2 Kings 19:13
New International Version
Where is the king of Hamath or the king of Arpad? Where are the kings of Lair, Sepharvaim, Hena and Ivvah?”

New Living Translation
What happened to the king of Hamath and the king of Arpad? What happened to the kings of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah?”

English Standard Version
Where is the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad, the king of the city of Sepharvaim, the king of Hena, or the king of Ivvah?’”

Berean Standard Bible
Where are the kings of Hamath, Arpad, Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah?’”

King James Bible
Where is the king of Hamath, and the king of Arpad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, of Hena, and Ivah?

New King James Version
Where is the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah?’ ”

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

NASB 1995
Where is the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad, the king of the city of Sepharvaim, and of Hena and Ivvah?’”

NASB 1977
‘Where is the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad, the king of the city of Sepharvaim, and of Hena and Ivvah?’”

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

Amplified Bible
Where is the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad [of northern Syria], the king of the city of Sepharvaim, and of Hena and Ivvah?’”

Christian Standard Bible
Where is the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad, the king of the city of Sepharvaim, Hena, or Ivvah? ’ ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Where is the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad, the king of the city of Sepharvaim, Hena, or Ivvah?’”

American Standard Version
Where is the king of Hamath, and the king of Arpad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, of Hena, and Ivvah?

Contemporary English Version
The kings of Hamath, Arpad, Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah have all disappeared.

English Revised Version
Where is the king of Hamath, and the king of Arpad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, of Hena, and Ivvah?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Where is the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad, and the king of the cities of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah?'"

Good News Translation
Where are the kings of the cities of Hamath, Arpad, Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah?"

International Standard Version
Where is the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad, the king of the city of Sephar-vaim, the king of Hena, or the king of Ivvah?'"

Majority Standard Bible
Where are the kings of Hamath, Arpad, Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah???

NET Bible
Where are the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad, and the king of Lair, Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah?'"

New Heart English Bible
Where is the king of Hamath, and the king of Arpad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, of Hena, and Ivvah?"'"

Webster's Bible Translation
Where is the king of Hamath, and the king of Arpad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, of Hena, and Ivah?

World English Bible
Where is the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, of Hena, and Ivvah?’”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Where [is] the king of Hamath, and the king of Arpad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah?”

Young's Literal Translation
Where is the king of Hamath, and the king of Arpad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah?'

Smith's Literal Translation
Where the king of Hamath, and the king of Arpad, and the king to the city of Sepharvaim, Hena and Ivah?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Where is the king of Emath, and the king of Arphad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, of Ana and of Ava?

Catholic Public Domain Version
Where is the king of Hamath, and the king of Arpad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, and of Hena, and of Avva?”

New American Bible
Where are the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad, or the kings of the cities Sepharvaim, Hena and Ivvah?”

New Revised Standard Version
Where is the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad, the king of the city of Sepharvaim, the king of Hena, or the king of Ivvah?”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Where is the king of Hamath, and the king of Arpad, and the king of Sepharvim, and of Dena, and Ivah?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Where is the King of Khamath and the King of Raphad and the King of the city Sepharvaim, and of Ana and of Ava?”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Where is the king of Hamath, and the king of Arpad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, of Hena, and Ivvah?'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Where is the king of Haemath, and the king of Arphad? and where is the king of the city of Seppharvaim, of Ana, and Aba?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Sennacherib's Blasphemous Letter
12Did the gods of the nations destroyed by my fathers rescue those nations—the gods of Gozan, Haran, and Rezeph, and of the people of Eden in Telassar? 13Where are the kings of Hamath, Arpad, Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah?’”

Cross References
Isaiah 37:13
Where are the kings of Hamath, Arpad, Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah?’”

2 Kings 18:33-35
Has the god of any nation ever delivered his land from the hand of the king of Assyria? / Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah? Have they delivered Samaria from my hand? / Who among all the gods of these lands has delivered his land from my hand? How then can the LORD deliver Jerusalem from my hand?”

Isaiah 36:18-20
Do not let Hezekiah mislead you when he says, ‘The LORD will deliver us.’ Has the god of any nation ever delivered his land from the hand of the king of Assyria? / Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim? Have they delivered Samaria from my hand? / Who among all the gods of these lands has delivered his land from my hand? How then can the LORD deliver Jerusalem from my hand?”

2 Chronicles 32:13-15
Do you not know what I and my fathers have done to all the peoples of the lands? Have the gods of these nations ever been able to deliver their land from my hand? / Who among all the gods of these nations that my fathers devoted to destruction has been able to deliver his people from my hand? How then can your God deliver you from my hand? / So now, do not let Hezekiah deceive you, and do not let him mislead you like this. Do not believe him, for no god of any nation or kingdom has been able to deliver his people from my hand or from the hand of my fathers. How much less will your God deliver you from my hand!”

