This chapter commences the historical portion of Isaiah, which continues to the close of Isaiah 39:1. The main subject is the destruction of Sennacherib and his army. It contains also an account of the sickness and recovery of Hezekiah; the song with which he celebrated his recovery; and an account... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE FOURTEENTH YEAR OF HEZEKIAH - Of his reign, 709 b.c. THAT SENNACHERIB - Sennacherib was son and successor of Shalmaneser, king of Assyria, and began to reign A.M. 3290, or 714 b.c., and reigned, according to Calmet, but four years, according to Prideaux eight years, and according to Gesenius... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE KING OF ASSYRIA SENT RABSHAKEH - In 2 Kings 18:17, it is said that he sent Tartan, and Rabsaris, and Rabshakeh. In regard to Tartan, see the note at Isaiah 20:1. It is probable that Rabshakeh only is mentioned in Isaiah because the expedition may have been mainly under his direction, or more... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN CAME FORTH UNTO HIM - Isaiah has here omitted what is recorded in 2 Kings 18:18, namely, that Rabshakeh and his companions ‘called to the king,’ and as the result of that probably Hezekiah sent out Eliakim. ELIAKIM, HILKIAH’S SON, WHICH WAS OVER THE HOUSE - Respecting Eliakim, and his characte... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT CONFIDENCE - What is the ground of your confidence? on what do you trust? The appellation ‘great king’ was the customary title of the kings of the Persians and Assyrians.... [ Continue Reading ]
I SAY, SAYEST THOU - In 2 Kings 18:20, this is ‘thou sayest;’ and thus many manuscripts read it here, and Lowth and Noyes have adopted that reading. So the Syriac reads it. But the sense is not affected whichever reading is adopted. It is designed to show to Hezekiah that his reliance, either on his... [ Continue Reading ]
LO, THOU TRUSTEST - It is possible that Sennacherib might have been apprised of the attempt which had been made by the Jews to secure the cooperation of Egypt (see the notes at Isaiah 30:1; Isaiah 31:1 ff), though he might not have been aware that the negotiation was unsuccessful. IN THE STAFF OF TH... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT IF THOU SAY TO ME - If you shall make this plea, that you believe Yahweh will protect you in your revolt. The word ‘thou’ here refers to Hezekiah, or to the ambassadors speaking in his name. In 2 Kings 18:22, it is, ‘but if ye say unto me;’ that is, you ambassadors. The sense is substantially th... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW, THEREFORE, GIVE PLEDGES - Margin, ‘Hostages.’ The Hebrew verb (ערב _‛__ârab_) means properly to mix or mingle; then, to exchange commodities by barter or traffic; then, to become surety for anyone, to exchange with him, to stand in his place; then, to pledge, to pledge one’s life, or to give s... [ Continue Reading ]
HOW THEN WILT THOU TURN AWAY THE FACE - The most unimportant captain in the army of Assyria commands more horsemen than this, and how can you expect to oppose even him, much more how can you be able to resist all the mighty army of the Assyrians? ONE CAPTAIN OF THE LEAST - The word ‘captain’ here (פ... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AM I NOW COME UP WITHOUT THE LORD - Am I come up without his permission or command? Rabshakeh here speaks in the name of his master; and he means to say that he had the express command of Yahweh to inflict punishment on the Jews. It is possible that there had been conveyed to Sennacherib a rumou... [ Continue Reading ]
SPEAK, I PRAY THEE, UNTO THY SERVANTS IN THE SYRIAN LANGUAGE - Hebrew, ארמית _'ărâmı̂yt_ - ‘Aramean.’ Aram, or Aramea, properly meaning a high region, or the highlands, was of wider extent than Syria Proper, and comprehended not only Syria, but Mesopotamia. It usually denotes however, Syria Proper... [ Continue Reading ]
HATH MY MASTER SENT ME TO THY MASTER AND TO THEE? - To Hezekiah, and to you alone. A part of my purpose is to address the people, to induce them to leave Hezekiah, and to offer no resistance to the Assyrian. TO THE MEN THAT SIT ON THE WALL ... - The meaning of this is, that the inhabitants of the ci... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN RABSHAKEH STOOD - Indicating the posture of a man who intends to speak to them at a distance. AND CRIED WITH A LOUD VOICE - So that those on the wall could bear. THE WORDS OF THE KING ... - (See the note at Isaiah 36:4)... [ Continue Reading ]
LET NOT HEZEKIAH DECEIVE YOU - By inducing you to put your trust in Yahweh or in himself; or with promises that you will be delivered. NOT BE ABLE TO DELIVER YOU - In 2 Kings 18:29, it is added, ‘out of his hand;’ but the sense is substantially the same.... [ Continue Reading ]
MAKE YOU TRUST IN THE LORD - Rabshakeh knew that Hezekiah was professedly devoted to Yahweh, and that he would endeavor to induce the people to trust in him. The Jews had now no other refuge but God, and as long as they put their confidence there, even Rabshakeh knew that it was hazardous to attempt... [ Continue Reading ]
HEARKEN NOT TO HEZEKIAH - Do not listen to his entreaties to confide in him, and in Yahweh; do not unite with him in endeavoring to make any resistance or opposition to us. MAKE AN AGREEMENT WITH ME BY A PRESENT - The Septuagint read this, Ει ̓ βούλεσθε εὐλογηθῆναι _Ei_ _boulesthe_ _eulogēthēna... [ Continue Reading ]
UNTIL I COME - These are the words of the king of Assyria delivered by Rabshakeh. It was proposed that they should remain safely in Jerusalem until Sennacherib should himself come and remove them to his own land. He was now engaged in the siege of Lachish Isaiah 36:2, and it is probable that he purp... [ Continue Reading ]
HATH ANY OF THE GODS OF THE NATIONS ... - This is said to show them the impossibility, as he supposed, of being delivered from the arm of the king of Assyria. He had conquered all before him, and not even the gods of the nations had been able to rescue the lands where they were worshipped from the h... [ Continue Reading ]
WHERE ARE THE GODS OF HAMATH ... - In regard to these places, see the notes at Isaiah 10:9. WHERE ARE THE GODS OF SEPHARVAIM? - Sepharvaim was probably in Mesopotamia. Ptolemy mentions a city there of the name of Sipphara, as the most southern city of Mesopotamia, which is probably the same. It is... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THEY HELD THEIR PEACE - Hezekiah had commanded them not to answer. They were simply to hear what Rabshakeh had to propose, and to report to him, that he might decide on what course to pursue. It was a case also in which it was every way proper that they should be silent. There was so much insole... [ Continue Reading ]
WITH THEIR CLOTHES RENT - This was a common mark of grief among the Jews (see 2 Samuel 3:21; 1 Kings 21:27; Ezra 9:3; Job 1:20; Job 2:12; Jeremiah 36:24; and the notes at Matthew 26:65; notes at Acts 14:14). The causes of their griefs were the insolence and arrogance of Rabshakeh; the proposal [ Continue Reading ]