2 Kings 19:8
New International Version
When the field commander heard that the king of Assyria had left Lachish, he withdrew and found the king fighting against Libnah.

New Living Translation
Meanwhile, the Assyrian chief of staff left Jerusalem and went to consult the king of Assyria, who had left Lachish and was attacking Libnah.

English Standard Version
The Rabshakeh returned, and found the king of Assyria fighting against Libnah, for he heard that the king had left Lachish.

Berean Standard Bible
When the Rabshakeh heard that the king of Assyria had left Lachish, he withdrew and found the king fighting against Libnah.

King James Bible
So Rabshakeh returned, and found the king of Assyria warring against Libnah: for he had heard that he was departed from Lachish.

New King James Version
Then the Rabshakeh returned and found the king of Assyria warring against Libnah, for he heard that he had departed from Lachish.

New American Standard Bible
Then Rabshakeh returned and found the king of Assyria fighting against Libnah, for he had heard that the king had left Lachish.

NASB 1995
Then Rabshakeh returned and found the king of Assyria fighting against Libnah, for he had heard that the king had left Lachish.

NASB 1977
Then Rabshakeh returned and found the king of Assyria fighting against Libnah, for he had heard that the king had left Lachish.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then Rabshakeh returned and found the king of Assyria fighting against Libnah, for he had heard that the king had set out from Lachish.

Amplified Bible
So the Rabshakeh returned and found the king of Assyria fighting against Libnah [a fortified city of Judah]; for he had heard that the king had left Lachish.

Christian Standard Bible
When the royal spokesman heard that the king of Assyria had pulled out of Lachish, he left and found him fighting against Libnah.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When the Rabshakeh heard that the king of Assyria had left Lachish, he returned and found him fighting against Libnah.

American Standard Version
So Rabshakeh returned, and found the king of Assyria warring against Libnah; for he had heard that he was departed from Lachish.

Contemporary English Version
Meanwhile, the commander of the Assyrian forces heard that his king had left the town of Lachish and was now attacking Libnah. So he went there.

English Revised Version
So Rabshakeh returned, and found the king of Assyria warring against Libnah: for he had heard that he was departed from Lachish.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The field commander returned and found the king of Assyria fighting against Libnah. He had heard that the king left Lachish.

Good News Translation
The Assyrian official learned that the emperor had left Lachish and was fighting against the nearby city of Libnah; so he went there to consult him.

International Standard Version
So Rab-shakeh returned and found the king of Assyria at war with Libnah, because Rab-shakeh had heard that the king had left Lachish.

Majority Standard Bible
When the Rabshakeh heard that the king of Assyria had left Lachish, he withdrew and found the king fighting against Libnah.

NET Bible
When the chief adviser heard the king of Assyria had departed from Lachish, he left and went to Libnah, where the king was campaigning.

New Heart English Bible
So Rabshakeh returned, and found the king of Assyria warring against Libnah; for he had heard that he had departed from Lachish.

Webster's Bible Translation
So Rab-shakeh returned, and found the king of Assyria warring against Libnah: for he had heard that he had departed from Lachish.

World English Bible
So Rabshakeh returned and found the king of Assyria warring against Libnah; for he had heard that he had departed from Lachish.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And the chief of the butlers turns back and finds the king of Asshur fighting against Libnah, for he has heard that he has journeyed from Lachish.

Young's Literal Translation
And the chief of the butlers turneth back and findeth the king of Asshur fighting against Libnah, for he hath heard that he hath journeyed from Lachish.

Smith's Literal Translation
And Rabshakeh will turn back and find the king of Assur warring against Libnah: for he heard that he removed from Lachish.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Rabsaces returned, and found the king of the Assyrians besieging Lobna: for he had heard that he was departed from Lachis.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then Rabshakeh returned, and he found the king of the Assyrians fighting against Libnah. For he had heard that he had withdrawn from Lachish.