Jeremiah 49:23-27
Concerning Damascus: “Hamath and Arpad are put to shame, for they have heard a bad report; they are agitated like the sea; their anxiety cannot be calmed. / Damascus has become feeble; she has turned to flee. Panic has gripped her; anguish and pain have seized her like a woman in labor. / How is the city of praise not forsaken, the town that brings Me joy? ...

Nahum 3:8-10
Are you better than Thebes, stationed by the Nile with water around her, whose rampart was the sea, whose wall was the water? / Cush and Egypt were her boundless strength; Put and Libya were her allies. / Yet she became an exile; she went into captivity. Her infants were dashed to pieces at the head of every street. They cast lots for her dignitaries, and all her nobles were bound in chains.

Isaiah 10:9-11
“Is not Calno like Carchemish? Is not Hamath like Arpad? Is not Samaria like Damascus? / As my hand seized the idolatrous kingdoms whose images surpassed those of Jerusalem and Samaria, / and as I have done to Samaria and its idols, will I not also do to Jerusalem and her idols?”

Ezekiel 31:3-9
Look at Assyria, a cedar in Lebanon, with beautiful branches that shaded the forest. It towered on high; its top was among the clouds. / The waters made it grow; the deep springs made it tall, directing their streams all around its base and sending their channels to all the trees of the field. / Therefore it towered higher than all the trees of the field. Its branches multiplied, and its boughs grew long as it spread them out because of the abundant waters. ...

Isaiah 14:24-27
The LORD of Hosts has sworn: “Surely, as I have planned, so will it be; as I have purposed, so will it stand. / I will break Assyria in My land; I will trample him on My mountain. His yoke will be taken off My people, and his burden removed from their shoulders.” / This is the plan devised for the whole earth, and this is the hand stretched out over all the nations. ...

Isaiah 37:11-13
Surely you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all the other countries, devoting them to destruction. Will you then be spared? / Did the gods of the nations destroyed by my fathers rescue those nations—the gods of Gozan, Haran, and Rezeph, and of the people of Eden in Telassar? / Where are the kings of Hamath, Arpad, Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah?’”

Matthew 11:21-24
“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. / But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. / And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. ...

Luke 10:13-15
Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. / But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. / And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades!

Isaiah 37:18-19
Truly, O LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all these countries and their lands. / They have cast their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods, but only wood and stone—the work of human hands.

2 Kings 17:6
In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria and carried away the Israelites to Assyria, where he settled them in Halah, in Gozan by the Habor River, and in the cities of the Medes.

2 Kings 18:11-12
The king of Assyria exiled the Israelites to Assyria and settled them in Halah, in Gozan by the Habor River, and in the cities of the Medes. / This happened because they did not listen to the voice of the LORD their God, but violated His covenant—all that Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded—and would neither listen nor obey.


Treasury of Scripture

Where is the king of Hamath, and the king of Arpad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, of Hena, and Ivah?

the king.

2 Kings 17:24
And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Ava, and from Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel: and they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in the cities thereof.

Numbers 13:21
So they went up, and searched the land from the wilderness of Zin unto Rehob, as men come to Hamath.

Numbers 34:8
From mount Hor ye shall point out your border unto the entrance of Hamath; and the goings forth of the border shall be to Zedad:

Arpad.

2 Kings 18:34
Where are the gods of Hamath, and of Arpad? where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah? have they delivered Samaria out of mine hand?

Isaiah 37:13-20
Where is the king of Hamath, and the king of Arphad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah? …

Arphad.

Jump to Previous
Arpad City Hamath Hena Ivah Ivvah Sepharvaim Sepharva'im
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Arpad City Hamath Hena Ivah Ivvah Sepharvaim Sepharva'im
2 Kings 19
1. Hezekiah, in mourning, sends to Isaiah to pray for them.
6. Isaiah comforts them.
8. Sennacherib, going to encounter Tirhakah, sends a blasphemous letter to Hezekiah.
14. Hezekiah's prayer.
20. Isaiah's prophecy of the destruction of Sennacherib, and the good of Zion.
35. An angel slays the Assyrians.
36. Sennacherib is slain by his own sons.














Where are the kings of Hamath, Arpad, Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah?’
This verse is part of a taunt from the Assyrian king Sennacherib, delivered through his messengers to King Hezekiah of Judah. It is a rhetorical question meant to intimidate and demonstrate the futility of resisting Assyria, as these cities and their kings had already fallen to Assyrian power.

