2 Kings 19 Commentary: Hezekiah’s Prayer and the Deliverance of Jerusalem

Hezekiah’s Plea to the Prophet Isaiah

The chapter begins with King Hezekiah’s response to the blasphemous threats of the Assyrian Rabshakeh. Upon hearing the words of the Assyrian official, Hezekiah demonstrated his humility and complete reliance on God. It is recorded that he tore his clothes, covered himself with sackcloth, and went to the house of the LORD. This was a traditional expression of mourning and deep distress. Hezekiah did not respond with military preparation or political maneuvering; his first act was spiritual.

He then sent a delegation of his officials and the senior priests, all clothed in sackcloth, to the prophet Isaiah. The message conveyed to Isaiah was one of great distress. Hezekiah described their situation as “a day of trouble, of rebuke, and of disgrace.” The threat from the Assyrian army was compared to a woman in labor who has no strength to deliver the child. Hezekiah’s profound helplessness was expressed. The king requested that Isaiah pray for the remnant that was still left, a small group facing an overwhelming and seemingly inevitable destruction. This request shows Hezekiah’s recognition that the battle was not merely a physical one but a spiritual one, and that the only hope lay in the intervention of the LORD.

Isaiah’s Message of Reassurance

The prophet Isaiah’s response was immediate and filled with divine assurance. He told Hezekiah’s officials, “Thus says the LORD: ‘Do not be afraid because of the words that you have heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have reviled me.'” This message directly addresses the core of the Assyrian threat, which was its blasphemy against God. Isaiah then prophesied that God would put a spirit in the Assyrian king, causing him to hear a rumor and return to his own land. It was prophesied that he would fall by the sword there. This initial prophecy provides the first glimmer of hope, shifting the focus from Judah’s weakness to God’s sovereign power.

The Rabshakeh, having heard that the king of Assyria had departed from Lachish to attack Libnah, also left the area. However, Sennacherib, now at Libnah, heard a report that Tirhakah, the king of Cush, had come out to fight against him. This news, a rumor of a new military threat, was a direct fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy, showing God’s control over political events. It prompted Sennacherib to send messengers once again to Hezekiah.

Sennacherib’s Second Message

The second message from Sennacherib was even more arrogant and blasphemous than the first. It was a written letter that was delivered to Hezekiah. The letter dismissed the idea that Hezekiah’s God could save Jerusalem from the Assyrian army. It used the past conquests of Assyria as evidence of its invincibility. It is stated that Sennacherib reminded Hezekiah of the fate of the nations that his ancestors had destroyed, including Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and the people of Eden. The letter explicitly questioned the power of the gods of those nations, asking, “Where is the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad, the king of the city of Sepharvaim, of Hena, or of Ivvah?” This was an attempt to psychologically terrorize Hezekiah and his people by equating the LORD with the powerless idols of other lands. The king of Assyria saw all gods as being on the same level and believed that none could stand against his army.

Hezekiah’s Prayer in the Temple

Upon receiving the letter, Hezekiah’s response was a second act of profound faith. He took the letter and went into the house of the LORD. He spread the letter out before the LORD, a powerful visual act of laying his problem before God. This was not a perfunctory act; it was a prayerful appeal for divine intervention. His prayer is one of the most remarkable in the Old Testament. Hezekiah did not ask for military strength or for political solutions. Instead, he appealed to God’s honor and reputation.

His prayer began with an acknowledgment of God’s greatness, addressing Him as the “God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim.” He then directly quoted the Assyrian’s blasphemy, stating that Sennacherib had sent to taunt the living God. He recognized that the Assyrian threats were not just against Judah but were an insult to the name of the one true God. Hezekiah prayed that God would “incline your ear, O LORD, and hear; open your eyes, O LORD, and see.” He acknowledged that the kings of Assyria had indeed laid waste to the nations and their gods, but he clarified that those gods were mere idols, the work of human hands. He then made his final, powerful request: “Now, O LORD our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you are the LORD God, and you alone.” This was a selfless prayer focused on God’s glory, not on Judah’s survival.

Isaiah’s Prophecy of Deliverance

In response to Hezekiah’s prayer, the LORD sent Isaiah with a final, detailed prophecy. It is presented as an answer to the prayer that had been made. The prophecy begins by directly addressing Sennacherib’s arrogance. God expresses His contempt for the Assyrian king’s pride and boastfulness. The prophecy recounts Sennacherib’s past conquests but makes it clear that they were achieved only because God had allowed it. It is stated that the king’s campaigns were a tool in God’s hand, a plan that had been decreed long ago. God then promises to put a hook in the Assyrian king’s nose and a bridle in his mouth, metaphorically turning him back the way he came.

A sign was also given to Hezekiah. The people were to eat what grew on its own in the first year and what sprang from that in the second year. In the third year, they would be able to sow, reap, plant vineyards, and eat their fruit. This sign of supernatural provision was a promise that the Assyrian army would not be there to destroy their crops, a testament to God’s complete control over the situation. God then declared that He would defend the city for His own sake and for the sake of His servant David.

