Chapter 36

1 Sennacherib invadeth Judah. 4 Rabshakeh, sent by Sennacherib, by blasphemous persuasions soliciteth the people to revolt. 22 His words are told to Hezekiah.

1. It came to pass. This chapter marks the beginning of a new section of the book of Isaiah. Chapters 36–39 are principally historical rather than prophetic in nature, dealing with Sennacherib’s invasions, Hezekiah’s illness, and the visit of Merodachbaladan’s envoys. These chapters are parallel to, and in large measure identical with, 2 Kings 18:13–20:19, to which, in general, reference should be made for comment.

The fourteenth year. See on 2 Kings 18:13. Sennacherib became king of Assyria in 705 b.c. and made his first campaign against the cities of Judah in 701. In his own account of this campaign, in which he claims the capture of 46 walled cities of Judah, he lists among his reasons for making the expedition: (1) the fact that Hezekiah had refused to submit to the Assyrian yoke; (2) that he had called upon Egypt and Ethiopia for help; and (3) that he had assisted the Philistines of Ekron in their uprising against Assyria, and had imprisoned their king Padi, who had been loyal to Assyria.

2. Sent Rabshakeh. See on 2 Kings 18:17, 19. This was the title of the chief cupbearer of the Assyrian king. He was an important military official, associated with the tartan and the rabsaris, in command of the Assyrian forces sent against Jerusalem.

Lachish. See on 2 Kings 18:14.

Upper pool. See on 2 Kings 18:17.

3. Eliakim. See on 2 Kings 18:18.

4. Wherein thou trustest. See on 2 Kings 18:19.

5. I say … I have. Instead of “I say,” about 20 ancient Hebrew manuscripts, the Dead Sea scroll 1QIs, and the parallel passage in 2 Kings 18:20 read, “Thou sayest.” The first part of the verse reads literally, “Thou sayest, surely the word of the lips, plan and strength for the war,” meaning, “Thou sayest, Surely [our] plans and strength [are adequate] for the war.”

Strength for war. See on 2 Kings 18:20. Hezekiah had been under tribute to Assyria, like his father Ahaz before him (2 Kings 16:7, 8). It was his refusal to pay tribute that brought the armies of Assyria against him.

6. Broken reed. See on 2 Kings 18:21.

7. Hath taken away. See on 2 Kings 18:22; cf. 2 Chron. 31:1.

8. Two thousand horses. See on 2 Kings 18:23. It is clear that Judah had no trained cavalry. The Assyrians derided Hezekiah for presuming to resist them when he was so woefully weak in this important area of military equipment.

9. Put thy trust on Egypt. See on 2 Kings 18:21, 24. Isaiah had previously upbraided the leaders of Judah for placing their trust in military equipment and in a treaty with Egypt (Isa. 30:1–4; 31:1), and warned them that their reliance on Egypt would be in vain (chs. 30:7; 31:3).

10. The Lord said. See on 2 Kings 18:25. In one of his inscriptions Sennacherib claims a divine sanction from his god Ashur to go against his enemies.

11. Syrian language. Aramaic (see on 2 Kings 18:26). It was the purpose of the Assyrian envoys to turn the inhabitants of Jerusalem against their king and to frighten them into submission.

12. Sit upon the wall. See on 2 Kings 18:27. Sennacherib’s envoys made it appear that they were more interested in the welfare of the inhabitants of Jerusalem than Hezekiah was. What did it matter to Sennacherib’s that in a prolonged siege the people would eat their own dung and drink their own urine? The only way to avoid such a fate, they said, was for the people to turn against their king.

13. Jews’ language. See on 2 Kings 18:28.

14. Deceive you. See on 2 Kings 18:29. The Rabshakeh was picturing Hezekiah as a vainglorious, self-interested deceiver who cared nothing about the welfare of his people.

15. Neither let Hezekiah. See on 2 Kings 18:30. Unless the Assyrians could turn the people away from God, they could not bring them within their power. The issue thus was distinctly drawn—loyalty to God or an alliance with the Assyrian king. Sennacherib’s challenge was in reality a defiance of God Himself.

16. Make an agreement. See on 2 Kings 18:31. The Rabshakeh made grandiose promises as to what the result of disloyalty to Hezekiah and allegiance to Sennacherib would bring.

17. Like your own. See on 2 Kings 18:32.

Had it been in Sennacherib’s mind to give to the people of Judah the rewards he promised, he would have left them in their own land. His threat to take them away to a distant land proved his words a mockery and his promises vain.

18. Any of the gods. See on 2 Kings 18:33.

19. Of Hamath. See on 2 Kings 18:34. Samaria had fallen into Assyrian hands only 22 years before Sennacherib’s present attack on Judah. The fact that the capital of the northern kingdom was unable to stand before Assyrian might was regarded as the crowning evidence that Jerusalem must likewise fall.

20. Among all the gods. See on 2 Kings 18:35.

21. Held their peace. See on 2 Kings 18:36. There was no effective answer that man could give to the arrogant Assyrian envoy. God alone could give the proper answer, and Hezekiah had faith to believe He would. Nothing that the Hebrew envoys might have said would have turned Sennacherib from his purpose, and they were therefore wisely commanded by Hezekiah to hold their peace.

22. With their clothes rent. See on 2 Kings 18:37.

Ellen G. White comments

11, 13–20PK 353

21, 22  PK 354