2 Kings 19:36 — Word Study
WLCוַיִּסַּ֣ע וַיֵּ֔לֶךְ וַיָּ֖שָׁב סַנְחֵרִ֣יב מֶֽלֶךְ־ אַשּׁ֑וּר וַיֵּ֖שֶׁב בְּנִֽינְוֵֽה׃
BSASo SennacheribÇanchêrîyb [king of the Assyrians, ruler of Asshur] kingmelek of AssyriaʼAshshûwr [a powerful and dominant empire] broke campnâçaʻ▸ [departed, gave up, and left] He returnedshûwb▸ [to his place, turned back] to NinevehNîynᵉvêh [the capital city, a major metropolis] and stayed thereyâshab▸ [dwelt, lived, and remained, in his residence, at home]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַיִּסַּ֣ע | and he departed | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person masculine singular |
| וַיֵּ֔לֶךְ | and he went | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person masculine singular |
| וַיָּ֖שָׁב | and he returned | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person masculine singular |
| סַנְחֵרִ֣יב | Sennacherib | Noun proper masculine |
| מֶֽלֶךְ־ | [the] king of | Noun common, masculine singular construct |
| אַשּׁ֑וּר | Assyria | Noun proper |
| וַיֵּ֖שֶׁב | and he remained | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person masculine singular |
| בְּנִֽינְוֵֽה׃ | in Nineveh | Preposition, noun proper |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | So Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp and withdrew. He returned to Nineveh and stayed there. |
| KJV | So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh. |
| ASV | So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh. |
| YLT | And Sennacherib king of Asshur journeyeth, and goeth, and turneth back, and dwelleth in Nineveh; |
| WEB | So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, went home, and lived at Nineveh. |
| BBE | So Sennacherib, king of Assyria, went back to his place at Nineveh. |
The translations agree on Sennacherib's actions of breaking camp and withdrawing.
The sentence is structured with a main clause followed by two subordinate actions, detailing Sennacherib's movements.
7 commentators on this verse
Jamieson, Poole, Trapp, Ellicott & more — read them ›
clause
verbנָסַע
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — 2 Kings 19:36
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Retreat of Sennacheribgenerated
2 Kings 19:36 describes the moment when Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, after a failed siege against Jerusalem, broke camp and withdrew to Nineveh. This retreat followed a devastating night where the angel of the LORD struck down a large number of Assyrian troops, demonstrating divine intervention on behalf of Judah. The narrative emphasizes the power of God to protect His people, as seen in the preceding verses.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 Kings 19:7–28 | Behold, I will put a spirit in him so that he will hear a rumor and return to his own land, where I will cause him to fall by the sword.’” |
| 2 | Genesis 10:11–12 | From that land he went forth into Assyria, where he built Nineveh, Rehoboth-Ir, Calah, |
| 3 | Jonah 1:2 | “Get up! Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before Me.” |
| 4 | Jonah 3:2–10 | “Get up! Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message that I give you.” |
| 5 | Nahum 1:1 |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 7 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — נָסַע, vai.yi.Sa'generated
The verb נָסַע (naSa') means to set out or depart, often in the context of beginning a journey. It carries the sense of removing oneself from a location, which is fitting here as Sennacherib breaks camp and leaves the battlefield.
In this verse, the Qal form indicates a simple action of departure. The use of this verb signifies not just a physical movement but also a decisive turning point in Sennacherib's campaign against Judah.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses broke camp and withdrew, a choice echoed by the KJV and ASV.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The verse contains multiple clauses, with the main verb נָסַע (he departed) governing the actions of Sennacherib. The structure is straightforward, detailing his departure, journey, and final resting place.
The sequence of verbs highlights the progression of Sennacherib's actions: departing, going, returning, and remaining, all of which are linked to his military campaign and subsequent retreat.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates נָסַע as ἀπῆρεν, which also means 'he departed.' This choice reflects a straightforward rendering of the Hebrew, emphasizing the act of leaving.
The consistent translation across both texts indicates a shared understanding of Sennacherib's actions in this narrative.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
2 Kings 19:36 tells us that Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, broke camp and withdrew after a failed siege against Jerusalem. He returned to Nineveh, where he remained. This verse highlights the outcome of a significant conflict and God's protection over Jerusalem.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It signifies that Sennacherib decided to abandon his siege against Jerusalem and retreat.
