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Journey of a Passage

Isaiah 36:1–3 and 2 Kings 18:13–18

Two versions of 701 BC: what Isaiah leaves out

"In the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah… Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the defenced cities of Judah, and took them." 2 Kings 18:13 has the same sentence, but then 2 Kings 18:14–16 adds Hezekiah's message to Lachish ("I have offended"), his tribute of 300 talents of silver and 30 of gold, and the stripping of the temple doors. Isaiah 36:2 goes straight on to the Rabshakeh's arrival. A literary difference between two books, not a manuscript variant.

Read Isaiah 36:1–3 and 2 Kings 18:13–18 in every edition

Disputed addition: some witnesses include it, some do not

The family tree

Each row is a language or text tradition. Witnesses in the same row may share ancestry, revise one another, or have an uncertain relationship; the line under each box says which. A solid arrow appears only where direct copying or a documented revised edition is established. Order by date never implies copying. Scroll sideways on a phone.

✓ includes the disputed words · ✕ does not include them · ❝ quotes part of them · ⓘ reports on manuscripts · ▢ pages lost · – no copy survives

  • Same line, through lost copies
  • Translation
Hebrew
  1. The oracle as first spoken or written8th–6th century BC (by section; debated)
  2. Great Isaiah Scroll (1QIsa-a), Qumran Cave 1c. 125 BC (palaeography; reported)Descends, through lost copies, from The oracle as first spoken or written
  3. 4QIsa-b (4Q56), Qumran Cave 41st century BC (reported)Descends, through lost copies, from The oracle as first spoken or written
  4. Masoretic Text (Leningrad Codex)AD 1008Descends, through lost copies, from The oracle as first spoken or written
  5. 2 Kings 18:13–17 (Masoretic Text)AD 1008Descends, through lost copies, from The oracle as first spoken or written
Greek
  1. Greek Isaiah (library: Giguet's French)Greek translation c. 2nd century BC; French 1872Translated from the Old Greek Isaiah
Latin
  1. Latin Vulgate (Clementine)Jerome c. AD 400, from Hebrew; edition 1592Translated from the Hebrew text Jerome used
English
  1. King James Bible1611Translated from printed Masoretic Hebrew

Every witness, in order

  1. 8th–6th century BC (by section; debated)

    The oracle as first spoken or written

    – No copy survives

    No original survives. The oldest copies of Isaiah are the Qumran scrolls: the Great Isaiah Scroll (1QIsa-a, about 125 BC, nearly complete), 1QIsa-b (1Q8) and some twenty other fragmentary manuscripts.

  2. c. 125 BC (palaeography; reported)

    Great Isaiah Scroll (1QIsa-a), Qumran Cave 1

    ✓ Contains this passage (the disputed words)Descends, through lost copies, from The oracle as first spoken or written

    How the site knows this: Described from a published transcription of the manuscript. Described in the site's own words from Martin Abegg's transcription (ETCBC/CACCHT Dead Sea Scrolls dataset v2.0.5); the transcription itself is not reproduced. Photographs and DJD XXXII not yet checked.

    Hebrew numbering: Isaiah 36:1–3. The fourteenth year, Sennacherib, the fortified cities of Judah, Lachish and the Rabshakeh as in the Masoretic Text; v. 2 adds "very" to the great army. Otherwise the differences are of spelling (fuller use of vowel letters) and small grammatical forms.

  3. 1st century BC (reported)

    4QIsa-b (4Q56), Qumran Cave 4

    ◐ Contains part of itDescends, through lost copies, from The oracle as first spoken or written

    How the site knows this: Described from a published transcription of the manuscript. Described in the site's own words from Martin Abegg's transcription (ETCBC/CACCHT Dead Sea Scrolls dataset v2.0.5); the transcription itself is not reproduced. Photographs and DJD XXXII not yet checked.

    Hebrew numbering: Isaiah 36:1–3. A fragmentary copy: only parts of these verses survive, and in the transcription much of the passage is restored by the editors. What survives (Hezekiah, Sennacherib, the Rabshakeh, Lachish) agrees with the Masoretic Text.

  4. Jerome c. AD 400, from Hebrew; edition 1592

    Latin Vulgate (Clementine)

    ✓ Contains this passage (the disputed words)Translated from the Hebrew text Jerome used

    How the site knows this: Read in the site's library text: Clementine Vulgate (1592 edition).

    Et factum est in quartodecimo anno regis Ezechiæ, ascendit Sennacherib, rex Assyriorum, super omnes civitates Juda munitas, et cepit eas. Et misit rex Assyriorum Rabsacen de Lachis in Jerusalem, ad regem Ezechiam in manu gravi: et stetit in aquæductu piscinæ superioris in via Agri fullonis. Et egressus est ad eum Eliacim, filius Helciæ, qui erat super domum, et Sobna scriba, et Joahe filius Asaph, a commentariis.

