ESV Global Study Bible :: Footnotes for 2 Kings 18

2 Kings 18:1–20:21 Hezekiah. In 715 b.c., seven years after the fall of the northern kingdom of Israel, Hezekiah comes to the throne in Judah. He resembles David more closely than any other king so far. He will succeed in reforming Judean worship. Hezekiah’s trust in God will be vindicated when, in 701, the Assyrians fail to conquer Jerusalem.

2 Kings 18:4 He removed the high places. This is significant because even the most faithful of Judean kings prior to Hezekiah had failed to do this (e.g., 1 Kings 3:2; 15:14; 22:43). Hezekiah takes further action against the bronze serpent named Nehushtan, which Moses had made in the wilderness (Num. 21:4–9). It had recently become an object of worship.

2 Kings 18:5–6 He trusted in the Lord. Hezekiah’s trust was unparalleled in Judean history (there was none like him). This could be seen in the way he held fast to God throughout his life (see Deut. 13:4; 30:20).

2 Kings 18:7–8 Because of Hezekiah’s faithfulness, the Lord was with him in his military exploits (compare 1 Sam. 16:18; 18:12; 14; 2 Sam. 5:10).

2 Kings 18:9–12 Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria. The verses repeat the story of how the northern kingdom fell (see 17:1–6). This reminds readers of the context of religious apostasy in which Hezekiah pursued his bold policy of rebellion against Assyria.

2 Kings 18:13 Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah. After Sargon II’s death, the new Assyrian king Sennacherib (704–681 b.c.) first fought in southern Mesopotamia (703–702) against the king of Babylon (see 20:12). He then turned his attention to Syria-Palestine in 701. The rebellion there quickly collapsed. Hezekiah did not have effective allies or fortresses.

2 Kings 18:14–16 I have done wrong. Hezekiah’s first response to the crisis is to bargain with Sennacherib. He went on to give him all the silver from the temple, and stripped the gold from its doors (compare note on 12:17–18).

2 Kings 18:17 While attacking Lachish, Sennacherib decides not to accept Hezekiah’s attempt to persuade him to withdraw (vv. 14–16). Instead, Sennacherib sends an army to Jerusalem to pressure Hezekiah to surrender. The Tartan and Rab-saris were military officers. The Rabshakeh, or “chief cupbearer,” would have accompanied the emperor as a personal attendant. His presence in this group is due to his linguistic abilities (vv. 19, 26). The conduit of the upper pool was just outside the city wall. It is the place where Isaiah had earlier encouraged Ahaz to have faith (Isa. 7:1–9).

2 Kings 18:18 over the household . . . the secretary . . . the recorder. Three of the most important Judean officials go out to negotiate with the three Assyrian officials.

2 Kings 18:19–25 Sennacherib’s men claim that Egypt will not help Hezekiah. They also claim that trust in the Lord is useless, because the Lord is angry with Hezekiah for removing the high places and altars! Furthermore, they say, it is the Lord himself who has sent Assyria to destroy Judah because of this! The speech is obviously propaganda, and is not at all true.

2 Kings 18:26–28 Please speak to your servants in Aramaic. Aramaic was the language of the Assyrian Empire west of the Euphrates. The educated Judean royal officials would have understood it, but the ordinary people on the city wall would not. However, the Assyrians were trying to appeal to the listening people, so they ignored the request and continued to speak in Hebrew (the language of Judah).

2 Kings 18:29–30 The Rabshakeh says that trust in the Lord will not save the people of Judah. The reader is prepared to see God justify that trust.

2 Kings 18:31–35 eat of his own vine . . . his own fig tree . . . drink the water of his own cistern. The Assyrian king is presented as a powerful god able to provide for his worshipers, in contrast to the supposedly weak God of Israel, who is unable to deliver. The language of the false promise recalls Deut. 8:7–9.