He returned to regroup and stay in his capital after suffering a defeat.
It shows a turning point where his military efforts were thwarted, emphasizing the power of divine intervention.
It illustrates God's protection over Jerusalem and His faithfulness to defend His people.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What can we learn about God's protection in our own lives from Sennacherib's retreat?
- How does understanding the historical context of this event enhance our reading of the text?
- In what ways can we see God's intervention in our circumstances today?
- How does Sennacherib's defeat encourage us in our faith?
Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on 2 Kings 19:36 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentarySo Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh.
Read Robert Jamieson on 2 Kings 19 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleGod spared Sennacherib, not in mercy, but in wrath, reserving him to a more dreadful and shameful death by the hands of his own children.
Read Matthew Poole on 2 Kings 19 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments2 Kings 19:36 So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh.Ver. 36. So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed.] Being glad he had escaped with the skin of his teeth, with the safeguard of his life. But his preservation was but a reservation only; and the rather, because he ascribed it to Nisroch his tutelar god, worshipping him still, notwithstanding his army’ s overthrow. And dwelt at Nineveh.] Where he had not lived fifty-five days before he was butchered, saith Tobit; who also telleth us, that at his return he in a rage slew many of the Israelites in Nineveh. The like whereunto we read of Selymus II, that in revenge of his loss at the battle of…
Read John Trapp on 2 Kings 19 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(36) Departed, and went.—Broke up camp, and marched. There should be a stop at returned.And dwelt at Nineveh.—Or, and he abode in Nineveh, implying that he did not again invade the west. Sennacherib records five subsequent expeditions to the east, north, and south of his dominions, but these obviously were nothing to the peoples of Palestine. (See Notes on 2 Kings 20:12.) Nineveh.—The capital of Assyria, now marked by large mounds on the east bank of the Tigris, opposite Mosul. (The Arabic version has “the king of Mosul,” instead of “the king of Assyria.”) It is usually called Ninua in the inscriptions; sometimes Ninâ, seldom Ninû (Greek, Nîvos.)
Read Charles John Ellicott on 2 Kings 19 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 36. Dwelt at Nineveh.] This was the capital of the Assyrian empire.
Read AdamClarke on 2 Kings 19 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges36. and dwelt at Nineveh] Apparently, and very naturally, deterred from any of his grander schemes by the terrible calamity which had befallen him, Sennacherib went to his own capital. How long a time elapsed between this overthrow around Jerusalem and the death of the king, spoken of in the next verse, we have not sufficient data to decide. The canon of Ptolemy fixes the accession of Sennacherib in b.c. 702, his death in b.c. 680. These dates cannot be made to harmonize with the Scripture chronology.
Read Cambridge on 2 Kings 19 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleDwelt at Nineveh - The meaning is not that Sennacherib made no more expeditions at all, which would he untrue, for his annals show us that he warred in Armenia, Babylonia, Susiana, and Cilicia,
Read Albert Barnes on 2 Kings 19 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
So Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp and withdrew. He returned to Nineveh and stayed there.
So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, went home, and lived at Nineveh.
So Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp and withdrew. He returned to Nineveh and stayed there.
So King Sennacherib of Assyria broke camp and went on his way. He went home and stayed in Nineveh.
Tyndale line
So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh.
So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh.
So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh.
So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh.
So Saneherib King of Asshur departed, and went his way, and returned, and dwelt in Nineueh.
Strictly literal
And Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and abode at Nineveh.
And Sennacherib king of Asshur journeyeth, and goeth, and turneth back, and dwelleth in Nineveh;
And Sennacherib king of Asshur journeys, and goes, and turns back, and dwells in Nineveh;
And Sennacherib the king of Assyria then departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh.
So Sennacherib king of Assyria left Israel and went home and stayed in Nineveh.
From the Latin
And Sennacherib king of the Assyrians departing went away, and he returned and abode in Ninive.
Simplified
Sennacherib, king of Assyria, gave up and left. He returned home to Nineveh and stayed there.
