Isaiahchapter 36

22 verses · ASV

This chapter sends 201 cross-references outward and receives 160 — heaviest partner: Isaiah.

Chapter summary

Sennacherib king of Assyria takes the fortified cities of Judah in Hezekiah's fourteenth year and sends the Rabshakeh from Lachish to Jerusalem with a great army; he stands by the conduit of the upper pool (vv. 1–2). Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah go out to hear a calculated speech: Egypt is a bruised reed that pierces the hand leaning on it, Hezekiah's reforms removed Jehovah's own high places and altars, Judah could not man two thousand horses, and Jehovah himself — the Rabshakeh claims — sent Assyria against the land (vv. 3–10). When the officials ask him to speak Aramaic to spare the listeners on the wall, he answers in Hebrew for all to hear, offering surrender terms and naming the gods of Hamath, Arpad, Sepharvaim, and Samaria that failed to deliver (vv. 11–20). The people keep silent at Hezekiah's command, and the three return with clothes rent to report (vv. 21–22).

Drafted from Matthew Henry, Calvin, Gill, Clarke, JFB, and Barnes.

Context

Prophecy · Isaiah — see the Isaiah overview for the book's full setting.

1 Now it came to pass in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah, that Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah, and took them.

2 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.

3 Then came forth unto him Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah, the son of Asaph, the recorder.

4 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?

5 I say, thy counsel and strength for the war are but vain words: now on whom dost thou trust, that thou hast rebelled against me?

6 Behold, thou trustest upon the staff of this bruised reed, even upon 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 on him.

7 But if thou say unto me, We trust in Jehovah our God: is not that he, whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah hath taken away, and hath said to Judah and to Jerusalem, Ye shall worship before this altar?

8 Now therefore, I pray thee, give pledges 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.

9 How then canst 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?