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.
And Rabshakeh said unto them, Say ye now to Hezekiah, Thus saith the great king, the king of Assyria, What confidence is this wherein thou trustest?
I say, sayest thou, (but they are but vain words) I have counsel and strength for war: now on whom dost thou trust, that thou rebellest against me?
Lo, thou trustest in the staff of this broken reed, on Egypt; whereon if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all that trust in him.
But if thou say to me, We trust in the Lord our God: is it not he, whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah hath taken away, and said to Judah and to Jerusalem, Ye shall worship before this altar?
Now therefore give pledges, I pray thee, to my master the king of Assyria, and I will give thee two thousand horses, if thou be able on thy part to set riders upon them.
How then wilt thou turn away the face of one captain of the least of my master’s servants, and put thy trust on Egypt for chariots and for horsemen?
And am I now come up without the Lord against this land to destroy it? the Lord said unto me, Go up against this land, and destroy it.
Then said Eliakim and Shebna and Joah unto Rabshakeh, Speak, I pray thee, unto thy servants in the Syrian language; for we understand it: and speak not to us in the Jews’ language, in the ears of the people that are on the wall.
But Rabshakeh said, Hath my master sent me to thy master and to thee to speak these words? hath he not sent me to the men that sit upon the wall, that they may eat their own dung, and drink their own piss with you?
Then Rabshakeh stood, and cried with a loud voice in the Jews’ language, and said, Hear ye the words of the great king, the king of Assyria.
Thus saith the king, Let not Hezekiah deceive you: for he shall not be able to deliver you.
Neither let Hezekiah make you trust in the Lord, saying, The Lord will surely deliver us: this city shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria.
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 eat ye every one of his vine, and every one of his fig tree, and drink ye every one the waters of his own cistern;
Until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of corn and wine, a land of bread and vineyards.
Beware lest Hezekiah persuade you, saying, The Lord will deliver us. Hath any of the gods of the nations delivered his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria?
Where are the gods of Hamath and Arphad? where are the gods of Sepharvaim? and have they delivered Samaria out of my hand?
Who are they among all the gods of these lands, that have delivered their land out of my hand, that the Lord should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?
But they held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king’s commandment was, saying, Answer him not.
Then came Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah, that was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah, the son of Asaph, the recorder, to Hezekiah with their clothes rent, and told him the words of Rabshakeh.
Isaiah 36 details the initial fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecies regarding Judah's invasion by King Sennacherib and the Assyrians, coupled with the promise of Jerusalem's deliverance. This chapter, along with chapter 37, recounts a pivotal moment in Judah's history, a true test of faith in the face of overwhelming odds. The events unfolded in 701 BC, the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah's reign (Isaiah 36:1). Hezekiah and his people were about to discover if their trust in God's promises was genuine, as the formidable Assyrian army stood poised to strike against their capital (Isaiah 36:2). Given the Assyrians' track record of conquering and decimating numerous towns in Judah, their fear was understandable.
Sennacherib's Intimidation Tactics
King Sennacherib's royal spokesman, wielding considerable authority, delivered a calculated threat designed to demoralize the people of Jerusalem (Isaiah 36:4). His speech was crafted to instill fear and undermine their confidence in any possibility of resisting the Assyrian onslaught. Ironically, the spokesman's initial argument for surrender echoed Isaiah's own warnings about the futility of relying on foreign alliances. Judah's desperate hope for salvation through an alliance with Egypt was, indeed, a misplaced trust (Isaiah 36:6).
However, the spokesman's arrogance extended further, directly insulting the Lord by claiming that Judah's faith in Him was equally pointless. He questioned Hezekiah's reforms, specifically the removal of high places and altars (Isaiah 36:7). Unknowingly, the Assyrian official demonstrated his ignorance of God's true nature and the proper worship He requires. Hezekiah's actions were not a rejection of God, but a purification of worship, eliminating pagan practices.
Ridiculing Judah's Military Might
The Assyrian spokesman continued his tirade by mocking Judah's military capabilities. His offer, "I’ll give you two thousand horses if you’re able to supply riders for them" (Isaiah 36:8), was a blatant display of contempt. It was a way of saying, "Victory will be so easy, it's practically guaranteed." This was more than just a negotiation for surrender; it was a deliberate attempt to humiliate Jerusalem and its king.
Furthermore, the spokesman audaciously claimed that God had sent the Assyrians to destroy Judah, implying divine approval for their actions (Isaiah 36:10). While it is true that God used Assyria as an instrument to discipline His people for their sins (Isaiah 10:5-6), Isaiah made it clear that Assyria's motives were far from righteous. They sought conquest and domination for their own selfish gain, just as they had done with other nations (Isaiah 10:7-11). God's intention was to correct His people, but He would ultimately hold Assyria accountable for its pride and brutality (Isaiah 10:12).