New American Bible
When the commander, on his return, heard that the king of Assyria had withdrawn from Lachish, he found him besieging Libnah.

New Revised Standard Version
The Rabshakeh returned, and found the king of Assyria fighting against Libnah; for he had heard that the king had left Lachish.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
So the Rab-shakeh returned and found the king of Assyria warring against Libnah; for he had heard that he had departed from Lachish.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Rab Shakeh returned and he found the King of Assyria when he fought with Lebnah, because he heard that he had picked up from Lakish.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
So Rab-shakeh returned, and found the king of Assyria warring against Libnah; for he had heard that he was departed from Lachish.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
So Rapsakes returned, and found the king of Assyria warring against Lobna: for he heard that he had departed from Lachis.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Sennacherib's Blasphemous Letter
8When the Rabshakeh heard that the king of Assyria had left Lachish, he withdrew and found the king fighting against Libnah. 9Now Sennacherib had been warned about Tirhakah king of Cush: “Look, he has set out to fight against you.” So Sennacherib again sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying,…

Cross References
Isaiah 37:8
When the Rabshakeh heard that the king of Assyria had left Lachish, he withdrew and found the king fighting against Libnah.

2 Kings 18:17
Nevertheless, the king of Assyria sent the Tartan, the Rabsaris, and the Rabshakeh, along with a great army, from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem. They advanced up to Jerusalem and stationed themselves by the aqueduct of the upper pool, on the road to the Launderer’s Field.

2 Kings 18:13
In the fourteenth year of Hezekiah’s reign, Sennacherib king of Assyria attacked and captured all the fortified cities of Judah.

2 Kings 18:19-25
The Rabshakeh said to them, “Tell Hezekiah that this is what the great king, the king of Assyria, says: What is the basis of this confidence of yours? / You claim to have a strategy and strength for war, but these are empty words. In whom are you now trusting, that you have rebelled against me? / Look now, you are trusting in Egypt, that splintered reed of a staff that will pierce the hand of anyone who leans on it. Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him. ...

2 Kings 18:30-35
Do not let Hezekiah persuade you to trust in the LORD when he says, ‘The LORD will surely deliver us; this city will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.’ / Do not listen to Hezekiah, for this is what the king of Assyria says: Make peace with me and come out to me. Then every one of you will eat from his own vine and his own fig tree and drink water from his own cistern, / until I come and take you away to a land like your own—a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of olive trees and honey—so that you may live and not die. But do not listen to Hezekiah, for he misleads you when he says, ‘The LORD will deliver us.’ ...

2 Kings 18:36-37
But the people remained silent and did not answer a word, for Hezekiah had commanded, “Do not answer him.” / 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.

2 Chronicles 32:9-19
Later, as Sennacherib king of Assyria and all his forces besieged Lachish, he sent his servants to Jerusalem with a message for King Hezekiah of Judah and all the people of Judah who were in Jerusalem: / “This is what Sennacherib king of Assyria says: What is the basis of your confidence, that you remain in Jerusalem under siege? / Is not Hezekiah misleading you to give you over to death by famine and thirst when he says, ‘The LORD our God will deliver us from the hand of the king of Assyria?’ ...

Isaiah 36:2-22
And the king of Assyria sent the Rabshakeh, with a great army, from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem. And he stopped by the aqueduct of the upper pool, on the road to the Launderer’s Field. / Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah the palace administrator, Shebna the scribe, and Joah son of Asaph the recorder, went out to him. / The Rabshakeh said to them, “Tell Hezekiah that this is what the great king, the king of Assyria, says: What is the basis of this confidence of yours? ...

Isaiah 37:9-13
Now Sennacherib had been warned about Tirhakah king of Cush: “He has set out to fight against you.” On hearing this, Sennacherib sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying, / “Give this message to Hezekiah king of Judah: ‘Do not let your God, in whom you trust, deceive you by saying that Jerusalem will not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria. / 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? ...

