Isaiah 36:16

Hearken not to Hezekiah: for thus saith the king of Assyria, Make [an agreement] with me [by] a present, and come out to me: and eat ye every one of his vine, and every one of his fig tree, and drink ye every one the waters of his own cistern;

Hearken {H8085} not to Hezekiah {H2396}: for thus saith {H559} the king {H4428} of Assyria {H804}, Make {H6213} an agreement with me by a present {H1293}, and come out {H3318} to me: and eat {H398} ye every one {H376} of his vine {H1612}, and every one {H376} of his fig tree {H8384}, and drink {H8354} ye every one {H376} the waters {H4325} of his own cistern {H953};

Don't listen to Hizkiyahu.' For this is what the king says: 'Make peace with me, surrender to me. Then every one of you can eat from his vine and fig tree and drink the water in his own cistern,

Do not listen to Hezekiah, for this is what the king of Assyria says: Make peace with me and come out to me. Then every one of you will eat from his own vine and his own fig tree, and drink water from his own cistern,

Hearken not to Hezekiah: for thus saith the king of Assyria, Make your peace with me, and come out to me; and eat ye every one of his vine, and every one of his fig-tree, and drink ye every one the waters of his own cistern;

Commentary

Isaiah 36:16 captures a pivotal moment during the Assyrian siege of Jerusalem, where the Rabshakeh, a high-ranking official of King Sennacherib, attempts to undermine the morale of the city's inhabitants and their trust in King Hezekiah.

Historical and Cultural Context

This verse is part of a dramatic confrontation detailed in Isaiah chapters 36-39 (and also in 2 Kings 18-19 and 2 Chronicles 32). King Sennacherib of Assyria had launched a devastating campaign against Judah in 701 BC, conquering many fortified cities. Jerusalem remained, and the Rabshakeh, speaking in Hebrew to be understood by the people on the wall, employed psychological warfare. His aim was to sow discord and fear, convincing the people that surrender to Assyria was their only path to survival and prosperity, directly contradicting King Hezekiah's call for faith in the Lord. This scene highlights the immense power of the Assyrian Empire, known for its brutal conquest tactics and sophisticated propaganda.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Deceptive Offers: The Rabshakeh's offer of "peace" (making an agreement by a present) is a classic example of a false promise. He offers a temporary reprieve and material comfort ("eat ye every one of his vine, and every one of his fig tree, and drink ye every one the waters of his own cistern") in exchange for immediate surrender, which would ultimately lead to exile and loss of identity.
  • Undermining Leadership: The direct command, "Hearken not to Hezekiah," is a calculated attempt to erode the people's confidence in their king, who was urging them to trust in God for deliverance (Isaiah 37:6).
  • False Security vs. True Deliverance: The Assyrian offer appeals to basic human desires for safety and provision. However, this worldly "peace" is fleeting and contingent on submission to an oppressive foreign power, starkly contrasting with the divine deliverance that Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah proclaimed (Isaiah 37:33-35).

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "make [an agreement] with me [by] a present" in Hebrew, 'asu 'itti berakah (עֲשׂוּ אִתִּי בְרָכָה), literally means "make a blessing with me." While it can imply a gift or tribute, in this context, it carries the sense of making a favorable agreement or a covenant of peace. The Rabshakeh uses this term to suggest a benevolent offer, masking the true intent of subjugation. The imagery of "his vine, and his fig tree, and his own cistern" is a common biblical metaphor for personal security, prosperity, and peace under one's own domain, as seen in 1 Kings 4:25 and Micah 4:4. Here, it is ironically used by the enemy to promise a false version of this ideal.

Practical Application

Isaiah 36:16 serves as a powerful reminder of how deception operates. In our lives, we often face alluring offers that promise immediate comfort or security but require compromising our principles or abandoning our trust in God. Like the people of Jerusalem, we are often urged to "hearken not" to the voices that call us to faith and perseverance, but instead to surrender to worldly pressures or easy solutions. This verse encourages us to:

  • Discern Voices: Be critical of voices that promise easy solutions or immediate gratification, especially if they contradict godly counsel or require abandoning core beliefs.
  • Trust in God's Promises: Recognize that true security and lasting peace come from God's faithfulness, not from capitulating to the world's demands or false promises. King Hezekiah's steadfast trust in the Lord ultimately led to Jerusalem's miraculous deliverance (Isaiah 37:36-37).
  • Resist Fear Tactics: The Rabshakeh's speech was designed to instill fear. We must guard against decisions made out of fear rather than faith, remembering that God's strength is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).
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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

  • Zechariah 3:10 (4 votes)

    In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall ye call every man his neighbour under the vine and under the fig tree.

  • 1 Kings 4:25 (4 votes)

    And Judah and Israel dwelt safely, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan even to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon.

  • Micah 4:4 (3 votes)

    But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make [them] afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken [it].

  • Proverbs 5:15 (2 votes)

    ¶ Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well.

  • 1 Samuel 25:27 (2 votes)

    And now this blessing which thine handmaid hath brought unto my lord, let it even be given unto the young men that follow my lord.

  • Genesis 33:11 (2 votes)

    Take, I pray thee, my blessing that is brought to thee; because God hath dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough. And he urged him, and he took [it].

  • 1 Samuel 11:3 (2 votes)

    And the elders of Jabesh said unto him, Give us seven days' respite, that we may send messengers unto all the coasts of Israel: and then, if [there be] no man to save us, we will come out to thee.