A Plea for Secrecy Rejected
Hezekiah's officials, seeking to mitigate the impact of the Assyrian threats, requested that the spokesman speak to them in Aramaic, the common trade language, rather than Hebrew, so the people on the wall wouldn't understand (Isaiah 36:11). This attempt to contain the fear was rejected. The Assyrian spokesman wanted everyone in Jerusalem to hear his message of intimidation, to understand the gravity of their situation, and to lose heart.
The Assyrian's words reveal that Hezekiah had been encouraging the people to trust in God's ability to deliver them. The spokesman's repeated attempts to undermine Hezekiah's credibility – "Don’t let Hezekiah deceive you" (Isaiah 36:14), "Don’t let Hezekiah persuade you" (Isaiah 36:15), "Don’t listen to Hezekiah" (Isaiah 36:16), "Beware that Hezekiah does not mislead you" (Isaiah 36:18) – suggest that the king was indeed a source of hope and strength for his people.
The spokesman painted a grim picture of siege warfare, highlighting the desperate conditions they would face (Isaiah 36:12). He presented surrender as the only logical option: "Make peace with me and surrender" (Isaiah 36:16). This echoes the temptations we face when life becomes difficult. Like the "father of lies" (John 8:44), the Assyrian promised peace but offered only slavery.
Mocking the God of Israel
The Assyrian spokesman concluded his speech by directly challenging the power of the God of Israel. He pointed to the conquered nations and their powerless gods: "Who among all the gods of these lands ever rescued his land from my power? So will the LORD rescue Jerusalem?" (Isaiah 36:20). He arrogantly asserted that no god could withstand the might of Assyria, implying that the God of Israel was no different. However, Assyria was soon to learn the crucial difference between the false gods of the nations and the one true, living God.
Silence and Distress
Hezekiah's officials, following the king's instructions, remained silent and offered no response to the commander's rant (Isaiah 36:21). However, the gravity of the situation, the sheer presence of the mighty Assyrian army at their doorstep, caused them to tear their clothes as a sign of distress and despair (Isaiah 36:22). They knew the kingdom was in danger. The next chapter will reveal how Hezekiah responds to this crisis, providing a powerful lesson in faith and reliance on God.
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.
And Rabshakeh said unto them, Say ye now to Hezekiah, Thus saith the great king, the king of Assyria, What confidence is this wherein thou trustest?
I say, sayest thou, (but they are but vain words) I have counsel and strength for war: now on whom dost thou trust, that thou rebellest against me?
Lo, thou trustest in the staff of this broken reed, on Egypt; whereon if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all that trust in him.
But if thou say to me, We trust in the Lord our God: is it not he, whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah hath taken away, and said to Judah and to Jerusalem, Ye shall worship before this altar?
Now therefore give pledges, I pray thee, to my master the king of Assyria, and I will give thee two thousand horses, if thou be able on thy part to set riders upon them.
How then wilt thou turn away the face of one captain of the least of my master’s servants, and put thy trust on Egypt for chariots and for horsemen?
And am I now come up without the Lord against this land to destroy it? the Lord said unto me, Go up against this land, and destroy it.
Then said Eliakim and Shebna and Joah unto Rabshakeh, Speak, I pray thee, unto thy servants in the Syrian language; for we understand it: and speak not to us in the Jews’ language, in the ears of the people that are on the wall.
But Rabshakeh said, Hath my master sent me to thy master and to thee to speak these words? hath he not sent me to the men that sit upon the wall, that they may eat their own dung, and drink their own piss with you?
Then Rabshakeh stood, and cried with a loud voice in the Jews’ language, and said, Hear ye the words of the great king, the king of Assyria.
Thus saith the king, Let not Hezekiah deceive you: for he shall not be able to deliver you.
Neither let Hezekiah make you trust in the Lord, saying, The Lord will surely deliver us: this city shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria.
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 eat ye every one of his vine, and every one of his fig tree, and drink ye every one the waters of his own cistern;
Until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of corn and wine, a land of bread and vineyards.
Beware lest Hezekiah persuade you, saying, The Lord will deliver us. Hath any of the gods of the nations delivered his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria?
Where are the gods of Hamath and Arphad? where are the gods of Sepharvaim? and have they delivered Samaria out of my hand?
Who are they among all the gods of these lands, that have delivered their land out of my hand, that the Lord should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?
But they held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king’s commandment was, saying, Answer him not.
Then came Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah, that was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah, the son of Asaph, the recorder, to Hezekiah with their clothes rent, and told him the words of Rabshakeh.
