2 Kings 18 – read and compare multiple versions of the Bible

World English Bible

2 Kings 18 (WEBP)

[1] Now in the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign.
[2] He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Abi the daughter of Zechariah.
[3] He did that which was right in Yahweh’s eyes, according to all that David his father had done.
[4] He removed the high places, broke the pillars, and cut down the Asherah. He also broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, because in those days the children of Israel burned incense to it; and he called it Nehushtan.
[5] He trusted in Yahweh, the God of Israel, so that after him was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, nor among them that were before him.
[6] For he joined with Yahweh. He didn’t depart from following him, but kept his commandments, which Yahweh commanded Moses.
[7] Yahweh was with him. Wherever he went, he prospered. He rebelled against the king of Assyria, and didn’t serve him.
[8] He struck the Philistines to Gaza and its borders, from the tower of the watchmen to the fortified city.
[9] In the fourth year of King Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria and besieged it.
[10] At the end of three years they took it. In the sixth year of Hezekiah, which was the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel, Samaria was taken.
[11] The king of Assyria carried Israel away to Assyria, and put them in Halah, and on the Habor, the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes,
[12] because they didn’t obey Yahweh their God’s voice, but transgressed his covenant, even all that Moses the servant of Yahweh commanded, and would not hear it or do it.
[13] Now in the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah and took them.
[14] Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria at Lachish, saying, “I have offended you. Withdraw from me. That which you put on me, I will bear.” The king of Assyria appointed to Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold.
[15] Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in Yahweh’s house and in the treasures of the king’s house.
[16] At that time, Hezekiah cut off the gold from the doors of Yahweh’s temple, and from the pillars which Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid, and gave it to the king of Assyria.
[17] The king of Assyria sent Tartan, Rabsaris, and Rabshakeh from Lachish to King Hezekiah with a great army to Jerusalem. They went up and came to Jerusalem. When they had come up, they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which is in the highway of the fuller’s field.
[18] When they had called to the king, Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebnah the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder came out to them.
[19] Rabshakeh said to them, “Say now to Hezekiah, ‘The great king, the king of Assyria, says, “What confidence is this in which you trust?
[20] You say (but they are but vain words), ‘There is counsel and strength for war.’ Now on whom do you trust, that you have rebelled against me?
[21] Now, behold, you trust in the staff of this bruised reed, even in Egypt. If a man leans on it, it will go into his hand and pierce it. So is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust on him.
[22] But if you tell me, ‘We trust in Yahweh our God,’ isn’t that he whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah has taken away, and has said to Judah and to Jerusalem, ‘You shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem’?
[23] Now therefore, please give pledges to my master the king of Assyria, and I will give you two thousand horses if you are able on your part to set riders on them.
[24] How then can you turn away the face of one captain of the least of my master’s servants, and put your trust on Egypt for chariots and for horsemen?
[25] Have I now come up without Yahweh against this place to destroy it? Yahweh said to me, ‘Go up against this land, and destroy it.’ ” ’ ”
[26] Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, Shebnah, and Joah, said to Rabshakeh, “Please speak to your servants in the Syrian language, for we understand it. Don’t speak with us in the Jews’ language, in the hearing of the people who are on the wall.”
[27] But Rabshakeh said to them, “Has my master sent me to your master and to you, to speak these words? Hasn’t he sent me to the men who sit on the wall, to eat their own dung, and to drink their own urine with you?”
[28] Then Rabshakeh stood and cried with a loud voice in the Jews’ language, and spoke, saying, “Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria.
[29] The king says, ‘Don’t let Hezekiah deceive you, for he will not be able to deliver you out of his hand.
[30] Don’t let Hezekiah make you trust in Yahweh, saying, “Yahweh will surely deliver us, and this city shall not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.”
[31] Don’t listen to Hezekiah.’ For the king of Assyria says, ‘Make your peace with me, and come out to me; and everyone of you eat from his own vine, and everyone from his own fig tree, and everyone drink water from his own cistern;
[32] until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of olive trees and of honey, that you may live and not die. Don’t listen to Hezekiah when he persuades you, saying, “Yahweh will deliver us.”
[33] Has any of the gods of the nations ever delivered his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria?
[34] Where are the gods of Hamath and of Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim, of Hena, and Ivvah? Have they delivered Samaria out of my hand?
[35] Who are they among all the gods of the countries, that have delivered their country out of my hand, that Yahweh should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?’ ”
[36] But the people stayed quiet, and answered him not a word; for the king’s commandment was, “Don’t answer him.”
[37] Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, came with Shebna the scribe and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder to Hezekiah with their clothes torn, and told him Rabshakeh’s words.

2 Kings 18:14 A talent is about 30 kilograms or 66 pounds or 965 Troy ounces

Scripture quotations are taken from The World English Bible™ of eBible.org, 2020 stable text edition. It is in the public domain.