So Sennacherib, king of Assyria, went back to his place at Nineveh.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
Both the Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree on the wording of this verse, with the Septuagint providing a direct correspondence to the Hebrew text. There are no variations in the key terms used.
וַיִּסַּ֣ע וַיֵּ֔לֶךְ וַיָּ֖שָׁב סַנְחֵרִ֣יב מֶֽלֶךְ־ אַשּׁ֑וּר וַיֵּ֖שֶׁב בְּנִֽינְוֵֽה׃
8 of the 8 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in 2 Kings 19:36
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
נָסַע (naca`) means to pull out or up, particularly in the context of setting out on a journey. It encompasses actions like departing, marching, and removing, with nuances related to both physical movement and the wind. The word can also imply causing someone or something to set out or be led away.
נָסַע 147 vb. pull out or up, set out, journey
Qal 137
pull out or up
hence (from pulling up tent-pegs),
set out
depart
journey, march (by stages)
of wind
Niph. be pulled up, removed
Hiph.
cause to set out, lead out
remove
base
H5265 נָסַע pull out or up, set out, journey .. pull out or up
. hence (from pulling up tent-pegs), . set out
. depart
. journey, march (by stages)
. of wind
. be pulled up, removed
. . cause to set out, lead out
. remove
5265 naca` naw-sah'
a primitive root; properly, to pull up, especially the
tent-pins, i.e. start on a journey:--cause to blow, bring,
get, (make to) go (away, forth, forward, onward, out), (take)
journey, march, remove, set aside (forward), X still, be on
his (go their) way.
נָסַע (na.sa) — to set out.
1) to pull out, pull up, set out, journey, remove, set forward, depart
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to pull out or up
1a2) to set out, depart
1a3) to journey, march
1a4) to set forth (of wind)
1b) (Niphal) to be pulled up, be removed, be plucked up
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to cause to set out, lead out, cause to spring up
1c2) to remove, quarry
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singularHc/Vqw3ms
הָלַךְ (halak) means 'to go,' 'come,' or 'walk,' and covers a wide range of literal and figurative uses, including aspects of life and death. It can describe physical movement, moral conduct, and even influence on character. The verb appears in various forms, such as Qal, Piel, and Hithpael, indicating different nuances like leading or traversing.
הָלַךְ 1546 vb. go, come, walk
Qal Impf. usually (629 t.) as if from ילך
lit.
of persons
Also of animals, in similar meanings and combinations
in like manner of inanimate things
The inf. abs. is often used
as in other vbs., quite independently
to intensify meaning of finite form
most noteworthy is the joining of the Inf. abs.
with a following Inf. abs. denoting a simutaneous action or process, and so emphasizing duration or continuance
with a foll. vb. fin. c. ו consec. (rare)
in cases where vb. fin. is foll. by Inf. abs. adj. denoting progress, advance
twice, where vb. fin. is not הלך, but another vb. denoting motion
quite by itself
13 t. the Inf. abs. = Imv. & is followed by Pf. consec.
akin to the use of Inf. abs. are some instances of Pt.
In combination with other verbal forms
Fig.; the most common uses follow; in most the origin in a literal meaning is evident:
pass away, die
H1980 הָלַךְ go, come, walk .Impf. usually (629 t.) as if from ילך . lit. . of persons
. Also of animals, in similar meanings and combinations
. in like manner of inanimate things
. The inf. abs. is often used . as in other vbs., quite independently
. to intensify meaning of finite form
. most noteworthy is the joining of the Inf. abs. . with a following Inf. abs. denoting a simutaneous action or process, and so emphasizing duration or continuance
. with a foll. vb. fin. c. ו consec. (rare)
. in cases where vb. fin. is foll. by Inf. abs. + adj. denoting progress, advance
. twice, where vb. fin. is not הלך, but another vb. denoting motion
. quite by itself
. 13 t. the Inf. abs. = Imv. & is followed by Pf. consec.
. akin to the use of Inf. abs. are some instances of Pt.
