2 Kings 18: Group Study Handout

Overview

Hezekiah began to reign as king of Judah at twenty-five years old and ruled for twenty-nine years (vv. 1-2). He did what was right in Yahweh's eyes, removing high places, breaking pillars, and cutting down the Asherah (vv.

Key verse

“Rabshakeh said to them, “Say now to Hezekiah, ‘Thus says the great king, the king of Assyria, “What confidence is this in which you trust?”

2 Kings 18:19 (WEB)

Outline

1. 2 Kings 18:1–4 Hezekiah's Reign and Reforms
2. 2 Kings 18:5–8 Hezekiah's Faithfulness and Actions
3. 2 Kings 18:9–12 The Fall of Samaria
4. 2 Kings 18:13–16 Assyrian Threat to Judah
5. 2 Kings 18:17–27 Rabshakeh's Taunts
6. 2 Kings 18:28–35 Challenge to Hezekiah's Trust
7. 2 Kings 18:36–37 The People's Silence

Discussion questions

1. In v4, what actions does Hezekiah take regarding the high places and the Asherah?
2. In v7, what does it mean that 'Yahweh was with him' in Hezekiah’s reign?
3. Rabshakeh’s challenge in vv. 20-22: how does he question Hezekiah's trust in Yahweh?
4. In v29, why does Rabshakeh claim that Hezekiah cannot deliver Jerusalem from the Assyrians?
5. When have you felt pressure to abandon trust in God like Hezekiah's people in v30?

Go deeper

Passages that echo 2 Kings 18: Isaiah 36, 2 Kings 19, 2 Chronicles 32.

Before next time: read 2 Kings 19.