Where are the kings of Hamath
Hamath was a significant city-state located in modern-day Syria. It was known for its strategic location along trade routes and its fertile land. The mention of Hamath highlights the extent of Assyrian conquest, as it was a prominent city that had succumbed to Assyrian dominance. This serves as a warning to Judah about the power and reach of Assyria.

Arpad
Arpad was another city in northern Syria, often associated with Hamath in biblical texts. It was a fortified city that fell to the Assyrians under Tiglath-Pileser III. The inclusion of Arpad in this list underscores the systematic and relentless expansion of the Assyrian Empire, which left little room for resistance.

Sepharvaim
Sepharvaim is believed to be a city located in Mesopotamia, possibly near Babylon. Its mention here is significant because it was one of the cities whose people were resettled in Samaria after the fall of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. This resettlement policy was a common Assyrian practice to prevent rebellion by mixing populations.

Hena
Hena is less well-documented in historical records, but it is thought to be a city in Mesopotamia. Its inclusion in this list serves to emphasize the comprehensive nature of Assyrian conquests, as even lesser-known cities were not spared from their expansion.

and Ivvah?’
Ivvah, like Hena, is not well-documented, but it is believed to be another city in Mesopotamia. The rhetorical question about these cities and their kings is meant to instill fear and doubt in Hezekiah and the people of Judah, suggesting that their fate will be similar if they resist Assyria. This verse highlights the historical context of Assyrian military campaigns and the psychological warfare employed by Sennacherib to subdue his enemies.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Kings of Hamath and Arpad
These were rulers of cities in Syria, which were conquered by the Assyrian Empire. Their mention highlights the Assyrian threat and the fate of those who opposed them.

2. Sepharvaim
A city whose people were exiled by the Assyrians. It represents the power and reach of the Assyrian Empire during this period.

3. Hena and Ivvah
Lesser-known cities or regions that were also conquered by the Assyrians. Their mention serves to emphasize the completeness of Assyrian dominance.

4. Assyrian Empire
The dominant power during this time, known for its military might and conquests, including the siege of Jerusalem.

5. Hezekiah
The king of Judah during this time, who is faced with the threat of the Assyrian army and seeks God's intervention.
Teaching Points
God's Sovereignty Over Nations
Despite the apparent power of the Assyrian Empire, God remains sovereign. This reminds us that no earthly power can thwart God's ultimate plans.

The Futility of Idolatry
The conquered cities likely relied on their gods for protection, yet they fell. This serves as a reminder of the futility of idolatry and the importance of trusting in the one true God.

Faith in Times of Crisis
Hezekiah's response to the Assyrian threat was to seek God in prayer. In our own crises, we should turn to God, trusting in His power and provision.

Historical Context as a Faith Builder
Understanding the historical context of biblical events can strengthen our faith, showing how God has acted in history and continues to act today.(13) The king.--Comp. 2Kings 18:34, from which, as well as from the sequence of thought in 2Kings 19:12-13 here, it is clear that "king" is here used as a synonym of local god. (Comp. Amos 5:26; Psalm 5:2 : "My King, and my God.")

Verse 13. - Where is the King of Hamath. Ilu-bid, King of Hamath, raised a rebellion against Sargon in B.C. 720, and was taken prisoner the same year and carried to Assyria (see the 'Eponym Canon,' p. 127). And the King of Arpad. Arpad revolted in conjunction with Hamath, and was reduced about the same time ('Eponym Canon,' p. 126). Its "king" is not mentioned, but he probably shared the fate of Ilu-bid. And the King of the city of Sepharvaim, of Hens, and Ivah? It is probably not meant that these three cities were all of them under the dominion of one and the same king. "King" is to be taken distributively. (On the sites of the cities, see the comment upon 2 Kings 18:34.)

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Where
אַיּ֤וֹ (’ay·yōw)
Interrogative | third person masculine singular
Strong's 335: Where?, how?

are the kings
מֶֽלֶךְ־ (me·leḵ-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4428: A king

of Hamath,
חֲמָת֙ (ḥă·māṯ)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 2574: Hamath -- a place North of Damascus

Arpad,
אַרְפָּ֔ד (’ar·pāḏ)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 774: Arpad -- a city in Aram (Syria)

Sepharvaim,
סְפַרְוָ֑יִם (sə·p̄ar·wā·yim)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 5617: Sepharvaim -- a city conquered by the king of Assyr

Hena,
הֵנַ֖ע (hê·na‘)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 2012: Hena -- a city in Aram (Syria) or Mesopotamia

and Ivvah?’”
וְעִוָּֽה׃ (wə·‘iw·wāh)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 5755: Ivvah -- a city conquered by Assyr


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OT History: 2 Kings 19:13 Where is the king of Hamath (2Ki iiKi ii ki 2 kg 2kg)
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