2 Kings Chapter 18 — Hezekiah’s Reforms and the Assyrian Invasion
King Hezekiah leads a spiritual revival in Judah before the Assyrian army invades and demands the surrender of Jerusalem.
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Notable Verses
2 Kings 18:4
“He removed the high places, broke the pillars, and cut down the Asherah. He also broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, because in those days the children of Israel burned incense to it; and he called it Nehushtan.”
This verse documents Hezekiah's zeal for purity in worship, even destroying a historical relic that had become an idol.
2 Kings 18:5
“He trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel, so that after him was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, nor among them that were before him.”
It establishes Hezekiah as the standard for faithfulness among the kings of the southern kingdom.
2 Kings 18:22
“But if you tell me, ‘We trust in the LORD our God,’ isn’t that he whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah has taken away, and has said to Judah and to Jerusalem, ‘You shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem’?”
The Rabshakeh attempts to use Hezekiah's own religious reforms as a point of psychological confusion against the people.
Chapter Summary
2 Kings 18 chronicles the reign of King Hezekiah of Judah, who is praised for his exceptional devotion to God. Hezekiah performs extensive religious reforms, including the removal of high places and the destruction of the bronze serpent from Moses’ time, which had become an object of idolatry. The chapter also recounts the fall of the northern kingdom of Israel to Assyria during Hezekiah’s early years, attributed to their failure to keep the covenant. Later, King Sennacherib of Assyria invades Judah, capturing several fortified cities. Hezekiah attempts to appease him with a massive tribute of silver and gold taken from the temple. Despite this, the Assyrian king sends his officials to Jerusalem to demand total surrender. The Rabshakeh delivers a public speech intended to intimidate the people, mocking Hezekiah’s reliance on both Egypt and the Lord. He claims that no national gods have ever saved a people from Assyria. The Judean officials and citizens remain silent by Hezekiah's command, awaiting his response to the threat.
Frequently Asked Questions
Hezekiah destroyed the bronze serpent because the Israelites had begun to treat it as an idol, burning incense to it. He called it Nehushtan, which means 'a piece of bronze,' to emphasize that it was an object, not a deity.
In Hezekiah's sixth year, the Assyrian king Shalmaneser captured Samaria and carried the Israelites away into exile. This occurred because the people had disobeyed the Lord and transgressed His covenant.
The Rabshakeh was a high-ranking Assyrian official sent by King Sennacherib to intimidate Jerusalem into surrendering. He delivered a demoralizing speech in the Judean language to make sure the common people understood his threats.
Hezekiah initially tried to pay off the Assyrian king, sending 300 talents of silver and 30 talents of gold. He even stripped the gold from the doors and pillars of the temple to meet the demand.
Study Note
The term 'Nehushtan' used by Hezekiah is a clever Hebrew pun that reduces the revered copper serpent (nahash) to a mere piece of copper (nehoshet).
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