Isaiah 37:8

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

¶ So Rabshakeh returned, and found the king of Assyria warring against Libnah: for he had heard that he was departed from Lachish.

Complete Jewish Bible:

Rav-Shakeh returned and, having heard that the king of Ashur had left Lakhish, found him making war with Livnah.

Berean Standard Bible:

When the Rabshakeh heard that the king of Assyria had left Lachish, he withdrew and found the king fighting against Libnah.

American Standard Version:

So Rabshakeh returned, and found the king of Assyria warring against Libnah; for he had heard that he was departed from Lachish.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

So Rabshakeh^{H7262} returned^{H7725}, and found^{H4672} the king^{H4428} of Assyria^{H804} warring^{H3898} against Libnah^{H3841}: for he had heard^{H8085} that he was departed^{H5265} from Lachish^{H3923}.

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Commentary for Isaiah 37:8

Isaiah 37:8 is a verse set within the historical context of the Assyrian conquest of Judah during the reign of King Hezekiah. In the years leading up to this event, the Assyrian Empire had been expanding its territory, subjugating the northern kingdom of Israel and many other nations in the region. Hezekiah, the king of Judah, had been attempting to resist Assyrian domination, which included withholding tribute and fortifying Jerusalem against a siege.

The verse itself is part of a narrative describing the Assyrian siege of Jerusalem. Rabshakeh, a high-ranking Assyrian officer, had previously been sent by the Assyrian king, Sennacherib, to intimidate Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem into surrender (2 Kings 18:17-37). He had mocked Hezekiah's reliance on God and tried to persuade the people that resistance was futile. However, Hezekiah turned to prayer and sought the counsel of the prophet Isaiah, who assured him of God's protection.

In Isaiah 37:8, after delivering his threats, Rabshakeh returns to find that the king of Assyria has shifted his focus to another city, Libnah, because he had heard that the Assyrian forces had departed from Lachish. This indicates a temporary shift in the Assyrian campaign, possibly due to news of an impending threat or an uprising in another part of their empire. The verse reflects the fluidity of military campaigns and the strategic decisions made by commanders in response to developing situations.

Thematically, this verse underscores the precarious position of Judah amidst the might of Assyria, as well as the divine intervention promised by Isaiah. It sets the stage for the miraculous deliverance of Jerusalem, which is soon to be narrated, where God sends an angel to strike down the Assyrian army, leading to Sennacherib's retreat and eventual assassination (Isaiah 37:36-38). The verse, therefore, captures a moment of respite for Jerusalem and a test of faith for Hezekiah and his people, who must wait and trust in God's deliverance despite the imminent threat.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H7262
   There are 16 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: רַבְשָׁקֵה
   Transliteration: Rabshâqêh
   Pronunciation: rab-shaw-kay'
   Description: from רַב and שָׁקָה; chief butler; Rabshakeh, a Babylonian official; Rabshakeh.
   
2. Strong's Number: H7725
   There are 952 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שׁוּב
   Transliteration: shûwb
   Pronunciation: shoob
   Description: a primitive root; to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point); generally to retreat; often adverbial, again; ((break, build, circumcise, dig, do anything, do evil, feed, lay down, lie down, lodge, make, rejoice, send, take, weep)) [idiom] again, (cause to) answer ([phrase] again), [idiom] in any case (wise), [idiom] at all, averse, bring (again, back, home again), call (to mind), carry again (back), cease, [idiom] certainly, come again (back), [idiom] consider, [phrase] continually, convert, deliver (again), [phrase] deny, draw back, fetch home again, [idiom] fro, get (oneself) (back) again, [idiom] give (again), go again (back, home), (go) out, hinder, let, (see) more, [idiom] needs, be past, [idiom] pay, pervert, pull in again, put (again, up again), recall, recompense, recover, refresh, relieve, render (again), requite, rescue, restore, retrieve, (cause to, make to) return, reverse, reward, [phrase] say nay, send back, set again, slide back, still, [idiom] surely, take back (off), (cause to, make to) turn (again, self again, away, back, back again, backward, from, off), withdraw.
   
3. Strong's Number: H4672
   There are 425 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מָצָא
   Transliteration: mâtsâʼ
   Pronunciation: maw-tsaw'
   Description: a primitive root; properly, to come forth to, i.e. appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e. find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present; [phrase] be able, befall, being, catch, [idiom] certainly, (cause to) come (on, to, to hand), deliver, be enough (cause to) find(-ing, occasion, out), get (hold upon), [idiom] have (here), be here, hit, be left, light (up-) on, meet (with), [idiom] occasion serve, (be) present, ready, speed, suffice, take hold on.
   
4. 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.
   
5. 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.
   
6. Strong's Number: H3898
   There are 171 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: לָחַם
   Transliteration: lâcham
   Pronunciation: law-kham'
   Description: a primitive root; to feed on; figuratively, to consume; by implication, to battle (as destruction); devour, eat, [idiom] ever, fight(-ing), overcome, prevail, (make) war(-ring).
   
7. Strong's Number: H3841
   There are 17 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: לִבְנָה
   Transliteration: Libnâh
   Pronunciation: lib-naw'
   Description: the same as לִבְנֶה; Libnah, a place in the Desert and one in Palestine; Libnah.
   
8. Strong's Number: H8085
   There are 1072 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׁמַע
   Transliteration: shâmaʻ
   Pronunciation: shaw-mah'
   Description: a primitive root; to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.); [idiom] attentively, call (gather) together, [idiom] carefully, [idiom] certainly, consent, consider, be content, declare, [idiom] diligently, discern, give ear, (cause to, let, make to) hear(-ken, tell), [idiom] indeed, listen, make (a) noise, (be) obedient, obey, perceive, (make a) proclaim(-ation), publish, regard, report, shew (forth), (make a) sound, [idiom] surely, tell, understand, whosoever (heareth), witness.
   
9. Strong's Number: H5265
   There are 140 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נָסַע
   Transliteration: nâçaʻ
   Pronunciation: naw-sah'
   Description: a primitive root; properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, i.e. start on ajourney; cause to blow, bring, get, (make to) go (away, forth, forward, onward, out), (take) journey, march, remove, set aside (forward), [idiom] still, be on his (go their) way.
   
10. Strong's Number: H3923
    There are 22 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: לָכִישׁ
    Transliteration: Lâkîysh
    Pronunciation: law-keesh'
    Description: xlit Lâchîysh corrected to Lâkîysh; from an unused root of uncertain meaning; Lakish, a place in Palestine; Lachish.