2 Kings 18:14

So Hezekiah king of Judah sent word to the king of Assyria at Lachish, saying, “I have done wrong; withdraw from me, and I will pay whatever you demand from me.” And the king of Assyria exacted from Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Hezekiah king of Judah sends a message to the king of Assyria at Lachish after Sennacherib has captured all fortified cities. He acknowledges wrongdoing and offers to pay any tribute demanded in exchange for withdrawal.

The words — וַ/יִּשְלַ֣ח (va/yishlach) literally means "and he sent," recording the diplomatic dispatch. חִזְקִיָּ֣ה (Chizqiyyah) names the Judahite monarch who initiates the surrender.

The thread — The text notes Hezekiah's prior prosperity and rebellion (2 Kings 18:7) before recording this forced submission. It parallels the vassal pledge in 1 Kings 20:4 and contrasts with the warning in Proverbs 29:25 that yielding to human pressure becomes a snare.

Why it lands — The passage records a military defeat that compels a political surrender. It asks the reader to observe how immediate threat can drive a leader to exchange covenant loyalty for temporary relief.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וַיִּשְׁלַ֣חva/i.yish.Lachand/ he sent חִזְקִיָּ֣הchiz.ki.YahHezekiah מֶֽלֶךְ־Me.lekh-[the] king of יְהוּדָ֣הye.hu.DahJudah אֶל־'el-to מֶֽלֶךְ־Me.lekh-[the] king of אַשּׁוּר֩׀'a.ShurAssyria לָכִ֨ישָׁה׀la.Khi.sha/hLachish/ towards לֵאמֹ֤ר׀le./Mor<to>/ saying חָטָ֙אתִי֙cha.Ta.tiI have sinned שׁ֣וּבshuvturn back מֵֽעָלַ֔יme./'a.La/ifrom/ on <the>/ me אֵ֛ת'et<obj.>אֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-[that] which תִּתֵּ֥ןti.Tenyou will put עָלַ֖י'a.La/ion/ me אֶשָּׂ֑א'e.Sa'I will bear וַיָּ֨שֶׂםva/i.Ya.semand/ he imposed מֶֽלֶךְ־Me.lekh-[the] king of אַשּׁ֜וּר'a.ShurAssyria עַל־'al-on חִזְקִיָּ֣הchiz.ki.YahHezekiah מֶֽלֶךְ־Me.lekh-[the] king of יְהוּדָ֗הye.hu.DahJudah שְׁלֹ֤שׁshe.Loshthree מֵאוֹת֙me.'Othundred<s>כִּכַּר־ki.kar-talent[s] of כֶּ֔סֶףKe.sefsilver וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֖יםu./she.lo.Shimand/ thirty כִּכַּ֥רki.Kartalent[s] of זָהָֽב׃za.Havgold

King James Version

And Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria to Lachish, saying, I have offended; return from me: that which thou puttest on me will I bear. And the king of Assyria appointed unto Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold.

Cross-references

2 Kings 18:7 And the LORD was with Hezekiah, and he prospered wherever he went. He rebelled against the king of Assyria and refused to serve him.
1 Kings 20:4 And the king of Israel replied, “Just as you say, my lord the king: I am yours, along with all that I have.”
Proverbs 29:25 The fear of man is a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is set securely on high.
Luke 14:32 And if he is unable, he will send a delegation while the other king is still far off, to ask for terms of peace.

People named

Hezekiah

Places named

Lachish