2 Kings 19 Commentary

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Chart from recommended resource Jensen's Survey of the OT - used by permission
1 Kings Chart from Charles Swindoll

THE DOWNWARD SPIRAL

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(NOTE: Many consider Amaziah and Hezekiah as "good" kings)

SEE ALSO:
ESV chart - kings of Israel - more information
ESV chart - kings of Judah - more information
Another Chart with Variable Dates for Reigns of King

2 Kings 19:1 And when King Hezekiah heard it, he tore his clothes, covered himself with sackcloth and entered the house of the LORD.

• when king: Isa 37:1-7 
• he rent: 2Ki 5:7 18:37 1Sa 4:12 Ezr 9:3 Job 1:20 Jer 36:24 Mt 26:65 
• covered: 2Ki 6:30 Ge 37:34 1Ki 21:27,29 Es 4:1-4 Ps 35:13 Jon 3:8 Mt 11:21 
• went into: 2Ch 7:15,16 Job 1:20,21 

And when King Hezekiah heard it, he tore his clothes, covered himself with sackcloth and entered the house of the LORD.

Hezekiah recognized the seriousness of the Assyrian threats. Leaving behind worldly alliances, he turned to God in faith and humility.

2 Kings 19:2 Then he sent Eliakim who was over the household with Shebna the scribe and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz.

• he sent Eliakim: 2Ki 18:18 22:13,14 Isa 37:2-5 
• to Isaiah: 2Ch 26:22 Mt 4:14 Lu 3:4, Esaias
• the son of Amoz: Isa 1:1 2:1 

Then he sent Eliakim who was over the household with Shebna the scribe and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz.

The prophet Isaiah devoted his attention primarily to Judah and Jerusalem. He had access to the royal court, and his advice was usually heard with respect, even if in the end it was disregarded. In particular, Isaiah insisted that Judah should not rely upon aid from Egypt (Isa. 19:1-22; 30:1-7; 31:1-3).

2 Kings 19:3 They said to him, “Thus says Hezekiah, ‘This day is a day of distress, rebuke, and rejection; for children have come to birth and there is no strength to deliver.

• This day: 2Ki 18:29 Ps 39:11 123:3,4 Jer 30:5-7 Ho 5:15 6:1 
• blasphemy: or, provocation, Ps 95:8 Heb 3:15,16 
• for the children: Isa 26:17,18 66:9 Ho 13:13 

They said to him, “Thus says Hezekiah, ‘This day is a day of distress, rebuke, and rejection; for children have come to birth and there is no strength to deliver.

2 Kings 19:4 ‘Perhaps the LORD your God will hear all the words of Rabshakeh, whom his master the king of Assyria has sent to reproach the living God, and will rebuke the words which the LORD your God has heard. Therefore, offer a prayer for the remnant that is left.’”

• the Lord: Ge 22:14 De 32:36 Jos 14:12 1Sa 14:6 2Sa 16:12 
• whom the king: 2Ki 18:17-35 
• reprove: 2Ki 19:22 1Sa 17:45 Ps 50:21 74:18 
• lift up: 2Ch 32:20 Ps 50:15 Jer 33:3 Eze 36:37 Ro 9:27 Jas 5:16,17 
• the remnant: 2Ki 17:5,6 18:13 2Ch 28:5,6 Isa 8:7,8 10:6 

Perhaps the LORD your God will hear all the words of Rabshakeh, whom his master the king of Assyria has sent to reproach the living God, and will rebuke the words which the LORD your God has heard. Therefore, offer a prayer for the remnant that is left

2 Kings 19:5 So the servants of King Hezekiah came to Isaiah.

So the servants of King Hezekiah came to Isaiah.

2 Kings 19:6 Isaiah said to them, “Thus you shall say to your master, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Do not be afraid because of the words that you have heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed Me.

• Isaiah: Isa 37:6,7-38 
• Be not afraid: 2Ki 6:16 Ex 14:13 Lev 26:8 De 20:1,3,4 Jos 11:6 2Ch 20:15,17 Isa 41:10-14 51:7,12,13 
• the servants: 2Ki 18:17,35 Ps 74:18,23 Rev 13:6 

Isaiah said to them, “Thus you shall say to your master, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Do not be afraid because of the words that you have heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed Me.

