Lexical Summary Tirhaqah: Tirhakah Original Word: תִּרְהָקָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Tirhakah Of foreign derivation; Tirhakah, a king of Kush -- Tirhakah. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof foreign origin Definition a king of Eg. NASB Translation Tirhakah (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs תִּרְהָקָה proper name, masculine king of Egypt, of Ethiopian Dynasty: 2 Kings 19:9 = Isaiah 37:9; Θαρακα; ᵐ5L Θαρθακ; = Egyptian T-h-r-‡, Assyrian Tar‡u, SteindBAS i. 345 f. COT2Kings 19:9 WiedÄg. Geschichte. 590 ff. BrugschEgypt under Pharaohs (new ed. 1891), 410 ff. WMMEncy. Bib. TIRHAKAH GriffithHast. DB ID. תְּרוּמָה, תְּרוּמִיָּה see רום. תְּרוּעָה see [רוע]. תְּרוּפָה see רוף. Topical Lexicon Name and IdentityTirhakah was a Cushite king who later ruled as Pharaoh over Egypt during the Twenty-fifth (Nubian) Dynasty, generally dated to the late eighth and early seventh centuries B.C. Scripture presents him as a sovereign of notable military capacity whose movements affected the balance of power between Egypt, Cush, and Assyria. His appearance in the biblical record reveals God’s providential use of international politics to vindicate His word spoken through Isaiah and to protect the Davidic kingdom. Biblical References In both verses Tirhakah is introduced in the same historical episode: “Now Sennacherib received a report that Tirhakah the king of Cush was marching out to fight against him” (2 Kings 19:9). Historical Setting The Assyrian king Sennacherib had already subdued much of Judah and was besieging Jerusalem in 701 B.C. While the city awaited either surrender or divine intervention, news reached Sennacherib that Tirhakah was advancing from the south. Although Assyrian records mention earlier clashes with Egypt and Cush, Scripture highlights this particular moment because it occasioned a renewed blasphemous challenge from Sennacherib and a further opportunity for Isaiah to declare the Lord’s deliverance (2 Kings 19:10–19; Isaiah 37:10–20). Whether Tirhakah’s forces actually engaged the Assyrians or merely threatened to do so, the report was enough to disrupt Sennacherib’s campaign and underscored the Lord’s timing in reversing Judah’s fortunes. Role in God’s Deliverance of Judah Isaiah had prophesied that the Assyrian king would “not enter this city, or shoot an arrow here” (2 Kings 19:32). The sudden appearance of Tirhakah’s army—an external, unexpected pressure on Assyria—was one means by which God orchestrated events so that His promise stood unbroken. The angelic destruction of one hundred eighty-five thousand Assyrian soldiers (2 Kings 19:35) followed closely upon Sennacherib’s renewed threats, tying Judah’s rescue to both divine intervention and the geopolitical distraction caused by Tirhakah. Thus the Cushite king becomes a secondary yet significant instrument in demonstrating the sovereignty of the Lord over Judah’s enemies. Foreshadowing of God’s Universal Reign The inclusion of a Cushite ruler in the narrative anticipates broader biblical themes. Isaiah had already foretold a day when people from Cush would bring tribute to Zion (Isaiah 18:7). Later prophets envision Egypt and Assyria worshiping alongside Israel (Isaiah 19:23–25; Zephaniah 3:10). Tirhakah’s cameo, therefore, subtly prefigures the gathering of the nations under the Messiah, where former adversaries become fellow worshipers (Ephesians 2:11–18). Archaeological Confirmation Assyrian annals refer to battles at Eltekeh and other locales against an Egyptian–Cushite coalition led by a figure scholars identify as Tirhakah (recorded as Taharqa). Egyptian monuments at Karnak and Jebel Barkal also celebrate his building projects and military ventures. Such extra-biblical data corroborate the historical reality of a Nubian dynasty controlling Egypt during Isaiah’s lifetime and lend independent support to the biblical chronology. Lessons for Contemporary Believers 1. God governs global affairs to protect His covenant people and to vindicate His word (Proverbs 21:1). Related Scriptures Isaiah 18:1–7; Isaiah 19:1–25; Psalm 46; 2 Chronicles 32:20–22; Romans 15:8–12. Forms and Transliterations תִּרְהָ֤קָה תרהקה tir·hā·qāh tirHakah tirhāqāhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 2 Kings 19:9 HEB: וַיִּשְׁמַ֗ע אֶל־ תִּרְהָ֤קָה מֶֽלֶך־ כּוּשׁ֙ NAS: concerning Tirhakah king KJV: say of Tirhakah king INT: heard concerning Tirhakah king of Cush Isaiah 37:9 2 Occurrences |
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