1 Now 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.
2 Twenty 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.
3 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father did.
4 He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brazen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he 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 any that were before him.
6 For he clave to the LORD, and departed not from following him, but kept his commandments, which the LORD commanded Moses.
7 And the LORD was with him; and he prospered whithersoever he went forth: and he rebelled against the king of Assyria, and served him not.
8 He smote the Philistines, even unto Gaza, and the borders thereof, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city.
9 And 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.
10 And at the end of three years they took it: even in the sixth year of Hezekiah, that is in the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel, Samaria was taken.
11 And 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:
12 Because 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.
13 Now in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah did Sennacherib king of Assyria come up against all the fenced cities of Judah, and took them.
14 And 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.
15 And Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king's house.
16 At 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.
17 And 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.
18 And 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.
19 And 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?
20 Thou 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?
21 Now, 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.
22 But 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?
23 Now 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.
24 How 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?
25 Am 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.
26 Then 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.
27 But 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?
28 Then 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:
29 Thus saith the king, Let not Hezekiah deceive you: for he shall not be able to deliver you out of his hand:
30 Neither 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.
31 Hearken 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:
32 Until 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.
33 Hath any of the gods of the nations delivered at all his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria?
34 Where 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?
35 Who 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?
36 But the people held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king's commandment was, saying, Answer him not.
37 Then 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.
The book of 2 Kings is the continuation of the historical account of the Israelites and their kings. This chapter, in particular, focuses on the reign of Hezekiah, king of Judah. It begins by stating that Hezekiah became king at the age of 25 and reigned for 29 years in Jerusalem. He was described as a king who did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, following in the footsteps of his ancestor David. This summary will delve into the main themes present in chapter 18 of 2 Kings and the significance they hold in bringing meaning to the overall message of the chapter and the book as a whole.
The first theme that is prominent in this chapter is the importance of remaining faithful to God. Hezekiah is portrayed as a king who was loyal to the Lord and followed His commandments. In verse 3, it is stated that he removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones, and cut down the Asherah poles. These were all acts of obedience to the commandments of God, as these were practices that were condemned by Him. Hezekiah's faithfulness is also seen in his actions towards the Assyrian invasion, which will be discussed later in this essay.
Furthermore, the chapter also highlights the consequences of being unfaithful to God. In verse 12, it is mentioned that the king of Assyria conquered and took over the cities of Judah that were not faithful to the Lord. This serves as a warning to the Israelites and readers alike that turning away from God will lead to destruction and defeat.
Another significant theme in this chapter is the importance of trusting in God. Hezekiah's faith in God is demonstrated when he seeks His help in verse 6, "He held fast to the Lord and did not stop following him; he kept the commands the Lord had given Moses." Hezekiah's trust in God is also seen in his actions during the Assyrian invasion. When the Assyrian king, Sennacherib, threatens and taunts the people of Judah, Hezekiah does not turn to other nations for help but instead relies on God to deliver them from their enemies.
This theme of trusting in God is also reflected in the actions of the prophet Isaiah, who encourages and reassures Hezekiah and the people of Judah that God will protect them. In verse 32, Isaiah tells the people, "Do not be afraid of what you have heard - those words with which the underlings of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me. Listen! I am going to put a spirit in him so that when he hears a certain report, he will return to his own country, and there I will have him cut down with the sword." This shows that even in the face of danger and threats, God's people can trust in Him to deliver them.
The chapter also highlights the theme of God's protection and deliverance of His people. Despite the Assyrian invasion and the threats of their enemies, God delivers Judah from destruction. In verse 13, it is mentioned that Hezekiah had to pay a tribute to the king of Assyria, but this was not enough to prevent the Assyrians from attacking. However, God intervenes and sends an angel to strike down the Assyrian army, killing 185,000 soldiers, as mentioned in verse 35.
This event serves as a reminder that God is in control and has the power to protect and deliver His people from their enemies. It also shows that God will not allow His people to be destroyed by those who oppose them. This theme of God's protection and deliverance is not only seen in this chapter but is a recurring theme throughout the book of 2 Kings, emphasizing the importance of trusting in God and His power to save.
The downfall of Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, is a significant event in this chapter that highlights the theme of consequences of pride and arrogance. In verse 33, Sennacherib boasts and belittles the power of God, saying, "Has the god of any nation ever delivered his land from the hand of the king of Assyria?" This statement shows his pride and arrogance, as he believes that no one can defeat him. However, this arrogance leads to his downfall as God strikes down his army, as mentioned earlier.
This event serves as a warning against pride and arrogance, as it can lead to destruction and defeat. It also highlights the power and sovereignty of God, who is above all kings and rulers. This theme is also seen in the downfall of other kings in the book of 2 Kings who turned away from God and became prideful, leading to their downfall and the downfall of their kingdoms.
The theme of God's covenant with His people is also present in this chapter. In verse 6, it is mentioned that Hezekiah kept the commands that the Lord had given to Moses. This shows that Hezekiah was faithful to the covenant that God made with His people. Despite the sins and failures of the Israelites, God remained faithful to His covenant and continued to protect and deliver them from their enemies.
This theme is also seen in the actions of Hezekiah when he repairs and reopens the temple in verse 22. This was a significant step in restoring the worship of God and following His commandments. It also served as a reminder of God's covenant with His people and the importance of remaining faithful to it.
2 Kings chapter 18 holds several important lessons and messages that are relevant to the readers of today. The first and most significant meaning of this chapter is the importance of remaining faithful and obedient to God. Hezekiah's faithfulness and trust in God brought about His protection and deliverance for the people of Judah, showing that God rewards those who remain true to Him.
Furthermore, this chapter also serves as a reminder of the consequences of turning away from God and being prideful. The downfall of Sennacherib and other kings who turned away from God serves as a warning against the dangers of pride and arrogance.
The chapter also highlights the power and sovereignty of God, who is above all kings and rulers. He is the one who can protect and deliver His people from their enemies, and His covenant with His people remains steadfast even in the face of their failures and sins.
The overall message of 2 Kings chapter 18 is that God is in control and will protect and deliver His people if they remain faithful and trust in Him. It also serves as a reminder of the consequences of turning away from God and the importance of remaining obedient to His commandments. This chapter is a testament to the faithfulness and power of God and serves as a source of encouragement and hope for His people.
In conclusion, 2 Kings chapter 18 is a significant chapter in the historical account of the Israelites and their kings. It highlights several important themes, including faithfulness and trust in God, His protection and deliverance, the consequences of pride and arrogance, and His covenant with His people. These themes hold great meaning and bring relevance to the readers of today, reminding them of the power and sovereignty of God and the importance of remaining faithful to Him. This chapter serves as a reminder of the unwavering love and faithfulness of God towards His people, and His ability to protect and deliver them from their enemies.
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