Keraia
2 Kings 18

2 Kings 18:37

Sennacherib Threatens Jerusalem · 2 Kings 18:17–37
Read 2 Kings 18

Translations

Modern
Then Hilkiah’s son Eliakim the palace administrator, Shebna the scribe, and Asaph’s son Joah the recorder came to Hezekiah with their clothes torn, and they relayed to him the words of the Rabshakeh.
Traditional
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 Rab–shakeh.
Literal
And Eliakim son of Hilkiah, who was over the house, came—and Shebna the scribe, and Joah son of Asaph the recorder—to Hezekiah with torn clothes, and they declared to him the words of the Rabshakeh.
Latin
Venitque Eliacim filius Helciæ, præpositus domus, et Sobna scriba, et Joahe filius Asaph a commentariis ad Ezechiam scissis vestibus, et nuntiaverunt ei verba Rabsacis.

Original

Hebrew
English
Then Hilkiah’s son Eliakim the palace administrator, Shebna the scribe, and Asaph’s son Joah the recorder came to Hezekiah with their clothes torn, and they relayed to him the words of the Rabshakeh.

Notes

2 Kings 18:37

Tearing clothes was a traditional way to show deep sorrow. In this case, it may have shown grief over Jerusalem’s trouble (see 2 Kings 6:30) and also over the insults spoken against God by the Assyrian official (see 2 Kings 19:4–6).

Events

Parallels

2 Chronicles 32:9–19 Isaiah 36:1–22

People

Asaph: Recorder during King Hezekiah's reign Eliakim: Palace administrator under King Hezekiah Hezekiah: A righteous king of Judah Hilkiah: An official during King Hezekiah's reign Joah: Son of Asaph, King Hezekiah's secretary Rabshakeh: A Babylonian official who taunted Hezekiah and Jerusalem's people Shebna: Steward of the palace during Hezekiah's reign

Glossary

Assyria, Assyrians Eliakim Hezekiah Inscriptions Kings, Books of First and Second Kohath, Kohathites Psalms, Book of Rabshakeh Shebna Warfare Writer

Topics

Assyria: Sennacherib Diplomacy: Rab-Shakeh, in Trying to Induce Jerusalem to Capitulate by Bombastic Harangue Hilkiah: officer of Hezekiah Hypocrisy: Rabshakeh Jerusalem: Besieged by Sennacherib Prophecies Concerning Israel: The King of Assyria Invades Judah, and Blasphemes the God of Judah Scribe(s): A Writer and Transcriber of the Law Secretary (Recordist): General Scriptures Concerning Sennacherib: Invades Judah Shebna (Shebnah): A Scribe of Hezekiah