. In combination with other verbal forms
1980 halak haw-lak'
akin to 3212; a primitive root; to walk (in a great variety
of applications, literally and figuratively):--(all) along,
apace, behave (self), come, (on) continually, be conversant,
depart, + be eased, enter, exercise (self), + follow, forth,
forward, get, go (about, abroad, along, away, forward, on,
out, up and down), + greater, grow, be wont to haunt, lead,
march, X more and more, move (self), needs, on, pass (away),
be at the point, quite, run (along), + send, speedily, spread,
still, surely, + tale-bearer, + travel(-ler), walk (abroad,
on, to and fro, up and down, to places), wander, wax,
(way-)faring man, X be weak, whirl.
see HEBREW for 03212
הָלַךְ (ha.lakh) — to go: went.
: went/go[away]
1) to go, walk, come
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to go, walk, come, depart, proceed, move, go away
1a2) to die, live, manner of life (fig.)
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to walk
1b2) to walk (fig.)
1c) (Hithpael)
1c1) to traverse
1c2) to walk about
1d) (Niphal) to lead, bring, lead away, carry, cause to walk
הָלַךְ (ha.lakh) — to go: come.
: come[nearer]
1) to go, walk, come
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to go, walk, come, depart, proceed, move, go away
1a2) to die, live, manner of life (fig.)
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to walk
1b2) to walk (fig.)
1c) (Hithpael)
1c1) to traverse
1c2) to walk about
1d) (Niphal) to lead, bring, lead away, carry, cause to walk
הָלַךְ (ha.lakh) — to go: walk.
: walk/move
1) to go, walk, come
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to go, walk, come, depart, proceed, move, go away
1a2) to die, live, manner of life (fig.)
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to walk
1b2) to walk (fig.)
1c) (Hithpael)
1c1) to traverse
Hc/Vqw3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singularHc/Vqw3ms
The Hebrew word שׁוּב (shuwb) means to turn back or return, covering a wide range of contexts including physical, spiritual, and relational. It can denote returning to a previous state, repenting, or even apostatizing. The entries describe various forms and uses, including bringing back, restoring, and refreshing. Notably, it can also imply a change in course of action.
שׁוּב 1056 vb. turn back, return
Qal 683;—turn back, return:
turn back
return, come or go back
esp. return unto
of dying
of revival from death
fig. of human relations:
return to leader, king
= change so as to appoach (in purpose, desire)
turn, i.e. resort to
return to a physical condition
abs. = change course of action
fig., specif. of spiritual relations:
turn back from God = apostatize
of י׳, turn away
turn back to God (= seek penitently)
abs. repent
turn back from evil
of י׳
of י׳, return (to shew favour)
of inanimate things (sts. personified, or treated as things of life):
denoting repetition, etc.
trans.
Pō‛l.
bring back
fig. restore, refresh
restore, repair
lead away (enticingly)
shew turning = apostatize
Hiph. 353 cause to return, bring back
bring back into bondage
put back
= draw back
= give back, restore
= relinguish
= give in payment, requital
bring one back (from dead)
bring back heart
= refresh
H7725 שׁוּב turn back, return .—turn back, return: . turn back
. return, come or go back
. esp. return unto
. . of dying
. of revival from death
. fig. of human relations: . return to leader, king
. = change so as to appoach (in purpose, desire)
. turn, i.e. resort to
. return to a physical condition
. abs. = change course of action
. fig., specif. of spiritual relations: . turn back from God = apostatize
. of י׳, turn away
. turn back to God (= seek penitently)
. abs. repent
. turn back from evil
. of י׳
. of י׳, return (to shew favour)
. of inanimate things (sts. personified, or treated as things of life):
. denoting repetition, etc.
. trans.
. . bring back
. . fig. restore, refresh
. restore, repair
. lead away (enticingly)
. shew turning = apostatize
. cause to return, bring back . . bring back into bondage
. put back
. = draw back
. = give back, restore
. = relinguish
. = give in payment, requital
7725 shuwb shoob
a primitive root; to turn back (hence, away) transitively or
intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily
with the idea of return to the starting point); generally to
retreat; often adverbial, again:--((break, build, circumcise,
dig, do anything, do evil, feed, lay down, lie down, lodge,
make, rejoice, send, take, weep)) X again, (cause to) answer
(+ again), X in any case (wise), X at all, averse, bring
(again, back, home again), call (to mind), carry again (back),
cease, X certainly, come again (back), X consider, +
continually, convert, deliver (again), + deny, draw back,
fetch home again, X fro, get (oneself) (back) again, X give
(again), go again (back, home), (go) out, hinder, let, (see)
more, X needs, be past, X pay, pervert, pull in again, put
(again, up again), recall, recompense, recover, refresh,
relieve, render (again), requite, rescue, restore, retrieve,
שׁוּב (shuv) — to return: return.
