DAWN
Daily Arts Web Nucleus
Discover the Arts! Each day a different image from the Literary, Performing, or Visual Arts representing a portion of Scripture plus an explanation with links 2017 December 9
Samaria, Fortress City of Israel, Falling to the Assyrians
Don Lawrence (1928-2003)
Realism Style
Private Collection
Image Source: Bible Study Outlines
SPECIAL NOTE:
[ I will again be working through the Scriptures from Genesis to Revelation. I will be adding links, resources, images, and the like, upgrading the former work-through which began with the 2013-10-12 posting which can be found, along with the full Genesis to Revelation postings, in the Archive Page. Postings will be at midnight Eastern Time, as I am able. However, no chapters will be skipped, even though a posting may be late. And all postings will be housed in the Archive Page. ]
Explanation: 2 Kings 18 is the first of three chapters which describe the character and deeds of Hezekiah of Judah, (the Southern Kingdom). The focus of this chapter is a confrontation with Sennacherib which concludes in the next chapter. The prelude to this confrontation (depicted above) was Assyria's conquest of Samaria, the capital of Israel, (the Northern Kingdom). [Kings of Judah and Israel #1. Kings of Judah and Israel #2].
Hezekiah began a 29 year reign in Judah, (the Southern Kingdom), when he was 25. He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD. He removed the high places of worship and removed the other forms of idol worship. No other kings of Judah were like him, before or after his time. The LORD gave him success in his deeds and in his rebellion against the king of Assyria. Also he was successful in war against the Philistines (1-8).
But in Hezekiah's fourth year, which was the seventh year of Hoshea king of Israel, Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria, the capital of Israel, (the Northern Kingdom). The Assyrians (possibly under a different king) took it after a three year siege and deported many of the inhabitants of Israel to Assyria. This happened because Israel disobeyed the LORD (9-12).
Seven years after Shalmaneser king of Assyria invaded Israel, Sennacherib, the new king of Assyria invaded Judah and took all the fenced cities. Hezekiah offered him tribute money to withdraw. And in one of several despoliations of the Temple during Judah's history, Hezekiah gave the silver and gold from the Temple and treasures from his house to Sennacherib. But Sennacherib sent Rabshakeh and other representatives to Jerusalem; and Hezekiah sent representatives to the top of the wall to speak to them (13-18).
Rabshakeh told them that their confidence in Egypt was misplaced. And he said that their confidence in the LORD was also misplaced because Hezekiah had taken away the high places and altars of the LORD. (He did not realize that the LORD had commanded that the high places and altars be destroyed). Further, Rabshakeh said that Hezekiah could not stand against even the least of the captains of Sennacherib. He also claimed that the LORD had told Sennacherib to destroy Hezekiah's land (19-25).
Hezekiah's representatives asked Rabshakeh to speak to them in the Syrian language, rather than in Hebrew. But Rabshakeh said that Sennacherib wanted all the people to understand the situation because the Syrian siege was going to bring starvation upon them (26-27).
And then Rabshakeh spoke in a loud voice telling the Jews that Hezekiah would not be able to deliver them; and the LORD would not be able to deliver them because Sennacherib had defeated all the other gods of all the other nations against whom he fought (28-35).
But the people held their peace because Hezekiah had commanded them to be silent. And Eliakim came to Hezekiah with torn clothes and told these words to Hezekiah (36-37).
[ Sermons: James Faris. William Still. Various. ]
[ Illustration: Today's painting depicts Sennacherib's conquest of Samaria, after which he turned his attention to Jerusalem.]
RESOURCES
PLEASE NOTE: Use the resources on this and other sites thoughtfully, particularly the commentaries and encyclopedias. I have attempted to list conservative, scholarly resources. However, some providers use liberal or liberal-influenced commentaries such as the Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (in Bible Hub). Such commentaries are undoubtedly included by the provider for the wealth of useful information and comments which they provide. By consulting several commentaries, it should be fairly easy to sort out the wheat from the chaff. If, however, you would like personal assistance, write to me at AD LIB ARTS EMAIL.
