2 kings 18:37 - 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.
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What does "2 kings 18:37" mean?
This verse describes a delegation from King Hezekiah of Judah reporting back to him after a tense meeting with Rabshakeh, a high-ranking official of the Assyrian army. Let's break it down:
"Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household...": Eliakim was Hezekiah's chief steward or prime minister, responsible for managing the royal palace and household. He was a high-ranking official in Hezekiah's government.
"...came with Shebna the scribe...": Shebna was a royal secretary or scribe. He was likely responsible for writing and managing official documents. Earlier in the narrative (Isaiah 22), Shebna is condemned for his pride and ambition, and demoted from a position of power.
"...and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder...": Joah was the royal recorder or chronicler. He was responsible for keeping official records of events in the kingdom.
"...to Hezekiah with their clothes torn...": Tearing one's clothes was a traditional Jewish expression of grief, mourning, distress, or profound shock and dismay. This shows that they were deeply troubled by what they had heard.
"...and told him Rabshakeh’s words.": They reported to King Hezekiah the words that Rabshakeh had spoken. Rabshakeh had just delivered a brazen and blasphemous speech on behalf of the Assyrian king Sennacherib, taunting Hezekiah, mocking the God of Israel, and urging the people of Jerusalem to surrender.
In essence, the verse means:
King Hezekiah's top officials – his prime minister (Eliakim), his scribe (Shebna), and his recorder (Joah) – returned to him in a state of distress, indicated by their torn clothes. They had just heard Rabshakeh's words and were overwhelmed by the Assyrian official's threats, blasphemies, and demands for surrender. They were bringing this disturbing news to Hezekiah for him to consider and decide how to respond.
The verse is a moment of high tension, signaling the gravity of the crisis facing Jerusalem. Hezekiah now had to grapple with the Assyrian threat and determine how to protect his people and his kingdom. The torn clothing visually underscores the weight of the situation.
2 kings 18:37 - 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.
What does "2 kings 18:37" mean?
This verse describes a delegation from King Hezekiah of Judah reporting back to him after a tense meeting with Rabshakeh, a high-ranking official of the Assyrian army. Let's break it down:
"Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household...": Eliakim was Hezekiah's chief steward or prime minister, responsible for managing the royal palace and household. He was a high-ranking official in Hezekiah's government.
"...came with Shebna the scribe...": Shebna was a royal secretary or scribe. He was likely responsible for writing and managing official documents. Earlier in the narrative (Isaiah 22), Shebna is condemned for his pride and ambition, and demoted from a position of power.
"...and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder...": Joah was the royal recorder or chronicler. He was responsible for keeping official records of events in the kingdom.
"...to Hezekiah with their clothes torn...": Tearing one's clothes was a traditional Jewish expression of grief, mourning, distress, or profound shock and dismay. This shows that they were deeply troubled by what they had heard.
"...and told him Rabshakeh’s words.": They reported to King Hezekiah the words that Rabshakeh had spoken. Rabshakeh had just delivered a brazen and blasphemous speech on behalf of the Assyrian king Sennacherib, taunting Hezekiah, mocking the God of Israel, and urging the people of Jerusalem to surrender.
In essence, the verse means:
King Hezekiah's top officials – his prime minister (Eliakim), his scribe (Shebna), and his recorder (Joah) – returned to him in a state of distress, indicated by their torn clothes. They had just heard Rabshakeh's words and were overwhelmed by the Assyrian official's threats, blasphemies, and demands for surrender. They were bringing this disturbing news to Hezekiah for him to consider and decide how to respond.
The verse is a moment of high tension, signaling the gravity of the crisis facing Jerusalem. Hezekiah now had to grapple with the Assyrian threat and determine how to protect his people and his kingdom. The torn clothing visually underscores the weight of the situation.