2 Kings 19:7 “Behold, I will put a spirit in him so that he will hear a rumor and return to his own land. And I will make him fall by the sword in his own land.”’”

a blast: 2Ki 19:35-37 Job 4:9 Ps 11:6 18:14,15 50:3 Isa 10:16-18 11:4 Jer 51:1 
hear a rumour: 2Ki 7:6 Job 15:21 Jer 49:14 51:46 Ob 1:1 
I will cause: 2Ki 19:36,37 2Ch 32:21 

Behold, I will put a spirit in him so that he will hear a rumor and return to his own land. And I will make him fall by the sword in his own land. Isaiah predicted that Sennacherib would return home and be killed (2 Kin. 19:37).

This prophecy was literally fulfilled later when Sennacherib was slain by two of his own sons (2 Kings 19:36,37). This event is also found described in an Assyrian inscription.

2 Kings 19:8 Then Rabshakeh returned and found the king of Assyria fighting against Libnah, for he had heard that the king had left Lachish.

• Libnah: 2Ki 8:22 Jos 10:29 12:15 15:42 
• Lachish: 2Ki 18:14 Jos 12:11 15:39 Isa 37:8,9 Mic 1:13 

Then Rabshakeh returned and found the king of Assyria fighting against Libnah, for he had heard that the king had left Lachish.

When he heard of an Ethiopian army, led by Prince Tirhakah, coming to the aid of Jerusalem, Sennacherib turned aside to meet this army rather than continuing on immediately to Jerusalem. The Rabshakeh also temporarily withdrew to assist. Sennacherib's own inscription says that he encountered an Egyptian force and defeated it in the plain of Eltekeh, near Ekron. Egyptian kings at this time were Ethiopian in lineage. Meanwhile, Sennacherib sent a message to Hezekiah warning him that he would return.
 

2 Kings 19:9 When he heard them say concerning Tirhakah king of Cush, “Behold, he has come out to fight against you,” he sent messengers again to Hezekiah saying,

when he heard: When Sennacherib had levied contributions on Hezekiah, he marched his army into Egypt; where, after several successes, he laid siege to Pelusium, and spent much time in it; but hearing that Tirhakah, king of Ethiopia, whom Strabo calls Therchon, was marching against him with a great army, to assist his kinsman Sevechus, or Sethon, the king of Egypt, he durst not abide his coming, but raised the siege; and returning to Judea, he encamped against Lachish, and afterwards against Libnah.  But finding that Tirhakah pursued him as a fugitive, he marched back to encounter him; and having totally routed his army, he returned to wreak his vengeance on Hezekiah. 1Sa 23:27 Isa 37:9 
sent: 2Ki 18:17 

When he heard them say concerning Tirhakah king of Cush, “Behold, he has come out to fight against you,” he sent messengers again to Hezekiah saying,

RYRIE - Tirhakah. If this is related to a single campaign of Sennacherib against Judah in 701, then Tirhakah was at that time a general, though he is designated by the title of king, which he later assumed. If (though less likely) there were two separate campaigns (a 13- or 14-year break coming between 18:16 and 18:17), then he was king at this time. In any case, this threat from Egypt made it urgent for Sennacherib to press Judah to surrender. Cush was the area of modern-day southern Egypt, Sudan, and northern Ethiopia. 
 

2 Kings 19:10 “Thus you shall say to Hezekiah king of Judah, ‘Do not let your God in whom you trust deceive you saying, “Jerusalem will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.”

• 2Ki 18:5,29,30 2Ch 32:15-19 Isa 37:10-14 

Thus you shall say to Hezekiah king of Judah, ‘Do not let your God in whom you trust deceive you saying, “Jerusalem will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.”

2 Kings 19:11 ‘Behold, you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all the lands, destroying them completely. So will you be spared?