: return
1) to return, turn back
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to turn back, return
1a1a) to turn back
1a1b) to return, come or go back
1a1c) to return unto, go back, come back
1a1d) of dying
1a1e) of human relations (fig)
1a1f) of spiritual relations (fig)
1a1f1) to turn back (from God), apostatise
1a1f2) to turn away (of God)
1a1f3) to turn back (to God), repent
1a1f4) turn back (from evil)
1a1g) of inanimate things
1a1h) in repetition
1b) (Polel)
1b1) to bring back
1b2) to restore, refresh, repair (fig)
1b3) to lead away (enticingly)
1b4) to show turning, apostatise
1c) (Pual) restored (participle)
1d) (Hiphil) to cause to return, bring back
1d1) to bring back, allow to return, put back, draw back, give back, restore, relinquish, give in payment
1d2) to bring back, refresh, restore
1d3) to bring back, report to, answer
1d4) to bring back, make requital, pay (as recompense)
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singularHc/Vqw3ms
סַנְחֵרִיב (san-khay-reeb) refers to Sennacherib, an Assyrian king who ruled from 705-681 BC. He is noted for his attack on Judah during King Hezekiah's reign, as mentioned in 2 Kings 18:13. The name means "Sin multiplied brothers," with Sin being a reference to the moon. He was the son of Sargon and father of Esarhaddon.
סַנְחֵרִיב n.pr.m. Sennacherib (= Sin-aḩê-irba, Sin multiplied brothers);—son of Sargon and father of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria
base
H5576 סַנְחֵרִיב Sennacherib (= Sin-aḩê-irba, Sin multiplied brothers);—son of Sargon and father of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria
5576 Cancheriyb san-khay-reeb'
of foreign origin; Sancherib, an Assyrian
king:--Sennacherib.
סַנְחֵרִיב (san.che.riv) — Sennacherib.
A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Ki.18.13;
father of: Adrammelech (H0152H), Sharezer (H8272) and Esarhaddon (H0634); also called Sargon at Isa.20.1;
Also named: sar.gon (סַרְגוֹן "Sargon" H5623)
§ Sennacherib = "Sin multiplied brothers" (Sin = the moon)
son of Sargon, father of Esarhaddon, and king of Assyria from 705-681 BC; attacked Judah during the reign of king Hezekiah and Judah was delivered when in response to the prayer of Hezekiah an angel smote 185,000 Assyrian soldiers
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
se-nak'-er-ib (cancheribh; Sennachereim, Assyrian Sin-akhierba, "the moon-god Sin has increased the brothers"): Sennacherib (704-682 BC) ascended the throne of Assyria after the death of his father Sargon. Appreciating the fact that Babylon would be difficult to control, instead of endeavoring to conciliate the people he ignored them. The Babylonians, being indignant, crowned a man of humble origin, Marduk-zakir-shum by name. He ruled only a month, having been driven out by the irrepressible Merodach-baladan, who again appeared on the scene.
In order to fortify himself against Assyria the latter sent an embassy to Hezekiah, apparently for the purpose of inspiring the West to rebel against Assyria (2Ki 20:12-19).
