2 Kings 19:1

KJV

¶ And it came to pass, when king Hezekiah heard [it], that he rent his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the LORD.

KJV (with Strong's)

And it came to pass, when king {H4428} Hezekiah {H2396} heard {H8085} it, that he rent {H7167} his clothes {H899}, and covered {H3680} himself with sackcloth {H8242}, and went {H935} into the house {H1004} of the LORD {H3068}.

Complete Jewish Bible

On hearing it, King Hizkiyahu tore his clothes, covered himself with sackcloth and entered the house of ADONAI.

Berean Standard Bible

On hearing this report, King Hezekiah tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and entered the house of the LORD.

American Standard Version

And it came to pass, when king Hezekiah heard it, that he rent his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of Jehovah.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Second Kings 19:1 presents King Hezekiah's immediate and profound spiritual response to the overwhelming Assyrian threat and the blasphemous taunts of Rabshakeh. Upon hearing the insolent challenge that dared to mock the God of Israel, Hezekiah, rather than resorting to immediate military or political action, publicly expressed deep anguish and humility by rending his clothes and covering himself with sackcloth. His decisive act of entering the "house of the LORD" marks a pivotal moment, signifying his unwavering faith and absolute reliance on divine intervention as the sole hope for Judah's deliverance from an otherwise insurmountable crisis.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse serves as the immediate and dramatic climax to the preceding narrative of Assyrian aggression against Judah. Chapters 18 and 19 of 2 Kings detail Sennacherib's invasion, the fall of fortified cities, and particularly, the psychological warfare waged by Rabshakeh, the Assyrian field commander. In [2 Kings 18:17-35](/2_kings/18-17 "2 Kings 18:17-35 - Rabshakeh's Taunts Against Jerusalem"), Rabshakeh delivers a defiant speech outside Jerusalem's walls, not only mocking Judah's allies and military strength but, most significantly, blaspheming Yahweh by claiming He was powerless against Assyria, or even that He had commanded the Assyrians to destroy Jerusalem. Hezekiah's hearing "it" in [2 Kings 19:1](/2_kings/19-1 "2 Kings 19:1 - Hezekiah's Response to Rabshakeh's Blasphemy") directly refers to these specific, insolent, and faith-shaking words, setting the stage for a critical confrontation between human might and divine sovereignty.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** At this time (late 8th century BCE), the Neo-Assyrian Empire was the dominant superpower, renowned for its brutal military tactics, psychological warfare, and efficient administration. Their policy often involved deporting conquered peoples to break their national identity and prevent rebellion. Judah, a small kingdom, found itself isolated and vulnerable, with Jerusalem being one of the last remaining strongholds. The acts of rending clothes and wearing sackcloth were deeply ingrained cultural practices throughout the ancient Near East, signifying extreme grief, mourning, humiliation, and often, a public display of penitence or supplication before a deity. For a king to perform such acts was a powerful statement of national distress and a public appeal to divine mercy, demonstrating a turning from human pride to humble dependence in the face of an existential threat.
* **Key Themes:** [Second Kings 19:1](/2_kings/19-1 "2 Kings 19:1 - Hezekiah's Humble Appeal to God") is rich with several overarching themes prevalent in the book of Kings and the broader prophetic literature. Foremost is the theme of **Divine Sovereignty and Intervention**, where God demonstrates His ultimate control over human empires and His faithfulness to His covenant people, often in response to their humble appeal. Hezekiah's actions exemplify **Faith in Crisis**, showing that true leadership in times of overwhelming threat involves turning to God rather than relying solely on human strength or political maneuvering, a theme echoed throughout the narratives of God's deliverance (e.g., [2 Chronicles 20:1-30](/2_chronicles/20 "2 Chronicles 20 - Jehoshaphat's Prayer and God's Deliverance")). The king's immediate recourse to the Temple underscores the **Power of Prayer and Intercession**, highlighting the Temple as the designated place for encountering God and seeking His help, a concept central to Israelite worship. Finally, the stark **Contrast Between Human Arrogance and Divine Humility** is evident, as the blasphemous pride of Assyria is set against Hezekiah's humble submission, foreshadowing God's subsequent vindication of His own name and people.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **קָרַע (Hebrew, _qara`_):** To tear, rend. In this context, it signifies an immediate, visceral expression of intense grief, shock, or despair, often in response to tragedy, blasphemy, or dire news. It was a public, non-verbal declaration of utter brokenness and helplessness, communicating a profound emotional and spiritual state that transcended mere words.
* **שַׂק (Hebrew, _saq_):** Sackcloth. A coarse, dark fabric, typically made of goat's hair, worn directly against the skin. It symbolized deep mourning, penitence, humility, and a turning away from worldly comfort to seek divine mercy. Its public display communicated a state of national or personal crisis and a desperate plea for God's intervention, often accompanying fasting and prayer.
* **בֵּית יְהוָה (Hebrew, _beit Yahweh_):** House of the LORD. Refers to the Temple in Jerusalem, the designated place of God's presence, worship, prayer, and seeking divine counsel. Hezekiah's act of going there signifies his immediate and profound reliance on God as the ultimate source of help and deliverance, prioritizing spiritual recourse over military or political strategies.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"¶ And it came to pass":** This introductory phrase, common in biblical narrative, signals a significant event or turning point, emphasizing the immediate consequence of the preceding events—specifically, Rabshakeh's blasphemous taunts and the dire military situation.
* **"when king Hezekiah heard [it]":** "It" refers directly to the defiant and demoralizing speech of Rabshakeh, the Assyrian field commander, detailed in [2 Kings 18:17-35](/2_kings/18-17 "2 Kings 18:17-35 - Rabshakeh's Blasphemous Speech"). This speech not only threatened Jerusalem's physical destruction but, more significantly, mocked Judah's God, Yahweh, claiming He was powerless or even complicit in Assyria's conquests. Hezekiah's hearing signifies his full comprehension of the gravity and blasphemous nature of the challenge, which was an affront to God's honor.
* **"that he rent his clothes":** A deeply symbolic act in the ancient Near East, signifying extreme anguish, grief, shock, or indignation. It was a public, visible expression of profound distress and a lament over the dire situation, reflecting both personal sorrow and a national crisis in the face of an overwhelming and blasphemous threat.
* **"and covered himself with sackcloth":** This action further intensified the display of mourning, humility, and penitence. Sackcloth, a coarse, uncomfortable material, was worn as a sign of lamentation, a turning from pride, and an earnest plea for divine mercy and intervention. It underscored the king's recognition of human helplessness before the overwhelming Assyrian threat, signaling a posture of complete dependence on God.
* **"and went into the house of the LORD":** This is the most crucial and defining action. Instead of immediate military planning or political maneuvering, Hezekiah's primary response was to seek God in His sanctuary. This demonstrates his profound faith and conviction that the ultimate solution lay not in human strength or strategy, but in the sovereign power and intervention of Yahweh. It was an act of humble submission, fervent prayer, and confident trust in God's ability to deliver.