King James w/Strong’s #s

2 Kings 18 (KJVS)

[1] Now it came to pass in the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign. ()
[2] Twenty and five years old was he when he began to reign; () and he reigned () twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name also was Abi, the daughter of Zachariah.
[3] And he did () that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that David his father did. ()
[4] He removed () the high places, and brake () the images, and cut down () the groves, and brake in pieces () the brasen serpent that Moses had made: () for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense () to it: and he called () it Nehushtan.
[5] He trusted () in the Lord God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him.
[6] For he clave () to the Lord, and departed () not from following him, but kept () his commandments, which the Lord commanded () Moses.
[7] And the Lord was with him; and he prospered () whithersoever he went forth: () and he rebelled () against the king of Assyria, and served () him not.
[8] He smote () the Philistines, even unto Gaza, and the borders thereof, from the tower of the watchmen () to the fenced city.
[9] And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up () against Samaria, and besieged () it.
[10] And at the end of three years they took () it: even in the sixth year of Hezekiah, that is the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel, Samaria was taken. ()
[11] And the king of Assyria did carry away () Israel unto Assyria, and put () them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes:
[12] because they obeyed () not the voice of the Lord their God, but transgressed () his covenant, and all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded, () and would not hear () them, nor do () them.
[13] Now in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah did Sennacherib king of Assyria come up () against all the fenced () cities of Judah, and took () them.
[14] 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.
[15] And Hezekiah gave () him all the silver that was found () in the house of the Lord, and in the treasures of the king’s house.
[16] At that time did Hezekiah cut off () the gold from the doors of the temple of the Lord, and from the pillars which Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid, () and gave () it to the king of Assyria.
[17] And the king of Assyria sent () Tartan and Rabsaris and Rab-shakeh 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 Rab-shakeh 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?
[23] Now therefore, I pray thee, give pledges () to my lord the king of Assyria, and I will deliver () thee two thousand horses, if thou be able () on thy part to set () riders () upon them.
[24] How then wilt thou turn away () the face of one captain of the least of my master’s servants, and put thy trust () on Egypt for chariots and for horsemen?
[25] 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.
[26] Then said () Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebna, and Joah, unto Rab-shakeh, Speak, () I pray thee, to thy servants in the Syrian language; for we understand () it: and talk () not with us in the Jews’ language in the ears of the people that are on the wall.
[27] But Rab-shakeh said () unto them, Hath my master sent () me to thy master, and to thee, to speak () these words? hath he not sent me to the men which sit () on the wall, that they may eat () their own dung, () and drink () their own piss () with you?
[28] Then Rab-shakeh stood () and cried () with a loud voice in the Jews’ language, and spake, () saying, () Hear () the word of the great king, the king of Assyria:
[29] Thus saith () the king, Let not Hezekiah deceive () you: for he shall not be able () to deliver () you out of his hand:
[30] neither let Hezekiah make you trust () in the Lord, saying, () The Lord will surely () deliver () us, and this city shall not be delivered () into the hand of the king of Assyria.
[31] Hearken () not to Hezekiah: for thus saith () the king of Assyria, Make () an agreement with me by a present, and come out () to me, and then eat () ye every man of his own vine, and every one of his fig tree, and drink () ye every one the waters of his cistern:
[32] until I come () and take you away () to a land like your own land, a land of corn and wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of oil olive and of honey, that ye may live, () and not die: () and hearken () not unto Hezekiah, when he persuadeth () you, saying, () The Lord will deliver () us.
[33] Hath any of the gods of the nations delivered () at all () his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria?
[34] Where are the gods of Hamath, and of Arpad? where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah? have they delivered () Samaria out of mine hand?
[35] Who are they among all the gods of the countries, that have delivered () their country out of mine hand, that the Lord should deliver () Jerusalem out of mine hand?
[36] But the people held their peace, () and answered () him not a word: for the king’s commandment was, saying, () Answer () him not.
[37] 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.

2 Kings 18:4 Heb. statues
2 Kings 18:6 Heb. from after him
2 Kings 18:8 Heb. Azzah.! [sic]
2 Kings 18:13 Heb. Sanherib
2 Kings 18:16 Heb. them
2 Kings 18:17 Heb. heavy
2 Kings 18:18 Or, secretary
2 Kings 18:20a Or, talkest
2 Kings 18:20b Heb. word of the lips
2 Kings 18:20c Or, but counsel and strength are for the war
2 Kings 18:21 Heb. trustest thee
2 Kings 18:23 Or, hostages
2 Kings 18:27 Heb. the water of their feet?
2 Kings 18:31a Or, seek my favour. Heb. make with me a blessing
2 Kings 18:31b Or, pit
2 Kings 18:32 Or, deceiveth

Scripture quotations from The Authorized King James Version of the Holy Bible, using the standardized text of 1769. It is in the public domain.