    Latin numbering: Isaiah 36:1–3. Jerome translated Isaiah from Hebrew (c. AD 400).

  5. AD 1008

    Masoretic Text (Leningrad Codex)

    ✓ Contains this passage (the disputed words)Descends, through lost copies, from The oracle as first spoken or written

    How the site knows this: Read in the site's library text: Westminster Leningrad Codex, a digital transcription of the Leningrad Codex.

    וַיְהִ֡י בְּאַרְבַּע֩ עֶשְׂרֵ֨ה שָׁנָ֜ה לַמֶּ֣לֶךְ חִזְקִיָּ֗הוּ עָלָ֞ה סַנְחֵרִ֤יב מֶֽלֶךְ־אַשּׁוּר֙ עַ֣ל כָּל־עָרֵ֧י יְהוּדָ֛ה הַבְּצֻר֖וֹת וַֽיִּתְפְּשֵֽׂם׃ וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח מֶֽלֶךְ־אַשּׁ֣וּר ׀ אֶת־רַב־שָׁקֵ֨ה מִלָּכִ֧ישׁ יְרוּשָׁלַ֛͏ְמָה אֶל־הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ חִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ בְּחֵ֣יל כָּבֵ֑ד וַֽיַּעֲמֹ֗ד בִּתְעָלַת֙ הַבְּרֵכָ֣ה הָעֶלְיוֹנָ֔ה בִּמְסִלַּ֖ת שְׂדֵ֥ה כוֹבֵֽס׃ וַיֵּצֵ֥א אֵלָ֛יו אֶלְיָקִ֥ים בֶּן־חִלְקִיָּ֖הוּ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עַל־הַבָּ֑יִת וְשֶׁבְנָא֙ הַסֹּפֵ֔ר וְיוֹאָ֥ח בֶּן־אָסָ֖ף הַמַּזְכִּֽיר׃

    In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah and seized them (v. 1)

    Hebrew numbering: Isaiah 36:1–3.

  6. AD 1008

    2 Kings 18:13–17 (Masoretic Text)

    ✓ Contains this passage (the disputed words)Descends, through lost copies, from The oracle as first spoken or written

    How the site knows this: Read in the site's library text: Westminster Leningrad Codex, a digital transcription of the Leningrad Codex.

    וּבְאַרְבַּע֩ עֶשְׂרֵ֨ה שָׁנָ֜ה לַמֶּ֣לֶךְ חִזְקִיָּ֗ה עָלָ֞ה סַנְחֵרִ֤יב מֶֽלֶךְ־אַשּׁוּר֙ עַ֣ל כָּל־עָרֵ֧י יְהוּדָ֛ה הַבְּצֻר֖וֹת וַֽיִּתְפְּשֵֽׂם׃ וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח חִזְקִיָּ֣ה מֶֽלֶךְ־יְהוּדָ֣ה אֶל־מֶֽלֶךְ־אַשּׁוּר֩ ׀ לָכִ֨ישָׁה ׀ לֵאמֹ֤ר ׀ חָטָ֙אתִי֙ שׁ֣וּב מֵֽעָלַ֔י אֵ֛ת אֲשֶׁר־תִּתֵּ֥ן עָלַ֖י אֶשָּׂ֑א וַיָּ֨שֶׂם מֶֽלֶךְ־אַשּׁ֜וּר עַל־חִזְקִיָּ֣ה מֶֽלֶךְ־יְהוּדָ֗ה שְׁלֹ֤שׁ מֵאוֹת֙ כִּכַּר־כֶּ֔סֶף וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֖ים כִּכַּ֥ר זָהָֽב׃ וַיִּתֵּן֙ חִזְקִיָּ֔ה אֶת־כָּל־הַכֶּ֖סֶף הַנִּמְצָ֣א בֵית־יְהוָ֑ה וּבְאֹצְר֖וֹת בֵּ֥ית הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ בָּעֵ֣ת הַהִ֗יא קִצַּ֨ץ חִזְקִיָּ֜ה אֶת־דַּלְת֨וֹת הֵיכַ֤ל יְהוָה֙ וְאֶת־הָאֹ֣מְנ֔וֹת אֲשֶׁ֣ר צִפָּ֔ה חִזְקִיָּ֖ה מֶ֣לֶךְ יְהוּדָ֑ה וַֽיִּתְּנֵ֖ם לְמֶ֥לֶךְ אַשּֽׁוּר׃ וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח מֶֽלֶךְ־אַשּׁ֡וּר אֶת־תַּרְתָּ֥ן וְאֶת־רַב־סָרִ֣יס ׀ וְאֶת־רַב־שָׁקֵ֨ה מִן־לָכִ֜ישׁ אֶל־הַמֶּ֧לֶךְ חִזְקִיָּ֛הוּ בְּחֵ֥יל כָּבֵ֖ד יְרוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם וַֽיַּעֲלוּ֙ וַיָּבֹ֣אוּ יְרוּשָׁלִַ֔ם וַיַּעֲל֣וּ וַיָּבֹ֗אוּ וַיַּֽעַמְדוּ֙ בִּתְעָלַת֙ הַבְּרֵכָ֣ה הָֽעֶלְיוֹנָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֕ר בִּמְסִלַּ֖ת שְׂדֵ֥ה כוֹבֵֽס׃

