2 Kings 18:14 kjv
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.
2 Kings 18:14 nkjv
Then Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria at Lachish, saying, "I have done wrong; turn away from me; whatever you impose on me I will pay." And the king of Assyria assessed Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold.
2 Kings 18:14 niv
So Hezekiah king of Judah sent this message to the king of Assyria at Lachish: "I have done wrong. Withdraw from me, and I will pay whatever you demand of me." The king of Assyria exacted from Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold.
2 Kings 18:14 esv
And Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria at Lachish, saying, "I have done wrong; withdraw from me. Whatever you impose on me I will bear." And the king of Assyria required of Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold.
2 Kings 18:14 nlt
King Hezekiah sent this message to the king of Assyria at Lachish: "I have done wrong. I will pay whatever tribute money you demand if you will only withdraw." The king of Assyria then demanded a settlement of more than eleven tons of silver and one ton of gold.
2 Kings 18 14 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Ki 18:3-6 | Hezekiah did what was right in the eyes of the LORD... and rebelled against the king of Assyria... | Hezekiah's earlier righteousness and rebellion. |
| 2 Ki 18:7 | And the LORD was with him; and he prospered whithersoever he went forth: and he rebelled against the king of Assyria, and served him not. | Initial divine support for Hezekiah's defiance. |
| 2 Ki 18:13 | Now in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah did Sennacherib king of Assyria come up against all the fenced cities of Judah, and took them. | Context: Assyrian invasion before this payment. |
| 2 Ki 19:1 | And it came to pass, when king Hezekiah heard it, that he rent his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the LORD. | Hezekiah's shift to humility and seeking God. |
| 2 Ki 19:15-19 | Hezekiah prayed before the LORD... O LORD God of Israel, which dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God... | Hezekiah's later powerful prayer for deliverance. |
| 2 Chr 32:1-4 | After these things... Sennacherib came... to invade Judah... Hezekiah took counsel... | Parallel account of the Assyrian invasion. |
| 2 Chr 32:5-8 | And he strengthened himself, and built up all the wall... And he set captains of war over the people... and spake comfortably to them, saying, Be strong... be not afraid... for there be more with us than with him: | Hezekiah's efforts and words of encouragement later. |
| Isa 36:1-2 | Now it came to pass in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah, that Sennacherib king of Assyria came up... from Lachish to Jerusalem. | Isaiah's parallel account of the events. |
| Isa 10:5-6 | O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger... I will send him against an hypocritical nation... | Assyria as God's instrument of judgment. |
| Isa 37:36 | Then the angel of the LORD went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred and fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses. | God's ultimate dramatic deliverance of Jerusalem. |
| Prov 11:4 | Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death. | The inadequacy of material wealth in judgment. |
| Psa 20:7 | Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. | Trust in human might vs. trust in God. |
| Psa 33:16-17 | No king is saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength. An horse is a vain thing for safety... | Inefficacy of human strength/wealth for salvation. |
| Gen 32:20 | For he said, I will appease him with the present that goeth before me... | Jacob's use of gifts/tribute to appease Esau. |
| Hos 8:9-10 | For they are gone up to Assyria, a wild ass alone by himself: Ephraim hath hired lovers. Yea, though they have hired among the nations, now will I gather them... | Paying tribute/seeking foreign alliances. |
| 1 Ki 20:31 | His servants said to him, Behold now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings: let us, I pray thee, put sackcloth on our loins... | Example of humbling oneself to an enemy. |
| Lev 26:14-17 | But if ye will not hearken unto me... I will appoint terror over you, consumption... your strength shall be spent in vain... | Consequences of disobeying God's covenant, leading to weakness. |
| Deut 28:47-48 | Because thou servedst not the LORD thy God... therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies... and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck... | Yoke of slavery/tribute as consequence of sin. |
| Rom 6:23 | For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. | Deeper theological implication of "offended"/sin. |
| Eph 2:1-3 | And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world... | Spiritual state of being "offended" (sinner). |
| Phil 4:19 | But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. | God's provision contrasted with human payment. |
| Matt 6:24 | No man can serve two masters... Ye cannot serve God and mammon. | Hezekiah's temporary turn from relying solely on God. |
2 Kings 18 verses
2 Kings 18 14 Meaning
2 Kings 18:14 describes King Hezekiah of Judah sending an appeal to King Sennacherib of Assyria, who was besieging Lachish. Hezekiah confessed, "I have offended," essentially admitting his fault or rebellion against Assyria, and pleaded for the Assyrian king to withdraw. He offered to bear any burden or tribute imposed upon him. In response, Sennacherib levied a massive tribute on Hezekiah: three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold. This verse highlights Hezekiah's moment of desperation and capitulation to the overwhelming power of Assyria, seeking a pragmatic solution to avert further destruction of Judah.
