36:1
Module 1: The Judicial Indictment and the Assyrian Crisis
Now it came to pass in the fourteenth year of king Chizqiyahu, that Sancherib king of Ashshuwr came up against all the defenced cities of Yahudah, and took them.
Reader Chapter
Yeshayahu 36
Yeshayahu chapter 36 in the Qadmoni reader. Read the full chapter text with direct verse references and continue into the interactive reader.
Browse Yeshayahu chapter index36:2
The Commission of the Rabshakeh
And the king of Ashshuwr sent Rabshakeh from Lakish to Yarushalayim unto king Chizqiyahu with a great army. And he stood by the conduit of the upper pool in the highway of the fuller's field.
36:3
The Meeting of the Officials
Then came forth unto him Elyaqim, Chilqiyahu's son, which was over the house, and Shebna the scribe, and Yoach, Asaph's son, the recorder.
36:4
The Speech of the Rabshakeh: The Vanity of Confidence
And Rabshakeh said unto them, Say ye now to Chizqiyahu, Thus saith the great king, the king of Ashshuwr, What confidence is this wherein thou trustest?
36:5
I say, sayest thou, (but they are but vain words) I have counsel and strength for war: now on whom dost thou trust, that thou rebellest against me?
36:6
The Warning Against the Mitzrayim Reed
Lo, thou trustest in the staff of this broken reed, on Mitzrayim; whereon if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharoh king of Mitzrayim to all that trust in him.
36:7
The Theological Assault
But if thou say to me, We trust in 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 our Elohim: is it not he, whose high places and whose altars Chizqiyahu hath taken away, and said to Yahudah and to Yarushalayim, Ye shall worship before this altar?
36:8
The Mockery of Kinetic Strength
Now therefore give pledges, I pray thee, to my adon the king of Ashshuwr, and I will give thee two thousand horses, if thou be able on thy part to set riders upon them.
36:9
How then wilt thou turn away the face of one captain of the least of my master's servants, and put thy trust on Mitzrayim for chariots and for horsemen?
36:10
The Claim of Sovereign Authorization
And am I now come up without 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 against this land to destroy it? 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 said unto me, Go up against this land, and destroy it.
36:11
The Request for Linguistic Secrecy
Then said Elyaqim and Shebna and Yoach unto Rabshakeh, Speak, I pray thee, unto thy servants in the Syrian language; for we understand it: and speak not to us in the Yahudiym's language, in the ears of the people that are on the wall.
36:12
The Biological Threat to the Multitude
But Rabshakeh said, Hath my master sent me to thy master and to thee to speak these words? hath he not sent me to the men that sit upon the wall, that they may eat their own dung, and drink their own piss with you?
36:13
The Public Summons in the Yahudiym Language
Then Rabshakeh stood, and cried with a loud voice in the Yahudiym's language, and said, Hear ye the words of the great king, the king of Ashshuwr.
36:14
Thus saith the king, Let not Chizqiyahu deceive you: for he shall not be able to deliver you.
36:15
Neither let Chizqiyahu make you trust in 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄, saying, 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 will surely deliver us: this city shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Ashshuwr.
36:16
The Deception of the Peace Treaty
Hearken not to Chizqiyahu: for thus saith the king of Ashshuwr, Make an agreement with me by a present, and come out to me: and eat ye every one of his vine, and every one of his fig tree, and drink ye every one the waters of his own cistern;
36:17
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.
36:18
The Comparison of Elohim to the Idols
Beware lest Chizqiyahu persuade you, saying, 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 will deliver us. Hath any of the elohim of the nations delivered his land out of the hand of the king of Ashshuwr?
36:19
Where are the elohim of Chamath and Arpad? where are the elohim of Sepharvayim? and have they delivered Shomron out of my hand?
36:20
Who are they among all the elohim of these lands, that have delivered their land out of my hand, that 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 should deliver Yarushalayim out of my hand?
36:21
The Acoustic Silence of the Perimeter
But they held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king's commandment was, saying, Answer him not.
36:22
The Mourning of the Officials
Then came Elyaqim, the son of Chilqiyahu, that was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Yoach, the son of Asaph, the recorder, to Chizqiyahu with their clothes rent, and told him the words of Rabshakeh.