Isaiah 36:22

Then came Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah, that was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah, the son of Asaph, the recorder, to Hezekiah with their clothes rent, and told him the words of Rabshakeh. CLOTHES RENT - in grief and horror at the blasphemy (). Remarks: The godly do not escape their share of the trials which abound in this life of probation. Even good King Hezekiah, of whom it is testified that "he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that David his father had done," was threatened with destruction by the overwhelming hosts of Sennacherib. Trust in Egypt was the great weakness of which the Jewish nation was guilty at that time. But there was also a godly party, of whom the king was the leader, and who trusted in Yahweh, Rabshakeh well said of the former trust, that Egypt was but a broken reed t...

22._Then came Eliakim. _We now see that Eliakim and the other ambassadors were not silent as if they either approved of the impiety of Rabshakeh, or through dread of danger connived at such blasphemies; for they tear their garments, and in that manner give visible display how highly they are offended at those wicked slanders. I except _Shebna, _who was destitute of piety, and was only driven by shame to assume the dress of mourning along with others as a matter of form. It was customary among the Jews and other eastern nations, when they viewed anything with strong abhorrence, to tear their garments; for those nations, having much greater warmth of temperament than we have who inhabit cold countries, display greater vehemence in gesture, deportment, dress, and other outward signs. Here it ought also to be observed, that they who took no notice of the insults offered to them as private in...

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

PART II. HISTORICAL SKETCH OF EVENTS IN THE REIGN OF HEZEKIAH (CH. 36-39.). SECTION I. SENNACHERIB'S ATTEMPTS TO REDUCE JUDAEA, AND HIS OVERTHROW (Isaiah 36:1; Isaiah 37:1.). EXPOSITION IF the Book of Isaiah be regarded as the result of a gradual accretion (see the General Introduction), whether that accretion is to be ascribed to the action of the prophet himself or to that of later editors, we may equally consi

THEN CAME ELIAKIM, THAT WAS OVER THE HOUSEHOLD,.... The first of the commissioners sent to Rabshakeh: AND SHEBNA THE SCRIBE, AND JOAH, THE SON OF ASAPH, THE RECORDER, TO HEZEKIAH: by which it seems that he could not be with them on the wall, but was all the while in his own palace, whither they came to him, to report the issue of their conference with Rabshakeh: WITH THEIR CLOTHES RENT; which was done perhaps not in the presence and within the sight of Rabshakeh, but as they came along; and that partly on account of the blasphemies they had heard, Matthew 26:65, and partly through the grief of heart, for the distress and calamity they might fear were coming on themselves, their king, their city, and country, Joel 2:13: and told him the words of Rabshakeh

THE HISTORICAL PARENTHESIS (36-39) The center of the book of Isaiah is a brief but deeply interesting historical account of events during the reign of King Hezekiah. His name is mentioned not less than thirty-one times in these Chapter s. His great works in reformation and otherwise are recorded in 2 Kings 18:4, 2 Chronicles 29:1; 2Ch 30:5-22, 2 Kings 20:20. From Proverbs 25:1 we learn that he was a great lover of the Word of God, for he had it copied, perhaps by many scribes. He was 25 years old when he ascended the throne and reigned 29 years, 727-699 B.C. No doubt he was one of the greatest kings of Judah. T

ISAIAH 36-39. This section has been extracted from 2 Kings 18:13 to 2 Kings 20:19, and the Song of Hezekiah has been added. For an exposition see the notes on 2 K.; here we have simply to deal with the Song of Hezekiah. ISAIAH 38:10. THANKSGIVING FOR DELIVERANCE FROM IMMINENT DEATH. This is now generally regarded as a post-exilic psalm. Its absence in the parallel narratine in Kings is significant. Apparently it was inserted here by an editor who thought it suitable to Hezekiah's circumstances. If, as seems likely, it has been influenced by the Book of Job, it must be post-exilic. The title cannot, any more than the Psalm titles, weigh against internal evidence. Hezekiah's writing after his recov

WITH THEIR CLOTHES RENT— In token of their grief and astonishment, both for the blasphemy of Rabshakeh, and on account of their dread of the approaching calamity. It was usual not only in cases of grief, but also of blasphemy, to rend the clothes: a custom doubtless of great antiquity, and very suitable to the reverence due to the divine Majesty. See Matthew 26:65 and Vitringa. REFLECTIONS.—1st, As this transaction has been treated of at large, 2 Kings 18; 2 Kings 19 Kings 19 and 2 Chronicles 32 a few remarks will here suffice; and we may observe, [1.] How apt success is to intoxicate, and prosperity to puff men up with pride. Because the other defenced cities were taken, Rabshakeh already regards Jerusalem as a prey. [2

3. PATIENCE TEXT: Isaiah 36:21-22 21 But they held their peace, and answered him not a word; for the king's commandment was, saying, Answer him not. 22 Then came Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, that was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah, the son of Asaph, the recorder, to Hezekiah with their clothes rent, and told him the words of Rabshakeh. QUERIES a. Why did the king command no answer be made? b. Why did the officials tear their clothing? PARAPHRASE But in the face of all these taunts and temptations, the people were silent, because King Hezekiah had ordered the people, Do not answer the Assyrian Rabshakeh. Then Eliakim, chief administrator, and Shebna, the royal scribe, and Joah, the royal chronicler, returned to the presence of Hezekiah with their clothes ripped and torn as a sign of their grief and m

1. IN THE FOURTEENTH YEAR] The chronology is difficult. From Isaiah 38:1; Isaiah 39:1 we might conclude that Hezekiah's sickness and the Babylonian embassy followed Sennacherib's invasion, whereas Isaiah 38, 39 chronologically must precede Isaiah 36, 37. Samaria fell in 722, Hezekiah's 6th year (2 Kings 18:10); Sennacherib's invasion of Judah was in 701, which would therefore be Hezekiah's 27th year. The date 14th year here given must then be an error. Hezekiah reigned in all 29 years; 15 additional years were promised in his sickness (Isaiah 38:5), which accordingly must have befallen him in his 14th year. It looks as though the note of time in