◄ 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. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of 2 Kings 18:17? 2. What does 2 Kings 18:17 reveal about Assyria's military strategy against Jerusalem? 3. How can we trust God when facing overwhelming opposition like Hezekiah did? 4. Compare Assyria's approach in 2 Kings 18:17 with spiritual battles Christians face today. 5. How does Hezekiah's situation in 2 Kings 18:17 encourage steadfast faith in adversity? 6. What lessons from 2 Kings 18:17 apply to confronting challenges in modern Christian life? 7. What historical evidence supports the Assyrian siege described in 2 Kings 18:17? 8. How does 2 Kings 18:17 reflect the political climate of ancient Judah? 9. Why did the Assyrian king send such a large army in 2 Kings 18:17? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from 2 Kings 18? 11. Who was Rabshakeh in the Bible? 12. 2 Kings 18:17 – Why would Rabshakeh speak in Hebrew if he didn’t want Judah’s people to hear his threats? 13. Who was Rabshakeh in the Bible? 14. Is there archaeological or historical evidence confirming Tartan’s role in the siege of Ashdod (Isaiah 20:1), or does the biblical account stand alone without external support? Discussion Questions 1. How does the presence of the Assyrian officials at the aqueduct of the upper pool symbolize the threat to Jerusalem, and what can we learn about facing our own "sieges" in life? 2. In what ways does Hezekiah's response to the Assyrian threat reflect his faith in God, and how can we apply similar faith in our personal challenges? 3. How do the roles of the Tartan, Rabsaris, and Rabshakeh illustrate the organized nature of opposition we might face, and what biblical strategies can we employ to counteract such challenges? 4. How does the account of Hezekiah's leadership during the Assyrian siege inspire us to lead with integrity and faith in our communities or families? 5. Reflecting on the connections to Isaiah 36 and 2 Chronicles 32, how does the consistency of these accounts strengthen our understanding of God's faithfulness and deliverance? 2 Kings 18 Bible Study Questions 1. What made Hezekiah's reign different from that of his father Ahaz? How does this relate to generational differences in religious practice today? 2. Hezekiah destroys the bronze snake because it became an object of worship. What does this teach us about idolatry? 3. How does Hezekiah's response to Assyria contrast with Israel's response that led to their fall? 4. When faced with threats, Hezekiah tried to appease Sennacherib by stripping the temple of its wealth. Was this a faithful decision? How can this apply to situations where we might be tempted to compromise our faith for peace? 5. Why did Hezekiah's officials tear their clothes after receiving Sennacherib's message? How should we respond when our faith is ridiculed? 6. How did Hezekiah's actions reflect his faith in God? How can we show our faith in challenging times? 7. Despite his faith, Hezekiah still faced trials and challenges. What does this tell us about the nature of faith and suffering? 8. What are the 'high places' in your life that may need to be torn down to honour God more fully? 9. Sennacherib's letter was designed to sow doubt and fear among the people of Judah. How can we resist such tactics today? 10. How does the history of Israel's disobedience and deportation serve as a warning for us today? 11. How can we maintain trust in God when facing personal, societal, or global crises? 12. How does Hezekiah's faith inspire you in your own faith journey? 13. In what ways are you challenged to be more like Hezekiah in your walk with God? 14. How can the fear and uncertainty experienced by the people of Judah teach us to handle similar feelings in today's world? 15. What lessons can we learn from Hezekiah's attempts to appease the Assyrians? 16. What does Hezekiah's story teach us about the consequences of both obedience and disobedience to God? 17. How does the response of Hezekiah's officials to Sennacherib's letter inform us about reacting to blasphemy and disrespect towards our faith? 18. How might the Assyrian threat to Judah parallel the challenges faced by Christians in the contemporary world? 19. What aspects of Hezekiah's character would you like to develop in your own life? 20. How can we ensure our trust in God doesn't waver even when facing seemingly insurmountable odds? Links 2 Kings 18:17 NIV 2 Kings 18:17 NLT 2 Kings 18:17 ESV 2 Kings 18:17 NASB 2 Kings 18:17 KJV 2 Kings 18:17 Commentaries Bible Hub