Assyria: Sennacherib King of His Army Destroyed by God
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Historical Context

Assyria, a dominant empire in the ancient Near East, was known for its military prowess and expansionist policies. During the reign of King Sennacherib (705–681 BC), Assyria reached the height of its power. Sennacherib is particularly noted for his military campaigns against the Kingdom of Judah, as recorded in the Bible.

Sennacherib's Campaign Against Judah

Sennacherib's invasion of Judah is one of the most significant events involving Assyria in the biblical narrative. In 2 Kings 18:13, it is recorded, "In the fourteenth year of Hezekiah’s reign, Sennacherib king of Assyria attacked all the fortified cities of Judah and captured them." This campaign was part of Sennacherib's broader strategy to consolidate Assyrian control over the Levant.

Siege of Jerusalem

The siege of Jerusalem is a focal point in the biblical account of Sennacherib's campaign. King Hezekiah of Judah, facing the threat of the Assyrian army, sought divine intervention. In 2 Kings 19:14-15, Hezekiah's response is described: "Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers, read it, and went up to the house of the LORD and spread it out before the LORD. And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD."

Divine Intervention

The Bible records a miraculous deliverance of Jerusalem from the Assyrian threat. In response to Hezekiah's prayer, the prophet Isaiah conveyed God's promise of protection. 2 Kings 19:32-34 states, "Therefore this is what the LORD says about the king of Assyria: 'He will not enter this city or shoot an arrow here. He will not come before it with a shield or build up a siege ramp against it. By the way that he came he will return; he will not enter this city,' declares the LORD. 'I will defend this city and save it, for My sake and for the sake of David My servant.'"

Destruction of the Assyrian Army

The fulfillment of God's promise is dramatically depicted in 2 Kings 19:35: "That night the angel of the LORD went out and struck down 185,000 men in the camp of the Assyrians. When the people got up the next morning, there were all the dead bodies!" This divine intervention led to the withdrawal of Sennacherib's forces and the preservation of Jerusalem.

Sennacherib's Demise

Sennacherib's return to Nineveh marked the end of his campaign against Judah. His death is recorded in 2 Kings 19:37: "One day, while he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch, his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer struck him down with the sword and escaped to the land of Ararat. And his son Esarhaddon reigned in his place."

Theological Significance

The account of Sennacherib's defeat underscores the sovereignty of God over the nations and His ability to protect His people against overwhelming odds. It serves as a testament to the power of prayer and the faithfulness of God to His covenant promises. The destruction of the Assyrian army is a vivid demonstration of divine intervention in human history, affirming the biblical theme that God is the ultimate ruler over all earthly powers.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
2 Kings 19:35
And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the LORD went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

How Sennacherib Made an Expedition against Hezekiah; What
... He also foretold that Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, should fail of his purpose
against Egypt ... 4. About the same time also the king of Assyria wrote an ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 1 how sennacherib made.htm

Deliverance from Assyria
... in the camp of the king of Assyria," were slain ... sent to take Jerusalem, soon reached
Sennacherib, who was ... Stricken with fear, the Assyrian king hasted to depart ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 30 deliverance from assyria.htm

Titus when the Jews were not at all Mollified by his Leaving Off ...
... When Sennacherib, king of Assyria, brought along with him all Asia, and encompassed
this city round with his army, did he fall by the hands of men? ...
/.../chapter 9 titus when the.htm

The Triumph of Faith
... Experience has shown the irresistible power of Assyria. ... death is the same as that
of the other king's deliverance. ... Sennacherib was slain in the house of his god ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/the triumph of faith.htm

A Prophet who Saved a Great City
... Then Sennacherib, king of Assyria, went away ... While he was worshipping in the temple
of Nisroch his god, his sons struck him down with the sword; and they ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/a prophet who saved a.htm

Hezekiah, the Praying King
... stronger and mightier than all the hosts of Sennacherib: ... nor dismayed for the king
of Assyria, nor for ... themselves upon the words of Hezekiah, king of Judah.". ...
/.../bounds/prayer and praying men/vi hezekiah the praying king.htm

