2 Kings 19 5

2 Kings 19:5 kjv

So the servants of king Hezekiah came to Isaiah.

2 Kings 19:5 nkjv

So the servants of King Hezekiah came to Isaiah.

2 Kings 19:5 niv

When King Hezekiah's officials came to Isaiah,

2 Kings 19:5 esv

When the servants of King Hezekiah came to Isaiah,

2 Kings 19:5 nlt

After King Hezekiah's officials delivered the king's message to Isaiah,

2 Kings 19 verses

2 Kings 19 5 Meaning

2 Kings 19:5 describes the immediate and crucial action taken by King Hezekiah's representatives, who arrived before the prophet Isaiah. This verse marks the physical initiation of Hezekiah's desperate plea to the Lord through His chosen messenger, signaling his profound distress and his firm decision to seek divine counsel and intervention against the formidable Assyrian threat.

2 Kings 19 5 Context

Chapter 19 of 2 Kings opens in a moment of extreme national crisis for the kingdom of Judah. The powerful Assyrian Empire, led by King Sennacherib, has already captured all the fortified cities of Judah (2 Kgs 18:13) and now lays siege to Jerusalem, Judah's capital. Sennacherib, through his field commander (Rabshakeh), has mocked and blasphemed the Lord God of Israel, challenging His power and faithfulness, asserting that YHWH is no different from the defeated gods of other nations (2 Kgs 18:19-35).

Hezekiah, deeply distressed by these insults to God and the dire threat to his people, tears his clothes, puts on sackcloth, and immediately sends a delegation of his trusted officials to the prophet Isaiah. This action, described in verses 1-4 (and culminated by the arrival in verse 5), is not a mere political maneuver but a profound theological act of seeking divine intervention through God's established channel, the prophet. This occurs after a prior diplomatic attempt to pay tribute failed to deter the Assyrians (2 Kgs 18:14-16), underscoring that human solutions have been exhausted.

The historical context is critical: the Assyrians were known for their brutal conquest tactics, psychological warfare, and deportation policies. Their god-kings demanded ultimate homage. For Hezekiah to turn to YHWH and His prophet, instead of capitulating or seeking alliances with weaker powers like Egypt (a past temptation, as per Isaiah's prophecies), was an act of faith amidst overwhelming odds. This entire episode serves as a powerful polemic against the polytheistic and human-centric worldview of the Assyrians, asserting the absolute sovereignty and uniqueness of YHWH as the one true God who hears, speaks, and acts on behalf of His people.

2 Kings 19 5 Word analysis

• So: Connects this action directly to the previous events—Hezekiah's hearing of the Assyrian taunts (2 Kgs 19:1), his act of mourning, and his command to send messengers to Isaiah (2 Kgs 19:2-4). It indicates the logical progression and immediate response.
• when: Specifies the timing of the event, marking the fulfillment of Hezekiah's command. It signifies the commencement of the face-to-face interaction that will unfold.
• the servants: Hebrew: עַבְדֵי (‘avdei), meaning 'servants of', 'ministers of', or 'officials of'. These were not ordinary people but high-ranking royal officials chosen by Hezekiah for this critical mission. Their status adds solemnity and official weight to the king's message.
• of King Hezekiah: Identifies the specific monarch responsible for sending these representatives. Hezekiah's name reinforces the gravity of the situation, given his reputation as a reforming and righteous king who sought the Lord. The specific title underscores royal authority behind the delegation.
• came: Hebrew: בָּאוּ (ba’u), simple past tense of 'to come'. This verb denotes the successful completion of their journey and their physical presence before Isaiah. It emphasizes direct, unmediated approach to the prophet, reflecting the urgency of the moment.
• to Isaiah: Pinpoints the destination and the recipient of the message. Isaiah (Hebrew: יְשַׁעְיָהוּ, Yesha'yahu, meaning "The Lord is Salvation" or "Salvation of YHWH") was the premier prophet of the time, known for his prophetic warnings, messianic prophecies, and his consistent counsel to Judah's kings regarding trust in YHWH. He was the Lord's authoritative spokesperson in Judah, uniquely positioned to receive divine revelation concerning the Assyrian threat.

Words-group analysis:

• "the servants of King Hezekiah": This phrase highlights the formal, urgent, and official nature of the embassy. Hezekiah's choice of high-ranking officials underscores the critical importance he placed on receiving a direct word from God. Their status signifies that this was not a casual inquiry but a national emergency call for divine intervention. It also emphasizes the king's humility and reliance, as he sends his most trusted advisors rather than going himself (though he has put on sackcloth), recognizing Isaiah as God's representative.
• "came to Isaiah": This brief statement represents a profound act of spiritual leadership. Instead of consulting idols, diviners, or pursuing solely military/political strategies (which he had tried, and failed), Hezekiah turns to YHWH's appointed prophet. This act implicitly serves as a powerful polemic against all pagan forms of seeking counsel and asserts YHWH's sole authority as the source of truth and deliverance. It illustrates faith in God's capacity to speak and act through His chosen servant during a seemingly hopeless national crisis.

2 Kings 19 5 Bonus section

• The immediate mission of these servants was to convey Hezekiah's message of distress and request for Isaiah to pray to the Lord for the surviving remnant of Judah. Their very presence signifies Hezekiah's conviction that the solution lay not in human wisdom or military might, but in the power and mercy of God.
• This act of King Hezekiah seeking God through His prophet foreshadows the consistent theme throughout the Bible: that true leadership, especially in times of crisis, requires reliance on God and submission to His revealed word.
• The naming of the prophet Isaiah ("The Lord is Salvation") provides a profound ironic backdrop to this verse. Judah faced impending destruction, yet they turn to the one whose name embodies the very deliverance they seek—salvation from the Lord. This narrative deeply roots God's salvation not in human effort but in His divine character.

2 Kings 19 5 Commentary

2 Kings 19:5, though succinct, represents a pivotal moment in the narrative of Judah's confrontation with Assyria. It is the immediate fulfillment of King Hezekiah's command in verse 4, signaling his deep distress and his determined choice to seek divine intervention. The verse concisely reports the arrival of Hezekiah's high-ranking officials before Isaiah, establishing the direct link between the desperate monarch and God's prophet. This was a king turning to God through His appointed channel, a testament to Hezekiah's faith and an example for us to seek divine wisdom in crisis. The significance lies not merely in the messengers' arrival but in the implication of that arrival: Hezekiah's recognition that the crisis was beyond human remedy and that only a word from YHWH, delivered through His faithful prophet, could provide true hope or salvation. It sets the stage for God's dramatic response and deliverance.