[ THEMATICALLY AND CHRONOLOGICALLY RELATED SCRIPTURES: 2 Kings 18:
[Chapter 18: Related Scriptures: 2 Chronicles 28:26-27; 2 Kings 16:20; 2 Chronicles 29:1-2; 2 Chronicles 31:1-21; 2 Kings 17:4-6; 2 Kings 17:7-41; 2 Chronicles 32:2-8; 2 Chronicles 32:9-19; 1 Chronicles 4:39-43; Isaiah 36.
[1] 2 Kings 16:20; 2 Chronicles 29:1; Psalm 18:2.
[4] 2 Chronicles 29:3-36; 1 Kings 14:23; Hosea 3:4; 2 Chronicles 14:2; 2 Chronicles 31:1; 2 Kings 17:16; Numbers 21:4-9; Deuteronomy 8:15; Job 3:8; 2 Kings 24:8.
[5] 2 Kings 23:25.
[7] 1 Kings 2:3; Proverbs 17:8.
[8] 2 Chronicles 32:22; Isaiah 11:14; 2 Kings 17:9.
[9] 2 Kings 17:3-6.
[10] 2 Kings 17:5; 2 Kings 17:6.
[12] 2 Kings 17:7-23.
[13] 2 Chronicles 32:1.
[14] 2 Kings 19:24; 2 Chronicles 32:9; 2 Kings 15:19.
[16] 2 Kings 16:17; 1 Kings 6:18; 1 Kings 6:32; 1 Kings 6:35.
[17] Isaiah 20:1; Jeremiah 39:3; Isaiah 36:2; 2 Chronicles 33:9; Isaiah 7:3; 1 Kings 1:33; Nehemiah 3:16; Isaiah 22:11; Isaiah 22:9; Nehemiah 3:15.
[18] 1 Kings 4:1-4; Isaiah 22:15; Isaiah 22:20.
[19] Hosea 8:10.
[21] Isaiah 42:3; Isaiah 20:1-5;Isaiah 30:1-8; Isaiah 31:1-4.
[22] Isaiah 36:7; 2 Chronicles 31:1.
[23] Psalm 106:35.
[24] 1 Kings 2:16; Isaiah 31:1.
[25] Isaiah 10:5.
[26] Nehemiah 13:24.
[27] 2 Kings 6:25.
[29] Genesis 3:13.
[30] Isaiah 37:35.
[31] 1 Samuel 11:3; Jeremiah 21:9; 1 Kings 5:5.
[32] 1 Kings 6:23; 1 Chronicles 21:1.
[33] 2 Chronicles 32:15; 2 Kings 19:12-13; 2 Chronicles 32:13-14.
[34] 2 Kings 19:12; 2 Kings 17:24; 2 Kings 17:30; Job 14:10; Isaiah 10:11; 2 Kings 17:24; 2 Kings 17:31; Job 6:22.
-- From Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers ]
[ CHRONOLOGY: GENERAL. Patriarchs (Traditional). Judges # 1. Judges # 2. Kings # 1. Kings # 2. Prophets # 1. Prophets # 2. NT # 1. NT # 2. NT # 3. ]
[ MAPS: Maps # 1. Maps # 2. Maps # 3. Maps # 4. Maps # 5. ]
[ COMMENTARIES, ETC: GENERAL: Bible Study Tools; Bible Hub: Study Light; Blue Letter Bible // PSALMS: Monergism: Precept Austin: The Treasury of David; John Gill; John Calvin - Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
[ MUSIC: GENERAL: The Cyber Hymnal // PSALMS: Genevan Psalter (Instrumental). VARIOUS ARTISTS: Micha'el Ben David. Sons of Korah. Fernando Ortega. Janet Isaac Morrison. Music of the Bible Revealed - Suzanne Haik-Vantoura. Dr. David Erb. Gregorian Chants. ]
HARMONY OF THE LAW
HEBREW AND GREEK INTERLINEAR BIBLES
2 Kings Detailed Outline
2 Kings 18
Notes: In the Hebrew Bible 1 Kings and 2 Kings were one Book. Overlapping dates for various kings indicate overlapping reigns (co-regencies).
