Bible Strands
2 Kings 18:25
So now, was it apart from the LORD that I have come up against this place to destroy it? The LORD Himself said to me, ‘Go up against this land and destroy it.’”
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The Assyrian Rabshakeh addresses Hezekiah’s officials and the people on the city wall, declaring that his siege campaign operates under direct divine instruction.
The words — The rhetorical phrase הֲ/מִ/בַּלְעֲדֵי (ha./mi./bal.'a.Dei) = “is it apart from” frames the claim as a question, while עַתָּה (‘a.Tah) = “now” anchors the assertion to the immediate military threat.
The thread — The conflict between human assertions of divine authorization and God’s actual word surfaces when Isaiah delivers a message of reassurance in 2 Kings 19:6 and when the narrative later catalogs the Assyrian taunts against the Holy One of Israel in 2 Kings 19:22.
Why it lands — The text demands a reader distinguish between a conqueror’s self-justifying declaration and the actual will of God, requiring verification of any claimed mandate against the established word.
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
King James Version
Am I now come up without the Lord against this place to destroy it? The Lord said to me, Go up against this land, and destroy it.
Cross-references
- 2 Kings 19:6 who replied, “Tell your master that this is what the LORD says: ‘Do not be afraid of the words you have heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed Me.
- 1 Kings 13:18 Then the prophet replied, “I too am a prophet like you, and an angel spoke to me by the word of the LORD, saying, ‘Bring him back with you to your house, so that he may eat bread and drink water.’” The old prophet was lying to him,
- 2 Kings 19:22 Whom have you taunted and blasphemed? Against whom have you raised your voice and lifted your eyes in pride? Against the Holy One of Israel!
- 2 Chronicles 35:21 But Neco sent messengers to him, saying, “What is the issue between you and me, O king of Judah? I have not come against you today, but I am fighting another dynasty, and God has told me to hurry. So stop opposing God, who is with me, or He will destroy you!”
- Isaiah 10:5 Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger; the staff in their hands is My wrath.
- Amos 3:6 If a ram’s horn sounds in a city, do the people not tremble? If calamity comes to a city, has not the LORD caused it?
- John 19:10 So Pilate said to Him, “Do You refuse to speak to me? Do You not know that I have authority to release You and authority to crucify You?”