (yo.ach) A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Ki.18.18; son of: Asaph (H0623) § Joah = "Jehovah is brother" 1) son of Asaph and chronicler to Hezekiah 2) a Gershonite son or grandson of Zimmah 3) a Korhite, 3rd son of Obed-edom and doorkeeper in the time of David 4) son of Joahaz and chronicler to king Josiah

[the] son ofבֶּן־ben-H1121A
son: child

בֵּן (ben) : child/son

Asaphאָסָ֧ף'a-SAFH0623G
Asaph

אָסָף (a.saph) A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Ki.18.18; father of: Joah (H3098) § Asaph = "gatherer" 1) the father of Hezekiah's secretary 2) a son of Berechiah, chief Levite musician under David 3) a Persian officer over the royal forest

the recorderהַמַּזְכִּ֛ירha-maz-KIRH2142
to remember

זָכַר (za.khar) 1) to remember, recall, call to mind 1a) (Qal) to remember, recall 1b) (Niphal) to be brought to remembrance, be remembered, be thought of, be brought to mind 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to cause to remember, remind 1c2) to cause to be remembered, keep in remembrance 1c3) to mention 1c4) to record 1c5) to make a memorial, make remembrance

toאֶל־'el-H0413
to(wards)

אֶל (el) 1) to, toward, unto (of motion) 2) into (limit is actually entered) 2a) in among 3) toward (of direction, not necessarily physical motion) 4) against (motion or direction of a hostile character) 5) in addition to, to 6) concerning, in regard to, in reference to, on account of 7) according to (rule or standard) 8) at, by, against (of one's presence) 9) in between, in within, to within, unto (idea of motion to)

Hezekiahחִזְקִיָּ֖הוּchiz-ki-YA-huH2396G
Hezekiah

חִזְקִיָּהוּ (chiz.qiy.yah) A king of the tribe of Judah living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Ki.16.20; son of: Ahaz (H0271) and Abi (H0021); brother of: Maaseiah (H4641J); married to Hephzibah (H2657); father of: Manasseh (H4519H) § Hezekiah or Hizkiah or Hizkijah = "Jehovah is my strength" 1) 12th king of Judah, son of Ahaz and Abijah; a good king in that he served Jehovah and did away with idolatrous practices 2) great-great-grandfather of Zephaniah the prophet 3) son of Neariah, a descendant of David 4) head of a family of returning exiles in the time of Nehemiah

torn ofקְרוּעֵ֣יke-ru-'EIH7167
to tear

קָרַע (qa.ra) 1) to tear, tear in pieces 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to tear, rend 1a2) to tear away or out 1a3) to tear, rend asunder 1a3a) to make wide or large (of eyes) 1a3b) to rend open (of heavens) 1a4) to tear, rend (of wild beasts) 1b) (Niphal) to be rent, be split asunder

clothesבְגָדִ֑יםve-ga-DIMH0899B
garment

בֶּ֫גֶד (be.ged) (CLBL) garment, clothing (used indiscriminately)

and they toldוַיַּגִּ֣דוּvai-ya-GI-duH5046
to tell

נָגַד (na.gad) 1) to be conspicuous, tell, make known 1a) (Hiphil) to tell, declare 1a1) to tell, announce, report 1a2) to declare, make known, expound 1a3) to inform of 1a4) to publish, declare, proclaim 1a5) to avow, acknowledge, confess 1a5a) messenger (participle) 1b) (Hophal) to be told, be announced, be reported

[the] words ofדִּבְרֵ֖יdiv-REIH1697G
word

דָּבָר (da.var) : word/speech/command 1) speech, word, speaking, thing 1a) speech 1b) saying, utterance 1c) word, words 1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)

[the] chiefרַב־rav-H7262
Rabshakeh

רַבְשָׁקֵה (rav.sha.qeh) A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Ki.18.17 1) chief cupbearer, chief of the officers? 2) Rabshakeh

commanderשָׁקֵֽה׃sha-KEHH7262
Rabshakeh

רַבְשָׁקֵה (rav.sha.qeh) A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Ki.18.17 1) chief cupbearer, chief of the officers? 2) Rabshakeh

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.