2 Kings 18:25

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.

Am I now come up {H5927} without {H1107} the LORD {H3068} against this place {H4725} to destroy {H7843} it? The LORD {H3068} said {H559} to me, Go up {H5927} against this land {H776}, and destroy {H7843} it.

Do you think I have come up to this place to destroy it without ADONAI's approval? ADONAI said to me, 'Attack this land, and destroy it'!"'"

So now, was it apart from the LORD that I have come up against this place to destroy it? The LORD Himself said to me, ‘Go up against this land and destroy it.’”

Am I now come up without Jehovah against this place to destroy it? Jehovah said unto me, Go up against this land, and destroy it.

Commentary

In 2 Kings 18:25, the Assyrian official known as the Rabshakeh delivers a chilling message to the besieged inhabitants of Jerusalem. Standing outside the city walls, he claims that the LORD, the God of Israel, has specifically commanded the Assyrians to invade and destroy Judah. This statement is a calculated act of psychological warfare, designed to break the morale of King Hezekiah's people and encourage their surrender by suggesting that even their own God has turned against them.

Historical and Cultural Context

This verse is set during a critical period in Judah's history, around 701 BC, when the mighty Assyrian Empire, under King Sennacherib, launched a devastating campaign against Judah. After conquering many fortified cities, Sennacherib's army laid siege to Jerusalem. The Rabshakeh, a high-ranking Assyrian envoy, was tasked with intimidating the Judeans. His speech, delivered in Hebrew for maximum impact on the common people, aimed to undermine their trust in King Hezekiah and their God. Assyrians frequently attributed their military victories to their own deities, and here, the Rabshakeh cunningly twists this notion, claiming the God of Israel was on Assyria's side, a particularly insidious tactic meant to demoralize the defenders.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Deceptive Propaganda: The Rabshakeh's words are a prime example of propaganda designed to instill fear and doubt. By asserting that the LORD Himself had sent the Assyrians, he attempts to shatter the Judeans' faith and hope for divine intervention, making surrender seem like the only logical choice.
  • Challenging God's Sovereignty: The Rabshakeh's claim directly challenges the true sovereignty and faithfulness of the LORD to His covenant people. He implies that God has abandoned Judah and is actively working for their destruction, a falsehood that goes against God's promises.
  • The Test of Faith: For King Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem, this moment represents a severe test of their faith. They are forced to choose between believing the enemy's intimidating lies and holding fast to their trust in the true power and character of God. This intense challenge is also recorded in the parallel account found in Isaiah 36:10. While the Rabshakeh's claim was a lie, it's worth noting that God did sometimes use nations, even wicked ones like Assyria, as instruments of His judgment, though they often acted without knowing His true purpose (see Isaiah 10:5).

Linguistic Insights

The Rabshakeh's specific use of "the LORD" (Hebrew: YHWH or Yahweh) is highly significant. This is not a generic term for a deity, but the sacred, covenant name of Israel's God. By claiming that YHWH had sent him, the Rabshakeh sought to give his lie maximum weight and credibility among the Jewish listeners, directly assaulting their religious identity and national hope. He aimed to convince them that their own God had turned against them, making any resistance futile.

Practical Application

This verse offers powerful insights and lessons for believers today:

  • Discernment is Crucial: We must cultivate discernment to distinguish truth from falsehood, especially when spiritual claims are made. Not every declaration made in the name of God originates from Him.
  • Trust in God's True Word: When faced with overwhelming challenges or voices that seek to undermine our faith, we must cling to the revealed truth of God's Word, rather than succumbing to the lies and threats of the enemy. The ultimate deliverance for Judah, detailed in 2 Kings 19:35, vividly demonstrates God's faithfulness despite the enemy's boasts.
  • Spiritual Warfare: Recognize that spiritual battles often involve psychological tactics aimed at instilling fear, doubt, and despair. Standing firm in faith requires trusting in God's ultimate sovereignty and unwavering protection.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 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 — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 2 Kings 19:6

    And Isaiah said unto them, Thus shall ye say to your master, Thus saith the LORD, Be not afraid of the words which thou hast heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me.

  • 2 Kings 19:22

    Whom hast thou reproached and blasphemed? and against whom hast thou exalted [thy] voice, and lifted up thine eyes on high? [even] against the Holy [One] of Israel.

  • 2 Kings 19:37

    And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword: and they escaped into the land of Armenia. And Esarhaddon his son reigned in his stead.

  • John 19:10

    Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?

  • John 19:11

    Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power [at all] against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.

  • Isaiah 10:5

    ¶ O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation.

  • Isaiah 10:6

    I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.
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