2 Kings 18 14 Context
The events of 2 Kings 18 take place during the reign of King Hezekiah, a historically significant figure known for his religious reforms and faithfulness to the Lord (2 Ki 18:3-6). Early in his reign, he bravely rebelled against the Assyrian king, Sennacherib, by no longer paying the tribute that his father, Ahaz, had initiated (2 Ki 18:7). This act of defiance was seemingly blessed by God ("the LORD was with him"). However, Sennacherib, a mighty and ruthless conqueror, invaded Judah in 701 BCE, laying waste to its fortified cities. The capture of Lachish, a prominent Judean fortress (later archeologically confirmed), would have been a dire signal to Jerusalem. 2 Kings 18:14 describes Hezekiah's desperate response to this overwhelming threat, seeking a cessation of hostilities by conceding his wrongdoing and agreeing to a crippling financial demand. This act stands as a pragmatic, yet ultimately insufficient, human effort to resolve a crisis that would later be divinely resolved in 2 Kings 19, following Hezekiah's renewed reliance on God. The context highlights a king oscillating between strong faith and human fear.
2 Kings 18 14 Word analysis
- And Hezekiah king of Judah sent: The verb "sent" (Hebrew: שָׁלַח, shalach) signifies a formal diplomatic embassy, emphasizing the seriousness and official nature of the communication from the king himself. This act, while strategic, was born of fear and desperation under siege.
- to the king of Assyria to Lachish: This specifies the precise location of the Assyrian monarch, deep within Judahite territory and actively engaged in a major siege. Lachish (Hebrew: לָכִישׁ, Lachish) was a vital fortified city southwest of Jerusalem. Sennacherib’s presence there underscores the gravity of the military threat and how far Assyria had penetrated.
- saying, I have offended: The Hebrew for "I have offended" is חָטָאתִי (chata'ti), which literally means "I have sinned" or "I have missed the mark." In this context, it is a formal confession of guilt or wrongdoing, acknowledging that his rebellion or cessation of tribute payments was a fault against Assyria, the superior power. It is an act of diplomatic submission to pacify the aggressor.
- return from me: The phrase "return from me" (Hebrew: שׁוּב מֵעָלַי, shuv me'alai) is a plea for the Assyrian forces to withdraw and cease their aggression against Judah. It highlights Hezekiah’s immediate goal: to lift the siege and prevent Jerusalem from falling.
- that which thou puttest on me will I bear: This demonstrates Hezekiah’s willingness to submit entirely to Sennacherib’s demands, no matter how severe. "Puttest on me" (Hebrew: תָשִׁית עָלַי, tashit alai) implies an imposition, a heavy burden. "Bear" (Hebrew: אֶשָּׂא, essa') means to carry, endure, or accept a burden or punishment. This is an explicit promise of unconditional financial compliance.
- whatsoever thou requirest of me, I will give thee: A reinforcement of the previous phrase, this reiterates absolute submission. "Requirest" (Hebrew: תִּדְרֹשׁ, tidrosh) implies a strong demand or search for something. This pledges any requested sum or item would be provided, highlighting the extent of Hezekiah’s capitulation.
- And the king of Assyria appointed unto Hezekiah king of Judah: The verb "appointed unto" (Hebrew: וַיַּשְׂכֵּם עַל, vayaskeim al) suggests that Sennacherib calculated, assessed, and imposed a specific amount. It indicates a firm demand set by the Assyrian king, a non-negotiable term of surrender.
- three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold: A "talent" (Hebrew: כִּכַּר, kikkar) was a significant unit of weight (and thus value), roughly 75 pounds (c. 34 kg). Therefore, 300 talents of silver and 30 talents of gold represent an enormous, staggering sum – approximately 11 tons of silver and 1 ton of gold. This massive tribute reflects the exorbitant demands of Assyria and the severe economic strain it placed on Judah, requiring the stripping of temple and palace treasures (2 Ki 18:15-16).
2 Kings 18 14 Bonus section
The massive tribute levied by Sennacherib, while recorded in the biblical text, also finds strong corroboration in Assyrian records, specifically Sennacherib’s own prisms (e.g., the Taylor Prism). While the Assyrian accounts may cite higher silver figures (e.g., 800 talents), the presence of the 30 talents of gold remains consistent, suggesting broad agreement on the heavy financial cost Hezekiah incurred. The archeological evidence from Lachish itself, showing a highly detailed depiction of its siege and capture on Sennacherib's palace reliefs, further underscores the historical authenticity and strategic importance of this specific location in the biblical narrative. Hezekiah's desperate plea to Sennacherib at Lachish marks the low point of his personal reliance on God during the Assyrian invasion, serving as a contrast to his eventual and fervent prayer for deliverance in Jerusalem (2 Kings 19), which God answers powerfully. This highlights a king's journey from trusting in human strategies to ultimately finding salvation solely in the Lord.
2 Kings 18 14 Commentary
2 Kings 18:14 encapsulates a critical moment in Hezekiah’s reign, demonstrating the immense pressure faced by Judah under Assyrian might. Hezekiah's confession, "I have offended," while pragmatically seeking to de-escalate the conflict, can also be viewed as a temporary lapse from his earlier confident trust in God, who had empowered him to rebel (2 Ki 18:7). The capitulation and payment of an astronomical tribute, necessitating the emptying of the Temple treasury, highlight the severe cost of attempting to resolve spiritual and national crises through human means alone. This act, however, proved insufficient, as Sennacherib still intended to take Jerusalem (2 Kings 18:17ff). This sets the stage for God's dramatic and unconditional deliverance in the next chapter, demonstrating that divine salvation ultimately comes not through human appeasement or wealth, but through humble, renewed faith and God's sovereign power. This moment reveals the tension between Hezekiah's initial godly reforms and a temporary descent into human fear and political compromise.