The Divine Intervention and Sennacherib’s Death

The fulfillment of the prophecy was swift and decisive. It is recorded that night, the angel of the LORD went out and struck down one hundred and eighty-five thousand men in the camp of the Assyrians. The following morning, when the survivors arose, they saw that all of them were dead bodies. The entire army, the same force that had terrorized the nations, was annihilated in a single night without a single battle.

Shamed and defeated, Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, withdrew. He returned to his capital, Nineveh, where he lived in disgrace. The story of his death is then recorded. While he was worshiping in the house of Nisroch his god, his sons, Adrammelech and Sharezer, assassinated him with a sword. They then escaped to the land of Ararat, and his son Esarhaddon reigned in his place. The final detail of Sennacherib’s death in the temple of his god serves as a powerful and ironic end to his blasphemous boasts. The very king who mocked the God of Israel was struck down by his own sons while seeking refuge with a powerless deity.

Theological Themes and Significance

The central theme of 2 Kings 19 is the sovereignty and power of God. The chapter presents a clear contrast between the seemingly limitless power of a human empire and the true, absolute power of the Creator. Sennacherib’s arrogance and self-proclaimed invincibility are exposed as foolishness in the face of God’s will. The destruction of his army in a single night is a profound demonstration that God works outside of human limitations and military conventions.

The chapter also highlights the importance of prayer. Hezekiah’s prayer is a model of intercession. It was not a prayer for personal gain but for the honor of God’s name. It showed a king who understood that his plight was tied to God’s glory. The immediate and overwhelming response to his prayer shows that God listens to and acts upon the sincere cries of His people, especially when those prayers are focused on His will and His kingdom. The narrative affirms that prayer is a potent and effective means of seeking God’s intervention.

Finally, the chapter is a powerful lesson on divine faithfulness. God had promised to protect Jerusalem for His own sake and for the sake of His servant David. The deliverance of the city was not based on Hezekiah’s goodness but on God’s covenant loyalty. The fulfillment of the prophecy, from the rumor of Tirhakah to the sudden destruction of the army and the death of Sennacherib, shows that God is a God who keeps His promises and fulfills His prophetic word.

Practical Lessons for Today

The story of Hezekiah’s prayer and Jerusalem’s deliverance is a source of great encouragement and instruction for believers today. The first lesson is that in times of overwhelming trouble, our first recourse should be to turn to God. Hezekiah did not rely on his own strength or seek human alliances; he went straight to the temple and laid the problem before the Lord. This example teaches us that no problem is too big for God and that a posture of humility and dependence on Him is the most powerful response to any crisis.

The chapter also challenges us to examine our own prayers. Hezekiah’s prayer was focused on God’s glory, not his own convenience. He asked for deliverance so that all the kingdoms of the earth might know that the LORD is the only God. This teaches us to align our requests with God’s purposes. Our prayers should be for God’s name to be honored and for His kingdom to be advanced, even in our personal circumstances.

Finally, the narrative serves as a reminder that God’s power is supreme. We may be faced with our own “Assyrian armies”—whether they are financial troubles, health crises, or spiritual battles. The story of 2 Kings 19 assures us that God can provide deliverance in ways that are far beyond our imagination or ability. The defeat of the Assyrians by a single angel is a testament to the fact that God is not limited by our circumstances and that His power is always greater than the power of our enemies.

Cross References

Isaiah 37:1-38: This chapter in the book of Isaiah is a verbatim parallel account of the events described in 2 Kings 19. It provides the same narrative details, including Hezekiah’s plea to Isaiah, Sennacherib’s letter, Hezekiah’s prayer, and Isaiah’s subsequent prophecy. The inclusion of this account in Isaiah’s prophetic book highlights the theological and prophetic significance of the event.

2 Chronicles 32:20-23: This parallel account provides a more concise summary of the events. It emphasizes Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah praying and crying out to heaven for deliverance. It also records the result of God’s intervention and adds that many nations brought tribute to the LORD and to King Hezekiah afterward, showing God’s vindication of His people and their king.

Psalm 46: This psalm, which may have been written in response to the Assyrian siege of Jerusalem, speaks to the power of God as a refuge for His people. It contains phrases like, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” and “The nations raged, the kingdoms tottered; he uttered his voice, the earth melted.” It reflects the very experience of the people of Jerusalem who saw God’s power defeat a seemingly invincible enemy.

Romans 8:31: The Apostle Paul’s rhetorical question, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” perfectly encapsulates the theological lesson of 2 Kings 19. The Assyrian army was against Jerusalem, but God was for them. The chapter is a historical demonstration of this profound truth: no power in heaven or on earth can stand against the will of God.

Psalm 115:3-8: This psalm directly addresses the issue of trust in God versus trust in idols. It states that our God is in the heavens and does whatever He pleases, in contrast to idols of silver and gold that have mouths but cannot speak and eyes but cannot see. This psalm could be seen as an anthem for Hezekiah’s prayer, as he laid out the impotence of Sennacherib’s gods and the supreme power of the LORD.