Surely you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all the other countries, devoting them to destruction. Will you then be spared? Surely you have heardThis phrase suggests a presumption of awareness and knowledge. The Hebrew root for "heard" is "שָׁמַע" (shama), which implies not just hearing but understanding and acknowledging. In the historical context, the Assyrian conquests were well-known throughout the ancient Near East, and their reputation for brutality and overwhelming military might was widespread. This phrase serves as a rhetorical device to remind the listener of the undeniable power and past actions of the Assyrians. what the kings of Assyria have done
The "kings of Assyria" refers to a succession of powerful rulers who expanded the Assyrian Empire through military conquest and strategic dominance. Historically, Assyrian kings like Tiglath-Pileser III, Shalmaneser V, and Sennacherib were known for their campaigns that subjugated many nations. The phrase underscores the continuity of Assyrian aggression and the systematic nature of their conquests, which were often recorded in detailed annals and inscriptions. to all the other countries
This phrase highlights the extensive reach of Assyrian conquests. The Hebrew term for "countries" is "אֲרָצוֹת" (aratzot), which can also mean "lands" or "nations." The Assyrian Empire was known for its vast territorial expansion, which included regions such as Mesopotamia, parts of the Levant, and Egypt. This phrase serves to emphasize the comprehensive nature of Assyrian domination and the widespread impact of their military campaigns. devoting them to destruction
The phrase "devoting them to destruction" is derived from the Hebrew "חֵרֶם" (cherem), which means to utterly destroy or consecrate for destruction. This term often implies a complete annihilation as an act of divine judgment or as a means of ensuring no future threat. In the context of Assyrian warfare, it reflects their policy of total conquest, where cities were often razed, and populations were either killed or deported. This phrase underscores the severity and finality of Assyrian military actions. Will you then be spared?
This rhetorical question challenges the listener to consider their own vulnerability in light of Assyria's past successes. The Hebrew root for "spared" is "נָצַל" (natsal), which means to be delivered or saved. This question is designed to provoke reflection on the power dynamics at play and the seeming inevitability of Assyrian victory. From a theological perspective, it also invites consideration of divine intervention and the possibility of deliverance through faith and reliance on God, contrasting human power with divine sovereignty. Persons / Places / Events 1. HezekiahThe King of Judah during the time of the Assyrian threat. He is known for his faithfulness to God and his efforts to reform the religious practices of Judah. 2. SennacheribThe King of Assyria, known for his military campaigns and conquests. He is the one threatening Jerusalem in this passage. 3. AssyriaA powerful empire during this period, known for its military might and conquests of surrounding nations. 4. JerusalemThe capital city of Judah, under threat from the Assyrian army. 5. IsaiahThe prophet who provides counsel and reassurance to King Hezekiah during this crisis. Teaching Points Trust in God's SovereigntyDespite overwhelming odds, Hezekiah's account reminds us to trust in God's power and plan. Hezekiah's faith in God, rather than in military might, is a model for believers facing their own "Assyrian" threats. The Power of PrayerHezekiah's response to the Assyrian threat was to seek God in prayer. This teaches us the importance of turning to God in times of crisis, relying on His wisdom and strength. God's FaithfulnessThe deliverance of Jerusalem is a testament to God's faithfulness to His promises. Believers can find assurance in God's unchanging nature and His commitment to His people. The Futility of Human PrideSennacherib's arrogance and reliance on his own strength ultimately led to his downfall. This serves as a warning against pride and self-reliance. The Role of ProphetsIsaiah's involvement highlights the importance of listening to God's messengers. In our lives, this can translate to valuing biblical teaching and godly counsel. Bible Study Questions 1. How does Hezekiah's response to the Assyrian threat challenge or inspire your own approach to difficult situations? 2. In what ways can you apply the principle of trusting in God's sovereignty in your current life circumstances? 