#### Literary Devices
The passage employs several potent literary devices to convey its message. **Symbolism** is paramount, as Hezekiah's actions of rending his clothes and covering himself with sackcloth are universally understood symbols of intense grief, humility, and repentance in the ancient world. These public displays communicate the king's profound distress and his nation's desperate plight, signaling a turning away from human pride and a humble appeal to divine mercy. The "house of the LORD" itself functions as a powerful **symbol** of God's presence, refuge, and the designated place for divine encounter and intercession. Furthermore, the verse sets up a stark **contrast** between the arrogant, blasphemous boasts of Rabshakeh and the humble, faith-filled response of Hezekiah, highlighting the spiritual battle at play. This immediate turn to God also serves as **foreshadowing**, hinting at the miraculous divine intervention and deliverance that will follow in the narrative, thereby emphasizing that God responds to sincere, humble faith.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Hezekiah's response in 2 Kings 19:1 provides a profound theological statement on the nature of true leadership and the proper human response to overwhelming crisis. It underscores the principle that in the face of seemingly insurmountable threats, especially those that directly challenge God's honor, the first and most vital recourse is not human strength or political cunning, but humble, desperate, and faith-filled appeal to the Almighty. This act of seeking God in His sanctuary demonstrates a deep conviction in divine sovereignty and the efficacy of prayer, affirming that ultimate deliverance comes from God alone. It portrays a king who understands that the battle is the Lord's, modeling a posture of absolute dependence that invites divine intervention, thus setting the stage for one of the most dramatic acts of salvation in Old Testament history.