1. The Reign of Solomon (1 Kings 1:1 - 1 Kings 11:43) - 971 - 931 B.C. Israel
2. The Divided Kingdom (1 Kings 12:1 - 2 Kings 25:30) - 931 - 560 B.C. Israel
FF. Hezekiah of Judah (2 Kings 18:1 - 20:21) - [715-686 B.C.]
1 Now it came to pass in the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign.
2 Twenty and five years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Abi, the daughter of Zachariah.
3 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father did.
4 He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan.
5 He trusted in the LORD God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him.
6 For he clave to the LORD, and departed not from following him, but kept his commandments, which the LORD commanded Moses.
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.
8 He smote the Philistines, even unto Gaza, and the borders thereof, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city.
9 And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria, and besieged [inclosed upon] it.
10 And at the end of three years they took it: even in the sixth year of Hezekiah, that is the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel, Samaria was taken.
11 And the king of Assyria did carry away Israel unto Assyria, and put them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes:
12 Because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD their God, but transgressed his covenant, and all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded, and would not hear them, nor do them.
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.
14 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.
15 And Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king's house.
16 At that time did Hezekiah cut off the gold from the doors of the temple of the LORD, and from the pillars which Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid, and gave it to the king of Assyria.
17 And the king of Assyria sent Tartan and Rabsaris and Rabshakeh from Lachish to king Hezekiah with a great host against Jerusalem. And they went up and came to Jerusalem. And when they were come up, they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which is in the highway of the fuller's field.
18 And when they had called to the king, there came out to them Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder.
19 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?
20 Thou sayest, (but they are but vain words,) I have counsel and strength for the war. Now on whom dost thou trust, that thou rebellest against me?
21 Now, behold, thou trustest upon the staff of this bruised reed, even upon Egypt, on which if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt unto all that trust on him.
22 But if ye say unto me, We trust in the LORD our God: is not that he, whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah hath taken away, and hath said to Judah and Jerusalem, Ye shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem?
23 Now therefore, I pray thee, give pledges to my lord the king of Assyria, and I will deliver thee two thousand horses, if thou be able on thy part to set riders upon them.
24 How then wilt thou turn away the face of one captain of the least of my master's servants, and put thy trust on Egypt for chariots and for horsemen?
25 Am I now come up without the LORD against this place to destroy it? The LORD said to me, Go up against this land, and destroy it.
26 Then said Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebna, and Joah, unto Rabshakeh, Speak, I pray thee, to thy servants in the Syrian language; for we understand it: and talk not with us in the Jews' language in the ears of the people that are on the wall.
27 But Rabshakeh said unto them, Hath my master sent me to thy master, and to thee, to speak these words? hath he not sent me to the men which sit on the wall, that they may eat their own dung, and drink their own piss with you?
28 Then Rabshakeh stood and cried with a loud voice in the Jews' language, and spake, saying, Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria:
29 Thus saith the king, Let not Hezekiah deceive you: for he shall not be able to deliver you out of his hand:
30 Neither let Hezekiah make you trust in the LORD, saying, The LORD will surely deliver [delivering he will deliver] us, and this city shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria.
31 Hearken not to Hezekiah: for thus saith the king of Assyria, Make an agreement with me by a present, and come out to me, and then eat ye every man of his own vine, and every one of his fig tree, and drink ye every one the waters of his cistern:
32 Until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of corn and wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of oil olive and of honey, that ye may live, and not die: and hearken not unto Hezekiah, when he persuadeth you, saying, The LORD will deliver us.
33 Hath any of the gods of the nations delivered at all [delivering they delivered] his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria?
34 Where are the gods of Hamath, and of Arpad? where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah? have they delivered Samaria out of mine hand?
35 Who are they among all the gods of the countries, that have delivered their country out of mine hand, that the LORD should deliver Jerusalem out of mine hand?
36 But the people held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king's commandment was, saying, Answer him not.
37 Then came Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder, to Hezekiah with their clothes rent, and told him the words of Rabshakeh.
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