    In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah Sennacherib came up against all the fortified cities of Judah and took them. Hezekiah sent to Lachish: I have done wrong; withdraw from me; whatever you impose on me I will bear… (vv. 14–16: the tribute)

    The parallel, with the tribute section that Isaiah lacks.

  7. 1611

    King James Bible

    ✓ Contains this passage (the disputed words)Translated from printed Masoretic Hebrew

    How the site knows this: Read in the site's library text: King James Version (1769 text).

    Now it came to pass in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah, that Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the defenced cities of Judah, and took them. And the king of Assyria sent Rabshakeh from Lachish to Jerusalem unto king Hezekiah with a great army. And he stood by the conduit of the upper pool in the highway of the fuller’s field. Then came forth unto him Eliakim, Hilkiah’s son, which was over the house, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah, Asaph’s son, the recorder.

  8. Greek translation c. 2nd century BC; French 1872

    Greek Isaiah (library: Giguet's French)

    ✓ Contains this passage (the disputed words)Translated from the Old Greek Isaiah

    How the site knows this: Known here only through a translation.

    Et la quatorzième année du règne d’Ézéchias, Sennacherib, roi des Assyriens, vint assièger les villes de la Judée; et il s’en rendit maître. Et le roi des Assyriens envoya de Lachis, au roi Ézéchias, Rabsacès avec une armée nombreuse; celui-ci s’arrêta vers l’aqueduc de la piscine d’en haut, sur le chemin du champ du Foulon. Et Éliacim, fils d’Helcias l’économe, et Somna le scribe, et Joach fils d’Asaph l’archiviste, sortirent, et vinrent le trouver.

    Greek (digital file) numbering: Isaiah 36:1–3. Giguet's 1872 French of a printed Greek text (D check only); a C check needs Ziegler's Göttingen Isaiah or Rahlfs–Hanhart.

What changed, and why

Classification: separate literary account (Kings has a section Isaiah lacks); the Hebrew witnesses of Isaiah (1QIsa-a, 4QIsa-b) all lack the tribute section.

Sennacherib's annals independently report tribute (30 talents of gold, 800 of silver).

2 Kings 18:17 names three officials (Tartan, Rabsaris, Rabshakeh); Isaiah 36:2 names only the Rabshakeh.

What the evidence shows

  • Independently documentedIsaiah 36 has no parallel to 2 Kings 18:14–16.
  • Independently documentedKings and the annals agree on 30 talents of gold.

Sources

    Related lessons

    • Isaiah 36: On Whom Dost Thou Trust? →In Hezekiah's fourteenth year Sennacherib takes all the fortified cities of Judah (36:1). From Lachish he sends the Rabshakeh with an army to the conduit of the upper pool, where Hezekiah's officials Eliakim, Shebna and Joah meet him (vv. 2–3). The Rabshakeh's speech: Egypt is a broken reed; the LORD cannot help you, since Hezekiah removed his altars; indeed the LORD sent me (vv. 4–10). Asked to speak Aramaic, not Hebrew, he shouts in Hebrew to the soldiers on the wall: do not let Hezekiah deceive you; surrender, and I will take you to a land like your own; which god has saved any land from Assyria? (vv. 11–20). The people stay silent; the officials go to Hezekiah with torn clothes (vv. 21–22).
    • Investigation: Jerusalem Besieged, 701 BC →The campaign of 701 BC is one of the best-documented events of the Iron Age: four biblical accounts (Isaiah 36–37, 2 Kings 18–19, 2 Chronicles 32, and Isaiah's own oracles), the Assyrian king's annals in several editions, the Lachish reliefs from his palace, and the excavated ruins of Judah. They agree on much and disagree on much. This investigation sets them side by side and sorts each statement into three columns: what Assyria claimed, what the Bible reports, and what independent evidence establishes.
    • Hezekiah and Sennacherib →Hezekiah trusts the LORD, removes the high places and breaks the bronze serpent Nehushtan. He rebels against Assyria. In his fourteenth year Sennacherib takes the fortified cities of Judah; Hezekiah pays 300 talents of silver and 30 of gold, stripping the temple doors. Assyrian officials, led by the Rabshakeh, come to Jerusalem's wall and speak to the people in Hebrew: Hezekiah cannot save you, and neither can your God.