Font Size
2 Kings 18:17-22
Christian Standard Bible
2 Kings 18:17-22
Christian Standard Bible
17 Then the king of Assyria sent the field marshal,(A) the chief of staff, and his royal spokesman, along with a massive army, from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem.(B) They advanced and came to Jerusalem, and[a] they took their position by the aqueduct of the upper pool, by the road to the Launderer’s Field.(C) 18 They called for the king, but Eliakim(D) son of Hilkiah, who was in charge of the palace, Shebnah(E) the court secretary, and Joah son of Asaph, the court historian, came out to them.(F)
The Royal Spokesman’s Speech
19 Then(G) the royal spokesman said to them, “Tell Hezekiah this is what the great king, the king of Assyria, says: ‘What are you relying on?[b](H) 20 You think mere words are strategy and strength for war. Who are you now relying on so that you have rebelled against me?(I) 21 Now look, you are relying on Egypt, that splintered reed of a staff(J) that will pierce the hand of anyone who grabs it and leans on it.(K) This is what Pharaoh king of Egypt is to all who rely on him. 22 Suppose you say to me, “We rely on the Lord our God.” Isn’t he the one whose high places and altars Hezekiah has removed,(L) saying to Judah and to Jerusalem, “You must worship at this altar in Jerusalem”?’
Read full chapter
2 Kings 18:17-22
New International Version
2 Kings 18:17-22
New International Version
Sennacherib Threatens Jerusalem(A)(B)
17 The king of Assyria sent his supreme commander,(C) his chief officer and his field commander with a large army, from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem. They came up to Jerusalem and stopped at the aqueduct of the Upper Pool,(D) on the road to the Washerman’s Field. 18 They called for the king; and Eliakim(E) son of Hilkiah the palace administrator, Shebna(F) the secretary, and Joah son of Asaph the recorder went out to them.
19 The field commander said to them, “Tell Hezekiah:
“‘This is what the great king, the king of Assyria, says: On what are you basing this confidence(G) of yours? 20 You say you have the counsel and the might for war—but you speak only empty words. On whom are you depending, that you rebel against me? 21 Look, I know you are depending on Egypt,(H) that splintered reed of a staff,(I) which pierces the hand of anyone who leans on it! Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who depend on him. 22 But if you say to me, “We are depending on the Lord our God”—isn’t he the one whose high places and altars Hezekiah removed, saying to Judah and Jerusalem, “You must worship before this altar in Jerusalem”?
2 Kings 18:17-22
King James Version
2 Kings 18:17-22
King James Version
17 And the king of Assyria sent Tartan and Rabsaris and Rabshakeh from Lachish to king Hezekiah with a great host against Jerusalem. And they went up and came to Jerusalem. And when they were come up, they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which is in the highway of the fuller's field.
18 And when they had called to the king, there came out to them Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder.
19 And Rabshakeh said unto them, Speak ye now to Hezekiah, Thus saith the great king, the king of Assyria, What confidence is this wherein thou trustest?
20 Thou sayest, (but they are but vain words,) I have counsel and strength for the war. Now on whom dost thou trust, that thou rebellest against me?
21 Now, behold, thou trustest upon the staff of this bruised reed, even upon Egypt, on which if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt unto all that trust on him.
22 But if ye say unto me, We trust in the Lord our God: is not that he, whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah hath taken away, and hath said to Judah and Jerusalem, Ye shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem?
Read full chapter
Isaiah 36:2-7
Christian Standard Bible
Isaiah 36:2-7
Christian Standard Bible
2 Then the king of Assyria sent his royal spokesman, along with a massive army, from Lachish(A) to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem. The Assyrian stood near the conduit of the upper pool, by the road to Launderer’s Field.(B) 3 Eliakim son of Hilkiah, who was in charge of the palace, Shebna the court secretary,(C) and Joah son of Asaph, the court historian, came out to him.
4 The royal spokesman said to them, “Tell Hezekiah:
The great king, the king of Assyria, says this: What are you relying on? 5 You[a] think mere words are strategy and strength for war. Who are you now relying on that you have rebelled against me?(D) 6 Look, you are relying on Egypt, that splintered reed of a staff(E) that will pierce the hand of anyone who grabs it and leans on it. This is how Pharaoh king of Egypt is to all who rely on him.(F) 7 Suppose you say to me, ‘We rely on the Lord our God.’ Isn’t he the one whose high places and altars Hezekiah has removed, saying to Judah and Jerusalem, ‘You are to worship at this altar’?(G)
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 36:5 Many Hb mss, DSS, 2Kg 18:20; MT reads I
Isaiah 36:2-7
New International Version
Isaiah 36:2-7
New International Version
2 Then the king of Assyria sent his field commander with a large army from Lachish(A) to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem. When the commander stopped at the aqueduct of the Upper Pool, on the road to the Launderer’s Field,(B) 3 Eliakim(C) son of Hilkiah the palace administrator,(D) Shebna(E) the secretary,(F) and Joah(G) son of Asaph the recorder(H) went out to him.
4 The field commander said to them, “Tell Hezekiah:
“‘This is what the great king, the king of Assyria, says: On what are you basing this confidence of yours? 5 You say you have counsel and might for war—but you speak only empty words. On whom are you depending, that you rebel(I) against me? 6 Look, I know you are depending(J) on Egypt,(K) that splintered reed(L) of a staff, which pierces the hand of anyone who leans on it! Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who depend on him. 7 But if you say to me, “We are depending(M) on the Lord our God”—isn’t he the one whose high places and altars Hezekiah removed,(N) saying to Judah and Jerusalem, “You must worship before this altar”?(O)
Isaiah 36:2-7
King James Version
Isaiah 36:2-7
King James Version
2 And the king of Assyria sent Rabshakeh from Lachish to Jerusalem unto king Hezekiah with a great army. And he stood by the conduit of the upper pool in the highway of the fuller's field.
3 Then came forth unto him Eliakim, Hilkiah's son, which was over the house, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah, Asaph's son, the recorder.
4 And Rabshakeh said unto them, Say ye now to Hezekiah, Thus saith the great king, the king of Assyria, What confidence is this wherein thou trustest?
5 I say, sayest thou, (but they are but vain words) I have counsel and strength for war: now on whom dost thou trust, that thou rebellest against me?
6 Lo, thou trustest in the staff of this broken reed, on Egypt; whereon if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all that trust in him.
7 But if thou say to me, We trust in the Lord our God: is it not he, whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah hath taken away, and said to Judah and to Jerusalem, Ye shall worship before this altar?
Read full chapter
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.