Isaiah 37:14-20
So Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers, read it, and went up to the house of the LORD and spread it out before the LORD. / And Hezekiah prayed to the LORD: / “O LORD of Hosts, God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, You alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You made the heavens and the earth. ...

Isaiah 37:21-29
Then Isaiah son of Amoz sent a message to Hezekiah: “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: Because you have prayed to Me concerning Sennacherib king of Assyria, / this is the word that the LORD has spoken against him: ‘The Virgin Daughter of Zion despises you and mocks you; the Daughter of Jerusalem shakes her head behind you. / Whom have you taunted and blasphemed? Against whom have you raised your voice and lifted your eyes in pride? Against the Holy One of Israel! ...

Isaiah 37:33-38
So this is what the LORD says about the king of Assyria: ‘He will not enter this city or shoot an arrow into it. He will not come before it with a shield or build up a siege ramp against it. / He will go back the way he came, and he will not enter this city,’ declares the LORD. / ‘I will defend this city and save it for My own sake and for the sake of My servant David.’” ...

Matthew 24:15
So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by the prophet Daniel (let the reader understand),

Mark 13:14
So when you see the abomination of desolation standing where it should not be (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

Luke 21:20
But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, you will know that her desolation is near.


Treasury of Scripture

So Rabshakeh returned, and found the king of Assyria warring against Libnah: for he had heard that he was departed from Lachish.

Libnah.

2 Kings 8:22
Yet Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah unto this day. Then Libnah revolted at the same time.

Joshua 10:29
Then Joshua passed from Makkedah, and all Israel with him, unto Libnah, and fought against Libnah:

Joshua 12:15
The king of Libnah, one; the king of Adullam, one;

Lachish.

2 Kings 18:14
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.

Joshua 12:11
The king of Jarmuth, one; the king of Lachish, one;

Joshua 15:39
Lachish, and Bozkath, and Eglon,

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Assyria Butlers Chief Commander Departed Ears Field Fighting Findeth Found Heard Journeyed Libnah Making Rabshakeh Rab'shakeh Rab-Shakeh Turneth War Warring Withdrew
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Assyria Butlers Chief Commander Departed Ears Field Fighting Findeth Found Heard Journeyed Libnah Making Rabshakeh Rab'shakeh Rab-Shakeh Turneth War Warring Withdrew
2 Kings 19
1. Hezekiah, in mourning, sends to Isaiah to pray for them.
6. Isaiah comforts them.
8. Sennacherib, going to encounter Tirhakah, sends a blasphemous letter to Hezekiah.
14. Hezekiah's prayer.
20. Isaiah's prophecy of the destruction of Sennacherib, and the good of Zion.
35. An angel slays the Assyrians.
36. Sennacherib is slain by his own sons.














When the Rabshakeh heard
The term "Rabshakeh" refers to a high-ranking Assyrian military official or chief cupbearer, a title rather than a personal name. In the context of ancient Near Eastern politics, the Rabshakeh was a significant figure, often entrusted with delivering messages and negotiating on behalf of the king. His role underscores the gravity of the situation facing Judah, as the Assyrian Empire was a dominant force. The Rabshakeh's actions and words are pivotal in the narrative, representing the Assyrian threat and the challenge to the faith of the people of Judah.

that the king of Assyria had left Lachish
Lachish was a fortified city in Judah, strategically important and heavily fortified. The Assyrian king, likely Sennacherib, had been besieging Lachish, a testament to its significance. The mention of Lachish highlights the Assyrian campaign's intensity and the pressure on Judah. Archaeological excavations at Lachish have uncovered evidence of the Assyrian siege, including siege ramps and arrowheads, corroborating the biblical account and illustrating the historical reality of the Assyrian threat.

he withdrew
The Rabshakeh's withdrawal indicates a shift in the Assyrian military strategy. This movement suggests a response to changing circumstances, possibly due to military needs elsewhere or a strategic reassessment. In the broader narrative, this withdrawal can be seen as part of God's providential protection of Jerusalem, as the Assyrian threat is temporarily redirected.

and found the king fighting against Libnah
Libnah was another city in Judah, and the king's engagement there signifies the ongoing Assyrian campaign to subdue the region. The mention of Libnah emphasizes the widespread nature of the conflict and the Assyrian king's determination to conquer Judah. Historically, this reflects the Assyrian Empire's expansionist policies and their impact on the smaller kingdoms of the ancient Near East. Theologically, it sets the stage for God's intervention, as the Assyrian king's focus on Libnah diverts attention from Jerusalem, allowing for divine deliverance.

