What does 2 Kings 18:31 mean?
"Hearken not to Hezekiah: for thus saith the king of Assyria, Make an agreement with me by a present, and come out to me, and then eat ye every man of his own vine, and every one of his fig tree, and drink ye every one the waters of his cistern:" - 2 Kings 18:31
2 Kings 18:31 (KJV) says, "Hearken not to Hezekiah: for thus saith the king of Assyria, Make an agreement with me by a present, and come out to me, and then eat ye every man of his own vine, and every one of his fig tree, and drink ye every one the waters of his cistern."
This verse is part of a larger passage in the book of 2 Kings that tells the story of the Assyrian king's invasion of Judah. The king of Assyria, Sennacherib, sent his commander to demand the surrender of Jerusalem. In this verse, the commander is trying to persuade the people of Judah to surrender by promising them a life of ease and plenty if they will make peace with the king of Assyria.
This verse is significant in the larger context of the book of 2 Kings as it highlights the spiritual and moral challenges faced by the people of Judah. It illustrates the tension between placing trust in God versus placing trust in worldly powers. Hezekiah, the king of Judah, was a faithful leader who sought to trust in God rather than making a compromise with the king of Assyria. The verse serves as a warning against giving in to worldly temptations and making compromises that go against God's will.
The themes of trust, obedience, and faith in God are central to this verse. The people of Judah were faced with a difficult decision: to trust in God's protection and deliverance, or to make an agreement with the king of Assyria in order to secure their own comfort and safety. The verse challenges the reader to consider where their allegiance lies and to resist the temptation to compromise their faith for the sake of worldly security.
The verse also serves as a reminder of the consequences of turning away from God. The king of Assyria's offer may have seemed appealing on the surface, but it came with the price of forsaking their trust in the Lord. The verse demonstrates the importance of remaining steadfast in one's faith and not allowing the pressures of the world to sway one's commitment to God.
Symbolically, the vine and fig tree mentioned in the verse can be seen as representations of one's spiritual and physical well-being. In ancient Jewish culture, the vine and the fig tree were often used as symbols of abundance, prosperity, and fertility. The promise of being able to "eat every man of his own vine, and every one of his fig tree" is a metaphor for the commander's offer of a plentiful and self-sufficient life under the king of Assyria's rule. However, this offer comes with the condition of turning away from God and making an agreement with a foreign power.
In conclusion, 2 Kings 18:31 serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of trusting in God and remaining faithful even in the face of adversity. It also warns against the dangers of compromising one's faith for the sake of temporary comforts and security. The verse challenges the reader to consider where their allegiances lie and to remain steadfast in their commitment to God, even in the face of worldly pressures.
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2 Kings 18:31 - "Hearken not to Hezekiah: for thus saith the king of Assyria, Make an agreement with me by a present, and come out to me, and then eat ye every man of his own vine, and every one of his fig tree, and drink ye every one the waters of his cistern:"
"Hearken not to Hezekiah: for thus saith the king of Assyria, Make an agreement with me by a present, and come out to me, and then eat ye every man of his own vine, and every one of his fig tree, and drink ye every one the waters of his cistern:" - 2 Kings 18:31
2 Kings 15:31 - "And the rest of the acts of Pekah, and all that he did, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel."
2 Kings 14:18 - "And the rest of the acts of Amaziah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?"
1 Kings 18:31 - "And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall be thy name:"
2 Kings 1:18 - "Now the rest of the acts of Ahaziah which he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?"
2 Kings 9:31 - "And as Jehu entered in at the gate, she said, Had Zimri peace, who slew his master?"
2 Chronicles 31:18 - "And to the genealogy of all their little ones, their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, through all the congregation: for in their set office they sanctified themselves in holiness:"
2 Kings 19:31 - "For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and they that escape out of mount Zion: the zeal of the LORD of hosts shall do this."
1 Kings 2:18 - "And Bath-sheba said, Well; I will speak for thee unto the king."
2 Kings 8:18 - "And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as did the house of Ahab: for the daughter of Ahab was his wife: and he did evil in the sight of the LORD."
2 Kings 18:18 - "And when they had called to the king, there came out to them Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder."
2 Kings 6:31 - "Then he said, God do so and more also to me, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat shall stand on him this day."
1 Kings 18:2 - "And Elijah went to shew himself unto Ahab. And there was a sore famine in Samaria."
2 Kings 18:15 - "And Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king's house."
2 Kings 18:36 - "But the people held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king's commandment was, saying, Answer him not."
2 Samuel 18:31 - "And, behold, Cushi came; and Cushi said, Tidings, my lord the king: for the LORD hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against thee."
"And the rest of the acts of Pekah, and all that he did, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel." - 2 Kings 15:31
"And the rest of the acts of Amaziah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?" - 2 Kings 14:18
2 Kings 3:18 - "And this is but a light thing in the sight of the LORD: he will deliver the Moabites also into your hand."
2 Kings 18:33 - "Hath any of the gods of the nations delivered at all his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria?"
Exodus 31: 18
2 Kings 18:5 - "He trusted in the LORD God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him."
Genesis 18-31
2 Kings 17:31 - "And the Avites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burnt their children in fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim." The image should not depict explicit or offensive content but be symbolic.
2 Kings 16:18 - "And the covert for the sabbath that they had built in the house, and the king's entry without, turned he from the house of the LORD for the king of Assyria."
2 Kings 4:18 - "¶ And when the child was grown, it fell on a day, that he went out to his father to the reapers."
2 Kings 2:18 - "And when they came again to him, (for he tarried at Jericho,) he said unto them, Did I not say unto you, Go not?"
2 Kings 18:3 - "And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father did."
2 Kings 25:18 - "¶ And the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, and Zephaniah the second priest, and the three keepers of the door:"