Question 1

What was happening when Rabshakeh came to Jerusalem with a great army?

Accepted Answer

This scene takes place after Assyria had already conquered the fortified cities of Judah. Hezekiah had carried out major reforms, removing idols and high places, yet his kingdom still faced a huge threat. Sennacherib, king of Assyria, was besieging Lachish and sent Rabshakeh with a large force to Jerusalem. The goal was not only military pressure but also psychological pressure. Rabshakeh stood where many could hear and tried to break the people’s courage and their trust in Hezekiah and in God, so they would surrender without a fight.

Question 2

Who is Rabshakeh in this passage, and what is he trying to do?

Accepted Answer

Rabshakeh is a high officer sent by Sennacherib, king of Assyria. He acts as the king’s mouthpiece. His main aim is to scare and persuade the people of Jerusalem to give up. He mocks Hezekiah’s strength, ridicules any help from Egypt, and especially attacks their trust in the Lord. He speaks loudly in the people’s language so everyone on the wall can hear. He offers comfort and plenty if they surrender and paints a picture of misery if they do not. His speech is a mix of truth, half-truths, and lies meant to create fear and doubt.

Question 3

Why does Rabshakeh call Egypt "the staff of this broken reed"?

Accepted Answer

Rabshakeh uses the picture of a man leaning on a staff made of a broken reed, which pierces his hand instead of helping him. He applies this to Egypt, saying that anyone who trusts Egypt for help will only be hurt. There is some truth here, because God had already warned that trusting in Egypt’s power instead of in Him was empty. But Rabshakeh twists this to push Judah away from any hope, not to lead them to trust God. His goal is to show that every human alliance is useless so that the people will feel they have no choice but to surrender to Assyria.

Question 4

Why does Rabshakeh say the Lord told him to destroy the land?

Accepted Answer

Rabshakeh claims, “The Lord said unto me, Go up against this land, and destroy it.” This is part of his strategy to confuse and weaken the people’s faith. Sometimes God does use foreign nations as instruments of judgment, but here Rabshakeh speaks without real understanding of God’s will. He grabs hold of religious words to give his threats more weight. This shows how enemies of God’s people may misuse God’s name to justify their actions. The right response is not to believe any claim said in God’s name, but to test it by what God has truly revealed.

Question 5

Why did Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah ask Rabshakeh to speak in the Syrian language?

Accepted Answer

Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah knew the diplomatic language Rabshakeh could use, but they did not want the common people on the wall to hear his speech in their own tongue. They feared his mocking words would spread panic and weaken morale in the city. So they asked him to speak in the Syrian (Aramaic) language instead of the Jews’ language. Rabshakeh refused, because he wanted exactly the opposite: he wanted the soldiers and people listening to be terrified, to imagine starvation and shame, and to lose confidence in Hezekiah and in the Lord’s help.

Question 6

Why did Hezekiah’s officials stay silent and not answer Rabshakeh?

Accepted Answer

Hezekiah had clearly commanded, “Answer him not.” His officials obeyed, even when Rabshakeh mocked God and threatened horrible things. They likely saw that arguing with him would not help and could even strengthen his influence over the people. Instead of trading insults, they showed their grief by tearing their clothes and then reported everything to the king. Their silence reflects wisdom from elsewhere in Scripture: sometimes it is better not to answer a proud, mocking person at length, especially when that person only wants to stir up more confusion and unbelief.

Question 7

What does this passage teach about trusting God instead of human help?

Accepted Answer

The whole scene turns on the question, “What confidence is this wherein thou trustest?” Rabshakeh attacks trust in Egypt, which really was a false support, but then he also attacks trust in the Lord. The people of Jerusalem are pressed to choose: believe the loud, threatening voice of Assyria, or believe that the Lord can protect them even when they seem weak. The passage shows that human power, whether Assyria’s strength or Egypt’s promises, cannot replace God. Faith is tested when God’s people look surrounded and small, yet are called to keep trusting His word.

Question 8

How does Rabshakeh’s speech show spiritual warfare and not just politics?

Accepted Answer

Rabshakeh’s words are more than political talk. He tries to reach the hearts and minds of the people. He mocks God, twists Hezekiah’s reforms, and compares the Lord to false gods that Assyria has already defeated. He loudly claims that no god has stopped Assyria yet, so their God will not help them either. This is spiritual warfare: using fear, lies, and half-truths to make people doubt God’s character and promises. It reminds readers that attacks on faith often come through clever words meant to shake trust, not just through swords and armies.

Question 9

What does this story show about suffering and faithfulness to God?

Accepted Answer

This passage makes it clear that being faithful to God does not mean an easy life. Hezekiah had removed idols and restored right worship, yet his land was invaded and his cities were taken. Jerusalem stood nearly alone before a powerful empire. This shows that God may allow hard trials even when His people are walking in obedience. Those trials test and refine faith. God’s people are invited to keep trusting Him when circumstances look hopeless, believing that His plans are larger than what they can see and that He can deliver in His own time and way.

Isaiah 36:1

Now it came to pass in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah, that Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the defenced cities of Judah, and took them.

Sennacherib Threatens Jerusalem

Sennacherib Threatens Jerusalem

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Isaiah 36:1

Now it came to pass in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah, that Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the defenced cities of Judah, and took them.

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Sennacherib Threatens Jerusalem

Sennacherib Threatens Jerusalem

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