Nineveh.
... in Mesopotamia, which took the name of Assyria, from Assur ... Baladan had set himself
up against Sennacherib, and sought ... When the good King of Judah recovered from ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson ix nineveh.htm

Sennacherib (705-681 BC )
... to recognise in Sethon a King Zet of ... disaster was a terrible one: Sennacherib's
triumphant advance ... deplored, was not irreparable, since Assyria could furnish ...
/.../chapter isennacherib 705-681 b c.htm

Babylonia and Assyria
... imprisoned in Jerusalem on account of his loyalty to Assyria. ... Sennacherib met him
at Eltekeh, and there the combined ... of the death of the Jewish king and the ...
/.../early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter vi babylonia and assyria.htm

Sargon of Assyria (722-705 BC )
... The manifest superiority of Assyria was evident from ... admitted that Hezekiah was already
king when these ... historians, that the date of Sennacherib's invasion of ...
/.../chapter iiisargon of assyria 722-705.htm

Resources
Who was Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz? | GotQuestions.org

Who were the Assyrians in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Why were infants dashed to pieces (Nahum 3:10)? | GotQuestions.org

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Subtopics

Assyria

Assyria: Alliances With, Sought by Judah and Israel

Assyria: An Empire Founded by Nimrod

Assyria: Antiquity and Origin of

Assyria: Armies of, Described

Assyria: Army of, Destroyed by the Angel of the Lord

Assyria: As a Power, Was: An Instrument of God's Vengeance

Assyria: As a Power, Was: Cruel and Destructive

Assyria: As a Power, Was: Intolerant and Oppressive

Assyria: As a Power, Was: Most Formidable

Assyria: As a Power, Was: Proud and Haughty

Assyria: As a Power, Was: Selfish and Reserved

Assyria: As a Power, Was: Unfaithful

Assyria: Called: Asshur

Assyria: Called: Shinar

Assyria: Called: The Land of Nimrod

Assyria: Celebrated For: Extensive Commerce

Assyria: Celebrated For: Extent of Conquests

Assyria: Celebrated For: Fertility

Assyria: Chief Men of, Described

Assyria: Commerce of

Assyria: Condemned for Oppressing God's People

Assyria: Governed by Kings

Assyria: Idolatry of, Brought Into Samaria

Assyria: Idolatry, the Religion of

Assyria: Invaded by Pharaoh-Necho

Assyria: Israel Condemned for Trusting To

Assyria: Israelites Carried Captive Into

Assyria: Israelites Subject To

Assyria: It Extended from East of the Tigris

Assyria: Its Armies Invade the Land of Israel Under Pul

Assyria: Jews Carried Captive To

Assyria: Judah Condemned for Trusting To

Assyria: Manasseh Taken Captive To

Assyria: Nineveh, Chief City of

Assyria: Possibly to Egypt

Assyria: Predictions Respecting: Conquest and Captivity of Israel By

Assyria: Predictions Respecting: Conquest of Syria By

Assyria: Predictions Respecting: Conquest of the Kenites By

Assyria: Predictions Respecting: Destruction of

Assyria: Predictions Respecting: Invasion of Judah By

Assyria: Predictions Respecting: Participation in the Blessings of the Gospel

Assyria: Predictions Respecting: Restoration of Israel From

Assyria: Productiveness of

Assyria: Prophecies Concerning

Assyria: Prophecies of Captivity of Israelites In

Assyria: Pul King of Brought off by Menahem

Assyria: Pul King of Invaded Israel

Assyria: Sennacherib