Greek Bible (LXX/BYZ)

2 Kings 18 (BYZ)

[1] και εγενετο εν ετει τριτω τω ωσηε υιω ηλα βασιλει ισραηλ εβασιλευσεν εζεκιας υιος αχαζ βασιλεως ιουδα
[2] υιος εικοσι και πεντε ετων ην εν τω βασιλευειν αυτον και εικοσι και εννεα ετη εβασιλευσεν εν ιερουσαλημ και ονομα τη μητρι αυτου αβου θυγατηρ ζαχαριου
[3] και εποιησεν το ευθες εν οφθαλμοις κυριου κατα παντα οσα εποιησεν δαυιδ ο πατηρ αυτου
[4] αυτος εξηρεν τα υψηλα και συνετριψεν πασας τας στηλας και εξωλεθρευσεν τα αλση και τον οφιν τον χαλκουν ον εποιησεν μωυσης οτι εως των ημερων εκεινων ησαν οι υιοι ισραηλ θυμιωντες αυτω και εκαλεσεν αυτον νεεσθαν
[5] εν κυριω θεω ισραηλ ηλπισεν και μετ αυτον ουκ εγενηθη ομοιος αυτω εν βασιλευσιν ιουδα και εν τοις γενομενοις εμπροσθεν αυτου
[6] και εκολληθη τω κυριω ουκ απεστη οπισθεν αυτου και εφυλαξεν τας εντολας αυτου οσας ενετειλατο μωυση
[7] και ην κυριος μετ αυτου εν πασιν οις εποιει συνηκεν και ηθετησεν εν τω βασιλει ασσυριων και ουκ εδουλευσεν αυτω
[8] αυτος επαταξεν τους αλλοφυλους εως γαζης και εως οριου αυτης απο πυργου φυλασσοντων και εως πολεως οχυρας
[9] και εγενετο εν τω ετει τω τεταρτω βασιλει εζεκια αυτος ενιαυτος ο εβδομος τω ωσηε υιω ηλα βασιλει ισραηλ ανεβη σαλαμανασσαρ βασιλευς ασσυριων επι σαμαρειαν και επολιορκει επ αυτην
[10] και κατελαβετο αυτην απο τελους τριων ετων εν ετει εκτω τω εζεκια αυτος ενιαυτος ενατος τω ωσηε βασιλει ισραηλ και συνελημφθη σαμαρεια
[11] και απωκισεν βασιλευς ασσυριων την σαμαρειαν εις ασσυριους και εθηκεν αυτους εν αλαε και εν αβωρ ποταμω γωζαν και ορη μηδων
[12] ανθ ων οτι ουκ ηκουσαν της φωνης κυριου θεου αυτων και παρεβησαν την διαθηκην αυτου παντα οσα ενετειλατο μωυσης ο δουλος κυριου και ουκ ηκουσαν και ουκ εποιησαν
[13] και τω τεσσαρεσκαιδεκατω ετει βασιλει εζεκιου ανεβη σενναχηριμ βασιλευς ασσυριων επι τας πολεις ιουδα τας οχυρας και συνελαβεν αυτας
[14] και απεστειλεν εζεκιας βασιλευς ιουδα αγγελους προς βασιλεα ασσυριων εις λαχις λεγων ημαρτηκα αποστραφητι απ εμου ο εαν επιθης επ εμε βαστασω και επεθηκεν ο βασιλευς ασσυριων επι εζεκιαν βασιλεα ιουδα τριακοσια ταλαντα αργυριου και τριακοντα ταλαντα χρυσιου
[15] και εδωκεν εζεκιας παν το αργυριον το ευρεθεν εν οικω κυριου και εν θησαυροις οικου του βασιλεως
[16] εν τω καιρω εκεινω συνεκοψεν εζεκιας τας θυρας ναου κυριου και τα εστηριγμενα α εχρυσωσεν εζεκιας βασιλευς ιουδα και εδωκεν αυτα βασιλει ασσυριων
[17] και απεστειλεν βασιλευς ασσυριων τον θαρθαν και τον ραφις και τον ραψακην εκ λαχις προς τον βασιλεα εζεκιαν εν δυναμει βαρεια επι ιερουσαλημ και ανεβησαν και ηλθον εις ιερουσαλημ και εστησαν εν τω υδραγωγω της κολυμβηθρας της ανω η εστιν εν τη οδω του αγρου του γναφεως
[18] και εβοησαν προς εζεκιαν και εξηλθον προς αυτον ελιακιμ υιος χελκιου ο οικονομος και σομνας ο γραμματευς και ιωας υιος ασαφ ο αναμιμνησκων
[19] και ειπεν προς αυτους ραψακης ειπατε δη προς εζεκιαν ταδε λεγει ο βασιλευς ο μεγας βασιλευς ασσυριων τις η πεποιθησις αυτη ην πεποιθας
