2 Kings 18:25 So now, was it apart from the LORD that I have come up against this place to destroy it? The LORD Himself said to me, 'Go up against this land and destroy it.'"

◄ 2 Kings 18:25 ►

New International Version
Furthermore, have I come to attack and destroy this place without word from the LORD? The LORD himself told me to march against this country and destroy it.’”

New Living Translation
What’s more, do you think we have invaded your land without the LORD’s direction? The LORD himself told us, ‘Attack this land and destroy it!’”

English Standard Version
Moreover, is it without the LORD that I have come up against this place to destroy it? The LORD said to me, “Go up against this land and destroy it.”’”

Berean Standard Bible
So now, was it apart from the LORD that I have come up against this place to destroy it? The LORD Himself said to me, ‘Go up against this land and destroy it.’ ”

King James Bible
Am I now come up without the LORD against this place to destroy it? The LORD said to me, Go up against this land, and destroy it.

New King James Version
Have I now come up without the LORD against this place to destroy it? The LORD said to me, ‘Go up against this land, and destroy it.’ ”

New American Standard Bible
Have I now come up without the LORD’S approval against this place to destroy it? The LORD said to me, ‘Go up against this land and destroy it.’”’”

NASB 1995
“Have I now come up without the LORD’S approval against this place to destroy it? The LORD said to me, ‘Go up against this land and destroy it.’"’”

NASB 1977
“Have I now come up without the LORD’s approval against this place to destroy it? The LORD said to me, ‘Go up against this land and destroy it.’”’”

Legacy Standard Bible
So now, have I come up without the approval of Yahweh against this place to make it a ruin? Yahweh said to me, ‘Go up against this land and make it a ruin.’”’”

Amplified Bible
Now have I come up against this place to destroy it without the LORD’S approval? The LORD said to me, ‘Go up against this land and destroy it.’”’”

Christian Standard Bible
Now, have I attacked this place to destroy it without the LORD’s approval? The LORD said to me, ‘Attack this land and destroy it.’ ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Have I attacked this place to destroy it without the LORD’s approval? The LORD said to me, ‘Attack this land and destroy it.’”

American Standard Version
Am I now come up without Jehovah against this place to destroy it? Jehovah said unto me, Go up against this land, and destroy it.

Contemporary English Version
Don't forget that it was the LORD who sent me here with orders to destroy your nation!

English Revised Version
Am I now come up without the LORD against this place to destroy it? The LORD said unto me, Go up against this land, and destroy it.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Have I come to destroy this place without the LORD on my side? The LORD said to me, 'Attack this country, and destroy it.'"

Good News Translation
Do you think I have attacked your country and destroyed it without the LORD's help? The LORD himself told me to attack it and destroy it."

International Standard Version
"Now then, haven't I come up—apart from the LORD—to attack and destroy this place? The LORD told me, 'Go up against this land and destroy it!'"'"

Majority Standard Bible
So now, was it apart from the LORD that I have come up against this place to destroy it? The LORD Himself said to me, ‘Go up against this land and destroy it.’”

NET Bible
Furthermore it was by the command of the LORD that I marched up against this place to destroy it. The LORD told me, 'March up against this land and destroy it.'"'"

New Heart English Bible
Have I now come up without the LORD against this place to destroy it? The LORD said to me, 'Go up against this land, and destroy it.'"'"

Webster's Bible Translation
Have I now come up without the LORD against this place to destroy it? The LORD said to me, Go up against this land, and destroy it.

World English Bible
Have I now come up without Yahweh against this place to destroy it? Yahweh said to me, ‘Go up against this land, and destroy it.’”’”

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
Have I now come up without YHWH against this place to destroy it? YHWH said to me, Go up against this land, and you have destroyed it.”

Young's Literal Translation
Now, without Jehovah have I come up against this place to destroy it? Jehovah said unto me, Go up against this land, and thou hast destroyed it.'

