Biblical References:
Ivvah is mentioned in the context of the Assyrian conquests during the reign of King Hezekiah of Judah. The city is referenced in 2 Kings 18:34 and 19:13, as well as in Isaiah 37:13. These passages are part of the narrative concerning the Assyrian king Sennacherib's campaign against Judah and his attempt to intimidate Hezekiah by listing cities and gods that had fallen before Assyria's might.

Scriptural Context:
In 2 Kings 18:34 , the Assyrian field commander, the Rabshakeh, taunts the people of Jerusalem by questioning the power of their God to deliver them, citing the failure of other gods to protect their lands: "Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah? Have they rescued Samaria from my hand?" Similarly, in 2 Kings 19:13 , Sennacherib's message to Hezekiah includes a rhetorical question: "Where is the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad, the king of the city of Sepharvaim, of Hena, and Ivvah?" Isaiah 37:13 echoes this message, emphasizing the futility of resistance against Assyria.

Historical and Geographical Background:
Ivvah is believed to be a city or region that was conquered by the Assyrians, although its exact location remains uncertain. Some scholars suggest it may have been located in Mesopotamia, possibly near the Euphrates River, given the context of other cities mentioned alongside it. The historical records of Assyrian campaigns often list multiple cities and regions subdued by their military might, and Ivvah is included in such lists to demonstrate the extent of Assyrian power.

Theological Significance:
The mention of Ivvah in the biblical narrative serves to highlight the perceived invincibility of the Assyrian empire during the time of Hezekiah. The Assyrian strategy of psychological warfare involved undermining the confidence of their enemies by pointing to the failure of other nations and their gods. For the people of Judah, the challenge was to maintain faith in the LORD despite the overwhelming evidence of Assyrian dominance. The narrative ultimately underscores the sovereignty of the God of Israel, who, unlike the gods of Ivvah and other conquered cities, is able to deliver His people.

Cultural and Religious Implications:
The reference to Ivvah and its gods reflects the ancient Near Eastern belief in territorial deities, where each city or region had its own patron god. The Assyrian conquests were not only military victories but also seen as triumphs of their gods over the gods of the conquered peoples. For the Israelites, the challenge was to affirm the uniqueness and supremacy of Yahweh, the God of Israel, who transcends geographical boundaries and is not limited like the gods of Ivvah.

Conclusion:
The biblical references to Ivvah serve as a testament to the historical context of Assyrian expansion and the theological themes of divine sovereignty and faithfulness. The narrative invites readers to reflect on the power of God in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds, encouraging trust in His deliverance and protection.IVVAH

iv'-a (`iwwah; Aba (= Ava), Aua, 2 Kings 18:34, Oudou, 2 Kings 19:13, apparently due to a misreading): The name is wanting in the Massoretic Text and Septuagint of Isaiah 36:19.

Ivvah was a city apparently conquered by the Assyrians, and is mentioned by them, in the verses quoted, with Hamath and Arpad, Sepharvaim and Hena. It has been assimilated with the Avva of 2 Kings 17:24 as one of the places whence Sargon brought captives to Samaria, and identified with Hit on the Euphrates, between Anah and Ramadieh, but this seems improbable, as is also the suggestion that it is Emma, the modern `Imm, between Antioch and Aleppo. Hommel (Expository Times, April, 1898, 330) upholds the view that Hena and Ivvah, or, as he prefers to read, Avvah, are not places at all, but the names of the two chief gods of Hamath, Arpad and Sepharvaim. This would be consistent with 2 Kings 18:34; but 19:13: "Where is the king. of Sepharvaim, of Hena, and Ivvah?" and 17:31, where the gods of Sepharvaim are stated to be Adrammelech and Anammelech, raise serious difficulties. In all probability, the identification of Ivvah depends upon the correct localization of the twofold Sepharvaim, of which Hena and Ivvah may have been the names. The identification of Sepharvaim with the Babylonian Sip(p)ar is now practically abandoned.

See SEPHARVAIM.

T. G. Pinches

5755. Ivvah -- a city conquered by Assyr.
Ivvah or Avva. 5754, 5755. Ivvah or Avva. 5756 . a city conquered by
Assyr. Transliteration: Ivvah or Avva Phonetic Spelling: (iv ...
/hebrew/5755.htm - 6k

5757. Avvi -- inhab. of Avva
... Word Origin from Ivvah Definition inhab. of Avva NASB Word Usage Avvites (1). ... Patrial
from Ivvah; an Avvite or native of Avvah (only plural) -- Avims, Avites. ...
/hebrew/5757.htm - 6k

Sennacherib (705-681 BC )
... Where is the King of Hamath, and the King of Arpad, and the King of the city of
Sepharvaim, of Hena, and Ivvah?" Hezekiah, having received this letter of ...
/.../chapter isennacherib 705-681 b c.htm

Ivvah (3 Occurrences)
...IVVAH. ...Ivvah was a city apparently conquered by the Assyrians, and is mentioned by
them, in the verses quoted, with Hamath and Arpad, Sepharvaim and Hena. ...
/i/ivvah.htm - 9k

Arpad (6 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 18:34 Where are the gods of Hamath, and of Arpad? Where are the gods of
Sepharvaim, of Hena, and Ivvah? Have they delivered Samaria out of my hand? ...
/a/arpad.htm - 10k

Sepharva'im (4 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 18:34 Where are the gods of Hamath, and of Arpad? where are the gods of
Sepharvaim, of Hena, and Ivvah? have they delivered Samaria out of my hand? ...
/s/sepharva'im.htm - 7k

Sepharvaim (6 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 18:34 Where are the gods of Hamath, and of Arpad? Where are the gods of
Sepharvaim, of Hena, and Ivvah? Have they delivered Samaria out of my hand? ...
/s/sepharvaim.htm - 12k

Ivva (1 Occurrence)
... Isaiah 37:13 Where is the king of Hamath, and the king of Arpad, and the king of
the city of Sepharvaim, of Hena, and Ivvah?'" (Root in WEB JPS ASV BBE DBY YLT ...
/i/ivva.htm - 6k

Hena (3 Occurrences)
... Hommel (Expositors Times, IX, 330) thinks that here we have divine names; Hena standing
for the Arabic star-name al-han`a, and Ivvah for al-`awwa'u. See IVAH. ...
/h/hena.htm - 8k

Ivy

/i/ivy.htm - 7k

Ahava (3 Occurrences)
... basin, 8 days' journey from Babylon. Some identify the district with "Ivvah"
(2 Kings 18:34, etc.). Most probably, however, this was ...
/a/ahava.htm - 9k

Hamath (36 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 18:34 Where are the gods of Hamath, and of Arpad? Where are the gods of
Sepharvaim, of Hena, and Ivvah? Have they delivered Samaria out of my hand? ...
/h/hamath.htm - 25k

Rescued (49 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 18:34 Where are the gods of Hamath, and of Arpad? Where are the gods of
Sepharvaim, of Hena, and Ivvah? Have they delivered Samaria out of my hand? ...
/r/rescued.htm - 20k

Who was Sennacherib in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus