Isaiah 36:8

Now therefore give pledges, I pray thee, 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.

Now therefore give pledges {H6148}, I pray thee, to my master {H113} the king {H4428} of Assyria {H804}, and I will give {H5414} thee two thousand {H505} horses {H5483}, if thou be able {H3201} on thy part to set {H5414} riders {H7392} upon them.

All right, then, make a wager with my lord the king of Ashur: I will give you two thousand horses if you can find enough riders for them.

Now, therefore, make a bargain with my master, the king of Assyria. I will give you two thousand horses—if you can put riders on them!

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.

Commentary

Isaiah 36:8 is a pivotal verse within the dramatic narrative of King Sennacherib of Assyria's invasion of Judah, specifically his siege of Jerusalem around 701 BC. This verse records a taunting challenge issued by Rabshakeh, a high-ranking Assyrian military official, to the officials of King Hezekiah.

Context of Isaiah 36:8

The entire chapter 36 of Isaiah, which parallels 2 Kings 18:17-37, details the Assyrian attempt to psychologically break Jerusalem's resolve. Rabshakeh speaks in Hebrew, not Aramaic, to ensure the common people understand his demoralizing message. His speech aims to undermine their trust in Egypt, in their own military capabilities, and most importantly, in the Lord God. In this specific verse, he directly challenges Judah's military weakness, highlighting their lack of cavalry.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Assyrian Arrogance and Intimidation: Rabshakeh's offer of "two thousand horses" is not a genuine gesture but a sarcastic taunt. It highlights the vast military disparity between the mighty Assyrian army, known for its cavalry, and Judah, which was comparatively weak in this regard. This tactic was designed to instill fear and expose Judah's perceived helplessness.
  • Judah's Military Vulnerability: The challenge underscores Judah's lack of a substantial cavalry force, a crucial component of ancient warfare. Rabshakeh implies that even if Assyria provided the horses, Judah lacked the skilled riders to utilize them, further emphasizing their perceived inadequacy.
  • Psychological Warfare: This verse is a prime example of ancient psychological warfare. Rabshakeh's words were intended to break the morale of Jerusalem's defenders, convincing them that surrender was their only logical option against such overwhelming and well-equipped power.

Linguistic Insights

The term "Rabshakeh" (KJV) is not a personal name but an Assyrian title, likely meaning "chief cupbearer" or "chief officer." This indicates his high rank and diplomatic authority. The KJV phrase "give pledges" translates the Hebrew word ‘aravon (עֲרָבוֹן), which here signifies a wager or a challenge deposit, underscoring the mocking nature of Rabshakeh's offer.

Related Scriptures

The narrative surrounding Sennacherib's invasion and Hezekiah's response is crucial for understanding the broader themes of trust in God versus human strength. For the outcome of this challenge, see God's promise of deliverance in Isaiah 37:6 and the miraculous destruction of the Assyrian army in Isaiah 37:36. This event powerfully demonstrates that true security comes not from military might or human alliances, but from faith in the Lord, a theme echoed in Psalm 20:7: "Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God."

Practical Application

For believers today, Isaiah 36:8 serves as a reminder that adversaries, whether spiritual or worldly, often employ tactics of intimidation, mockery, and exaggeration of their own strength while highlighting our perceived weaknesses. This verse encourages us not to be swayed by such psychological attacks or to put our ultimate trust in human resources or military might. Instead, like King Hezekiah who ultimately turned to God (Isaiah 37:1), we are called to place our reliance entirely on the Lord, who is able to deliver us even from seemingly insurmountable odds. Our strength is found not in our own "horses and riders," but in the power and faithfulness of God.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 1 Samuel 17:40

    ¶ And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling [was] in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.

  • 1 Samuel 17:43

    And the Philistine said unto David, [Am] I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.

  • Isaiah 10:13

    For he saith, By the strength of my hand I have done [it], and by my wisdom; for I am prudent: and I have removed the bounds of the people, and have robbed their treasures, and I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant [man]:

  • Isaiah 10:14

    And my hand hath found as a nest the riches of the people: and as one gathereth eggs [that are] left, have I gathered all the earth; and there was none that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or peeped.

  • Psalms 123:3

    Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us: for we are exceedingly filled with contempt.

  • Psalms 123:4

    Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, [and] with the contempt of the proud.

  • 1 Kings 20:18

    And he said, Whether they be come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they be come out for war, take them alive.
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