2 Kings 18 19

2 Kings 18:19 kjv

And Rabshakeh said unto them, Speak ye now to Hezekiah, Thus saith the great king, the king of Assyria, What confidence is this wherein thou trustest?

2 Kings 18:19 nkjv

Then the Rabshakeh said to them, "Say now to Hezekiah, 'Thus says the great king, the king of Assyria: "What confidence is this in which you trust?

2 Kings 18:19 niv

The field commander said to them, "Tell Hezekiah: "?'This is what the great king, the king of Assyria, says: On what are you basing this confidence of yours?

2 Kings 18:19 esv

And the Rabshakeh said to them, "Say to Hezekiah, 'Thus says the great king, the king of Assyria: On what do you rest this trust of yours?

2 Kings 18:19 nlt

Then the Assyrian king's chief of staff told them to give this message to Hezekiah: "This is what the great king of Assyria says: What are you trusting in that makes you so confident?

2 Kings 18 verses

2 Kings 18 19 Meaning

This verse records the opening challenge issued by the Assyrian field commander, the Rabshakeh, to King Hezekiah of Judah during Sennacherib's siege of Jerusalem. It directly questions the foundation of Hezekiah's trust or confidence in the face of the overwhelming military might of Assyria, framing it as an audacious and ill-founded presumption. The Rabshakeh, speaking for the "great king" (the king of Assyria, Sennacherib), initiates a psychological assault designed to erode Hezekiah's resolve and persuade Judah to surrender without a fight, implying that any trust placed in external or internal sources is futile against Assyrian power.

2 Kings 18 19 Context

Chapter 18 of 2 Kings opens with a positive account of King Hezekiah's reign in Judah. He is described as a king who "did what was right in the eyes of the Lord," removing idolatry, breaking down Asherah poles, and even shattering Moses' bronze serpent when it became an object of worship. Critically, the text states, "He trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel" (2 Kgs 18:5). This commitment to God sets the stage for the dramatic confrontation that follows. In 701 BCE, Sennacherib, the powerful king of Assyria, launched a major invasion against Judah, laying siege to fortified cities and ultimately reaching the gates of Jerusalem. Hezekiah initially attempted to appease Sennacherib with tribute, but the Assyrian king still sent his chief officials, including the Rabshakeh, to demand Jerusalem's surrender. Verse 19 begins the Rabshakeh's attempt at psychological warfare, a key component of Assyrian siege tactics, directly attacking Hezekiah's core strength: his trust in God. The immediate historical context is Judah's desperate situation under Assyrian siege, and the theological context is a direct challenge to the sovereignty and power of the God of Israel.

2 Kings 18 19 Word analysis

• Then the Rabshakeh said to them:
  • Rabshakeh (רַב שָׁקֵה, rav shaqeh): Not a personal name but a military or administrative title, likely meaning "chief cupbearer" or "chief of the staff/eunuchs." In Assyrian court, it signified a high-ranking officer entrusted with important missions, particularly diplomacy, military intelligence, and psychological warfare. His prominence highlights the seriousness of the Assyrian message. The Septuagint translates it as Rhapsakēs.
  • Said to them: Refers to the three Judean officials Hezekiah sent out: Eliakim (over the household), Shebna (the scribe), and Joah (the recorder). The Rabshakeh directs his speech through them to Hezekiah, ensuring his words reach the king.
• 'Say now to Hezekiah:
  • Say now: An imperative, demanding immediate relay of the message. This emphasizes the directness and urgency of the Assyrian demand.
  • Hezekiah (חִזְקִיָּהוּ, Ḥizqiyyāhû): King of Judah, whose name means "Yahweh strengthens" or "Yahweh is my strength." This is ironic given the Rabshakeh's question about his "confidence." His recent religious reforms had placed emphasis on Yahweh as Judah's only deliverer.
• "Thus says the great king, the king of Assyria:
  • Thus says (כֹּה אָמַר, koh amar): A common prophetic formula used by Israel's prophets to introduce divine oracles ("Thus says the Lord"). Here, it is ironically adopted by the Rabshakeh to elevate the king of Assyria's word to an unchallengeable, almost divine, authority, attempting to strip YHWH of His unique claim to ultimate power and truth. This is a clear polemic.
  • the great king (הַמֶּלֶךְ הַגָּדוֹל, hammelekh hagadhol): A royal title typically adopted by powerful suzerains, especially the Assyrian king, signifying his supremacy over other vassal kings. It functions as a boast, asserting Assyria's unparalleled dominion and power, directly contrasting with YHiah's "trust." It directly challenges God's singular greatness.
  • the king of Assyria: Refers specifically to Sennacherib (r. 705–681 BCE), a notoriously powerful and ruthless emperor who controlled a vast empire and was known for crushing rebellions. His name alone evoked fear and subjugation.
• ‘What confidence is this in which you trust?'"
  • What confidence is this (מַה הַבִּטָּחוֹן הַזֶּה, mah habbiṭṭāḥôn hazzeh): The interrogative "what" conveys disdain and disbelief. "Confidence" (בִּטָּחוֹן, biṭṭāḥôn) denotes security, trust, or reliance. The Rabshakeh mocks Hezekiah's perceived reliance, implying it is baseless or irrational. This is the crux of the psychological warfare.
  • in which you trust? (בָּטָחְתָּ, bāṭaḥtā): The verb "trust" (בָּטַח, bāṭaḥ) refers to leaning on, relying on, or feeling secure in someone or something. It's a key biblical concept often referring to trust in God. The Rabshakeh seeks to expose any reliance outside of Assyria's overwhelming power as folly, directly challenging the essence of Hezekiah's reform (trust in YHWH). This phrase implicitly suggests Hezekiah has something specific he trusts in, inviting him to name it, and implying whatever it is, it won't be enough.

