King James Version

What Does 2 Kings 18:17 Mean?

2 Kings 18:17 in the King James Version says “And the king of Assyria sent Tartan and Rabsaris and Rabshakeh from Lachish to king Hezekiah with a great host against J... — study this verse from 2 Kings chapter 18 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

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. great: Heb. heavy

2 Kings 18:17 · KJV


Context

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. it: Heb. them

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. great: Heb. heavy

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. scribe: or, secretary

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?


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
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.

This verse contributes to the overall theme of chapter 18: Faithful reformation faces external pressure. The reference to kingship reminds readers that all human authority is subordinate to God's ultimate kingship. In Judah's later history, we see both genuine reforms and deep-rooted corruption, revealing that external religious activity cannot substitute for heart transformation.

The narrative demonstrates God's justice in judging covenant unfaithfulness while maintaining His ultimate purposes for redemption.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Historical Setting: 2 Kings 18 takes place during Hezekiah's reign in Judah, late 8th century BCE, around 715-686 BCE. The chapter's theme (Hezekiah's Reforms and Assyrian Threat) reflects the historical reality of genuine religious reform under Hezekiah, including trust in God that resulted in miraculous deliverance from Assyria. Archaeological evidence from this period includes royal inscriptions, administrative documents, and material culture that corroborate the biblical account while providing additional context for understanding the political and social dynamics at work.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does this verse contribute to understanding the theological message of 2 Kings 18 regarding faithful reformation faces external pressure?
  2. What does this passage reveal about God's character, particularly His justice, mercy, and faithfulness to covenant promises?
  3. In what practical ways should this text shape contemporary Christian thinking about faithfulness, worship, and obedience to God?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 31 words
וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח1 of 31

sent

H7971

to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)

הַמֶּ֧לֶךְ2 of 31

And the king

H4428

a king

אַשּׁ֡וּר3 of 31

of Assyria

H804

ashshur, the second son of shem; also his descendants and the country occupied by them (i.e., assyria), its region and its empire

אֶת4 of 31
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

תַּרְתָּ֥ן5 of 31

Tartan

H8661

tartan, an assyrian

וְאֶת6 of 31
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

רַב7 of 31
H0
סָרִ֣יס׀8 of 31

and Rabsaris

H7249

rab-saris, a babylonian official

וְאֶת9 of 31
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

רַבְשָׁקֵ֨ה10 of 31

and Rabshakeh

H7262

rabshakeh, a babylonian official

מִן11 of 31
H4480

properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses

לָכִ֜ישׁ12 of 31

from Lachish

H3923

lakish, a place in palestine

אֶל13 of 31
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

הַמֶּ֧לֶךְ14 of 31

And the king

H4428

a king

חִזְקִיָּ֛הוּ15 of 31

Hezekiah

H2396

chizkijah, a king of judah, also the name of two other israelites

בְּחֵ֥יל16 of 31

host

H2426

an army; also (by analogy,) an intrenchment

כָּבֵ֖ד17 of 31

with a great

H3515

heavy; figuratively in a good sense (numerous) or in a bad sense (severe, difficult, stupid)

יְרֽוּשָׁלִַ֔ם18 of 31

against Jerusalem

H3389

jerushalaim or jerushalem, the capital city of palestine

וַיַּֽעֲל֣וּ19 of 31

And they went up

H5927

to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative

וַיָּבֹ֗אוּ20 of 31

and came

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

יְרֽוּשָׁלִַ֔ם21 of 31

against Jerusalem

H3389

jerushalaim or jerushalem, the capital city of palestine

וַיַּֽעֲל֣וּ22 of 31

And they went up

H5927

to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative

וַיָּבֹ֗אוּ23 of 31

and came

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

וַיַּֽעַמְדוּ֙24 of 31

and stood

H5975

to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive)

בִּתְעָלַת֙25 of 31

by the conduit

H8585

a bandage or plaster (as placed upon a wound)

הַבְּרֵכָ֣ה26 of 31

pool

H1295

a reservoir (at which camels kneel as a resting-place)

הָֽעֶלְיוֹנָ֔ה27 of 31

of the upper

H5945

an elevation, i.e., (adjectively) lofty (comparatively); as title, the supreme

אֲשֶׁ֕ר28 of 31
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

בִּמְסִלַּ֖ת29 of 31

which is in the highway

H4546

a thoroughfare (as turnpiked), literally or figuratively; specifically a viaduct, a staircase

שְׂדֵ֥ה30 of 31

field

H7704

a field (as flat)

כוֹבֵֽס׃31 of 31

of the fuller's

H3526

to trample; hence, to wash (properly, by stamping with the feet), whether literal (including the fulling process) or figurative


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of 2 Kings. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

2 Kings 18:17 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to 2 Kings 18:17 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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