3. How does the account of Jerusalem's deliverance encourage you to rely on prayer during times of crisis? 4. What lessons can be learned from Sennacherib's pride and eventual downfall, and how can these lessons be applied to avoid similar pitfalls in your life? 5. How can you seek and apply godly counsel, similar to Hezekiah's reliance on Isaiah, in your decision-making processes today? Connections to Other Scriptures Isaiah 37This chapter parallels the events of 2 Kings 19, providing additional details and the prophetic perspective of Isaiah. 2 Chronicles 32Offers another account of Hezekiah's reign and the Assyrian threat, emphasizing Hezekiah's faith and God's deliverance. Psalm 46Often associated with God's deliverance of Jerusalem, highlighting God's protection and sovereignty. People Adrammelech, Amoz, Assyrians, David, Eliakim, Esarhaddon, Haran, Hezekiah, Isaiah, Rabshakeh, Sennacherib, Sharezer, Shebna, TirhakahPlaces Ararat, Arpad, Assyria, Cush, Egypt, Gozan, Hamath, Haran, Hena, Ivvah, Jerusalem, Lachish, Lebanon, Libnah, Mount Zion, Nineveh, Rezeph, Sepharvaim, Telassar, Tigris-Euphrates Region, ZionTopics Asshur, Assyria, Behold, Completely, Countries, Curse, Delivered, Destroying, Devote, Doubt, Ears, Hast, Kept, Kings, Lands, Putting, Safe, Spared, Story, UtterlyDictionary of Bible Themes 2 Kings 19:9-11 8610 prayer, asking God 2 Kings 19:9-12 5896 irreverence 2 Kings 19:11-13 5776 achievement Library 'He Uttered his Voice, the Earth Melted'
'Then Isaiah the son of Amos sent to Hezekiah, saying, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, That which thou hast prayed to Me against Sennacherib king of Assyria I have heard. 21. This is the word that the Lord hath spoken concerning him; The virgin, the daughter of Zion, hath despised thee, and laughed thee to scorn; the daughter of Jerusalem hath shaken her head at thee. 22. Whom hast thou reproached and blasphemed? and against whom hast thou exalted thy voice, and lifted up thine eyes on high? even …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy ScriptureThe Invasion of the Assyrians
(Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity, Morning.) 2 Kings xix. 15-19. And Hezekiah prayed before the Lord, and said, O Lord God of Israel, which dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the Lord, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; thou hast made heaven and earth. Lord, bow down thine ear, and hear: open, Lord, thine eyes, and see: and hear the words of Sennacherib, which hath sent him to reproach the living God. Of a truth, Lord, the kings of Assyria have destroyed the nations and their …
Charles Kingsley—Town and Country Sermons Whether Charity Requires that we Should Love Our Enemies?
Objection 1: It would seem that charity does not require us to love our enemies. For Augustine says (Enchiridion lxxiii) that "this great good," namely, the love of our enemies, is "not so universal in its application, as the object of our petition when we say: Forgive us our trespasses." Now no one is forgiven sin without he have charity, because, according to Prov. 10:12, "charity covereth all sins." Therefore charity does not require that we should love our enemies. Objection 2: Further, charity …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica The Sinner Arraigned and Convicted.
1. Conviction of guilt necessary.--2. A charge of rebellion against God advanced.--3. Where it is shown--that all men are born under God's law.--4. That no man hath perfectly kept it.--5. An appeal to the reader's conscience on this head, that he hath not.--6. That to have broken it, is an evil inexpressibly great.--7. Illustrated by a more particular view of the aggravations of this guilt, arising--from knowledge.--8. From divine favors received.--9. From convictions of conscience overborne.--10. …
Philip Doddridge—The Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul The Power of Assyria at Its Zenith; Esarhaddon and Assur-Bani-Pal
The Medes and Cimmerians: Lydia--The conquest of Egypt, of Arabia, and of Elam. As we have already seen, Sennacherib reigned for eight years after his triumph; eight years of tranquillity at home, and of peace with all his neighbours abroad. If we examine the contemporary monuments or the documents of a later period, and attempt to glean from them some details concerning the close of his career, we find that there is a complete absence of any record of national movement on the part of either Elam, …
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 8 The Golden Eagle is Cut to Pieces. Herod's Barbarity when He was Ready to Die. He Attempts to Kill Himself. He Commands Antipater to be Slain.
