Who Was Sennacherib in the Bible?
Who Was Sennacherib in the Bible? Sennacherib was the Assyrian king who invaded Judah in Hezekiah's reign and whose army of 185,000 was destroyed by the angel of the Lord in a single night.
Key verse: 2 Kings 19:35 (KJV)
Sennacherib was the Assyrian king who invaded Judah in Hezekiah's reign and whose army of 185,000 was destroyed by the angel of the Lord in a single night.
Sennacherib was the Assyrian king who invaded Judah in Hezekiah's reign and whose army of 185,000 was destroyed by the angel of the Lord in a single night.
"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." — 2 Kings 19:35 (KJV)
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The Biblical Answer
Sennacherib, king of Assyria from 705 to 681 BC, is one of the most fully documented foreign rulers in Scripture, with his invasion of Judah recorded in 2 Kings 18-19, 2 Chronicles 32, and Isaiah 36-37. In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, Sennacherib came up against all the fortified cities of Judah and took them. Hezekiah sent tribute — three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold, stripping the temple itself. Yet Sennacherib still sent his commander Rabshakeh with a large army against Jerusalem. Rabshakeh stood before the city wall and mocked Hezekiah's trust in the Lord, taunting in Hebrew so all could hear: 'Let not Hezekiah deceive you... neither let Hezekiah make you trust in the LORD, saying, The LORD will surely deliver us... Hath any of the gods of the nations delivered his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria?' Hezekiah took the letter Sennacherib sent and spread it before the Lord in the temple, praying, 'O LORD our God, I beseech thee, save thou us out of his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the LORD God, even thou only.' Isaiah brought the Lord's answer: Sennacherib would not shoot an arrow against the city, nor cast a bank against it. 'For I will defend this city, to save it, for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake.' That night the angel of the Lord went out and smote in the camp of the Assyrians one hundred eighty-five thousand men. Sennacherib returned to Nineveh, and while worshipping in the house of his god Nisroch, his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer slew him with the sword. Sennacherib stands as monumental proof that no empire, no army, and no boast can stand against the God of Israel when His people cry out to Him in faith.
Key Scripture References
"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."
"The virgin, the daughter of Zion, hath despised thee, and laughed thee to scorn... Whom hast thou reproached and blasphemed? and against whom hast thou exalted thy voice, and lifted up thine eyes on high? even against the Holy One of Israel."
"And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword."
Frequently asked questions
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Related Questions
Who Was Hezekiah in the Bible?
Hezekiah was the thirteenth king of Judah, a righteous reformer who destroyed idolatry, celebrated Passover with all Israel, and witnessed miraculous deliverance from Assyria.
Who Was Isaiah?
Isaiah was one of the greatest Old Testament prophets, known for his majestic visions of God and remarkably detailed prophecies about the coming Messiah.
What does the Bible say about prayer?
The Bible teaches that prayer is direct communication with God — a privilege for all believers — and should be persistent, humble, faith-filled, and aligned with God's will.
Who Was Melchizedek in the Bible?
Melchizedek was a mysterious king of Salem and priest of the Most High God who blessed Abraham and received tithes from him.
Who Was Abraham in the Bible?
Abraham was the father of the Jewish nation, called by God from Ur of the Chaldees, and known as the 'father of faith.'
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The answer above sits inside 2 Kings. The 365-day chronological plan reads it in the order the events happened.
Read 2 Kings on day 214 of the chronological Bible reading planKeep the verses to hand
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