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Commentary on Isaiah 36 verses 1–10
We shall here only observe some practical lessons. 1. A people may be in the way of their duty and yet meet with trouble and distress. Hezekiah was reforming, and his people were in some measure reformed; and yet their country is at that time invaded and a great part of it laid waste. Perhaps they began to grow remiss and cool in the work of reformation, were doing it by halves, and ready to sit down short of a thorough reformation; and then God visited them with this judgment, to put life into them and that good cause. We must not wonder if, when we are doing well, God sends afflictions to quicken us to do better, to do our best, and to press forward towards perfection. 2. That we must never be secure of the continuance of our peace in this world, nor think our mountain stands so strong that it cannot be moved. Hezekiah was not only a pious king, but prudent, both in his administration at home and in his treaties abroad. His affairs were in a good posture, and he seemed particularly to be upon good terms with the king of Assyria, for he had lately made his peace with him by a rich present (Kg2 18:14), and yet that perfidious prince pours an army into his country all of a sudden and lays it waste. It is good for us therefore always to keep up an expectation of trouble, that, when it comes, it may be no surprise to us, and then it will be the less a terror. 3. God sometimes permits the enemies of his people, even those that are most impious and treacherous, to prevail far against them. The king of Assyria took all, or most, of the defenced cities of Judah, and then the country would of course be an easy prey to him. Wickedness may prosper awhile, but cannot prosper always. 4. Proud men love to talk big, to boast of what they are, and have, and have done, nay and of what they will do, to insult over others, and set all mankind at defiance, though thereby they render themselves ridiculous to all wise men and obnoxious to the wrath of that God who resists the proud. But thus they think to make themselves feared, though they make themselves hated, and to carry their point by great swelling words of vanity, Jde 1:16. 5. The enemies of God's people endeavour to conquer them by frightening them, especially by frightening them from their confidence in God. Thus Rabshakeh here, with noise and banter, runs down Hezekiah as utterly unable to cope with his master, or in the least to make head against him. It concerns us therefore, that we may keep our ground against the enemies of our souls, to keep up our spirits by keeping up our hope in God. 6. It is acknowledged, on all hands, that those who forsake God's service forfeit his protection. If that had been true which Rabshakeh alleged, that Hezekiah had thrown down God's altars, he might justly infer that he could not with any assurance trust in him for succour and relief, Isa 36:7, We may say thus to presuming sinners, who say that they trust in the Lord and in his mercy. Is not this he whose commandments they have lived in the contempt of, whose name they have dishonoured, and whose ordinances they have slighted? How then can they expect to find favour with him? 7. It is an easy thing, and very common, for those that persecute the church and people of God to pretend a commission from him for so doing. Rabshakeh could say, Have I now come up without the Lord? when really he had come up against the Lord, Isa 37:28. Those that kill the servants of the Lord think they do him service and say, Let the Lord be glorified. But, sooner or later, they will be made to know their error to their cost, to their confusion.
