Tirhakah
PeopleWhat is the meaning of Tirhakah in the Bible?
Tirhakah, a king of Cush and Egypt, led a military coalition against the Assyrian king Sennacherib during his campaign in Judah, an event recorded in biblical and Assyrian sources, before later engaging in conflicts with Esarhaddon and Ashurbanipal.
SIGNIFICANCE
Tirhakah's intervention in the Levant provides historical context for the narrative in 2 Kings 19 and Isaiah 37, illustrating the geopolitical pressures on Judah and the limitations of relying on Egyptian alliances for protection against Assyrian expansion.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
Genealogy & Community Insight: When reading, notice how the lineage and actions of Tirhakah reveal God's preservation of family clans and community records across generations.
Bible Study Reflection Prompts:
- Why did the biblical author mention Tirhakah in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Tirhakah clarify?
Source Attribution
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.
How to Cite This Entry
"Tirhakah." Ancient Context Dictionary. Accessed 2026. https://ancientcontext.com/context/tirhakah/