Isaiah 36:22

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.

Then came {H935} Eliakim {H471}, the son {H1121} of Hilkiah {H2518}, that was over the household {H1004}, and Shebna {H7644} the scribe {H5608}, and Joah {H3098}, the son {H1121} of Asaph {H623}, the recorder {H2142}, to Hezekiah {H2396} with their clothes {H899} rent {H7167}, and told {H5046} him the words {H1697} of Rabshakeh {H7262}.

Then Elyakim the son of Hilkiyahu, who was in charge of the household, Shevnah the general secretary and Yo'ach the son of Asaf the foreign minister went to Hizkiyahu with their clothes torn and reported to him what Rav-Shakeh had said.

Then Hilkiah’s son Eliakim the palace administrator, Shebna the scribe, and Asaph’s son Joah the recorder came to Hezekiah with their clothes torn, and they relayed to him the words of the Rabshakeh.

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 36:22 marks the immediate aftermath of the Assyrian field commander Rabshakeh's audacious and blasphemous challenge to Jerusalem. This verse details the somber return of King Hezekiah's chief officials, bringing the grave news of the Assyrian threats.

Context of Isaiah 36:22

This verse is part of a historical narrative (Isaiah chapters 36-39) that parallels accounts in 2 Kings 18-20. It describes the invasion of Judah by the powerful Assyrian king Sennacherib in 701 BC. The Assyrians had already conquered many fortified cities in Judah, and now Jerusalem itself was under siege. Rabshakeh, an Assyrian official, had delivered a psychological warfare speech in Hebrew to the representatives of King Hezekiah, designed to undermine the morale of the people and their trust in God. His words openly mocked Hezekiah's alliances and, more critically, challenged the Lord God of Israel Himself, claiming He was powerless to deliver Jerusalem.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Profound Distress and Mourning: The phrase "with their clothes rent" is a powerful visual of the deep anguish, grief, and despair felt by Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah. In ancient Near Eastern culture, rending one's clothes was a customary and potent sign of extreme sorrow, shock, or indignation, often in response to blasphemy, death, or overwhelming calamity.
  • The Gravity of Rabshakeh's Words: The officials recognized the immense weight and insolence of Rabshakeh's message. It was not merely a military threat but a direct assault on the honor and power of Judah's God, which demanded a solemn, almost ritualistic, display of distress.
  • Reporting to Hezekiah: Their immediate action to report to King Hezekiah underscores the severity of the situation and the critical need for the king's leadership and divine guidance in the face of such a formidable enemy. This sets the stage for Hezekiah's response in the subsequent verses.

Linguistic Insight

The Hebrew phrase for "clothes rent" is qara` begadim (קָרַע בְּגָדִים), which literally means "to tear garments." This act was a common expression of mourning or distress throughout the Old and New Testaments, signifying a profound emotional reaction to devastating news, tragedy, or perceived blasphemy. It was a public declaration of one's internal turmoil.

Practical Application

This verse highlights the immediate human reaction to overwhelming pressure and blasphemous challenges. When faced with seemingly insurmountable obstacles or attacks that strike at the core of our faith, our initial response might be distress or despair. However, like Hezekiah's officials, the crucial next step is to bring the crisis before leadership and, ultimately, before God. The narrative that follows in Isaiah demonstrates that even in the face of overwhelming odds and human despair, God hears the prayers of His people and can deliver in miraculous ways. It reminds us to turn to God when the world's threats seem most dire, much like King Hezekiah himself does in the next chapter.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Isaiah 36:3

    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.

  • Isaiah 33:7

    Behold, their valiant ones shall cry without: the ambassadors of peace shall weep bitterly.

  • Isaiah 37:1

    ¶ And it came to pass, when king Hezekiah heard [it], that he rent his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the LORD.

  • Isaiah 37:2

    And he sent Eliakim, who [was] over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests covered with sackcloth, unto Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz.

  • Ezra 9:3

    And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down astonied.

  • 2 Kings 5:7

    And it came to pass, when the king of Israel had read the letter, that he rent his clothes, and said, [Am] I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man doth send unto me to recover a man of his leprosy? wherefore consider, I pray you, and see how he seeketh a quarrel against me.

  • Matthew 26:65

    Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy.

Add TrulyRandomVerse to your Home Screen for quick access!

← Back