Smith's Literal Translation
Now came I up without Jehovah upon this place to destroy it? Jehovah said to me, Go up against this land and destroy it.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
Is it without the will of the Lord that I am come up to this place to destroy it? The Lord said to me: Go up to this land and destroy it.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Is it not by the will of the Lord that I have chosen to ascend to this place, so that I may destroy it? The Lord said to me: ‘Ascend to this land, and destroy it.’ ”

New American Bible
Did I come up to destroy this place without the LORD? The LORD himself said to me: Go up and destroy that land!”

New Revised Standard Version
Moreover, is it without the LORD that I have come up against this place to destroy it? The LORD said to me, Go up against this land, and destroy it.”

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And now perhaps you think that I have come up without the LORD against this land to destroy it? The LORD said to me, Go up against this land and destroy it.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And now, lest you think that I went up against this land for its destruction apart from LORD JEHOVAH, LORD JEHOVAH himself said to me: ‘Go up against this land, and I shall destroy it!’”

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
Am I now come up without the LORD against this place to destroy it? The LORD said unto me: Go up against this land, destroy it.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And now have we come up without the Lord against this place to destroy it? The Lord said to me, Go up against this land, and destroy it.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Sennacherib Threatens Jerusalem
…24For how can you repel a single officer among the least of my master’s servants when you depend on Egypt for chariots and horsemen? 25So now, was it apart from the LORD that I have come up against this place to destroy it? The LORD Himself said to me, ‘Go up against this land and destroy it.’” 26Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah, along with Shebnah and Joah, said to the Rabshakeh, “Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, since we understand it. Do not speak with us in Hebrew in the hearing of the people on the wall.”…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Isaiah 36:10
So now, was it apart from the LORD that I have come up against this land to destroy it? The LORD Himself said to me, ‘Go up against this land and destroy it.’”

Isaiah 10:5-6
Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger; the staff in their hands is My wrath. / I will send him against a godless nation; I will dispatch him against a people destined for My rage, to take spoils and seize plunder, and to trample them down like clay in the streets.

Jeremiah 25:9
behold, I will summon all the families of the north, declares the LORD, and I will send for My servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, whom I will bring against this land, against its residents, and against all the surrounding nations. So I will devote them to destruction and make them an object of horror and contempt, an everlasting desolation.

Jeremiah 27:6
So now I have placed all these lands under the authority of My servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. I have even made the beasts of the field subject to him.

Jeremiah 43:10
Then tell them that this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: ‘I will send for My servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and I will set his throne over these stones that I have embedded, and he will spread his royal pavilion over them.

Habakkuk 1:6
For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans—that ruthless and impetuous nation which marches through the breadth of the earth to seize dwellings not their own.

Isaiah 37:26
Have you not heard? Long ago I ordained it; in days of old I planned it. Now I have brought it to pass, that you should crush fortified cities into piles of rubble.

2 Chronicles 36:23
“This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: ‘The LORD, the God of heaven, who has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, has appointed me to build a house for Him at Jerusalem in Judah. Whoever among you belongs to His people, may the LORD his God be with him, and may he go up.’”

Ezra 1:2
“This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: ‘The LORD, the God of heaven, who has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, has appointed me to build a house for Him at Jerusalem in Judah.

Daniel 4:17
This decision is the decree of the watchers, the verdict declared by the holy ones, so that the living will know that the Most High rules over the kingdom of mankind and gives it to whom He wishes, setting over it the lowliest of men.’

Acts 17:26
From one man He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their lands.

Romans 13:1
Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God.

John 19:11
Jesus answered, “You would have no authority over Me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed Me over to you is guilty of greater sin.”

Revelation 17:17
For God has put it into their hearts to carry out His purpose by uniting to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled.