Words-group Analysis

• "Then the Rabshakeh said to them, 'Say now to Hezekiah,": This initial phrasing immediately establishes the speaker's authority and the recipient of the message. The Rabshakeh is not engaging in dialogue but delivering a demand through an intermediary, underscoring the Assyrian posture of dominance. It signals the beginning of a deliberate, calculated assault on Jerusalem's morale, aiming to force capitulation through psychological means rather than prolonged siege alone.
• "Thus says the great king, the king of Assyria:": This formulaic declaration is a power move. By mirroring the prophetic formula "Thus says the Lord," the Rabshakeh attempts to usurp divine authority and instill terror. It places Sennacherib, the "great king" and "king of Assyria," as the supreme arbiter of power and fate, challenging YHWH's ultimate sovereignty and directly implying that Hezekiah's God is no match for the Assyrian emperor. This is a crucial polemic against the Judean monotheistic belief, aimed at shaking their core faith.
• "'What confidence is this in which you trust?'": This question is rhetorical, designed not to elicit an answer but to ridicule and undermine. It strikes at the heart of Hezekiah's recent spiritual revival and the trust he had cultivated in YHWH. The Rabshakeh assumes that Hezekiah's trust must be misplaced because it contradicts the reality of Assyrian military supremacy. It challenges the very theological foundation of Judah's resistance, pushing them to doubt God's ability or willingness to deliver them against such overwhelming force. This is an invitation to despair, intended to reveal the perceived hollowness of Hezekiah's faith or any alliance he might have formed.

2 Kings 18 19 Bonus Section

The Rabshakeh's speech, introduced in this verse, is a classic example of ancient psychological warfare, typical of Assyrian military strategy. Beyond numerical superiority, the Assyrians meticulously worked to break an enemy's will to fight. This involved:

• Intimidation: Openly displaying overwhelming force (implicitly, though not described until later in the chapter, the full force of their army outside Jerusalem's walls).
• Verbal Abuse and Taunts: Undermining the morale of the defenders, mocking their leaders, their allies, and most critically, their gods. This is precisely what "What confidence is this in which you trust?" does.
• Appeals to Self-Preservation: Offering favorable surrender terms to individuals or the general populace (e.g., offering release and relocation to good land, as later in 2 Kgs 18:31-32).
• False Promises and Deception: Exploiting vulnerabilities.The Rabshakeh, as a "master of words" (as indicated by the detailed account of his speech in Isaiah and 2 Kings), was specifically chosen for his rhetorical skill to conduct this crucial aspect of the siege. His polemic against YHWH was intentional, designed to expose any divine or human support Hezekiah might have believed in as utterly impotent before the might of the "great king." The drama of this interaction highlights the recurring biblical theme of humanity's pride vs. God's sovereignty and faithfulness, often setting a seemingly invincible human empire against God's seemingly defenseless people.

2 Kings 18 19 Commentary

2 Kings 18:19 marks the initial volley in Sennacherib's psychological campaign against Jerusalem, delivered through his representative, the Rabshakeh. This seemingly simple question, "What confidence is this in which you trust?" encapsulates the entire theological and geopolitical conflict of the narrative. The Assyrian king, represented by his verbose and arrogant field commander, asserts his undisputed "greatness" and power, framing his demands as absolute and irresistible. By mimicking the "Thus says the Lord" formula, the Rabshakeh arrogantly places the human emperor's decree on par with divine utterance, a blatant challenge to the singular authority of Israel's God. The essence of the confrontation is not just military, but spiritual: can YHWH deliver His people from a foe as mighty as Assyria, especially when Hezekiah has placed his entire trust in Him? The Rabshakeh’s words aim to sow doubt, fear, and discord, highlighting the vast material disparity between Judah and Assyria and dismissing any faith-based resistance as irrational folly. His taunt forces Hezekiah, and Judah, to consider the object of their true trust, preparing the way for God’s miraculous vindication.