King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
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.
Complete Jewish Bible:
It was at that time that Hizkiyahu stripped the gold from the doors of the sanctuary of ADONAI and from the doorposts which Hizkiyahu king of Y'hudah himself had overlaid, and gave it to the king of Ashur.
Berean Standard Bible:
At that time Hezekiah stripped the gold with which he had plated the doors and doorposts of the temple of the LORD, and he gave it to the king of Assyria.
American Standard Version:
At that time did Hezekiah cut off the gold from the doors of the temple of Jehovah, and from the pillars which Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid, and gave it to the king of Assyria.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
At that time{H6256} did Hezekiah{H2396} cut off{H7112} the gold from the doors{H1817} of the temple{H1964} of the LORD{H3068}, and from the pillars{H547} which Hezekiah{H2396} king{H4428} of Judah{H3063} had overlaid{H6823}, and gave{H5414} it to the king{H4428} of Assyria{H804}.
Cross-References (KJV):
2 Chronicles 29:3
- He in the first year of his reign, in the first month, opened the doors of the house of the LORD, and repaired them.
1 Kings 6:31
- And for the entering of the oracle he made doors [of] olive tree: the lintel [and] side posts [were] a fifth part [of the wall].
1 Kings 6:35
- And he carved [thereon] cherubims and palm trees and open flowers: and covered [them] with gold fitted upon the carved work.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for 2 Kings 18:16
2 Kings 18:16 is a verse set during the reign of Hezekiah, king of Judah, and provides a snapshot of a historical event tied to the geopolitical dynamics of the ancient Near East. The verse specifically mentions Hezekiah's act of stripping the gold from the doors and pillars of the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem. This action was not taken out of reverence or for renovation, but rather as a pragmatic measure to meet the demands of the Assyrian king, who was at that time the dominant regional power.
The historical context of this verse is the Assyrian campaigns in the Levant, particularly the threat posed by Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, to the kingdom of Judah. Hezekiah, facing this overwhelming military force, initially attempted to resist and even prepared Jerusalem for a siege. However, as the situation became increasingly dire, he resorted to paying tribute to appease the Assyrians and prevent the destruction of his capital.
The themes present in this verse include the tension between political pragmatism and religious piety, the harsh realities of power politics in the ancient world, and the vulnerability of even the most sacred spaces to the exigencies of war. Hezekiah's decision to remove the gold from the Temple, a place considered the holiest site for the Israelites, underscores the extreme circumstances he faced. It also reflects the broader biblical theme of the struggle to maintain faith and national identity in the face of foreign domination. The verse serves as a poignant example of the sacrifices rulers must sometimes make to preserve their kingdoms and the delicate balance they must strike between material and spiritual priorities.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H6256
There are 258 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עֵת
Transliteration: ʻêth
Pronunciation: ayth
Description: from עַד; time, especially (adverb with preposition) now, when, etc.; [phrase] after, (al-) ways, [idiom] certain, [phrase] continually, [phrase] evening, long, (due) season, so (long) as, (even-, evening-, noon-) tide, (meal-), what) time, when. - Strong's Number: H2396
There are 78 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חִזְקִיָּה
Transliteration: Chizqîyâh
Pronunciation: khiz-kee-yaw'
Description: or חִזְקִיָּהוּ; also יְחִזְקִיָּה; or יְחִזְקִיָּהוּ; from חָזַק and יָהּ; strengthened of Jah; Chizkijah, a king of Judah, also the name of two other Israelites; Hezekiah, Hizkiah, Hizkijah. Compare יְחִזְקִיָּה. - Strong's Number: H7112
There are 14 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קָצַץ
Transliteration: qâtsats
Pronunciation: kaw-tsats'
Description: a primitive root; to chop off (literally or figuratively); cut (asunder, in pieces, in sunder, off), [idiom] utmost. - Strong's Number: H1817
There are 78 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: דֶּלֶת
Transliteration: deleth
Pronunciation: deh'-leth
Description: from דָּלָה; something swinging, i.e. the valve of adoor; door (two-leaved), gate, leaf, lid. (Psalm 141:3). - Strong's Number: H1964
There are 76 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: הֵיכָל
Transliteration: hêykâl
Pronunciation: hay-kawl'
Description: probably from יָכֹל (in the sense of capacity); a large public building, such as a palace or temple; palace, temple. - Strong's Number: H3068
There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יְהֹוָה
Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה. - Strong's Number: H547
There are 50 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֹמְנָה
Transliteration: ʼômᵉnâh
Pronunciation: om-me-naw'
Description: feminine active participle of אֹמֶן (in the original sense of supporting); a column; pillar. - Strong's Number: H4428
There are 1922 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מֶלֶךְ
Transliteration: melek
Pronunciation: meh'-lek
Description: from מָלַךְ; a king; king, royal. - Strong's Number: H3063
There are 754 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יְהוּדָה
Transliteration: Yᵉhûwdâh
Pronunciation: yeh-hoo-daw'
Description: from יָדָה; celebrated; Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory; Judah. - Strong's Number: H6823
There are 39 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: צָפָה
Transliteration: tsâphâh
Pronunciation: tsaw-faw'
Description: a primitive root (probably identical with צָפָה through the idea of expansion in outlook, transferring to action); to sheet over (especially with metal); cover, overlay. - Strong's Number: H5414
There are 1816 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָתַן
Transliteration: nâthan
Pronunciation: naw-than'
Description: a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.); add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, [idiom] avenge, [idiom] be (healed), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, [phrase] cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, [idiom] doubtless, [idiom] without fail, fasten, frame, [idiom] get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), [idiom] have, [idiom] indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), [phrase] lie, lift up, make, [phrase] O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, [idiom] pull, put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), [phrase] sing, [phrase] slander, strike, (sub-) mit, suffer, [idiom] surely, [idiom] take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, [phrase] weep, [phrase] willingly, [phrase] withdraw, [phrase] would (to) God, yield. - Strong's Number: H804
There are 340 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אַשּׁוּר
Transliteration: ʼAshshûwr
Pronunciation: ash-shoor'
Description: or אַשֻּׁר; apparently from אָשַׁר (in the sense of successful); Ashshur, the second son of Shem; also his descendants and the country occupied by them (i.e. Assyria), its region and its empire; Asshur, Assur, Assyria, Assyrians. See אָשֻׁר.