Isaiah 45:1
This is what the LORD says to Cyrus His anointed, whose right hand I have grasped to subdue nations before him, to disarm kings, to open the doors before him, so that the gates will not be shut:

Treasury of Scripture

Am I now come up without the LORD against this place to destroy it? The LORD said to me, Go up against this land, and destroy it.

Am I now.

2 Kings 19:6,22-37
And Isaiah said unto them, Thus shall ye say to your master, Thus saith the LORD, Be not afraid of the words which thou hast heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me…

1 Kings 13:18
He said unto him, I am a prophet also as thou art; and an angel spake unto me by the word of the LORD, saying, Bring him back with thee into thine house, that he may eat bread and drink water. But he lied unto him.

2 Chronicles 35:21
But he sent ambassadors to him, saying, What have I to do with thee, thou king of Judah? I come not against thee this day, but against the house wherewith I have war: for God commanded me to make haste: forbear thee from meddling with God, who is with me, that he destroy thee not.

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2 Kings 18

1. Hezekiah's good reign
4. He destroys idolatry, and prospers
9. The inhabitants of Samaria are carried captive for their sins
13. Sennacherib invading Judah, is pacified by a tribute
17. Rabshakeh, by blasphemous persuasions, solicits the people to revolt

Berean Study Bible

Have I now come up
This phrase is spoken by the Assyrian king's representative, Rabshakeh, as he taunts the people of Jerusalem. The Hebrew root for "come up" is "עָלָה" (alah), which often implies ascending or approaching with intent. Historically, this reflects the Assyrian military campaigns, which were known for their strategic and aggressive advances. The phrase suggests a presumption of divine sanction, a common claim by ancient Near Eastern kings to legitimize their conquests.

without the LORD’s approval
The Hebrew term for "approval" here is "מִבַּלְעֲדֵי" (mibbaladei), meaning "without" or "apart from." This phrase challenges the Israelites' understanding of divine will, as the Assyrians claim to act under Yahweh's command. It reflects the theological tension in the narrative, where foreign powers often claimed divine backing to demoralize their enemies. This assertion tests the faith of the Israelites, who believed Yahweh was their protector.

against this place
"Place" in Hebrew is "מָקוֹם" (maqom), referring specifically to Jerusalem. The city holds significant religious and cultural importance as the center of Jewish worship and the location of the Temple. The historical context here is crucial, as Jerusalem was seen as inviolable due to God's covenant with David. The Assyrian threat against such a sacred site would have been deeply unsettling for the Israelites.

to destroy it?
The Hebrew root "שָׁחַת" (shachat) means to ruin or annihilate. This word underscores the severity of the threat posed by the Assyrians. Historically, Assyrian campaigns were brutal, often involving the complete destruction of cities and deportation of their inhabitants. The use of this term highlights the existential threat to Jerusalem and serves as a test of faith for its inhabitants.

The LORD said to me
This phrase is a bold claim by Rabshakeh, suggesting direct divine communication. The Hebrew "אָמַר" (amar) means "said" or "declared," implying a prophetic or authoritative message. In the biblical narrative, such claims by foreign powers are often false, serving to challenge the Israelites' trust in their God. It reflects the common ancient practice of invoking deities to justify political and military actions.

‘Go up against this land
The command "Go up" uses the same Hebrew root "עָלָה" (alah) as earlier, reinforcing the idea of a divinely sanctioned military campaign. "This land" refers to Judah, the southern kingdom. The historical context is the Assyrian expansion under King Sennacherib, who sought to subdue Judah as part of his empire-building efforts. This phrase is intended to intimidate the Israelites by suggesting divine abandonment.