(Chapter 36—Verse 1 and following) And it came to pass in the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah and captured them. And the king of Assyria sent Rabshakeh from Lachish to Jerusalem to King Hezekiah with a great army. And he stood by the conduit of the upper pool, on the highway to the washer's field. And Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebna the secretary, and Joah the son of Asaph, the recorder, came out to him. And Rabshakeh said to them, "Say to Hezekiah, 'Thus says the great king, the king of Assyria: On what do you rest this trust of yours?' By what plan and courage do you prepare to rebel? On whom do you have confidence, because you have turned away from me? Look, you trust in this broken reed staff, in Egypt: if a man leans on it, it will enter into his hand and pierce it. So is Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, to all who trust in him. But if you say to me, 'We trust in the LORD our God,' is it not he whose heights and altars Hezekiah has taken away, and said to Judah and Jerusalem, 'You shall worship before this altar'? And now make a deal with my master the king of Assyria, and I will give you two thousand horses, and you will not be able to provide riders for them. And how will you withstand the face of one judge from my lord's servants? And if you rely on Egypt: and on chariots, and on horsemen: and now, did I ascend to this land without the Lord, to destroy it? The Lord said to me: Go up on this land and destroy it. The history is clear and does not require interpretation: and this same thing is reported more fully in the volumes of Kings and Chronicles. In the third year of Hosea the son of Elah, king of Israel, Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign. He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, according to all that David his father had done. And afterwards: In the Lord God of Israel he trusted, and there was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, nor among those who came before him. He clung to the Lord and did not turn away from his commandments. He did the commandments that the Lord had given to Moses. Therefore, the Lord was with him, and he acted wisely in all that he did (2 Kings 18:2,7). But he rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him. In the sixth year of his reign, Shalmaneser, the king of Assyria, captured Samaria and took away the ten tribes of Israel that were called Israel. He deported them to Assyria and settled them in Halah and Habor, along the rivers of the Gozan, in the cities of the Medes (2 Kings 17 and 18). After seven years, that is, in the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, the king of Assyria, Sennacherib, entered Judah and besieged its fortified cities, intending to capture them. And when he besieged Lachish, Hezekiah sent messengers to him, saying: 'I have sinned, withdraw from me and whatever you impose on me, I will bear.' And when he had paid three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold to the king's command, the king of Assyria broke down the doors of the temple of the Lord and took away its panels, which he himself had put up, and he sent the Tartan and the Rab-saris and the Rabshakeh with a great army from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem. And when they had come up, they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which is on the highway to the washer's field, and they called for the king. But Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah, who was in charge of the palace, went out to them, along with the court secretary, Shebna, and the court historian, Joah, the son of Asaph. Rabshekah addressed them as follows: “Tell Hezekiah: This is what the great king, the king of Assyria, says... and so on, as recorded in the history. In this, we can see the arrogance of Rabshekah, who, in a manner contrary to true strength, imitates the custom of the prophets. While they usually begin their pronouncements with 'This is what the Lord says,' he now says, 'This is what the great king, the king of Assyria, says.' But Eliakim son of Hilkiah, who was in charge of the palace, went out to him, along with the royal secretary Shebna and the court official Joah son of Asaph. Eliakim is the same person mentioned in the Vision of the Valley of Zion (see Isaiah 22:20-21): I will call my servant Eliakim son of Hilkiah, and I will clothe him in your robe and fasten your sash around him. I will hand your authority over to him, and he will be like a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and the people of Judah, and so on. But these things are said to Shebna, who was the governor of the Temple before him, of whom it is written in the same vision: Go and enter to him who dwells in the tabernacle, to Shebna the governor of the Temple, whom the Hebrews say handed over his hands to the Assyrians, terrified by Rabsaris' threats, and betrayed the lower part of Jerusalem to the enemy, and except for the fortress of Zion and the Temple, nothing else remained that the Assyrian did not hold. Where are those who think that Sobna, who is now going out with Eliacim and Joahe to meet Rabsacen, is the same person as before. There, Sobna, the head of the Temple, is said to be captured by the Assyrians; but here Sobna is a scribe, that is, a γραμματεὶς, who is called Sopher in Hebrew, and is the same as the previous one. Rabsacen, on the other hand, is believed to be the son of Isaiah the Jewish prophet, who also was a traitor; and the other son of Isaiah, who is called Jasub, is said to be left behind, which means 'left' in our language. Others, on the other hand, think