2 Kings 18:14

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.

And Hezekiah {H2396} king {H4428} of Judah {H3063} sent {H7971} to the king {H4428} of Assyria {H804} to Lachish {H3923}, saying {H559}, I have offended {H2398}; return {H7725} from me: that which thou puttest {H5414} on me will I bear {H5375}. And the king {H4428} of Assyria {H804} appointed {H7760} unto Hezekiah {H2396} king {H4428} of Judah {H3063} three {H7969} hundred {H3967} talents {H3603} of silver {H3701} and thirty {H7970} talents {H3603} of gold {H2091}.

Hizkiyahu king of Y'hudah sent this message to the king of Ashur at Lakhish: "I have done wrong. If you will go away from me, I will pay whatever penalty you impose on me." The king of Ashur imposed on Hizkiyahu a penalty of ten tons of silver and a ton of gold.

So Hezekiah king of Judah sent word to the king of Assyria at Lachish, saying, โ€œI have done wrong; withdraw from me, and I will pay whatever you demand from me.โ€ And the king of Assyria exacted from Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold.

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.

Commentary

2 Kings 18:14 records a pivotal moment during the Assyrian invasion of Judah under King Sennacherib. It details King Hezekiah's desperate attempt to appease the powerful Assyrian monarch and avert the destruction of Jerusalem.

Historical and Cultural Context

At this time, the Assyrian Empire was the dominant force in the Near East. After conquering the Northern Kingdom of Israel (Samaria) in 722 BC (2 Kings 17:6), Assyria turned its attention to Judah. King Hezekiah had initially rebelled against Assyrian tribute, trusting in the Lord (2 Kings 18:7) and possibly seeking alliances with Egypt. However, by 701 BC, Sennacherib had launched a massive campaign, conquering numerous Judahite cities, including the strategically important city of Lachish, where Sennacherib had established his headquarters. This verse captures Hezekiah's moment of panic and capitulation, as he faces the overwhelming might of the Assyrian war machine.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Desperation and Capitulation: Hezekiah's admission, "I have offended; return from me," signifies a deep sense of humility and desperation. He was willing to pay any price to save his kingdom and people from the brutal Assyrian siege.
  • The Burden of Tribute: The demand of "three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold" was an immense sum, representing the severe economic burden placed upon Judah. This payment would require Hezekiah to strip the temple and royal treasuries (2 Kings 18:15-16) to meet the Assyrian demands.
  • Human Solutions vs. Divine Deliverance: This verse highlights Hezekiah's initial reliance on human strategy and wealth to solve a national crisis. While understandable, this attempt at appeasement ultimately proves ineffective in the larger narrative, setting the stage for God's miraculous intervention in 2 Kings 19:35-36.

Linguistic Insights

The term "talent" (Hebrew: ื›ึดึผื›ึธึผืจ, kikkฤr) refers to a unit of weight, rather than a specific coin. It was the largest unit of weight in the ancient world, and these amounts of silver and gold represent an astronomical sum, underscoring the severity of the tribute demanded by Sennacherib.

Practical Application

Hezekiah's experience in 2 Kings 18:14 offers several lessons for believers today:

  • The Temptation to Compromise: When faced with overwhelming pressure or fear, it's natural to seek immediate human solutions or compromise, even if it means sacrificing valuable resources or principles.
  • The Limitations of Human Means: While prudence and negotiation have their place, this narrative reminds us that ultimately, human efforts and material wealth may not be enough to overcome certain challenges.
  • God's Ultimate Sovereignty: Even in moments of fear and human failure, God remains sovereign. This desperate act by Hezekiah ultimately leads to a greater demonstration of God's power and faithfulness, reminding us to place our ultimate trust in Him, especially when human strategies fail.
Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 2 Kings 18:7

    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.

  • Luke 14:32

    Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.

  • Proverbs 29:25

    ยถ The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.

  • 1 Kings 20:4

    And the king of Israel answered and said, My lord, O king, according to thy saying, I [am] thine, and all that I have.
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