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Isaiah 36

22 verses

TL;DR

Isaiah 36 records the Assyrian king Sennacherib’s envoy Rabshakeh’s psychological warfare against Jerusalem, while Hezekiah remains confident in the LORD’s protection.

Summary

In the fourteenth year of Hezekiah’s reign, the Assyrian king Sennacherib brings a massive army to besiege Judah, having already captured its fortified cities. Rabshakeh, sent from Lachish, approaches Jerusalem and confronts the city’s leaders—Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah—offering a treacherous truce and claiming the LORD has commanded him to destroy the city. He insults Jerusalem’s faith, boasting that Egypt’s “broken reed” is a more dangerous god than the LORD, and accuses Hezekiah of hypocrisy for removing high places yet claiming divine protection. Rabshakeh then speaks in Hebrew, warning that the LORD will not save them and urging the people to accept Assyrian rule. The leaders, following the king’s order, do not respond, and they return to Hezekiah with Rabshakeh’s words. Hezekiah’s steadfast trust in God contrasts sharply with the city’s fear, setting the stage for the forthcoming siege.

Outline
  1. Sennacherib’s advance and Rabshakeh’s arrival at Jerusalem
  2. Rabshakeh’s challenge to Jerusalem’s faith and offers a false covenant
  3. The leaders’ compliance with the king’s command and the city’s silence
Themes
Faith versus fear in the face of oppressionPolitical manipulation of religious beliefThe sovereignty of the LORD versus foreign powers
Keywords
AssyriaHezekiahRabshakehcovenantLORDhigh placesEgyptbroken reedsyrianAssyrian army
People
HezekiahSennacheribRabshakehEliakimShebnaJoahHilkiahAsaph
Places
JerusalemLachishJudahEgyptSyria
Things
broken reed stafftwo thousand horsesvinefig treecisternAssyrian armycity walls
Key Verses
  • Isaiah 36:7: Rabshakeh directly challenges Hezekiah’s policy of removing high places and altars, questioning the validity of trusting the LORD.
  • Isaiah 36:10: The envoy claims divine sanction for his actions, presenting the LORD as a puppet of Assyria.
  • Isaiah 36:18: Rabshakeh questions the efficacy of other gods, undermining the city’s reliance on foreign deities.
Questions
  • How does Rabshakeh’s rhetoric reflect the political and religious anxieties of Judah?
  • In what ways does Hezekiah’s faith differ from the city’s general attitude toward the LORD?
  • What is the significance of the Assyrian offering two thousand horses in the context of this confrontation?
Sentiment

mixed
The chapter portrays both fear and steadfast faith, with the Assyrian threat creating tension but Hezekiah’s confidence offering hope.