1. Now Herod's distemper became more and more severe to him, and this because these his disorders fell upon him in his old age, and when he was in a melancholy condition; for he was already seventy years of age, and had been brought by the calamities that happened to him about his children, whereby he had no pleasure in life, even when he was in health; the grief also that Antipater was still alive aggravated his disease, whom he resolved to put to death now not at random, but as soon as he should …
Flavius Josephus—The Wars of the Jews or History of the Destruction of Jerusalem A Discourse of the House and Forest of Lebanon
OF THE HOUSE OF THE FOREST OF LEBANON. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. That part of Palestine in which the celebrated mountains of Lebanon are situated, is the border country adjoining Syria, having Sidon for its seaport, and Land, nearly adjoining the city of Damascus, on the north. This metropolitan city of Syria, and capital of the kingdom of Damascus, was strongly fortified; and during the border conflicts it served as a cover to the Assyrian army. Bunyan, with great reason, supposes that, to keep …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3 It is Strange that These Delightful Promises Affect us Coldly...
It is strange that these delightful promises affect us coldly, or scarcely at all, so that the generality of men prefer to wander up and down, forsaking the fountain of living waters, and hewing out to themselves broken cisterns, rather than embrace the divine liberality voluntarily offered to them (Jer. 2:13). "The name of the Lord," says Solomon, "is a strong tower; the righteous runneth into it, and is safe." (Pr. 18:10) Joel, after predicting the fearful disaster which was at hand, subjoins the …
John Calvin—Of Prayer--A Perpetual Exercise of Faith Scriptural Types.
1. The material world is full of analogies adapted to the illustration of spiritual things. No teacher ever drew from this inexhaustible storehouse such a rich variety of examples as our Saviour. His disciples are the salt of the earth, the light of the world, and a city set on a hill. From the ravens which God feeds and the lilies which God clothes, he teaches the unreasonableness of worldly anxiety. The kingdom of heaven is like seed sown in different soils, like a field of wheat and tares …
E. P. Barrows—Companion to the Bible Letter xxviii (Circa A. D. 1130) to the Abbots Assembled at Soissons
To the Abbots Assembled at Soissons [45] Bernard urges the abbots zealously to perform the duty for which they had met. He recommends to them a great desire of spiritual progress, and begs them not to be delayed in their work if lukewarm and lax persons should perhaps murmur. To the Reverend Abbots met in the name of the Lord in Chapter at Soissons, brother Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux, the servant of their Holiness, health and prayer that they may see, establish, and observe the things which are …
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux—Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux A Living Book
[Illustration: (drop cap T) Symbol of "Asshur", the principal Assyrian idol.] There is only one Book that never grows old. For thousands of years men have been writing books. Most books are forgotten soon after they are written; a few of the best and wisest are remembered for a time. But all at last grow old; new discoveries are made; new ideas arise; the old books are out of date; their usefulness is at an end. Students are the only people who still care to read them. The nations to which the …
Mildred Duff—The Bible in its Making The First Commandment
Thou shalt have no other gods before me.' Exod 20: 3. Why is the commandment in the second person singular, Thou? Why does not God say, You shall have no other gods? Because the commandment concerns every one, and God would have each one take it as spoken to him by name. Though we are forward to take privileges to ourselves, yet we are apt to shift off duties from ourselves to others; therefore the commandment is in the second person, Thou and Thou, that every one may know that it is spoken to him, …
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments The Prophet Amos.
GENERAL PRELIMINARY REMARKS. It will not be necessary to extend our preliminary remarks on the prophet Amos, since on the main point--viz., the circumstances under which he appeared as a prophet--the introduction to the prophecies of Hosea may be regarded as having been written for those of Amos also. For, according to the inscription, they belong to the same period at which Hosea's prophetic ministry began, viz., the latter part of the reign of Jeroboam II., and after Uzziah had ascended the …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament Kings
The book[1] of Kings is strikingly unlike any modern historical narrative. Its comparative brevity, its curious perspective, and-with some brilliant exceptions--its relative monotony, are obvious to the most cursory perusal, and to understand these things is, in large measure, to understand the book. It covers a period of no less than four centuries. Beginning with the death of David and the accession of Solomon (1 Kings i., ii.) it traverses his reign with considerable fulness (1 Kings iii.-xi.), …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links 2 Kings 19:11 NIV2 Kings 19:11 NLT2 Kings 19:11 ESV2 Kings 19:11 NASB2 Kings 19:11 KJV
2 Kings 19:11 Commentaries
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