that he was a Samaritan, and therefore knew the Hebrew language, and boldly and impiously blasphemed the Lord. Let us consider the words of Rabshakeh; and first what he says: You trust in this broken reed, in Egypt, is false: for no history tells that Hezekiah sent to the Egyptians and asked for the help of Pharaoh. And what he infers: If you answer me, we trust in the Lord our God, is true. But again, he joins a lie to the truth, that Ezechias took away its high places and altars. For he did this not against God, but for God, so that idolatry and ancient error being destroyed, he commanded God to be worshipped in Jerusalem, where his Temple was: although we read that by a very bad custom, the people offered sacrifices to God on altars already built on mountains and hills. And he, wanting to show the scarcity of the besieged, promises two thousand horses, of which Ezechias cannot provide the riders, not because of the weakness of the people of Judah, who lacked knowledge of riding: but by observing the commandments of God, who had commanded Israel through Moses concerning the king: He shall not multiply horses for himself, nor have many wives. And he said to me, 'By yourself, you cannot withstand the servant of Sennacherib, who am the least of his servants, how then will you withstand the great power of the king? And to what he had said, if you answer me, we trust in the Lord our God, he cunningly and wisely responded that he had come not by his own will, but by the command of the Lord. The Lord said to me, Go upon this land and destroy it. And this is the proof: certainly, without the will of the Lord, I could not have come here.' But when I come and capture many cities, and part of Jerusalem remains untouched, it is evident that I have come by its will. I read in a certain Commentary that the same person is Sennacherib who also captured Samaria, which is completely false. For the Sacred History recounts that first Phul, the king of the Assyrians, devastated the ten tribes under Manahen, the king of Israel. Secondly, Theglathphalasar came against Samaria under Phacee, the son of Romelia of Israel. Salmanasar III, under the reign of King Hoshea of Israel, supposedly captured the entire city of Samaria (2 Kings 15:17). Sargon II is said to be the fourth king who captured Ashdod (Isaiah 20). Asarhaddon, the fifth king, supposedly relocated Israel and sent the Samaritans as guardians to the land of Judah (2 Kings 17). Sennacherib, the sixth king, besieged Jerusalem after capturing Lachish and other cities of Judah during the reign of King Hezekiah (2 Kings 18). However, some believe that these names could refer to one and the same king with multiple names.
I read in the commentary of a certain man that it was the same Sennacherib who also captured Samaria, which is altogether false. For sacred history reports that Pul, under Menahem the king of Israel, was the first king of the Assyrians to have plundered the ten tribes. Second, Tiglath-pileser came to Samaria under Pekah the son of Remaliah. Shalmaneser was then the third to have taken all of Samaria. Fourth came Sargon, who fought against Ashdod, and the fifth was Essarhadon, who held the Samaritans captive in the land of Judea. Sennacherib was the sixth who, under Hezekiah king of Israel, laid siege to Jerusalem after he had captured Lachish and other cities of Judea. But others think that these many names apply to one and the same person.
But the Jews claim that the Rabshakeh, who spoke the Hebrew language, was the son of the prophet Isaiah and was himself a betrayer, and that another remaining son of Isaiah was called Jashub, who also spoke our tongue. Others, moreover, believe that he was a Samaritan and that this is why he knew the Hebrew language and why he blasphemed the Lord with such audacity and impiety. We should therefore regard the words of the Rabshakeh to be false, first of all this: “You trust in that broken staff of a reed, in Egypt.” For there is no history that sends Hezekiah to Egypt and makes Pharoah his assistant. But what he infers, “If you respond to me, ‘We trust in the Lord our God,’ ” is true. Yet again he joins this truth to a lie, saying that Hezekiah removed God’s high places and altars. For he did not do this against God but on behalf of God, so that with idolatry and the old error destroyed, he could command God to be worshiped in Jerusalem where his temple was located, although we observe the terrible custom of appointing people to sacrifice victims to God in the mountains and hills, where altars are already built. And wishing to demonstrate the paucity of hostages, the Rabshakeh promises two thousand horses, riders for whom Hezekiah is unable to produce. Thus it was not out of stupidity that he approached the Jewish people, who lacked a knowledge of horsemanship, but due to his observation of the commandments of God, who had enjoined through Moses on the king of Israel, “He will not multiply horses for himself, and he will not have many wives.” But, the Rabshakeh said, if you are unable to withstand me, a servant of Sennacherib—even the least of his servants—how will you withstand such great power of the king? But to the possibility of Hezekiah responding “We trust in the Lord our God” the Rabshakeh replies cleverly and with prudence that he had not come on his own initiative, but at the request of the Lord. “The Lord said to me, ‘Go up to that land and destroy it.’ ” This in short is his argument: Surely I would not have been able to come if it were not the will of the Lord. But since I came and captured many cities, with Jerusalem remaining intact, it is manifestly his will that I came.
