Hezekiah’s 3 men have gone out of the city, into the valley below the eastern walls of the City of David, and are meeting with the military officers of Assyria. Speaking for the king, the Rabshakeh asks a critical question: “What confidence is this in which you trust?” What a question, both for Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem and also for me and us! As we live life, how do we expect to handle its ups and downs? On a regular basis there are situations that are beyond our ability.
The people of Jerusalem
are aware that the Assyrians have wreaked havoc in the rest of Judea. In Nineveh (Assyria) a cylinder with
cuneiform writing was discovered that dated back to the time of Hezekiah. It contained the following account of what the
Assyrian king claimed he had done in Judah.
“As for Hezekiah the
Judean, I besieged 46 of his fortified walled cities and surrounding smaller
towns, which were without number. Using
packed down ramps and applying battering rams, infantry attacks, and by mines,
breaches and siege machines (or ladders) I conquered (them). I took out 200,150 people, young and old,
male and female, horses, mules, donkeys, camels, cattle and sheep without
number, and counted them as spoil. He
(Hezekiah) himself I locked up in Jerusalem his royal city, like a bird in a
cage.”
If you were a resident of Jerusalem at the
time, and knew the feared Assyrians were outside, intending to take Jerusalem
as they had taken 46 other walled cities, you might be asking the same
question: What are we going to do? What
is Hezekiah going to do?
Anticipating the
response of Hezekiah’s advisors, the Rabshakeh mentioned four possible answers
to his question (18:20-22).
·
Strategy.
Remember that Hezekiah had done several things to prepare for the
anticipated Assyrian siege. He diverted
the water of the Gihon so the Assyrians wouldn’t benefit from it (2 Chron. 32:4). He improved the walls around the city (32:5).
·
Military strength. Not only had Hezekiah made plans; he had
improved the military. He made weapons
and shields in abundance (32:5). He organized
the military and sought to encourage them with a rousing speech about trusting
God (32:6-8).
·
Egypt. In
Hezekiah’s reign there was at least a “political party” that advocated for
making an alliance with Egypt. Isaiah
prophesied against these people who sought help from Egypt but not from God (e.g.
Isa. 31:1-3). Hoshea, the last king in Israel,
had conspired with Egypt against Assyria.
This was a “popular” idea among God’s people when it came to figuring
out how to stand up against the Assyrians.
The Rabshakeh also asked if they were going to
trust in YAHWEH (18:22). We will reserve
that for our next post. We will also consider
why the Rabshakeh considered these to be faulty “confidences” for Judah.
Suffice it for now to note that God in His word through the prophets had made
it clear to His people that they were to trust in Him. All these other objects of faith would disappoint
Judah.
Psalm 118: 6 The LORD
is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? 8 It is better to trust in the LORD than to
put confidence in man. 9 It is better to
trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.
Isa. 31;1 Woe to those
who go down to Egypt for help, and rely on horses, who trust in chariots
because they are many, and in horsemen because they are very strong, but who do
not look to the Holy One of Israel, nor seek the LORD!
Cuneiform cylinder of Sennacherib, King of Assyria
with Judah-related section in English.
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