• 2Ki 19:17,18 17:5-11 2Ch 32:13,14 Isa 10:8-11 

Behold, you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all the lands, destroying them completely. So will you be spared?

2 Kings 19:12 ‘Did the gods of those nations which my fathers destroyed deliver them, even Gozan and Haran and Rezeph and the sons of Eden who were in Telassar?

• Have the gods. 2Ki 18:33 2Ki 18:34 
• Gozan. 2Ki 17:6 1Ch 5:26 
• Haran. Gen 11:31 Gen 29:4 Act 7:4 
• Eden. Gen 2:8  Isa 37:12 
• Telassar. Eze 27:23

Did the gods of those nations which my fathers destroyed deliver them, even Gozan and Haran and Rezeph and the sons of Eden who were in Telassar?

2 Kings 19:13 ‘Where is the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad, the king of the city of Sepharvaim, and of Hena and Ivvah?’”

• the king: 2Ki 17:24 Nu 13:21 34:8 Isa 11:11 Jer 39:5 49:23 Zec 9:2 
• Arpad: 2Ki 18:34 Isa 37:13-20, Arphad

Where is the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad, the king of the city of Sepharvaim, and of Hena and Ivvah?’”

2 Kings 19:14 Then Hezekiah took the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it, and he went up to the house of the LORD and spread it out before the LORD.

• Hezekiah: Isa 37:14 
• spread it: 1Ki 8:28-30 Ezr 9:5 Ps 74:10,11 91:1,2 123:1-4 

Then Hezekiah took the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it, and he went up to the house of the LORD and spread it out before the LORD.

spread if before the LORD.  The LORD certainly did not need to read the blasphemous letter of the Assyrian king in order to know what it contained. Nevertheless, it pleases Him when we "remind" Him of His promises and of our dependence on Him.
 

2 Kings 19:15 Hezekiah prayed before the LORD and said, “O LORD, the God of Israel, who are enthroned above the cherubim, You are the God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth.

• prayed: 2Sa 7:18-28 2Ch 14:11 20:6 32:20 Da 9:3,4 
• O Lord God: Ge 32:28 33:20 1Ki 8:23 1Ch 4:10 Isa 41:17 
• dwellest: Ex 25:22 1Sa 4:4 2Ch 5:7,8 Ps 80:1 99:1 
• thou art the God: 2Ki 5:15 1Ki 18:39 Isa 43:10 44:6,8 45:22 Da 4:34,35 
• thou hast made: Ge 1:1 2:4 Ps 33:9 102:25 146:6 Jer 10:10-12  Joh 1:1-3:36 

Hezekiah prayed before the LORD and said, “O LORD, the God of Israel, who are enthroned above the cherubim, You are the God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth.

Henry Morris - The cherubims at Eden's gate (Genesis 3:24) and their replicas over the mercy-seat in the tabernacle (Hebrews 9:5) indicated the presence of God as He came to meet with His people on earth. We can, like Hezekiah, enter His presence on His heavenly throne through the amazing privilege of prayer.

   19:15 made heaven and earth.  Despite the insulting blasphemies of Rabshakeh, insinuating that Jehovah was only one "god" among the many "gods" of the heathen, Hezekiah realized that He is the very Creator of the universe.

2 Kings 19:16 “Incline Your ear, O LORD, and hear; open Your eyes, O LORD, and see; and listen to the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to reproach the living God.

• bow down: Ps 31:2 Isa 37:17 
• open: 1Ki 8:29 2Ch 6:40 Da 9:18 
• which hath sent: 2Ki 19:4 Ps 79:12 Isa 37:4,17 Heb 11:26 

“Incline Your ear, O LORD, and hear; open Your eyes, O LORD, and see; and listen to the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to reproach the living God.

2 Kings 19:17 “Truly, O LORD, the kings of Assyria have devastated the nations and their lands

• Of a truth: Job 9:2 Isa 5:9 Jer 26:15 Da 2:47 Mt 14:33 Lu 22:59 Ac 4:27 1Co 14:25 
• the kings: 2Ki 16:9 17:6,24 1Ch 5:26 Isa 7:17,18 10:9-11 

Truly, O LORD, the kings of Assyria have devastated the nations and their lands

2 Kings 19:18 and have cast their gods into the fire, for they were not gods but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone. So they have destroyed them.