Sennacherib
Sin (the god) sends many brothers, son of Sargon, whom he succeeded on the throne of Assyria (B.C. 705), in the 23rd year of Hezekiah. “Like the Persian Xerxes, he was weak and vainglorious, cowardly under reverse, and cruel and boastful in success.” He first set himself to break up the powerful combination of princes who were in league against him. Among these was Hezekiah, who had entered into an alliance with Egypt against Assyria. He accordingly led a very powerful army of at least 200,000 men into Judea, and devastated the land on every side, taking and destroying many cities (2 Kings 18:13-16; comp. Isa. 22, 24, 29, and 2 Chr. 32:1-8). His own account of this invasion, as given in the Assyrian annals, is in these words: “Because Hezekiah, king of Judah, would not…
King of Assyria, son and successor of Shalmaneser, began to reign B. C. 710, and reigned but a few years. Hezekiah king of Judah having shaken off the yoke of the Assyrians, by which Ahaz his father had suffered under Tigloth-pileser, Sennacherib marched an army against him, and took all the strong cities of Judah. Hezekiah, seeing he had nothing left but Jerusalem, which he perhaps found it difficult to preserve, sent ambassadors to Sennacherib, then besieging and destroying Lachish, to make submission. Sennacherib accepted his tribute, but refused to depart, and sent Rabshakeh with an insolent message to Jerusalem. Hezekiah entreated the Lord, who sent a destroying angel against the Assyrian army, and slew in one night 185,000 men. Sennacherib returned with all speed to Nineveh, and turned his arms against the nations south of Assyria, and afterwards towards the north. But his career…
bramble of destruction
The Hebrew word מֶ֫לֶךְ (*melek*) means 'king.' It is derived from a root that suggests royalty. The term appears in various contexts, including references to specific kings and locations, such as the 'King's Highway' in Numbers 20:17 and the 'King's Valley' in Genesis 14:17. The lexicons note its Aramaic equivalent and mention its use in the context of individuals like Hammelech in Jeremiah.
מֶ֫לֶךְ 2513 n.m. king
base
H4428 מֶ֫לֶךְ king
4428 melek meh'-lek
from 4427; a king:--king, royal.
see HEBREW for 04427
מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — king.
1) king
Aramaic equivalent: me.lekh (מֶ֫לֶךְ "king" H4430)
הַמֶּלֶךְ (me.lekh) — `the king`.
'the king' or a name, Hammelech in KJV of Jer.36.26; 38.6- a man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at Jer.36.26;
father of: Jerahmeel (H3396I) and Malchijah (H4441H); also translated "the king";
§ A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at Jer.36.26;
father of: Jerahmeel (H3396I) and Malchijah (H4441H); also translated "the king";
מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — King's.
King's (Highway) (Num.20.17)
מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — King's.
Another name of she.lach (שֶׁ֫לַח "Shelah" H7975A)
מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — Milcom.
Another name of mo.lekh (מֹ֫לֶךְ "Molech" H4432)
מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — King's.
King's (Valley) (Gen.14.17)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular constructHNcmsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
אַשּׁוּר (Ashshuwr) refers to Assyria, the ancient empire and its people, as well as Asshur, the second son of Shem. The term encompasses the region, the nation, and the descendants of Asshur. It is linked to the notion of success and is first mentioned in Genesis 10:22.
אַשּׁוּר n.pr.gent. & terr. Asshur, Assyria
base
H804 אַשּׁוּר Asshur, Assyria
804 'Ashshuwr ash-shoor'
or iAshshur {ash-shoor'}; apparently from 833 (in the sense
of successful); Ashshur, the second son of Shem; also his
descendants and the country occupied by them (i.e. Assyria),
its region and its empire:--Asshur, Assur, Assyria,
Assyrians. See 838.
see HEBREW for 0833
see HEBREW for 0838
אַשּׁוּר (ash.shur) — Assyria.
§ Asshur or Assyria = "a step"
the nation, Assyria
the land, Assyria or Asshur
אַשּׁוּר (ash.shur) — Asshur.
A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.10.22;
son of: Shem (H8035);
brother of: Elam (H5867C), Arpachshad (H0775), Lud (H3865) and Aram (H0758)
§ Asshur or Assyria = "a step"
1) the second son of Shem, eponymous ancestor of the Assyrians
2) the people of Assyria
3) the nation, Assyria
4) the land, Assyria or Asshur
N-proper — Noun properHNpl
a-sir'-i-a:
I. GEOGRAPHY
II. EARLY HISTORY
III. CLIMATE AND PRODUCTIONS
IV. POPULATION
V. TRADE AND LAW
VI. ART
VII. MECHANICS
VIII. FURNITURE, POTTERY AND EMBROIDERY
IX. LANGUAGE, LITERATURE AND SCIENCE
X. GOVERNMENT AND ARMY
XI. RELIGION
XII. EXCAVATIONS
XIII. CHRONOLOGY
XIV. HISTORY
1. Early Period
2. The Older Empire
3. The Second Empire
4. Last Period and Fall of Empire
LITERATURE
Assyria, a Greek name formed from Asshur ('ashshur; 'Assour; Assyrian Assur): The primitive capital of the country.
