XXXVI.
(1) IT CAME TO PASS IN THE FOURTEENTH YEAR OF KING HEZEKIAH... — In
the judgment of nearly all Assyriologists (Sir Henry Rawlinson, Sayce,
Hinckes, Lenormant, Schrader, Cheyne), we have to rectify the
chronology. The inscriptions of Sennacherib fix the date of his
campaign against Hezekiah in... [ Continue Reading ]
THE KING OF ASSYRIA SENT RABSHAKEH. — The word is a title (_the_
Rabshakeh) probably the chief officer or cup-bearer. In 2 Kings 18; 2
Chronicles 32; 2 Chronicles 32, we have the previous history of the
war. Hezekiah, on hearing Sennacherib’s reproach, began to
strengthen the fortifications of Jerus... [ Continue Reading ]
ELIAKIM. — It is significant that Eliakim now fills the office
which, a short time before, had been filled by Shebna, while the
latter is reduced to the inferior position of a scribe (Isaiah 22:15).
The change is clearly traceable to Isaiah’s influence. The
“scribe” was the secretary who formulated... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE COUNSEL AND STRENGTH FOR WAR... — Reports of Hezekiah’s
speech. probably also of his negotiations with Egypt, had reached the
ears of the Assyrian king. So Sennacherib. in his inscriptions, speaks
of “the king of Egypt as a monarch who could not save those who
trusted in him” (Smith, _Assyria... [ Continue Reading ]
IS IT NOT HE, WHOSE HIGH PLACES... — This was this impression left
on the mind of the Rabshakeh by what he heard of Hezekiah’s
reformation. From the Assyrian stand-point a god was honoured in
proportion as his sanctuaries were multiplied, but wherever he went,
the Rabshakeh had found “high places “w... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW, THEREFORE, GIVE PLEDGES. — Better, _make a wager._ This would
seem to be a taunt interpolated by the Rabshakeh in the midst of his
official message. There was something absurd in the idea of Judah
coming out as strong in its cavalry. Had they two thousand men who
could manage their horses if th... [ Continue Reading ]
AM I NOW COME UP WITHOUT THE LORD... — The words may be simply an
empty boast. Possibly, however, Isaiah’s teaching that it was
Jehovah who brought the King of Assyria into Judah, and used him as an
instrument (Isaiah 7:17), had become known, or Sennacherib may have
dreamt, or have said that he had... [ Continue Reading ]
SPEAK, I PRAY THEE, UNTO THY SERVANTS... — The king’s officers,
knowing the “little faith” of their people, are not, perhaps,
without misgivings of their own. Might not the townsmen, listening
eagerly on the wall, recognise in Rabshakeh’s words an echo of
Isaiah’s, and lose courage, as feeling that... [ Continue Reading ]
HATH HE NOT SENT ME TO THE MEN THAT SIT UPON THE WALL...? — The
words, which in their brutal coarseness have hardly a parallel in
history, till we come to Bismarck’s telling the Parisians that they
may “stew in their own gravy,” imply that the Assyrians were in a
position to cut off the supplies bot... [ Continue Reading ]
NEITHER LET HEZEKIAH MAKE YOU TRUST IN THE LORD... — Rabshakeh had
apparently heard from spies or deserters of Hezekiah’s speech to his
people (2 Chronicles 32:7). In contrast with what he derides as trust
in a God who was against those who trusted Him, he offers tangible
material advantages They ha... [ Continue Reading ]
HATH ANY OF THE GODS OF THE NATIONS... — The Rabshakeh speaks in the
natural language of polytheism. The Jehovah of Israel was one of gods
many and lords many, a simple national deity; but Asshur and Ishtar,
the gods of Assyria, were supreme above them all (_Records of the
Past,_ i. 25, 33).... [ Continue Reading ]
HAMATH AND ARPHAD... — See Note on Isaiah 10:9. Looking to the
practice of the Assyrians, the question would have had for its answer,
not the echoing “Where?” which it suggests to modern ears, but
“They are to be seen in the Temples of Assyria, as trophies of its
victories.”
SEPHARVAIM. — The south... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THEY HELD THEIR PEACE... — Hezekiah seems to have commanded
silence, as if distrustful either of the wisdom of the ambassadors or
of the effect which any chance words might have upon the garrison and
people of Jerusalem. As it was, the only words they had spoken (Isaiah
36:11) had made matters i... [ Continue Reading ]
WITH THEIR CLOTHES RENT. — The act was the natural expression of
their horror at the blasphemy of Rabshakeh’s words. (Comp. Matthew
26:65; Acts 14:14.) They would not reply to that blasphemy, and
trusted to the effect of this silent protest on the minds of the
people who had heard it.... [ Continue Reading ]