Assyria: Sennacherib King of Assassinated by his Sons

Assyria: Sennacherib King of Blasphemed the Lord

Assyria: Sennacherib King of Bought off by Hezekiah

Assyria: Sennacherib King of His Army Destroyed by God

Assyria: Sennacherib King of Insulted and Threatened Judah

Assyria: Sennacherib King of Invaded Judah

Assyria: Sennacherib King of Prayed Against by Hezekiah

Assyria: Sennacherib King of Reproved for Pride and Blasphemy

Assyria: Shalmaneser

Assyria: Shalmaneser King of Carried Israel Captive

Assyria: Shalmaneser King of Imprisoned Hoshea

Assyria: Shalmaneser King of Reduced Israel to Tribute

Assyria: Shalmaneser King of Re-Peopled Samaria from Assyria

Assyria: Shalmaneser King of Was Conspired Against by Hoshea

Assyria: Situated Beyond the Euphrates

Assyria: The Greatness, Extent, Duration, and Fall, Illustrated

Assyria: The Jews Condemned for Following the Idolatries of

Assyria: The Re-Peopling of Samaria From, Completed by Asnappar

Assyria: Tiglath

Assyria: Tiglathpileser King of Asked to Aid Ahaz Against Syria

Assyria: Tiglathpileser King of Conquered Syria

Assyria: Tiglathpileser King of Ravaged Israel

Assyria: Tiglathpileser King of Took Money from Ahaz, But Strengthened Him Not

Assyria: Watered by the River Tigris

Related Terms

Assyria's (1 Occurrence)

Tiglath-pileser (6 Occurrences)

Tiglathpileser (3 Occurrences)

Rab'shakeh (14 Occurrences)

Rab-shakeh (14 Occurrences)

Sennach'erib (13 Occurrences)

Assyrian (18 Occurrences)

Deported (12 Occurrences)

Ashurbanipal (1 Occurrence)

Rabshakeh (15 Occurrences)

Nimrod (4 Occurrences)

Gozan (5 Occurrences)

Halah (4 Occurrences)

Asshur (133 Occurrences)

Sennacherib (13 Occurrences)

Shalmaneser (3 Occurrences)

Chaldeans (82 Occurrences)

Assur (2 Occurrences)

Exile (101 Occurrences)

Menahem (8 Occurrences)

Habor (3 Occurrences)

Sherghat

Esarhaddon (3 Occurrences)

Assyrians (15 Occurrences)

Medes (15 Occurrences)

Chaldea (8 Occurrences)

Pekah (11 Occurrences)

Jareb (2 Occurrences)

Immanuel (3 Occurrences)

Tig'lath-pile'ser (3 Occurrences)

Tillegath-pilneser (3 Occurrences)

Tilgathpilneser (3 Occurrences)

Tilgath (3 Occurrences)

Tilgath-pilneser (3 Occurrences)

Tiglath (3 Occurrences)

Til'gath-pilne'ser (3 Occurrences)

Trustest (8 Occurrences)

Tartan (2 Occurrences)

Rehoboth-ir (1 Occurrence)

Rab-saris (3 Occurrences)

Rabsaris (3 Occurrences)

Exacted (9 Occurrences)

Pileser (3 Occurrences)

Pul (3 Occurrences)

Pilneser (3 Occurrences)

Sargon (1 Occurrence)

Withdrew (55 Occurrences)

Rely (31 Occurrences)

Placing (44 Occurrences)

Marched (51 Occurrences)

Lachish (22 Occurrences)

Persuade (20 Occurrences)

Nebo (13 Occurrences)

Janoah (3 Occurrences)

Lud (10 Occurrences)

Ludim (3 Occurrences)

Ijon (3 Occurrences)

Invaded (20 Occurrences)

Reubenite (16 Occurrences)

Rezin (11 Occurrences)

Rehobothir

Envoys (16 Occurrences)

Men'ahem (8 Occurrences)

Besieged (34 Occurrences)

Bargain (7 Occurrences)

Basing (7 Occurrences)

Conspiracy (17 Occurrences)

Astoreth

Acco (2 Occurrences)

Abel-beth-maacah (2 Occurrences)

Asherah (40 Occurrences)

Astarte (2 Occurrences)

Ashtoreth (3 Occurrences)

Sharezer (5 Occurrences)

Shalman (1 Occurrence)

Judith (1 Occurrence)

Carchemish (3 Occurrences)

Prisoners (170 Occurrences)

Assyria: Sennacherib King of Bought off by Hezekiah
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