Isaiah 36:1-22
Q.1. How successful was Assyria’s campaign against Judah? What strategy did the army chief use to undermine the people? How did Eliakim and Shebna respond? – (Isa.36:1-13)
We now have a change of pace, as Isaiah recorded some actual history. The significance of this event that threatened to bring down Jerusalem was evident, since it was recorded in three Old Testament books – Isa.chpts.36-39 c.f. 2 Kgs.chpts.18-20; 2 Chr.chpts.29-32). During the reign of Hezekiah, king of Judah, Sennacherib, king of Assyria swept all before him, as he – … came up against all the fortified cities of Judah and seized them (Isa.36:1). The capture and destruction of Jerusalem seemed inevitable, even though it was the most impregnable of fortresses. Sennacherib sent his army chief, Rabshakeh, to complete the defeat of Judah. We get acquainted once more with two of Hezekiah’s key leaders – Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph, the recorder, came out to him (Isa.36:3 c.f. Isa.22:15 & 20). Rabshakah engaged these leaders from – … the conduit of the upper pool on the highway of the fuller’s field (Isa.36:2). He argued that King Hezekiah’s insistence that Judah should trust in God, was laughable (Isa.36:4-6). Had Hezekiah not called on his people to return to worshiping God in Jerusalem, and removed all the other gods that the people had trusted? (Isa.36:7). Rabshakah claimed that Sennacherib had divine authority for his campaign – Have I now come up without the Lord’s approval against this land to destroy it? The Lord said to me, `Go up against this land and destroy it’ (Isa.36:10). Judah’s leaders asked that the army chief stop speaking in Hebrew, because the people in Jerusalem could understand the threats. The leaders could understand Aramaic and preferred that he address them in his language (Isa.36:11). However, the arrogant Rabshakeh took no notice, and sought to undermine the confidence of the people (Isa.36:12-13).
Q.2. What case did Rabshakeh make against Hezekiah? What offer did he make to the people of Judah? In what way did he overstep the mark? What did the delegation do? – (Isa.36:13-22)
Hezekiah was in touch with God’s prophet Isaiah and believed that his prophecies came from God (Isa.36:14-15; 37:2,6-7 c.f. Isa.29:22; 35:4). Rabshakeh referred to Hezekiah’s revival, and contradicted his promise that God would deliver Judah (Isa.36:14-15). He urged the people to surrender to the Assyrians, promising them prosperity, albeit NOT in the Promised Land (Isa.36:16-17). He totally overstepped the mark and incurred the wrath of God, because of his insults against God (c.f. Isa.37:6-7). Rabshakeh argued that since no other gods had saved the nations who trusted them, neither could the God of Israel. He concluded – Who among all the gods of these lands have delivered their land from my hand, that the Lord would deliver Jerusalem from my hand? (Isa.36.20 c.f. 36:18-19). In accordance with the king’s command, Judah’s delegation refused to give a response (Isa.36:21). Sorrowfully, later they reported Rabshakeh’s words to Hezekiah (Isa.36:22).