Isaiah 37 8

Isaiah 37:8 kjv

So Rabshakeh returned, and found the king of Assyria warring against Libnah: for he had heard that he was departed from Lachish.

Isaiah 37:8 nkjv

Then the Rabshakeh returned, and found the king of Assyria warring against Libnah, for he heard that he had departed from Lachish.

Isaiah 37:8 niv

When the field commander heard that the king of Assyria had left Lachish, he withdrew and found the king fighting against Libnah.

Isaiah 37:8 esv

The Rabshakeh returned, and found the king of Assyria fighting against Libnah, for he had heard that the king had left Lachish.

Isaiah 37:8 nlt

Meanwhile, the Assyrian chief of staff left Jerusalem and went to consult the king of Assyria, who had left Lachish and was attacking Libnah.

Isaiah 37 verses

Isaiah 37 8 Meaning

Isaiah 37:8 marks a shift in the immediate narrative concerning the Assyrian siege of Jerusalem. It states that Rabshakeh, the Assyrian general who had just delivered taunting messages to King Hezekiah, returned to his master, King Sennacherib. Upon his return, he discovered Sennacherib was no longer besieging Lachish but had moved his military operations to Libnah, having heard a report that Sennacherib had already departed from Lachish. This verse details the dynamic and ongoing movement of the Assyrian army, showing their strategic adjustments and Rabshakeh's subsequent reporting to his king.

Isaiah 37 8 Context

Isaiah chapter 37 forms a pivotal part of the narrative concerning the Assyrian siege of Jerusalem under King Hezekiah, recounted also in 2 Kings 18-19. Earlier in Chapter 36, Rabshakeh, a high-ranking Assyrian official, had delivered a blasphemous and intimidating speech to the people of Jerusalem, urging them to surrender and not to trust in Yahweh. This psychological warfare was intended to demoralize them. King Hezekiah, in response to these threats, was deeply distressed, tore his clothes, and sought counsel from the prophet Isaiah, asking him to pray (Isa 37:1-4). Isaiah then delivered a message of divine assurance: Jerusalem would be saved, and the king of Assyria would hear a rumor and return to his own land, eventually to fall by the sword (Isa 37:6-7). Verse 8 serves as an immediate partial fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy. It reports Rabshakeh's withdrawal from Jerusalem and the new disposition of the Assyrian forces. Historically, this event occurred during the campaign of Sennacherib in 701 BC, where Assyria devastated many fortified cities of Judah, though miraculously failed to conquer Jerusalem. Lachish had been a significant, well-fortified Judahite city that fell to Sennacherib, serving as a key Assyrian base and a testament to their military might. The shift to Libnah indicates the fluidity of battle and hints at strategic adjustments prompted by emerging information.

