What is happening in this passage with Rab-shakeh and Jerusalem?

In this passage, the army of Assyria has come up against Jerusalem. The Assyrian king sends three high officers, with Rab-shakeh as the main spokesman, to demand that Hezekiah surrender. They stand at a public place where many can hear and ask what Hezekiah is trusting in. Rab-shakeh mocks both Egypt and the Lord, speaks loudly in the Jews’ language to frighten the people, and promises comfort if they give in. By the end, Hezekiah’s officials tear their clothes in grief and report everything to the king.

Why does Rab-shakeh call Egypt a bruised reed in this passage?

Rab-shakeh calls Egypt a “bruised reed” to say that Egypt is weak and unreliable. A reed is already fragile, but a bruised reed is damaged and not able to hold any weight. His picture is that if someone leans on such a reed, it will break and stab his hand. He uses this image to warn Judah that if they trust Egypt for military help, that help will fail and hurt them. Even though he speaks to mock, the warning shows how empty it is to trust human power instead of God.

Why does Rab-shakeh say Hezekiah removed God’s high places and altars?

Rab-shakeh misunderstands Hezekiah’s reforms. Hezekiah had taken away the high places so the people would stop offering sacrifices outside the place God chose and would worship only at the altar in Jerusalem. Rab-shakeh thinks removing the high places means Hezekiah has offended God and lost His help. He uses this to argue that the Lord will not save Jerusalem. This shows how someone can twist true obedience into a reason to doubt, when in fact Hezekiah was trying to honor God’s command.

What does this passage teach about trusting God versus human help?

This passage sets a clear contrast. Rab-shakeh mocks both Egypt and the Lord, but he speaks as if only human power matters. He points to Assyria’s strength, offers horses, and reminds them how other nations and their gods fell. Yet he treats the Lord like just another god. Hezekiah, on the other hand, tells the people not to answer and to wait. The people’s silence shows a choice to hold to their king’s word and look to God rather than scramble for clever answers or new allies.

Why are the people told to keep silent and not answer Rab-shakeh?

Hezekiah had given a clear order that no one should answer Rab-shakeh. This kept the people from arguing or making quick promises out of fear. Silence here is not cowardice but a kind of trust. Instead of trading insults or trying to reason with a proud enemy, they leave the matter in God’s hands and bring the words back to their king. It shows that sometimes the right response to mocking and lies about God is not a loud debate, but quiet faith and taking the problem to the Lord.

What does Rab-shakeh mean when he compares the Lord to the gods of other nations?

Rab-shakeh points to cities like Hamath, Arpad, and Samaria and asks where their gods are now. His point is that no god has stopped Assyria yet, so why think the Lord will save Jerusalem? He treats the Lord as if He were just another local god tied to one land. This is a proud and wrong view. In doing this, he insults God’s name and openly challenges God’s power. The passage sets up a clear clash between human pride and the living God who is not like the idols of the nations.

Why does Rab-shakeh speak in the Jews’ language instead of Syrian?

Hezekiah’s officials ask Rab-shakeh to speak in the Syrian language, since they understand it, so the people on the wall will not hear and be terrified. Rab-shakeh refuses because he wants exactly that result. He speaks loudly in the Jews’ own language so that everyone can understand his threats and promises. His goal is to break their courage, turn them against Hezekiah, and make them willing to surrender. This shows how fear and confusion can be used as weapons in times of crisis.

How can this passage guide believers when their faith is mocked?

In this passage, the people of Jerusalem hear their God insulted and their faith questioned. Instead of shouting back, they obey their king’s command and stay quiet. Later, Hezekiah will spread these threats out before the Lord. For believers today, this gives a pattern: when faith is mocked and God’s name is dragged down, we do not have to win the argument in our own strength. We can refuse panic, hold to what God has said, and take our fears and the harsh words we heard into God’s presence.

2Kgs.18.17

2 Kings 18:17

King James Version (KJV)

¶ And the king of Assyria sent Tartan and Rabsaris and Rabshakeh from Lachish to king Hezekiah with a great host against Jerusalem. And they went up and came to Jerusalem. And when they were come up, they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which is in the highway of the fuller’s field.

Chapter:

Context:

Sennacherib Threatens Jerusalem

¶ And the king of Assyria sent Tartan and Rabsaris and Rabshakeh from Lachish to king Hezekiah with a great host against Jerusalem. And they went up and came to Jerusalem. And when they were come up, they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which is in the highway of the fuller’s field.

And when they had called to the king, there came out to them Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder.

And Rabshakeh said unto them, Speak ye now to Hezekiah, Thus saith the great king, the king of Assyria, What confidence is this wherein thou trustest?

Thou sayest, (but they are but vain words,) I have counsel and strength for the war. Now on whom dost thou trust, that thou rebellest against me?

Now, behold, thou trustest upon the staff of this bruised reed, even upon Egypt, on which if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt unto all that trust on him.

But if ye say unto me, We trust in the Lord our God: is not that he, whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah hath taken away, and hath said to Judah and Jerusalem, Ye shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem?

Now therefore, I pray thee, give pledges to my lord the king of Assyria, and I will deliver thee two thousand horses, if thou be able on thy part to set riders upon them.

How then wilt thou turn away the face of one captain of the least of my master’s servants, and put thy trust on Egypt for chariots and for horsemen?

Am I now come up without the Lord against this place to destroy it? The Lord said to me, Go up against this land, and destroy it.

Then said Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebna, and Joah, unto Rabshakeh, Speak, I pray thee, to thy servants in the Syrian language; for we understand it: and talk not with us in the Jews’ language in the ears of the people that are on the wall.

But Rabshakeh said unto them, Hath my master sent me to thy master, and to thee, to speak these words? hath he not sent me to the men which sit on the wall, that they may eat their own dung, and drink their own piss with you?

Then Rabshakeh stood and cried with a loud voice in the Jews’ language, and spake, saying, Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria:

Thus saith the king, Let not Hezekiah deceive you: for he shall not be able to deliver you out of his hand:

Neither let Hezekiah make you trust in the Lord, saying, The Lord will surely deliver us, and this city shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria.

Hearken not to Hezekiah: for thus saith the king of Assyria, Make an agreement with me by a present, and come out to me, and then eat ye every man of his own vine, and every one of his fig tree, and drink ye every one the waters of his cistern:

Until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of corn and wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of oil olive and of honey, that ye may live, and not die: and hearken not unto Hezekiah, when he persuadeth you, saying, The Lord will deliver us.

Hath any of the gods of the nations delivered at all his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria?

Where are the gods of Hamath, and of Arpad? where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah? have they delivered Samaria out of mine hand?

Who are they among all the gods of the countries, that have delivered their country out of mine hand, that the Lord should deliver Jerusalem out of mine hand?

But the people held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king’s commandment was, saying, Answer him not.

Then came Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, which 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.

Cross References

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