• have cast: Heb. have given, 2Sa 5:21 Isa 46:1,2 
• for they were: Ps 115:4-8 Isa 37:18,19 44:9-20 Jer 10:3-9,14-16 Ac 17:29 

and have cast their gods into the fire, for they were not gods but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone. So they have destroyed them.

2 Kings 19:19 “Now, O LORD our God, I pray, deliver us from his hand that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You alone, O LORD, are God.”

• O Lord: Ex 9:15,16 Jos 7:9 1Sa 17:45-47 1Ki 8:43 18:36,37 20:28 Ps 67:1,2 83:18 Da 4:34-37 

Now, O LORD our God, I pray, deliver us from his hand that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You alone, O LORD, are God.”

2 Kings 19:20 Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah saying, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘Because you have prayed to Me about Sennacherib king of Assyria, I have heard you.’

• which thou hast: 2Sa 15:31 17:23 
• I have heard: 2Ki 20:5 2Ch 32:20,21 Job 22:27 Ps 50:15 65:2 Isa 58:9 65:24 Jer 33:3 Da 9:20-23  Joh 11:42 Ac 10:4,31 1Jn 5:14,15 

Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah saying, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘Because you have prayed to Me about Sennacherib king of Assyria, I have heard you.’

2 Kings 19:21 “This is the word that the LORD has spoken against him: ‘She has despised you and mocked you, The virgin daughter of Zion; She has shaken her head behind you, The daughter of Jerusalem!  

• The virgin: Isa 23:12 37:21,22-35 47:1 Jer 14:17 18:13 31:4 La 1:15 2:13 Am 5:2 
• the daughter: Ps 9:14 137:8 Isa 1:8 23:10 47:5 Jer 46:11 La 2:13 4:21 Mic 4:8 Zec 9:9 
• shaken her head: Job 16:4 Ps 22:7,8 Isa 37:22 La 2:15 Mt 27:39 

This is the word that the LORD has spoken against him: ‘She has despised you and mocked you, The virgin daughter of Zion; She has shaken her head behind you, The daughter of Jerusalem!  

2 Kings 19:22 ‘Whom have you reproached and blasphemed? And against whom have you raised your voice, And haughtily lifted up your eyes? Against the Holy One of Israel!  

• Whom: 2Ki 18:28-35 Ex 5:2 Ps 73:9 74:22,23 
• exalted thy voice: Ex 9:17 Pr 30:13 Isa 10:15 14:13,14 Eze 28:2-9 Da 5:20-23 2Co 10:5 2Th 2:4 
• the Holy One: Ps 71:22 Isa 5:24 30:11,12,15 Jer 51:5 

‘Whom have you reproached and blasphemed? And against whom have you raised your voice, And haughtily lifted up your eyes? Against the Holy One of Israel!  

2 Kings 19:23 ‘Through your messengers you have reproached the Lord, And you have said, “With my many chariots I came up to the heights of the mountains, To the remotest parts of Lebanon; And I cut down its tall cedars and its choice cypresses. And I entered its farthest lodging place, its thickest forest.  

• By: Heb. By the hand of
• messengers: 2Ki 18:17 2Ch 32:17 
• With the multitude: 2Ki 18:23,33,34 Ps 20:7 Isa 10:7-11,14 37:24,25 Eze 31:3-18 
• tall cedar trees thereof: Heb. tallness of the cedar-trees thereof.  the forest of his Carmel.  or, the forest, and his fruitful field.

Through your messengers you have reproached the Lord, And you have said, “With my many chariots I came up to the heights of the mountains, To the remotest parts of Lebanon; And I cut down its tall cedars and its choice cypresses. And I entered its farthest lodging place, its thickest forest.