Isaiah 37 8 Word analysis

• So: (Hebrew: WaY-yā-šov) – This conjunction and prefix indicates a consequential action, tying back to Rabshakeh's recent activities (delivering Sennacherib's message to Jerusalem) and initiating his return. It marks a transition in the narrative.
• Rabshakeh: (Hebrew: Rabaššāqeh – "Chief Cupbearer" or "Chief Officer") – This is a title, not a proper name. It denotes a high-ranking Assyrian military and administrative official, capable of diplomatic speech and psychological warfare. His role was crucial in delivering Sennacherib's message and is highlighted here as the key messenger returning to report.
• returned: (Hebrew: šûḇ) – Signifies Rabshakeh's physical departure from Jerusalem, where he had been taunting the city, and his movement back to his superior, King Sennacherib. This return implies his mission at Jerusalem for that moment was complete.
• and found: (Hebrew: way-yim-ṣāʾ) – Implies a discovery upon his return. Rabshakeh expected to find Sennacherib at a certain location, but a new situation presented itself.
• the king of Assyria: (Hebrew: me-lek-ʾaš-šûr) – Refers specifically to Sennacherib, the powerful monarch and antagonist of Judah at this time. He embodies the mighty Assyrian Empire, a major world power whose actions determined the fate of many nations.
• warring: (Hebrew: nil-ḥām) – An active participle, indicating ongoing military conflict. Sennacherib was actively engaged in besieging or fighting at Libnah, showing his relentless military campaign even while awaiting Rabshakeh's report from Jerusalem.
• against Libnah: (Hebrew: lə-liḇ-nāh) – Libnah was another fortified city in the Shephelah region of Judah, strategically located southwest of Jerusalem, relatively close to Lachish. This signifies Sennacherib's continuous advance through Judah. It suggests the Assyrian campaign was dynamic and not static, and it was also another major city after Lachish.
• for he heard: (Hebrew: kî-šā-maʿ) – Explains the reason for Sennacherib's relocation. The word "he" refers to Rabshakeh. Rabshakeh heard the news after he had left Jerusalem but before he rejoined Sennacherib at Libnah. The rumor likely influenced Rabshakeh's changed route or anticipation of Sennacherib's new location.
• that the king: (Hebrew: ham-me-lek) – Refers to Sennacherib, the king of Assyria.
• had set out: (Hebrew: nā-saʿ) – Implies movement, an departure or breaking camp. This verb signifies a strategic relocation of the Assyrian army from its previous encampment or battlefield.
• from Lachish: (Hebrew: mil-lā-ḵîš) – Lachish was a very strong and prominent Judahite city, whose conquest by Sennacherib is well-documented archaeologically and visually on Assyrian reliefs. It had been a major base for Sennacherib, but he had apparently moved from there to target Libnah. The specific mention highlights the geographical and military movements within the campaign.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "So Rabshakeh returned": This phrase marks the conclusion of Rabshakeh's confrontational embassy to Jerusalem (Isa 36:2-22) and initiates his journey back to Sennacherib. It confirms the temporary cessation of direct threats against Jerusalem by this particular envoy, as anticipated by Isaiah's prophecy.
• "and found the king of Assyria warring against Libnah": Upon returning, Rabshakeh discovers Sennacherib engaged in active battle, but at a different location (Libnah) than where he last knew the king to be (Lachish). This shows Sennacherib's continuous, aggressive campaign, highlighting the ongoing threat to Judah even as Jerusalem was granted a momentary reprieve from Rabshakeh's presence.
• "for he heard that the king had set out from Lachish": This clarifies Rabshakeh's knowledge of Sennacherib's updated position. The report, or "rumor," mentioned in Isa 37:7, concerning a new threat or development, caused Sennacherib to move from his base at Lachish. This detail sets the stage for the next events, which reveal God's orchestrated intervention and Sennacherib's ultimate downfall. The movement away from Lachish to Libnah and the mention of "rumor" directly aligns with Isaiah's prophecy in the preceding verses, signaling divine control over the Assyrian movements.

Isaiah 37 8 Bonus section

The "rumor" or report that influenced Sennacherib's movements (implied in this verse and stated explicitly in Isa 37:7 and 2 Kings 19:9) is crucial to understanding the divine intervention at play. Historical records, corroborated by the biblical accounts, point to a report of Tirhakah, King of Cush (or Ethiopia), advancing towards Canaan. This external threat likely compelled Sennacherib to move his forces to address it, thereby diverting his full attention and resources away from Jerusalem at a critical juncture. This is a powerful demonstration of God's use of external events and distant players to orchestrate the deliverance of His people, fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy about Sennacherib hearing a "rumor" and returning to his own land. This shows that God's Providence often works through a chain of events that appear coincidental or politically strategic, but are in fact meticulously aligned with His divine purpose.

Isaiah 37 8 Commentary

Isaiah 37:8 is a brief but highly significant verse, marking a key pivot in the narrative of Jerusalem's deliverance from the Assyrians. Rabshakeh's return signifies the end of his direct, blasphemous challenge at Jerusalem's walls, paving the way for God's direct intervention. The movement of Sennacherib from Lachish to Libnah reveals the fluidity of military campaigns but also subtly hints at the influence of the "rumor" (likely concerning Tirhakah of Cush, mentioned in the parallel 2 Kings 19:9a, and implied in Isa 37:7) that Isaiah had prophesied would draw Sennacherib away. This detail showcases God's sovereign control over even the movements of the most powerful earthly kings and armies. It implies that the Assyrian might, while formidable, was ultimately subordinate to Yahweh's will, whose plans for Jerusalem's salvation were unfolding precisely as declared through His prophet, Isaiah. The strategic shift from Lachish to Libnah suggests a change in priority for Sennacherib, indirectly working to the benefit of Jerusalem, whose deliverance from siege would soon follow. It underscores the biblical truth that even human political and military maneuvers operate within the boundaries of divine purpose.