I. Geography.
The origin of the city (now Kala'at Shergat), which was built on the western bank of the Tigris between the Upper and Lower Zab, went back to pre-Sem times, and the meaning of the name was forgotten (see Ge 2:14, where the Hiddekel or Tigris is said to flow on the eastern side of Asshur). To the North of the junction of the Tigris and Upper Zab…
Assyria
The name derived from the city Asshur on the Tigris, the original capital of the country, was originally a colony from Babylonia, and was ruled by viceroys from that kingdom. It was a mountainous region lying to the north of Babylonia, extending along the Tigris as far as to the high mountain range of Armenia, the Gordiaean or Carduchian mountains. It was founded in B.C. 1700 under Bel-kap-kapu, and became an independent and a conquering power, and shook off the yoke of its Babylonian masters. It subdued the whole of Northern Asia. The Assyrians were Semites (Gen. 10:22), but in process of time non-Semite tribes mingled with the inhabitants. They were a military people, the “Romans of the East.”
A celebrated country and empire, had its name from Ahur, or Assur, the second son of Shem, who settled in that region, Ge 10:22. In the Bible the name Assyria is employed in three different significations: namely, 1. Assyria ancient and proper lay east of the Tigris, between Armenia, Susiana, and Media, and appears to have comprehended the six provinces attributed to it by Ptolemy, namely, Arrapachis, Adiabene, Arbelis, (now Erbil,) Calachene, (Heb. Halah? 2Ki 17:6,) Apollonias, and Sittacne. It is the region which mostly comprises the modern Kurdistan and the pashalik of Mosul. Of these provinces, Adiabene was the most fertile and important; in it was situated Nineveh the capital; and the term Assyria, in its most narrow sense, seems sometimes to have meant only this province.…
country of Assur or Ashur
יָשַׁב (yashab) is a Hebrew verb meaning to sit, remain, or dwell. It encompasses a range of actions from simply sitting down to more complex ideas like establishing a home or causing a place to be inhabited. The entries indicate various forms, including Qal (to sit), Niphal (to be inhabited), and Hiphil (to cause to dwell). There is an Aramaic equivalent, יְתִב (ye.tiv), meaning 'to dwell'.
יָשַׁב 1090 vb. sit, remain, dwell
Qal
sit
sit, sit down
sit down
sit = be set (as a jewel)
remain, stay, tarry
with special emphasis of qualifying phr.
dwell, have one’s abode
of a land or city, sit, abide, seated in its place, fig. for be inhabited
Niph. be inhabited, of land
Pi. and they shall set their encampments in thee
Hiph.
cause to sit
cause to abide
cause to dwell
cause cities to be inhabited
marry (prop. give a dwelling to)
Hoph. and ye be made to dwell alone in the midst of the land
base
H3427 יָשַׁב sit, remain, dwell
3427 yashab yaw-shab'
a primitive root; properly, to sit down (specifically as
judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to
remain; causatively, to settle, to marry:--(make to)
abide(-ing), continue, (cause to, make to) dwell(-ing), ease
self, endure, establish, X fail, habitation, haunt, (make to)
inhabit(-ant), make to keep (house), lurking, X marry(-ing),
(bring again to) place, remain, return, seat, set(- tle),
(down-)sit(-down, still, -ting down, -ting (place) -uate),
take, tarry.
יָשַׁב (ya.shav) — to dwell.
1) to dwell, remain, sit, abide
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to sit, sit down
1a2) to be set
1a3) to remain, stay
1a4) to dwell, have one's abode
1b) (Niphal) to be inhabited
1c) (Piel) to set, place
1d) (Hiphil)
1d1) to cause to sit
1d2) to cause to abide, set
1d3) to cause to dwell
1d4) to cause (cities) to be inhabited
1d5) to marry (give an dwelling to)
1e) (Hophal)
1e1) to be inhabited
1e2) to make to dwell
Aramaic equivalent: ye.tiv (יְתִב "to dwell" H3488)
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singularHc/Vqw3ms
נִינְוֵה (Niynveh) refers to Nineveh, the capital of Assyria. The name is of foreign origin and is associated with the phrase 'abode of Ninus.' It is located on the east bank of the Tigris River, approximately 550 miles from its mouth and 250 miles north of Babylon.
