How then wilt 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?
How then wilt thou turn away {H7725} the face {H6440} of one {H259} captain {H6346} of the least {H6996} of my master's {H113} servants {H5650}, and put thy trust {H982} on Egypt {H4714} for chariots {H7393} and for horsemen {H6571}?
How then can you repulse even one of my master's lowest-ranked army officers? Yet you are relying on Egypt for chariots and riders!
For how can you repel a single officer among the least of my master’s servants when you depend on Egypt for chariots and horsemen?
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?
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Isaiah 10:8
For he saith, [Are] not my princes altogether kings? -
2 Kings 18:24
How then wilt 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? -
Proverbs 21:31
The horse [is] prepared against the day of battle: but safety [is] of the LORD. -
Isaiah 30:7
For the Egyptians shall help in vain, and to no purpose: therefore have I cried concerning this, Their strength [is] to sit still. -
Isaiah 30:16
But ye said, No; for we will flee upon horses; therefore shall ye flee: and, We will ride upon the swift; therefore shall they that pursue you be swift. -
Isaiah 30:17
One thousand [shall flee] at the rebuke of one; at the rebuke of five shall ye flee: till ye be left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain, and as an ensign on an hill. -
Isaiah 36:6
Lo, thou trustest in the staff of this broken reed, on 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 in him.
Isaiah 36:9 captures a pivotal moment during the Assyrian siege of Jerusalem, specifically part of the Rabshakeh’s intimidating speech to King Hezekiah and the people of Judah. The Rabshakeh, an Assyrian field commander sent by King Sennacherib, is attempting to break Judah’s resolve and persuade them to surrender without a fight.
Context
This verse is set against the backdrop of the powerful Assyrian Empire's campaign to conquer Judah in the late 8th century BC, after they had already overwhelmed the northern kingdom of Israel. The Rabshakeh, a highly skilled orator, speaks in Hebrew to Hezekiah’s officials and the people on the wall, aiming to demoralize them. His speech is recorded in detail in Isaiah 36 and also in 2 Kings 18. Here, he mocks Judah’s military weakness and their reliance on Egypt, a common but often unreliable ally in the ancient Near East, for military support like chariots and horsemen.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The phrase "turn away the face of" is a Hebrew idiom meaning to resist, repel, or defeat. When the Rabshakeh asks, "How then wilt thou turn away the face of one captain of the least of my master's servants?", he's essentially saying, "How can you possibly hope to defeat even one of our minor commanders?" This highlights the immense disparity in power and serves to mock Judah's perceived weakness and their insufficient forces, even when relying on Egypt.
Practical Application
Isaiah 36:9 serves as a timeless reminder about where we place our trust. In times of crisis or overwhelming odds, it's natural to look for powerful allies or resources. However, this verse challenges us to consider if our reliance is on human strength, wealth, connections, or political power (our modern "chariots and horsemen"), rather than on God. Just as Hezekiah eventually turned to the Lord (Isaiah 37:1), we are called to place our ultimate confidence in God's faithfulness and power, even when facing seemingly insurmountable challenges. The Lord often demonstrates His power precisely when human resources prove inadequate, echoing the sentiment of Psalm 20:7, "Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God."