2 Kings 19:24 “I dug wells and drank foreign waters, And with the sole of my feet I dried up All the rivers of Egypt.”  

• I have digged: etc. I have conquered strange countries, and marched through the driest places, in which I have digged wells for my army.
• with the sole: My infantry have been so numerous, that they alone have been sufficient to dry up all the rivers of besieged places, either by drinking them, or by diverting their course into other channels. Ex 15:9 2Sa 17:13 1Ki 20:10 Da 4:30 
• besieged places: or, fenced places

I dug wells and drank foreign waters, And with the sole of my feet I dried up All the rivers of Egypt

2 Kings 19:25 ‘Have you not heard? Long ago I did it; From ancient times I planned it. Now I have brought it to pass, That you should turn fortified cities into ruinous heaps. 

• Hast thou not: etc. or, Hast thou not heard how I have made it long ago, and formed it of ancient times?  Should I now bring it to be laid waste, and fenced cities to be ruinous heaps?  I have done it. Ps 33:11 76:10 Isa 10:5,6,15 37:26,27 45:7 46:10,11 54:16 Ac 4:27,28 

Have you not heard? Long ago I did it; From ancient times I planned it. Now I have brought it to pass, That you should turn fortified cities into ruinous heaps

2 Kings 19:26 ‘Therefore their inhabitants were short of strength, They were dismayed and put to shame; They were as the vegetation of the field and as the green herb, As grass on the housetops is scorched before it is grown up.  

• of small power: Heb. short of hand, Nu 11:23 14:9 Ps 48:4-7 127:1 Jer 37:10 50:36,37 51:30,32 
• they were: Ps 92:7 102:11 Isa 40:6-8 Jas 1:10,11 1Pe 1:24 
• the grass: Ps 129:6-8 

Therefore their inhabitants were short of strength, They were dismayed and put to shame; They were as the vegetation of the field and as the green herb, As grass on the housetops is scorched before it is grown up

2 Kings 19:27 ‘But I know your sitting down, And your going out and your coming in, And your raging against Me.  

• I know: Ps 139:1-11 Jer 23:23,24 
• abode: or, sitting
• thy going out: De 28:6,19 Ps 121:8 Isa 37:28,29 

But I know your sitting down, And your going out and your coming in, And your raging against Me

2 Kings 19:28 ‘Because of your raging against Me, And because your arrogance has come up to My ears, Therefore I will put My hook in your nose, And My bridle in your lips, And I will turn you back by the way which you came.  

• thy rage: Ps 2:1-5 7:6 10:13,14 46:6 93:3,4 Lu 6:11  Joh 15:18,23,24 Ac 7:51 
• thy tumult: Ps 65:7 74:4,23 83:2 
• I will put: This alludes to the method by which the common people manage their beasts in the East, especially the dromedaries, which are governed by a bridle fastened to a ring, which runs through the nostril of the beast. Job 41:2 Ps 32:9 Eze 29:4 38:4 Am 4:2 
• by the way: 2Ki 19:33,36,37 

Because of your raging against Me, And because your arrogance has come up to My ears, Therefore I will put My hook in your nose, And My bridle in your lips, And I will turn you back by the way which you came

Assyrian inscriptions show that the Assyrians often led prisoners and slaves by means of hooks placed in their noses. The Assyrians were among the cruelest people in history. God said that the Assyrians would become the victims of some of their own methods of cruelty.

2 Kings 19:29‘ Then this shall be the sign for you: you will eat this year what grows of itself, in the second year what springs from the same, and in the third year sow, reap, plant vineyards, and eat their fruit. 

• a sign: 2Ki 19:21,31-34 20:8,9 Ex 3:12 1Sa 2:34 Isa 7:11-14 Lu 2:12 
• Ye shall eat: Lev 25:4,5,20-22 Isa 37:30 

Then this shall be the sign for you: you will eat this year what grows of itself, in the second year what springs from the same, and in the third year sow, reap, plant vineyards, and eat their fruit. 

2 Kings 19:30 ‘The surviving remnant of the house of Judah will again take root downward and bear fruit upward.

• the remnant that: etc. Heb. the escaping of the house of Judah that remaineth, 2Ki 19:4 2Ch 32:22,23 Isa 1:9 10:20-22 
• shall yet again: Ps 80:9 Isa 27:6 37:31,32 

The surviving remnant of the house of Judah will again take root downward and bear fruit upward.

