Lexical Summary Sancherib: Sennacherib Original Word: סַנְחֵרִיב Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Sennacherib Of foreign origin; Sancherib, an Assyrian king -- Sennacherib. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof foreign origin Definition a king of Assyr. NASB Translation Sennacherib (13). Brown-Driver-Briggs סַנְחֵרִיב proper name, masculine Sennacherib (=Sin-a—ê-irba, Sin multiplied brothers, SchrCOT 2 Kings 18:13); — son of Sargon and father of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria ( B.C. 705-681; compare TieleGeschichte. 285 ff.); 2 Kings 18:13; 2 Kings 19:16,20,36 = Isaiah 36:1; Isaiah 37:17; Isaiah 37:21; Isaiah 37:37; 2Chron 32:1; 32:2; 32:9; 32:10; 32:22 (all as above, except סַנְחֵרִב 2 Kings 19:20 ); (ᵐ5 Σενναχηρειμ, ᵐ5L Σενναχειρειμ; Σεναχήριβος JosAnt. x. 1 ff.; Σαναχάρβον (accusative) Herodotii. 141. סַנָּה see קִרְיַתסַֿנָּה. Topical Lexicon Name and Historical Setting Sennacherib, son of Sargon II, reigned over the Neo-Assyrian Empire from 705–681 BC. His rule was marked by aggressive military campaigns aimed at consolidating Assyrian supremacy in the Levant and Mesopotamia. Scripture introduces him at the height of his power, depicting the Assyrian monarch as the chief human antagonist during the reign of Hezekiah of Judah. Occurrences in Scripture Sennacherib is named thirteen times: 2 Kings 18:13; 19:16, 20, 36; 2 Chronicles 32:1, 2, 9, 10, 22; Isaiah 36:1; 37:17, 21, 37. These references appear in three parallel historical accounts—Kings, Chronicles, and Isaiah—providing a composite narrative of a single decisive event: the Assyrian invasion of Judah ca. 701 BC. The Campaign Against Judah 2 Kings 18:13 opens the biblical record: “In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, Sennacherib king of Assyria attacked all the fortified cities of Judah and captured them”. Lachish fell, and Hezekiah initially attempted to appease the invader with tribute (2 Kings 18:14-16). Sennacherib nevertheless dispatched the Rabshakeh to demand unconditional surrender from Jerusalem, accompanied by blasphemous taunts against the God of Israel (2 Kings 18:17-35; Isaiah 36). Hezekiah’s Prayer and Isaiah’s Oracle Faced with existential threat, Hezekiah sought the Lord in the temple and appealed to Isaiah. “Incline Your ear, O LORD, and hear! Open Your eyes, O LORD, and see! Listen to the words that Sennacherib has sent to defy the living God” (2 Kings 19:16; cf. Isaiah 37:17). Isaiah’s prophetic reply assured divine protection: “Thus says the LORD concerning Sennacherib king of Assyria: ‘He will not enter this city’ ” (2 Kings 19:32; cf. Isaiah 37:33). Divine Judgment and Retreat That night the angel of the LORD struck down 185,000 in the Assyrian camp (2 Kings 19:35). “So Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp and withdrew. He returned to Nineveh and stayed there” (2 Kings 19:36; Isaiah 37:37). Years later he was assassinated by two of his sons while worshiping in the temple of Nisroch his god (2 Kings 19:37), underscoring the impotence of idols contrasted with the living God who defends His people. Theological Significance • Sovereignty of God: The episode magnifies the Lord’s absolute rule over nations (Isaiah 37:26). Archaeological Corroboration Sennacherib’s annals (Taylor Prism) boast, “As for Hezekiah the Judahite, I shut him up like a caged bird in Jerusalem.” The inscription confirms the siege but omits the city’s conquest, aligning with the biblical outcome. The Lachish reliefs in Nineveh likewise illustrate the fall of that stronghold, validating the scriptural sequence of events. Prophetic Echoes Isaiah’s oracle against Sennacherib foreshadows future deliverances of Zion (Isaiah 37:32). The pattern—enemy nations gathered, divine intervention, God’s glory revealed—anticipates ultimate eschatological victory when all nations will acknowledge the Lord’s supremacy. Lessons for the Church 1. Stand firm when truth is ridiculed; God vindicates His name. Forms and Transliterations סַנְחֵרִ֑יב סַנְחֵרִ֔יב סַנְחֵרִ֖יב סַנְחֵרִ֣יב סַנְחֵרִ֤יב סַנְחֵרִ֥ב סַנְחֵרִ֥יב סַנְחֵרִ֨יב סנחרב סנחריב san·ḥê·riḇ san·ḥê·rîḇ sancheRiv sanḥêriḇ sanḥêrîḇLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 2 Kings 18:13 HEB: חִזְקִיָּ֗ה עָלָ֞ה סַנְחֵרִ֤יב מֶֽלֶךְ־ אַשּׁוּר֙ NAS: Hezekiah, Sennacherib king KJV: Hezekiah did Sennacherib king INT: Hezekiah came Sennacherib king of Assyria 2 Kings 19:16 2 Kings 19:20 2 Kings 19:36 2 Chronicles 32:1 2 Chronicles 32:2 2 Chronicles 32:9 2 Chronicles 32:10 2 Chronicles 32:22 Isaiah 36:1 Isaiah 37:17 Isaiah 37:21 Isaiah 37:37 13 Occurrences |
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