נִינְוֵה n.pr.loc. Nineveh, capital of Assyria
base
H5210 נִינְוֵה Nineveh, capital of Assyria
5210 Niynveh nee-nev-ay'
of foreign origin; Nineveh, the capital of
Assyria:--Nineveh.
נִינְוֵה (nin.veh) — Nineveh.
§ Nineveh = "abode of Ninus"
capital of the ancient kingdom of Assyria; located on the east bank of the Tigris river, 550 miles (880 km) from its mouth and 250 miles (400 km) north of Babylon
Prep | N-proper — Preposition · noun properHR/Npl
nin'-e-ve (nineweh; Nineue, Nineui; Greek and Roman writers, Ninos): I. BEGINNINGS, NAME, POSITION
1. First Biblical Mention
2. Etymology of the Name
3. Position on the Tigris
II. NINEVEH AND ITS SURROUNDINGS
1. Its Walls
2. Principal Mounds and Gateways
3. Extent and Population within the Walls
4. Extent outside the Walls
5. Calah, Resen and Rehoboth-Ir
6. Khorsabad
7. Sherif Khan and Selamieh
8. Nimroud
III. PALACES AT NINEVEH PROPER
1. The Palace of Sennacherib
2. The Palace of Assur-bani-apli
IV. SENNACHERIB'S DESCRIPTION OF NINEVEH
1. The Walls
2. The Gates--Northwest
3. The Gates--South and East
4. The Gates--West
5. The Outer Wall: the Plantations
6. The Water-Supply, etc.
7. How the Bas-Reliefs Illustrate the King's Description
8. Nineveh the Later Capital
V. LAST DAYS AND FALL OF NINEVEH
LITERATURE
I. Beginnings, Name, Position.
1. First Biblical Mention:
Nineveh
First mentioned in Gen. 10:11, which is rendered in the Revised Version, “He [i.e., Nimrod] went forth into Assyria and builded Nineveh.” It is not again noticed till the days of Jonah, when it is described (Jonah 3:3; 4:11) as a great and populous city, the flourishing capital of the Assyrian empire (2 Kings 19:36; Isa. 37:37). The book of the prophet Nahum is almost exclusively taken up with prophetic denunciations against this city. Its ruin and utter desolation are foretold (Nah.1:14; 3:19, etc.). Zephaniah also (2:13-15) predicts its destruction along with the fall of the empire of which it was the capital.…
(abode of Ninus), the capital of the ancient kingdom and empire of Assyria. The name appears to be compounded from that of an Assyrian deity "Nin," corresponding, it is conjectured, with the Greek Hercules, and occurring in the names of several Assyrian kings, as in "Ninus," the mythic founder, according to Greek tradition of the city. Nineveh is situated on the eastern bank of the river Tigris, 50 miles from its mouth and 250 miles north of Babylon. It is first mentioned in the Old Testament in connection with the primitive dispersement and migrations of the human race. Asshur, or according to the marginal reading, which is generally preferred, Nimrod is there described, (Genesis 10:11) as extending his kingdom from the land of Shinar or Babylonia, in the south, to Assyria in the north and founding four cities, of which the most…
Dwelling of Ninus, the metropolis of ancient Assyria, called by the Greeks and Romans "the great Ninus;" situated on the east bank of the Tigris, opposite and below the modern Mosul. Its origin is traced to the times near the flood. See NIMROD. For nearly fifteen centuries afterwards it is not mentioned. In the books of Jonah, and Nahum it is described as an immense city, three days’ journey in circuit, containing more than one hundred and twenty thousand young children, or probably six hundred thousand souls. It contained "much cattle," and numerous parks, garden groves, etc. Its inhabitants were wealthy, warlike, and far advanced in civilization. It had numerous strongholds with gates and bars; and had multiplied its merchants above the stars: its crowned princes were as locusts, and its captains as grasshoppers. With this description agrees that of the historian Diodorus Siculus, who…