2 Kings 19:31 ‘For out of Jerusalem will go forth a remnant, and out of Mount Zion survivors. The zeal of the LORD will perform this.  

• For: 2Ki 19:4 Jer 44:14 Ro 9:27 11:5 
• they that escape: Heb. the escaping
• the zeal: Isa 9:7 59:17 63:15 Eze 5:13 20:9 Zec 1:14 Joh 2:17 

For out of Jerusalem will go forth a remnant, and out of Mount Zion survivors. The zeal of the LORD will perform this

2 Kings 19:32 Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the king of Assyria, “He will not come to this city or shoot an arrow there; and he will not come before it with a shield or throw up a siege ramp against it.

• He shall not come: Isa 8:7-10 10:24,25,28-32 37:33-35 
• cast a bank: 2Sa 20:15 Eze 21:22 Lu 19:43,44 

Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the king of Assyria, “He will not come to this city or shoot an arrow there; and he will not come before it with a shield or throw up a siege ramp against it.

2 Kings 19:33 “By the way that he came, by the same he will return, and he shall not come to this city,”’ declares the LORD.

• By the way: 2Ki 19:28,36 

By the way that he came, by the same he will return, and he shall not come to this city,”’ declares the LORD.

2 Kings 19:34 ‘For I will defend this city to save it for My own sake and for My servant David’s sake.’”  

• I will defend: 2Ki 20:6 Ps 46:5,6 48:2-8 Isa 31:5 38:6 
• for mine: De 32:27 Isa 43:25 48:9,11 Eze 36:22 Eph 1:6,14 
• my servant: 1Ki 11:12,13 15:4 Isa 9:7 Jer 23:5,6 33:21,26 

For I will defend this city to save it for My own sake and for My servant David’s sake

2 Kings 19:35 Then it happened that night that the angel of the LORD went out and struck 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians; and when men rose early in the morning, behold, all of them were dead.

• that night: Ex 12:29 Da 5:30 1Th 5:2,3 
• the angel: Ex 12:29,30 2Sa 24:16 1Ch 21:12,16 2Ch 32:21,22 Ps 35:5,6 Ac 12:23 
• and smote: Isa 10:16-19,33 30:30-33 37:36 Ho 1:7 
• when they arose: Ex 12:30 Ps 76:5-7,10 

Then it happened that night that the angel of the LORD went out and struck 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians; and when men rose early in the morning, behold, all of them were dead

Sennacherib's inscription boasts of all his mighty victories, but is silent concerning his defeat by the "angel of the Lord." Defeats and failures were invariably ignored when chronicles were being compiled by the heathen Near Eastern nations. The inscription does admit, however, that rather than taking tribute with him, as usual, Hezekiah sent it "later to Nineveh."

2 Kings 19:36 So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed and returned home, and lived at Nineveh.

• Sennacherib: 2Ki 19:7,28,33 
• Nineveh: Ge 10:11,12 Jon 1:2 3:2-10 Na 1:1 2:8 Mt 12:41 

So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed and returned home, and lived at Nineveh.

2 Kings 19:37 It came about as he was worshiping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer killed him with the sword; and they escaped into the land of Ararat. And Esarhaddon his son became king in his place.

• Nisroch: 2Ki 19:10 18:5,30 De 32:31 2Ch 32:14,19 Isa 37:37,38 
• his sons smote: 2Ki 19:7 2Ch 32:21 
• the land: Armenia or Ararat is a province of Asia, comprising the modern Turcomania and part of Persia; having Georgia on the north, Curdistan, or the ancient Assyria on the south, and Asia Minor, now Natolia, on the west.
• Armenia: Heb. Ararat, Ge 8:4 Jer 51:27 
• Esarhaddon: Ezr 4:2 

It came about as he was worshiping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer killed him with the sword; and they escaped into the land of Ararat. And Esarhaddon his son became king in his place.