(8) So Rab-shakeh returned.--This takes up the narrative from 2Kings 18:37. It is not said, but is probably to be understood, that Tartan and Rabsaris and the "great host" (2Kings 18:17) departed with him, having been foiled of their purpose.

Libnah.--See Note on 2Kings 8:22. The great King had taken Lachish. (See Note on 2Chronicles 32:9.) Its position is not yet determined. Schrader thinks it may be Tell-es-Safieh, west of Lachish, and north north-west of Eleutheropolis; in which case Sennacherib had already begun his retreat.

Verse 8. - So Rabshakeh returned. Rabshakeh's embassy came to an end with the retirement of Hezekiah's officers from their conference with the three envoys of Sennacherib. No further communication was held with him. He had outraged all propriety by his appeal to the "men upon the wall" (2 Kings 18:27-35); and it seems to have been thought most dignified to give him no answer at all. He had offered no terms - he had simply delivered a summons to surrender, and the closed gates and guarded walls were a sufficient reply. So he felt, and returned to his master, re infecta. And found the King of Assyria warring against Libnah. The position of Libnah relatively to Lachish is uncertain. The site of Lachish may be regarded as fixed to Um-Lakis; but that of Libnah rests wholly on conjecture. It has been placed at Tel-es-Safieh, twelve miles northeast of Um-Lakis; at Arak-el-Menshiyeh, about five miles nearly due east of the same; and near Umm-el-Bikar, four miles south-east of Um-Lakis. A removal from Um-Lakis to Tel-el-Safieh would mean a retreat. A march from Um-Lakis to either of the other sites would he quite compatible with an intention to push on to Egypt. For he had heard that he was departed from Lachish. Whether Lachish had been taken or not cannot be determined from these words. But we can scarcely suppose that a place of such slight strength can have defied the Assyrian arms successfully. It is beat therefore to suppose, with Keil and Thenius, that Lachish had been taken.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
When
כִּ֣י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

the Rab-shakeh
שָׁקֵ֔ה (šā·qêh)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7262: Rabshakeh -- perhaps 'chief of the officers', an Assyrian military leader

heard
שָׁמַ֔ע (šā·ma‘)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

that
כִּ֥י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

the king
מֶ֣לֶךְ (me·leḵ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4428: A king

of Assyria
אַשּׁ֔וּר (’aš·šūr)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 804: Ashshur

had left
נָסַ֖ע (nā·sa‘)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5265: To pull up, the tent-pins, start on a, journey

Lachish,
מִלָּכִֽישׁ׃ (mil·lā·ḵîš)
Preposition-m | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 3923: Lachish -- a Canaanite city Southwest of Jerusalem

he withdrew
וַיָּ֙שָׁב֙ (way·yā·šāḇ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again

and found
וַיִּמְצָא֙ (way·yim·ṣā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4672: To come forth to, appear, exist, to attain, find, acquire, to occur, meet, be present

[the king] fighting
נִלְחָ֖ם (nil·ḥām)
Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 3898: To feed on, to consume, to battle

against
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

Libnah.
לִבְנָ֑ה (liḇ·nāh)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 3841: Libnah -- a city in soutwest Judah, also a place in the wilderness


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OT History: 2 Kings 19:8 So Rabshakeh returned and found the king (2Ki iiKi ii ki 2 kg 2kg)
2 Kings 19:7
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