The book of 2 Kings also speaks of this event. Isaiah has included it to his prophecy in order to show that his prophecy is true. Previously the prophet has made announcements concerning Babylon, Tyre, Egypt and other nations, but he is mostly concerned with the incarnation of our Savior, the unbelief and resultant judgment of Israel, and the call and salvation of the Gentiles. He has also announced Assyria’s attack and their ultimate destruction. It follows that he would include this event here to demonstrate that his prophecies are true. By showing that the announcement related to Sennacherib is true, he can show that all his other prophecies will be fulfilled in the same way.
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SUMMARY
Isaiah 36:2 meticulously sets the stage for the dramatic confrontation between the formidable Neo-Assyrian Empire and the kingdom of Judah under King Hezekiah. This verse details the strategic deployment of Sennacherib's chief envoy, Rabshakeh, who, leading a vast and imposing army, departed from the recently subjugated city of Lachish to arrive at the very gates of Jerusalem. Their calculated positioning by the vital conduit of the upper pool in the public highway of the fuller's field was not merely a military maneuver but a potent act of psychological warfare, designed to demoralize the city's inhabitants and undermine their resolve before any full-scale siege.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Isaiah 36:2 masterfully employs several literary devices to enhance its narrative impact and convey the gravity of the unfolding events. Realism and Historical Detail are paramount, as the verse meticulously names specific individuals (Sennacherib, Hezekiah, Rabshakeh), precise geographical locations (Lachish, Jerusalem, the upper pool, the fuller's field), and military realities (a great army, strategic positioning). This grounding in verifiable historical fact lends immense credibility and gravity to the impending confrontation. The verse also utilizes Foreshadowing, as the dramatic arrival of the Rabshakeh and the "great army" at Jerusalem's doorstep clearly signals the impending siege and the intense psychological and military confrontation that will follow, setting the stage for the Rabshakeh's intimidating speeches and the subsequent divine intervention. Furthermore, the specific mention of the "conduit of the upper pool" and the "fuller's field" carries a significant degree of Symbolism. The water source symbolizes Jerusalem's lifeblood and vulnerability, now directly threatened by the enemy, while the public field represents the open, direct, and public challenge being issued to the city and its people, a calculated display of power and intimidation designed to break their will.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Isaiah 36:2 serves as a stark and powerful reminder of the reality of overwhelming external threats that can confront God's people, forcing a critical decision between reliance on human strength and unwavering trust in divine power. The arrival of the Assyrian army, though an instrument of God's judgment against Judah's persistent sin, is also portrayed as an arrogant and blasphemous oppressor, setting the stage for a profound demonstration of God's sovereignty and His unique ability to deliver. Despite the seemingly insurmountable odds and the sophisticated psychological warfare employed by the enemy, the unfolding narrative will pivot to show that God alone is the ultimate deliverer of His people, not through conventional military might, but through His miraculous and decisive intervention. This pivotal moment tests Hezekiah's faith and the nation's commitment to the Lord, echoing Isaiah's consistent prophetic call for absolute trust in Yahweh alone, even in the face of existential threats.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The vivid scene depicted in Isaiah 36:2 resonates deeply with the challenges and spiritual battles we face in our contemporary lives. Just as ancient Jerusalem faced a physically superior force employing intimidation and psychological tactics, we too encounter overwhelming circumstances, whether personal crises, societal pressures, spiritual attacks, or the insidious whispers of doubt, all of which seek to demoralize us and undermine our faith. This verse compels us to honestly consider where our trust truly lies when confronted with seemingly insurmountable odds. Do we succumb to fear, human reasoning, and despair, or do we, like Hezekiah, turn to God in prayer and humble dependence, believing in His sovereign power? The strategic location chosen by the Assyrians—a public place near a vital water source—highlights how adversaries often target our most vulnerable points and seek to broadcast their threats widely, aiming to erode our confidence. This narrative encourages us to recognize the spiritual battles we face, to guard our hearts and minds against the enemy's lies and intimidation, and to remember that our ultimate security rests not in our own strength, resources, or clever strategies, but in the unfailing power and faithfulness of God, who is able to deliver even when all human hope seems lost.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Who was Rabshakeh, and why was he sent instead of King Sennacherib himself?
