Bible Strands
2 Kings 19:8
When the Rabshakeh heard that the king of Assyria had left Lachish, he withdrew and found the king fighting against Libnah.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The Rabshakeh, acting as the Assyrian commander, learns that Sennacherib has departed Lachish and moves to locate him engaged in battle at Libnah.
The words — The Hebrew וַ/יָּ֙שָׁב֙ (va/i.Ya.shov) literally means "and he returned," denoting a tactical withdrawal, while וַ/יִּמְצָא֙ (va/i.yim.Tza') translates as "and he found," marking the Rabshakeh's arrival at the campaign's new front.
The thread — The movement between Lachish and Libnah echoes earlier Judahite campaigns in Joshua 10:29 and Joshua 12:11, while the Assyrian king's departure fulfills the prophetic pattern of hearing a rumor and returning in 2 Kings 19:7.
Why it lands — The text requires the reader to observe that battlefield shifts occur precisely where God has already decreed them, demanding attention to the stated sequence of events rather than speculation about human motives.
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
So Rab–shakeh returned, and found the king of Assyria warring against Libnah: for he had heard that he was departed from Lachish.
Cross-references
- 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.
- Joshua 10:29 Then Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Makkedah to Libnah and fought against Libnah.
- Joshua 12:11 the king of Jarmuth, one; the king of Lachish, one;
- Joshua 12:15 the king of Libnah, one; the king of Adullam, one;
- Joshua 15:39 Lachish, Bozkath, Eglon,
- Joshua 15:42 Libnah, Ether, Ashan,
- 2 Kings 8:22 So to this day Edom has been in rebellion against the hand of Judah. Likewise, Libnah rebelled at the same time.
- Isaiah 37:8 When the Rabshakeh heard that the king of Assyria had left Lachish, he withdrew and found the king fighting against Libnah.
- Micah 1:13 Harness your chariot horses, O dweller of Lachish. You were the beginning of sin to the Daughter of Zion, for the transgressions of Israel were found in you.