Why did the Assyrian king send such a large army in 2 Kings 18:17? Historical Setting and Chronology According to Ussher’s chronology, the events of 2 Kings 18 occur c. 701 BC, in the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah of Judah (2 Kings 18:13). Sennacherib had ascended the Assyrian throne in 705 BC and spent his early campaigns suppressing revolts from Babylon to the Levant. Judah lay on the land bridge between Mesopotamia and Egypt; any rebellion there threatened Assyrian control of the lucrative Via Maris and King’s Highway trade routes. Political Backdrop: Hezekiah’s Revolt Hezekiah had “rebelled against the king of Assyria and would not serve him” (2 Kings 18:7). He stopped paying the heavy tribute imposed by Sargon II (Sennacherib’s father), fortified cities (2 Chronicles 32:5), and aligned diplomatically with Egypt (Isaiah 30:1–5). Sennacherib’s annals on the Taylor Prism (British Museum, BM 91-083) list Judah among the “rebellious kings” who withheld taxes. To Assyria, revolt anywhere required an overwhelming demonstration of force everywhere. Assyrian Military Doctrine and Propaganda Assyrian policy combined rapid movement, overwhelming numbers, and psychological terror. Royal inscriptions repeatedly boast of “multitudes” of troops razing towns, impaling leaders, and deporting populations. A large army served four tactical purposes: 1. Encircle and isolate fortified sites. 2. Carry massive siege trains (battering rams, earthen ramps, archers). 3. Field reserve units against Egyptian intervention. 4. Project terror—breaking will before breaking walls. This policy is corroborated by the Lachish Reliefs (British Museum, Room 10a), which depict Assyrian armies leveling the Judean stronghold of Lachish—the very staging point named in 2 Kings 18:14 and 17. Strategic Importance of Jerusalem Jerusalem sat atop steep ridges with newly hewn water tunnels (2 Kings 20:20) and fresh defensive walls. Even a modest garrison could hold out for months. Assyria therefore needed a force large enough to: • Invest the entire circumference; • Sustain a protracted siege; • Deter counter-attacks from allies such as Egypt’s 25th (Kushite) Dynasty (cf. Isaiah 36:6; 37:9). Composition of the Delegation and Army “The king of Assyria sent the Tartan, the Rabsaris, and the Rabshakeh, along with a great army, from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem” (2 Kings 18:17). • Tartan – commander-in-chief (Akkadian turtānu). • Rabsaris – chief eunuch/officer (Akkadian rab ša rēši). • Rabshakeh – chief cupbearer/spokesman (Akkadian rab šāqê). Despatching three top officials signaled that Sennacherib regarded Jerusalem as a matter of empire-level urgency; their titles guaranteed authority to negotiate, threaten, or assault. Psychological Warfare on the Wall Rabshakeh’s speech (2 Kings 18:19–35) illustrates why numbers mattered. He mocked Judah’s military weakness: “Have I now come up without the LORD’s approval to destroy it?” (v. 25). A massed host visible from the ramparts lent credibility to his taunts, pressuring Hezekiah to surrender without battle. Ancient Near Eastern warfare valued such displays; destroying morale was cheaper than destroying masonry. Archaeological Corroboration of a Large Force 1. Taylor Prism: Sennacherib claims to have shut Hezekiah “like a caged bird” in Jerusalem after capturing forty-six fortified Judean towns—consistent with a mobile, multi-division army. 2. Lachish Reliefs: show chariots, archers, siege engines, camp followers—confirming logistical scale. 3. Mass military camps discovered at Tel Lachish and Tell es-Safī (biblical Gath) contain Assyrian arrowheads, sling stones, and food dumps sufficient for tens of thousands. Theological Perspective: Divine Rod, Divine Rescue Isaiah 10:5 calls Assyria “the rod of My anger.” The large army fulfilled God’s chastening purpose for Judah’s prior syncretism (2 Kings 18:4). Yet the same chapter promises Assyria’s downfall. In answer to Hezekiah’s prayer, “the angel of the LORD went out and struck 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians” (2 Kings 19:35). A vast army magnified the miracle; only an outsized threat showcased an outsized deliverance, directing glory solely to Yahweh (2 Kings 19:34). Prophetic and Messianic Continuity God’s protection of Zion preserved the Davidic line until the birth of Christ (Isaiah 37:35; 9:6-7). The episode demonstrates God’s sovereignty over nations and anticipates the resurrection power later revealed in Jesus (Romans 8:11), reinforcing scriptural unity. Practical and Devotional Lessons • Human power, however immense, cannot overrule divine purpose. • God sometimes permits intimidating circumstances to deepen faith and showcase His salvation. • Historical accuracy undergirds spiritual application; archaeology repeatedly vindicates Scripture’s details. Conclusion Sennacherib sent a large army to Jerusalem to crush rebellion, secure vital trade arteries, deter Egyptian aid, and employ Assyria’s trademark psychological terror. Scripture, extrabiblical inscriptions, and archaeological discoveries converge to confirm the scale and strategy of that force, while simultaneously highlighting God’s sovereign orchestration of history for His glory and His people’s ultimate good. |
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