Sepharvaim

Sepharvaim is mentioned in the Bible as a city whose inhabitants were relocated by the Assyrian Empire during the period of the Israelite exile. The city is referenced in the context of the Assyrian conquest and resettlement policies. In 2 Kings 17:24 , it is recorded: "Then the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim and settled them in the cities of Samaria in place of the Israelites. They took possession of Samaria and lived in its cities."

Sepharvaim is also mentioned in 2 Kings 18:34 and 19:13, as well as Isaiah 37:13, in the context of the Assyrian king Sennacherib's campaign against Judah. The Assyrian king boasts of his conquests, including Sepharvaim, as evidence of his power over the gods of the nations he has defeated: "Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah? Have they delivered Samaria from my hand?" (2 Kings 18:34).

The exact location of Sepharvaim is uncertain, but it is often associated with a region in Mesopotamia. Some scholars suggest it may have been located near the city of Sippar on the Euphrates River. The name Sepharvaim is thought to mean "the two Sippars," possibly referring to the twin cities of Sippar-Yahrurum and Sippar-Amnanum.

Hena

Hena is another city mentioned alongside Sepharvaim and Ivvah in the biblical narrative of the Assyrian campaigns. It appears in the same passages as Sepharvaim, specifically in 2 Kings 18:34 and 19:13, as well as Isaiah 37:13. The city is listed among those whose gods were unable to protect them from the Assyrian onslaught: "Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah?" (2 Kings 19:13).

The precise location of Hena is not definitively known, and it is not mentioned frequently in historical records outside the Bible. Some scholars have speculated that Hena might have been located in the region of Mesopotamia, possibly near the Euphrates River, but this remains conjectural.

Ivvah

Ivvah is similarly mentioned in the context of the Assyrian conquests, appearing in the same biblical passages as Sepharvaim and Hena. In 2 Kings 18:34 and 19:13, and Isaiah 37:13, Ivvah is listed among the cities whose gods were powerless against the Assyrian forces: "Where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah?" (2 Kings 18:34).

Like Hena, the exact location of Ivvah is not clearly identified in historical records. Some scholars suggest that Ivvah may have been a city or region in Mesopotamia, but its precise location remains uncertain.

The mention of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah in the biblical text serves to underscore the might of the Assyrian Empire and the futility of relying on the gods of these cities for deliverance. The narrative highlights the power of the God of Israel, who alone is able to save His people from their enemies, contrasting the impotence of the pagan deities with the sovereignty of the LORD.