Conclusion of Rabshakeh Presents His Case

Hezekiah's representatives are concerned about the effect that Rabshakeh's  arguments will have on the men who can hear him from the top of the city wall.  These Jewish officials request:  "Speak, please, to your servants in the Syrian language3, for we are listening; and do not speak to us in the Jew's language in the ears of the people that are on the wall."  ( Isaiah 36:11)  But Rabshakeh has no intention of speaking in the Syrian language.  He wants to sow seeds of doubt and fear in the Jews so that they will surrender and Jerusalem can be conquered without a fight!  (Isaiah 36:12) Hence the Assyrian speaks again in "the Jew's language."  He warns the inhabitants of Jerusalem:  "Do not let Hezekiah deceive you people, for he is not able to deliver you."  Following this, he tries to tempt those listening  by painting a picture of life as it could be for the Jews under the Assyrian rule:  "Make a capitulation to me and come out to me and eat each one from his own fig tree and drink each one from the water of his own cistern, until I come and actually take you to a land like your own land, a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards." -Isaiah 36:13, 17.

There will be  no harvest for the Jews this year-the Assyrian invasion has prevented them from planting crops.  The prospect of eating succulent grapes and of drinking cool water must be very appealing to the men listening on the wall.  But Rabshakeh has not yet finished trying to weaken the Jews.

From his arsenal of arguments, Rabshakeh draws another verbal weapon.  He warns the Jews against believing Hezekiah should he say:  "Jehovah himself will deliver us."   Rabshakeh reminds the Jews that the gods of Samaria were unable to prevent  the ten tribes from being overcome by the Assyrians. And what of the god of Hamath and Arpad?"  He demands.  "Where are the gods of  Sepharvaim? And have they delivered Samaria out of my hand?" -Isaiah 36:18-20. 

Of course, Rabshakeh, a worshiper of false gods, does not understand that there is a big difference between apostate Samaria and Jerusalem under Hezekiah.  Samaria's false gods had no power to save the ten-tribe kingdom.  (2 Kings 17L7, 17, 18)  On the other hand, Jerusalem  under Hezekiah has turned it back on false gods and has returned to serving Jehovah.  However, the three Judean representatives  do not try to explain this to Rabshakeh.  "They continued to keep silent and did not answer him a word, for the commandment of the king was, saying:  "You must not answer him."  (Isaiah 36:21)  Eliakim, Shebna, and Judah return to Hezekiah and make an official report of the words of Rabshakeh. -Isaiah 36:22.

Next time: Hezekiah Makes a Decision

From the Book Isaiah's Prophecy Light for all Mankind, 2000