* [Psalm 46:1](/psalms/46-1 "Psalm 46:1 - God Our Refuge and Strength")
* [Isaiah 37:1-7](/isaiah/37-1 "Isaiah 37:1-7 - Hezekiah's Prayer and Isaiah's Prophecy")
* [Joel 2:12-13](/joel/2-12 "Joel 2:12-13 - Return to the Lord with All Your Heart")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Hezekiah's immediate and profound response to the Assyrian threat in 2 Kings 19:1 offers a timeless and powerful model for believers facing overwhelming challenges in their own lives. When confronted with circumstances that seem beyond human control—whether personal crises, societal pressures, or spiritual attacks—our default should be to emulate Hezekiah's posture of humility, lament, and earnest seeking of God. Rather than succumbing to despair, relying on self-sufficiency, or engaging in frantic, unguided action, we are called to acknowledge our limitations and bring our burdens directly into the presence of the Lord. Just as Hezekiah went to the "house of the LORD," we, too, are encouraged to enter God's presence through prayer, worship, and engagement with His Word, trusting that He hears and is capable of intervening in ways far beyond our imagination. This verse reminds us that true strength in moments of weakness is found not in our own might, but in sincere faith and absolute reliance on the sovereign power and unfailing love of God.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What is your immediate, instinctive response when faced with overwhelming crises or seemingly insurmountable challenges?**
* **How does Hezekiah's example challenge our modern tendencies toward self-reliance or seeking human solutions before divine ones?**
* **In what practical ways can you "go into the house of the LORD" (i.e., seek God's presence and counsel) when you are distressed or fearful?**
* **What specific "blasphemous taunts" (spiritual or worldly pressures) are you currently facing that might require a similar posture of humility and reliance on God?**

### FAQ
**Why did Hezekiah's immediate response involve such public displays of distress and humility?**

Answer: Hezekiah's actions—rending his clothes and covering himself with sackcloth—were not merely personal expressions but deeply ingrained cultural and religious practices in the ancient Near East, particularly in Israel. They served as profound, public declarations of extreme grief, shock, and lamentation in the face of overwhelming calamity or blasphemy. By publicly displaying such humility, Hezekiah not only conveyed the dire national crisis but also modeled a posture of repentance and utter dependence on God. This was a crucial step before approaching the [Lord in His Temple](/2_kings/19-1 "2 Kings 19:1 - Hezekiah Enters the House of the Lord"), signaling a turning away from human pride and a desperate plea for divine mercy and intervention. Such acts were understood as a way to "soften" God's heart and invite His compassion, as seen in other instances of national distress like [Jonah 3:5-9](/jonah/3-3 "Jonah 3:3-9 - Nineveh's Repentance"). It was a public acknowledgment that human strength had failed and only God could deliver.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Hezekiah's humble response in 2 Kings 19:1, characterized by lament, humility, and seeking God in the Temple, finds its ultimate fulfillment and transformation in Jesus Christ. Hezekiah, as king, interceded for his people in a moment of national crisis, bringing their desperate plight to the physical house of the Lord. In Christ, we have the perfect and eternal King and High Priest, who not only intercedes for us but *is* the very "house of the LORD"—the true Temple where God meets humanity (cf. [John 2:19-21](/john/2-19 "John 2:19-21 - Jesus, the Temple")). Where Hezekiah's actions were symbolic of a temporary turning to God for deliverance from a physical enemy, Christ's sacrifice and resurrection offer ultimate deliverance from the spiritual enemies of sin and death, providing eternal salvation. Our access to God is no longer through a physical building or a human king's intercession, but through the finished work of Christ, who invites all who are weary and burdened to come to Him (cf. [Matthew 11:28](/matthew/11-28 "Matthew 11:28 - Come to Me, All Who Are Weary")). We are called to approach God's throne of grace with confidence, knowing that our Great High Priest, Jesus, sympathizes with our weaknesses and constantly intercedes for us (cf. [Hebrews 4:14-16](/hebrews/4-14 "Hebrews 4:14-16 - Jesus Our Great High Priest") and [Romans 8:34](/romans/8-34 "Romans 8:34 - Christ Intercedes for Us")). Thus, Hezekiah's faithful turning to God foreshadows the perfect and permanent access to God that is now ours through Christ, the One who truly takes away the sin of the world and delivers us from all spiritual foes.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

2 Kings 18:37

Then came Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, which [was] over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder, to Hezekiah with [their] clothes rent, and told him the words of Rabshakeh.

1 Kings 21:27

And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.

Genesis 37:34

And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days.

2 Chronicles 32:20

And for this [cause] Hezekiah the king, and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz, prayed and cried to heaven.

2 Chronicles 32:22

Thus the LORD saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and from the hand of all [other], and guided them on every side.

Isaiah 37:1

¶ And it came to pass, when king Hezekiah heard [it], that he rent his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the LORD.

Isaiah 37:7

Behold, I will send a blast upon him, and he shall hear a rumour, and return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land.