and destroy it.’”
The repetition of "destroy" (שָׁחַת, shachat) emphasizes the totality of the threat. The Assyrian strategy often involved psychological warfare, using fear to weaken enemy resolve. In the biblical context, this claim is a direct affront to the covenantal promises of protection and prosperity given to Israel. Theologically, it challenges the Israelites to discern true divine will amidst external threats and internal doubts.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(25) The Lord said to me.--Michaelis supposed that Sennacherib had consulted some of the captive priests of the Northern kingdom. Others think some report of the menaces of the Hebrew prophets may have reached Assyrian ears. Thenius makes Rab-shakeh's words a mere inference from the success which had hitherto attended the expedition; but the language is too definite for this. In the annals of Nabuna'id, the last king of Babylon, a remarkable parallel occurs. The Persian Cyrus there represents himself as enjoying the special favour of Merodach the chief god of Babylon; Merodach foretells his march upon the city, and accompanies him thither. Cyrus even declares that he has daily offered prayers to Bel and Nebo, that they might intercede with Merodach on his behalf. From all this it would appear to have been customary with invaders to seek to win the gods of hostile countries to the furtherance of their schemes of conquest. (Comp. the account of the taking of Veii in Livy, v. 21, especially the sentence beginning "Veientes ignari se jam ab suis vatibus, jam ab externis oraculis proditos;" and Macrob. Sat. iii. 9.) It is not impossible that there was some renegade prophet of Jehovah in the Assyrian camp. At all events, the form of the oracle, "Go up against this land, and destroy it," is thoroughly authentic. Comp. the oracle of Chemosh to Mesha: "And Chemosh said unto me, Go thou, seize Nebo against Israel" (Moabite Stone, 1. 14). Meanwhile, Isaiah 10:5 seq. shows how true was the boast of the arrogant invader, in a sense which lay far above his heathenish apprehension.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 25. - Am I now come up without the Lord against this place to destroy it? The Lord said to me, Go up against this land, and destroy it. The Assyrian monarchs constantly state that Asshur, their "great god," directs them to make war against this or that nation ('Records of the Past,' vol. 1. pp. 48, 60, 70, 71, 82, etc.), but not that the god of the country to be attacked does so. It is difficult to account for Sennacherib's very exceptional boast, "Jehovah said to me. Go up against this laud." Perhaps he identifies "Jehovah" with "Asshur." Perhaps he has heard of prophecies, uttered in the name of Jehovah, by Jewish prophets, which threatened the land with desolation at the hand of the Assyrians (e.g., Isaiah 7:17-24; Isaiah 10:5-12; Joel 2:1-11, etc.). Or he may have made the statement in mere bravado, as one that might frighten some, and at any rate could not be contradicted.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

So now,
עַתָּה֙ (‘at·tāh)
Adverb
Strong's 6258: At this time

was it apart from
הֲמִבַּלְעֲדֵ֣י (hă·mib·bal·‘ă·ḏê)
Preposition | Preposition
Strong's 1107: Apart from, except, without

the LORD
יְהוָ֔ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

that I have come up
עָלִ֛יתִי (‘ā·lî·ṯî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively

against
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

this
הַזֶּ֖ה (haz·zeh)
Article | Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 2088: This, that

place
הַמָּק֥וֹם (ham·mā·qō·wm)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4725: A standing, a spot, a condition

to destroy it?
לְהַשְׁחִת֑וֹ (lə·haš·ḥi·ṯōw)
Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7843: Perhaps to go to ruin

The LORD Himself
יְהוָה֙ (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

said
אָמַ֣ר (’ā·mar)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to me,
אֵלַ֔י (’ê·lay)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

‘Go up
עֲלֵ֛ה (‘ă·lêh)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively

against
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

this
הַזֹּ֖את (haz·zōṯ)
Article | Pronoun - feminine singular
Strong's 2063: Hereby in it, likewise, the one other, same, she, so much, such deed, that,

land
הָאָ֥רֶץ (hā·’ā·reṣ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

and destroy it!’”
וְהַשְׁחִיתָֽהּ׃ (wə·haš·ḥî·ṯāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 7843: Perhaps to go to ruin

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OT History: 2 Kings 18:25 Am I now come up without Yahweh (2Ki iiKi ii ki 2 kg 2kg)