2 Kings 18:36

KJV

But the people held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king's commandment was, saying, Answer him not.

KJV (with Strong's)

But the people {H5971} held their peace {H2790}, and answered {H6030} him not a word {H1697}: for the king's {H4428} commandment {H4687} was, saying {H559}, Answer {H6030} him not.

Complete Jewish Bible

But the people kept still and didn't answer him so much as a word; for the king's order was, "Don't answer him."

Berean Standard Bible

But the people remained silent and did not answer a word, for Hezekiah had commanded, “Do not answer him.”

American Standard Version

But the people held their peace, and answered him not a word; for the king’s commandment was, saying, Answer him not.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Second Kings 18:36 captures a pivotal moment of disciplined restraint and strategic silence from the people of Jerusalem amidst intense psychological warfare. In the face of the Assyrian Rabshakeh's taunts and blasphemies, the populace, acting under the direct command of King Hezekiah, chose not to respond. This deliberate quietude was not a sign of weakness or fear, but a profound act of obedience, trust in their king's wisdom, and ultimately, an expression of faith that the Lord Himself would contend with the enemy. It highlights the power of controlled response in the face of provocation and sets the stage for divine intervention.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within the dramatic narrative of Sennacherib's invasion of Judah, specifically following the Rabshakeh's intimidating and blasphemous speech delivered outside the walls of Jerusalem in Hebrew, intended to demoralize the inhabitants and undermine their trust in King Hezekiah and the Lord. The preceding verses ([2 Kings 18:28-35](/2_kings/18-28 "2 Kings 18:28-35 - The Rabshakeh's Taunts")) detail the Rabshakeh's direct address to the people, urging them to surrender and not be deceived by Hezekiah's promises of divine deliverance. Hezekiah's command to silence, given earlier in [2 Kings 18:36](/2_kings/18-36 "2 Kings 18:36 - The People's Silence"), and the people's immediate obedience, serves as a powerful counterpoint to the Rabshakeh's loud provocations. This act of silence immediately precedes the report of the Rabshakeh's words to Hezekiah's officials ([2 Kings 18:37](/2_kings/18-37 "2 Kings 18:37 - Hezekiah's Officials Report to the King")) and Hezekiah's subsequent turning to the Lord in prayer and seeking counsel from the prophet Isaiah ([2 Kings 19:1-7](/2_kings/19-1 "2 Kings 19:1-7 - Hezekiah Seeks Isaiah's Counsel")).

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The late 8th century BCE was dominated by the formidable Assyrian Empire, known for its brutal military campaigns and sophisticated psychological warfare tactics. Sennacherib's invasion of Judah (c. 701 BCE) was a major event, with fortified cities like Lachish falling to the Assyrians, leading to immense fear and devastation throughout the region. The Rabshakeh's speech was a classic example of Assyrian psychological warfare, designed to break the morale of the besieged city by appealing directly to the common people, sowing discord, and undermining their leadership and faith. Speaking in Hebrew, rather than Aramaic (the diplomatic language), was a deliberate choice to ensure the message reached and terrified the masses. In such a high-stakes scenario, a direct verbal confrontation with the Rabshakeh would have played directly into Assyrian hands, legitimizing their claims and potentially escalating the psychological pressure. Hezekiah's command to silence was a shrewd counter-tactic, denying the enemy the satisfaction of a response and preventing further demoralization.