Isaiah 36 details the initial fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecies regarding Judah's invasion by King Sennacherib and the Assyrians, coupled with the promise of Jerusalem's deliverance. This chapter, along with chapter 37, recounts a pivotal moment in Judah's history, a true test of faith in the face of overwhelming odds. The events unfolded in 701 BC, the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah's reign (Isaiah 36:1). Hezekiah and his people were about to discover if their trust in God's promises was genuine, as the formidable Assyrian army stood poised to strike against their capital (Isaiah 36:2). Given the Assyrians' track record of conquering and decimating numerous towns in Judah, their fear was understandable.
Sennacherib's Intimidation Tactics
King Sennacherib's royal spokesman, wielding considerable authority, delivered a calculated threat designed to demoralize the people of Jerusalem (Isaiah 36:4). His speech was crafted to instill fear and undermine their confidence in any possibility of resisting the Assyrian onslaught. Ironically, the spokesman's initial argument for surrender echoed Isaiah's own warnings about the futility of relying on foreign alliances. Judah's desperate hope for salvation through an alliance with Egypt was, indeed, a misplaced trust (Isaiah 36:6).
However, the spokesman's arrogance extended further, directly insulting the Lord by claiming that Judah's faith in Him was equally pointless. He questioned Hezekiah's reforms, specifically the removal of high places and altars (Isaiah 36:7). Unknowingly, the Assyrian official demonstrated his ignorance of God's true nature and the proper worship He requires. Hezekiah's actions were not a rejection of God, but a purification of worship, eliminating pagan practices.
Ridiculing Judah's Military Might
The Assyrian spokesman continued his tirade by mocking Judah's military capabilities. His offer, "I’ll give you two thousand horses if you’re able to supply riders for them" (Isaiah 36:8), was a blatant display of contempt. It was a way of saying, "Victory will be so easy, it's practically guaranteed." This was more than just a negotiation for surrender; it was a deliberate attempt to humiliate Jerusalem and its king.
Furthermore, the spokesman audaciously claimed that God had sent the Assyrians to destroy Judah, implying divine approval for their actions (Isaiah 36:10). While it is true that God used Assyria as an instrument to discipline His people for their sins (Isaiah 10:5-6), Isaiah made it clear that Assyria's motives were far from righteous. They sought conquest and domination for their own selfish gain, just as they had done with other nations (Isaiah 10:7-11). God's intention was to correct His people, but He would ultimately hold Assyria accountable for its pride and brutality (Isaiah 10:12).
A Plea for Secrecy Rejected
Hezekiah's officials, seeking to mitigate the impact of the Assyrian threats, requested that the spokesman speak to them in Aramaic, the common trade language, rather than Hebrew, so the people on the wall wouldn't understand (Isaiah 36:11). This attempt to contain the fear was rejected. The Assyrian spokesman wanted everyone in Jerusalem to hear his message of intimidation, to understand the gravity of their situation, and to lose heart.
The Assyrian's words reveal that Hezekiah had been encouraging the people to trust in God's ability to deliver them. The spokesman's repeated attempts to undermine Hezekiah's credibility – "Don’t let Hezekiah deceive you" (Isaiah 36:14), "Don’t let Hezekiah persuade you" (Isaiah 36:15), "Don’t listen to Hezekiah" (Isaiah 36:16), "Beware that Hezekiah does not mislead you" (Isaiah 36:18) – suggest that the king was indeed a source of hope and strength for his people.
The spokesman painted a grim picture of siege warfare, highlighting the desperate conditions they would face (Isaiah 36:12). He presented surrender as the only logical option: "Make peace with me and surrender" (Isaiah 36:16). This echoes the temptations we face when life becomes difficult. Like the "father of lies" (John 8:44), the Assyrian promised peace but offered only slavery.
Mocking the God of Israel
The Assyrian spokesman concluded his speech by directly challenging the power of the God of Israel. He pointed to the conquered nations and their powerless gods: "Who among all the gods of these lands ever rescued his land from my power? So will the LORD rescue Jerusalem?" (Isaiah 36:20). He arrogantly asserted that no god could withstand the might of Assyria, implying that the God of Israel was no different. However, Assyria was soon to learn the crucial difference between the false gods of the nations and the one true, living God.
Silence and Distress
Hezekiah's officials, following the king's instructions, remained silent and offered no response to the commander's rant (Isaiah 36:21). However, the gravity of the situation, the sheer presence of the mighty Assyrian army at their doorstep, caused them to tear their clothes as a sign of distress and despair (Isaiah 36:22). They knew the kingdom was in danger. The next chapter will reveal how Hezekiah responds to this crisis, providing a powerful lesson in faith and reliance on God.