[20] ειπας πλην λογοι χειλεων βουλη και δυναμις εις πολεμον νυν ουν τινι πεποιθως ηθετησας εν εμοι
[21] νυν ιδου πεποιθας σαυτω επι την ραβδον την καλαμινην την τεθλασμενην ταυτην επ αιγυπτον ος αν στηριχθη ανηρ επ αυτην και εισελευσεται εις την χειρα αυτου και τρησει αυτην ουτως φαραω βασιλευς αιγυπτου πασιν τοις πεποιθοσιν επ αυτον
[22] και οτι ειπας προς με επι κυριον θεον πεποιθαμεν ουχι αυτος ουτος ου απεστησεν εζεκιας τα υψηλα αυτου και τα θυσιαστηρια αυτου και ειπεν τω ιουδα και τη ιερουσαλημ ενωπιον του θυσιαστηριου τουτου προσκυνησετε εν ιερουσαλημ
[23] και νυν μιχθητε δη τω κυριω μου βασιλει ασσυριων και δωσω σοι δισχιλιους ιππους ει δυνηση δουναι σεαυτω επιβατας επ αυτους
[24] και πως αποστρεψεις το προσωπον τοπαρχου ενος των δουλων του κυριου μου των ελαχιστων και ηλπισας σαυτω επ αιγυπτον εις αρματα και ιππεις
[25] και νυν μη ανευ κυριου ανεβημεν επι τον τοπον τουτον του διαφθειραι αυτον κυριος ειπεν προς με αναβηθι επι την γην ταυτην και διαφθειρον αυτην
[26] και ειπεν ελιακιμ υιος χελκιου και σομνας και ιωας προς ραψακην λαλησον δη προς τους παιδας σου συριστι οτι ακουομεν ημεις και ου λαλησεις μεθ ημων ιουδαιστι και ινα τι λαλεις εν τοις ωσιν του λαου του επι του τειχους
[27] και ειπεν προς αυτους ραψακης μη επι τον κυριον σου και προς σε απεστειλεν με ο κυριος μου λαλησαι τους λογους τουτους ουχι επι τους ανδρας τους καθημενους επι του τειχους του φαγειν την κοπρον αυτων και πιειν το ουρον αυτων μεθ υμων αμα
[28] και εστη ραψακης και εβοησεν φωνη μεγαλη ιουδαιστι και ελαλησεν και ειπεν ακουσατε τους λογους του μεγαλου βασιλεως ασσυριων
[29] ταδε λεγει ο βασιλευς μη επαιρετω υμας εζεκιας λογοις οτι ου μη δυνηται υμας εξελεσθαι εκ χειρος μου
[30] και μη επελπιζετω υμας εζεκιας προς κυριον λεγων εξαιρουμενος εξελειται ημας κυριος ου μη παραδοθη η πολις αυτη εν χειρι βασιλεως ασσυριων
[31] μη ακουετε εζεκιου οτι ταδε λεγει ο βασιλευς ασσυριων ποιησατε μετ εμου ευλογιαν και εξελθατε προς με και πιεται ανηρ την αμπελον αυτου και ανηρ την συκην αυτου φαγεται και πιεται υδωρ του λακκου αυτου
[32] εως ελθω και λαβω υμας εις γην ως γη υμων γη σιτου και οινου και αρτου και αμπελωνων γη ελαιας ελαιου και μελιτος και ζησετε και ου μη αποθανητε και μη ακουετε εζεκιου οτι απατα υμας λεγων κυριος ρυσεται ημας
[33] μη ρυομενοι ερρυσαντο οι θεοι των εθνων εκαστος την εαυτου χωραν εκ χειρος βασιλεως ασσυριων
[34] που εστιν ο θεος αιμαθ και αρφαδ που εστιν ο θεος σεπφαρουαιν και οτι εξειλαντο σαμαρειαν εκ χειρος μου
[35] τις εν πασιν τοις θεοις των γαιων οι εξειλαντο τας γας αυτων εκ χειρος μου οτι εξελειται κυριος την ιερουσαλημ εκ χειρος μου
[36] και εκωφευσαν και ουκ απεκριθησαν αυτω λογον οτι εντολη του βασιλεως λεγων ουκ αποκριθησεσθε αυτω
[37] και εισηλθεν ελιακιμ υιος χελκιου ο οικονομος και σομνας ο γραμματευς και ιωας υιος ασαφ ο αναμιμνησκων προς εζεκιαν διερρηχοτες τα ιματια και ανηγγειλαν αυτω τους λογους ραψακου