2 Kings 19 37

2 Kings 19:37 kjv

And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword: and they escaped into the land of Armenia. And Esarhaddon his son reigned in his stead.

2 Kings 19:37 nkjv

Now it came to pass, as he was worshiping in the temple of Nisroch his god, that his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer struck him down with the sword; and they escaped into the land of Ararat. Then Esarhaddon his son reigned in his place.

2 Kings 19:37 niv

One day, while he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisrok, his sons Adrammelek and Sharezer killed him with the sword, and they escaped to the land of Ararat. And Esarhaddon his son succeeded him as king.

2 Kings 19:37 esv

And as he was worshiping in the house of Nisroch his god, Adrammelech and Sharezer, his sons, struck him down with the sword and escaped into the land of Ararat. And Esarhaddon his son reigned in his place.

2 Kings 19:37 nlt

One day while he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch, his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer killed him with their swords. They then escaped to the land of Ararat, and another son, Esarhaddon, became the next king of Assyria.

2 Kings 19 verses

2 Kings 19 37 Meaning

This verse records the death of King Sennacherib of Assyria, approximately two decades after his failed siege of Jerusalem. It states that while he was engaged in worship within the temple of his god Nisroch, his own sons, Adrammelech and Sharezer, assassinated him with a sword. Following this act, they fled to the land of Ararat, and his son Esarhaddon ascended to the throne. This event serves as the complete fulfillment of the divine judgment and prophecy spoken against Sennacherib through the prophet Isaiah earlier in the chapter.

2 Kings 19 37 Context

2 Kings chapter 19 concludes the narrative of Sennacherib's invasion of Judah during the reign of King Hezekiah. After Sennacherib sent threatening letters and blasphemous messages defying YHWH, Hezekiah presented the matter to God in prayer in the temple. The prophet Isaiah, through divine inspiration, delivered a message of assurance from the Lord, promising that Sennacherib would not conquer Jerusalem and would return to his own land by the same route, only to fall by the sword there. This prophecy began its fulfillment with the miraculous slaying of 185,000 Assyrian soldiers by the angel of the Lord in 2 Kings 19:35, forcing Sennacherib to retreat. Verse 36 describes his return to Nineveh, and verse 37, though occurring some time later (historically about 20 years), fully resolves the prophecy concerning his violent death, emphasizing God's complete control and the inevitable downfall of those who defy Him. Historically, Sennacherib was indeed succeeded by Esarhaddon, with Adrammelech and Sharezer being among his other sons, further corroborating the biblical account.

2 Kings 19 37 Word analysis

• And it came to pass: This common narrative Hebrew idiom (wayy_ehiy) signifies the sequence of events and often introduces a significant occurrence that is a consequence or fulfillment of previous events or divine declarations.
• as he was worshipping: Implies an act of devotion, possibly ritualistic, to his deity. The Hebrew word is hištahăwah (השתחוה), meaning to prostrate oneself, to bow down, or to do obeisance, typically in an act of worship.
• in the house of Nisroch his god:
  • House: Hebrew bêth (בּית), refers to a temple or a sanctuary, a sacred space dedicated to a deity.
  • Nisroch: Hebrew Nišrōk (נִסְרֹךְ). This specific Assyrian deity is mentioned only here and in the parallel passage of Isa 37:38. While archaeological evidence doesn't definitively pinpoint a chief god named Nisroch, scholars often link it to various Mesopotamian eagle-headed or bird-headed genii often associated with divine protection or agricultural fertility (perhaps the god Nabu or Marduk associated with a symbol). Regardless of exact identification, the text highlights his status as Sennacherib's "god," emphasizing the ultimate powerlessness of pagan deities. This serves as a strong polemic; a seemingly powerful king is murdered even while worshiping his supposed protector god, demonstrating the impotence of idols against the true God, YHWH.
  • his god: Implies personal devotion and reliance on this specific deity for protection, which dramatically fails.
• that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons:
  • Adrammelech and Sharezer: These are Assyrian names. Adrammelech (אדרמלך, 'Aḏrammeleḵ) contains elements referring to "honor" or "glory" and "king." Sharezer (שר־אצר, Šare'ṣer) possibly means "prince of the treasury" or "prince protect the king." Their action is an internal palace coup, often typical of Near Eastern royal succession, but in this context, it's divinely orchestrated.
  • his sons: The treachery from within one's own family further highlights the judgment, showing instability even in the heart of Sennacherib's supposed security.
• smote him with the sword:
  • Smote him: Hebrew wayyakku (ויכו), indicating a forceful, violent blow.
  • with the sword: The specific weapon implies a planned and direct assassination, not an accidental death. This fulfills Isaiah's prophecy precisely ("I will cause him to fall by the sword").
• and they escaped: The sons successfully carried out their plot and fled the consequences within Assyria.
• into the land of Ararat:
  • Ararat: Hebrew 'Ărāraṭ (אררט), referring to the ancient kingdom of Urartu, a mountainous region located north of Assyria, primarily in what is modern-day Eastern Turkey. This was a place of refuge for political exiles from Assyria, due to its formidable terrain and often adversarial relationship with Assyria.
• And Esarhaddon his son reigned in his place:
  • Esarhaddon: Hebrew 'Ĕsar-ḥaddōn (אסר־חדן). Esarhaddon was indeed Sennacherib's successor, chosen by his father, leading to rivalries with his half-brothers. His peaceful ascension recorded here, subsequent to the assassins' flight, underscores the established order after the immediate crisis. This final detail further corroborates the historical accuracy of the biblical narrative and concludes the fulfillment of YHWH's sovereign declaration over the Assyrian king.

2 Kings 19 37 Bonus section

The specific historical date of Sennacherib's death, recorded in Assyrian annals, is 681 BCE, which places it roughly two decades after his campaign against Jerusalem (701 BCE). This chronological gap highlights that while the angelic intervention immediately routed the Assyrian army, God's full judgment on Sennacherib's personal pride and blasphemy unfolded over a longer period, emphasizing divine patience yet inevitable justice. The narrative's conciseness, moving directly from Sennacherib's retreat to his death, streamlines the fulfillment of prophecy, focusing on God's active involvement in world affairs rather than human chronology. The murder within the temple can also be seen as an act of cosmic irony: Sennacherib had boastfully destroyed temples and deities of other nations, and now, in his own most sacred space, he meets his end by the very instruments (treacherous human will) that YHWH permitted.

2 Kings 19 37 Commentary

2 Kings 19:37 is a potent declaration of divine sovereignty, justice, and the ultimate futility of idolatry and human arrogance. Sennacherib, the once-unassailable king who had dared to challenge YHWH, meets his end not by direct military confrontation with Judah, but by the insidious hand of his own sons in the supposed sanctuary of his pagan deity. This event closes the loop on Isaiah's prophecy (Isa 37:7, 37:38), demonstrating that God's word is never unfulfilled. The murder within Nisroch's temple serves as a powerful polemic; it’s a vivid demonstration that idols are powerless, incapable of protecting their most devoted worshipper. Sennacherib's death contrasts sharply with Judah's deliverance, achieved not by human strength, but by YHWH's miraculous intervention, underscoring that the True God protects His people and humbles the proud, even using human evil for His righteous purposes. The stability and transfer of power to Esarhaddon confirms the divinely ordained succession, further proving God's meticulous control over the affairs of nations and kings. The narrative thus affirms the Lord’s authority, fulfilling His promise and upholding His honor against those who scorn Him.