* **Key Themes:** The verse powerfully illustrates several key themes prevalent in the narrative of Hezekiah's reign and the broader book of Kings. Firstly, it highlights the theme of **wise leadership and discernment**, as Hezekiah understands that not every battle is to be fought with words, especially when facing a blasphemous and manipulative enemy. His command demonstrates strategic foresight and a deep understanding of the spiritual nature of the conflict. Secondly, it underscores the theme of **obedience and discipline** among the people. Their unified and immediate adherence to the king's unusual and challenging directive in a moment of extreme pressure speaks volumes about their trust in Hezekiah and their collective discipline, which was crucial for the survival of the city. Finally, and most profoundly, this silence sets the stage for the theme of **trust in divine intervention**. By refusing to engage in a human verbal battle, Hezekiah effectively places the defense of Jerusalem squarely in the hands of the Lord. This act of faith anticipates the miraculous deliverance of Jerusalem, as seen in [2 Kings 19:35-36](/2_kings/19-35 "2 Kings 19:35-36 - The Angel of the Lord Strikes the Assyrian Army"), where the Lord Himself intervenes to destroy the Assyrian army, vindicating His name and His people.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **held their peace (Hebrew, _heḥĕrîšū'_):** This verb (from the root חרשׁ, _ḥāraš_) signifies a deliberate, intentional act of silence, rather than a passive inability to speak. It implies a conscious decision to refrain from speaking, to be quiet, or to keep still. In this context, it denotes a disciplined and unified refusal to engage, reflecting obedience to a command rather than paralysis by fear. It's an active silence, a strategic withholding of words.
* **commandment (Hebrew, _mitswâ'_):** This noun refers to an order, precept, or injunction. It denotes an authoritative directive, emphasizing the king's legitimate power and the binding nature of his instruction. The people's response was not merely an agreement, but an act of obedience to a formal royal decree, highlighting the strength of Hezekiah's authority and their respect for it.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"But the people held their peace,"**: This clause immediately contrasts with the Rabshakeh's loud and provocative speech. The "but" signals a counter-action, a deliberate choice against the expected human reaction of argument or fear-driven response. "Held their peace" emphasizes the active, disciplined nature of their silence, not a passive state. It was a collective, unified act.
* **"and answered him not a word:"**: This reiterates and clarifies the preceding phrase, leaving no ambiguity about their non-engagement. It underscores the completeness of their silence—not even a single word was uttered in reply to the Rabshakeh's extensive taunts. This absolute silence would have been unsettling for the Assyrian general, who expected a reaction to his psychological warfare.
* **"for the king's commandment was, saying, Answer him not."**: This final clause provides the crucial reason for the people's extraordinary behavior. Their silence was not spontaneous but a direct result of King Hezekiah's explicit order. This highlights Hezekiah's leadership, his strategic wisdom in preventing a futile and potentially demoralizing verbal exchange, and the people's trust and obedience to his authority. The king understood that engaging with blasphemy would only amplify it and distract from the true source of their hope.

#### Literary Devices
The verse is rich in **Contrast**, setting the Rabshakeh's loud, taunting, and blasphemous speech against the profound, disciplined silence of the people. This stark opposition highlights the strategic wisdom of Hezekiah and the spiritual nature of the conflict. The people's **Silence** itself functions as a powerful **Symbolism**. It symbolizes not weakness, but strength, obedience, trust, and a refusal to dignify the enemy's provocations. It is an act of faith, indicating that the battle belongs to the Lord, not to human words. There is also an element of **Dramatic Irony**, as the Rabshakeh's elaborate psychological assault is rendered impotent by the very lack of reaction it sought to elicit. His words fall on intentionally deaf ears, frustrating his objective and foreshadowing the ultimate failure of the Assyrian campaign.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The disciplined silence of the people of Jerusalem in 2 Kings 18:36 offers profound theological insights into the nature of spiritual warfare and the power of faith-filled restraint. It teaches that not all battles are won through direct engagement or verbal retort, especially when facing adversaries who seek to provoke and demoralize through blasphemy and falsehood. Instead, there are times when the most potent response is to step back, trust in divine sovereignty, and allow God to contend on behalf of His people. This act of silence becomes an active declaration of dependence on God, shifting the burden of defense from human capability to divine power. It underscores the principle that true strength often lies in quiet confidence and unwavering obedience to God-given authority, rather than in reactive human efforts.