Answer: Rabshakeh was not a personal name but an Assyrian military and administrative title, likely meaning "chief butler" or "chief cupbearer." This was a high-ranking official, indicating that he was a trusted and authoritative representative of King Sennacherib. Sennacherib sent Rabshakeh, rather than leading the final assault himself, for several strategic reasons. Firstly, it allowed Sennacherib to remain at the siege of Lachish, a crucial stronghold, while still exerting pressure on Jerusalem. Secondly, sending a high-ranking envoy like Rabshakeh was a potent form of psychological warfare; his authority and the accompanying "great army" were meant to intimidate King Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem into surrendering without a prolonged siege. Rabshakeh's role was to deliver the Assyrian ultimatum and demoralize the Judeans through a public display of power and persuasive, often blasphemous, rhetoric, as seen in his extended speech in Isaiah 36:4-20.
Why was the "conduit of the upper pool in the highway of the fuller's field" a significant location for this confrontation?
Answer: This location was highly strategic for several reasons. The "conduit of the upper pool" was a vital part of Jerusalem's water supply system, especially crucial during a siege. By positioning themselves there, the Assyrians demonstrated their knowledge of Jerusalem's vulnerabilities and their ability to threaten its most essential resource, thereby increasing psychological pressure. The "highway of the fuller's field" was a public area outside the city walls, likely a place where people gathered or passed by. This ensured that the Rabshakeh's intimidating message would be delivered publicly, reaching not only King Hezekiah and his officials but also the common people of Jerusalem. This public display was designed to maximize fear and encourage surrender, as also seen in the earlier prophetic encounter between Isaiah and King Ahaz at this very location in Isaiah 7:3.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The arrival of the Rabshakeh and the Assyrian army at Jerusalem's gates, threatening the very heart of God's chosen people, profoundly foreshadows the spiritual warfare that believers face and the ultimate, decisive victory secured through Christ. Just as Jerusalem was the earthly city where God's presence dwelt among His people, the church is now the spiritual dwelling place of God's Spirit, a heavenly Jerusalem (Hebrews 12:22). The Rabshakeh's lies, intimidation tactics, and blasphemous rhetoric, designed to undermine faith and trust in God (Isaiah 36:10), find their ultimate counterpart in Satan, the accuser of the brethren, who relentlessly seeks to devour and deceive God's people (1 Peter 5:8). Hezekiah's humble response of prayer and unwavering reliance on God in the face of an overwhelming foe (Isaiah 37:1-4) powerfully points to Christ, who perfectly trusted His Father even unto death on the cross, conquering sin, death, and all spiritual enemies not by military might but by obedient sacrifice and profound humility (Philippians 2:8). The miraculous deliverance of Jerusalem by the angel of the Lord (Isaiah 37:36) serves as a powerful type of Christ's ultimate victory over all spiritual principalities and powers, securing eternal salvation and unwavering protection for His church (Colossians 2:15). In Christ, we have a greater King who has faced down the ultimate enemy and guarantees our spiritual security, providing an unwavering hope that far surpasses any earthly deliverance.