* [Proverbs 17:28](/proverbs/17-28 "Wisdom in Silence")
* [Psalm 37:7](/psalms/37-7 "Rest in the Lord")
* [Isaiah 30:15](/isaiah/30-15 "In Quietness and Trust")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
In a world saturated with constant communication and the pressure to immediately respond to every provocation, the account of 2 Kings 18:36 offers a timeless and counter-cultural lesson. It challenges us to consider the strategic wisdom of silence, not as a sign of weakness or apathy, but as a deliberate act of faith and discipline. Just as Hezekiah understood that engaging the Rabshakeh would only amplify his blasphemy and undermine morale, so too are we called to discern when to speak and when to hold our peace. This principle is particularly relevant in an age of social media and instant reactions, where unchecked words can escalate conflict, spread misinformation, and dishonor God. Choosing restraint in the face of insults, false accusations, or spiritual attacks can be a powerful testimony to our trust in God's ultimate vindication. It allows us to step out of the human arena of conflict and invite divine intervention, recognizing that some battles are fought and won not by our arguments, but by God's sovereign hand. Our silence can be a space for God to speak and act.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **When have you found it most challenging to remain silent in the face of provocation or injustice?**
* **What are the potential benefits of choosing silence and restraint over immediate verbal retaliation in difficult situations?**
* **How does trusting God with the outcome of a conflict influence your decision to speak or remain silent?**
* **In what specific areas of your life might God be calling you to exercise disciplined silence and trust Him more fully?**

### FAQ
**Why did King Hezekiah command the people to be silent in the face of the Rabshakeh's taunts?**

Answer: King Hezekiah commanded silence for several strategic and spiritual reasons. First, it was a tactical move to deny the Assyrian Rabshakeh the satisfaction of a response. The Rabshakeh's speech was a form of psychological warfare designed to provoke fear, sow doubt, and break the morale of the people, ultimately aiming for their surrender. By remaining silent, the people refused to engage in a futile verbal battle, thereby frustrating the enemy's immediate objective and denying him any leverage or perceived victory. Second, Hezekiah understood that engaging with the Rabshakeh's blasphemous and demoralizing words would only amplify them and potentially lead to further fear and disunity among his people. His command was an act of wise leadership, protecting his people from further psychological manipulation. Finally, and most importantly, Hezekiah's command was an act of faith. By silencing human response, he effectively placed the battle in the hands of the Lord. He recognized that the ultimate defense of Jerusalem was not through human words or military might, but through divine intervention, which indeed came to pass in [2 Kings 19:35](/2_kings/19-35 "2 Kings 19:35 - The Angel of the Lord Strikes the Assyrian Army").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The disciplined silence of the people of Jerusalem, commanded by King Hezekiah, finds a profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Hezekiah's wisdom in commanding silence, trusting God to contend with the enemy's blasphemy, foreshadows the ultimate silence of the [Lamb of God](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God") before His accusers. When Jesus stood before Pilate and Herod, He often remained silent in the face of false accusations and malicious provocations ([Matthew 27:12-14](/matthew/27-12 "Matthew 27:12-14 - Jesus' Silence Before Pilate"); [Luke 23:9](/luke/23-9 "Luke 23:9 - Jesus' Silence Before Herod")). This was not a silence of weakness, but a powerful, deliberate, and redemptive silence. It was an active fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy of the suffering servant who "was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; like a lamb that is led to slaughter, and like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, so He opened not His mouth" ([Isaiah 53:7](/isaiah/53-7 "Isaiah 53:7 - The Suffering Servant's Silence")). Jesus' silence demonstrated His complete submission to His Father's will and His trust in God's ultimate plan of salvation, even unto death on the cross. Just as the people's silence in 2 Kings 18 paved the way for God's miraculous intervention, Christ's silence before His accusers paved the way for the ultimate victory over sin and death, securing eternal deliverance for all who believe ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Christ's Triumph Over Principalities")). He is the one who, through His quiet suffering and obedience, truly "answered not a word" to the taunts of the enemy, thereby accomplishing the greatest deliverance humanity has ever known.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Psalms 39:1

¶ To the chief Musician, [even] to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David. I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.

Matthew 7:6

Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

Amos 5:13

Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time; for it [is] an evil time.

Proverbs 9:7

He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked [man getteth] himself a blot.

Proverbs 26:4

¶ Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.

Psalms 38:13

But I, as a deaf [man], heard not; and [I was] as a dumb man [that] openeth not his mouth.

Psalms 38:14

Thus I was as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth [are] no reproofs.