The Rabshakeh's Taunts

What are you trusting in?

Jerusalem · c. 701 BC · 2 Kgs 18:17–37

Story

Beside the channel of the Upper Pool, on the road to the Launderer's Field, a great Assyrian army stood in ranks. These were the Tartan, the Rabsaris and the Rabshakeh, commanders sent from Lachish by Sennacherib king of Assyria. From inside the city came Eliakim the palace administrator, Shebna the secretary and Joah the recorder. On the wall above, the people stood packed together, holding their breath.

The Rabshakeh spoke in a loud voice: “What are you trusting in, that you hold out like this? Egypt is a broken reed that pierces the hand of anyone who leans on it. Will you say you trust in the Lord? Isn't he the one whose high places and altars Hezekiah tore down?” Eliakim, Shebna and Joah pleaded urgently, “Speak in Aramaic. The people on the wall are listening.” Instead the Rabshakeh shouted even louder in Hebrew.

The Rabshakeh shouted, “Don't let Hezekiah deceive you. Did the gods of Hamath and Arpad save their lands? Has any god saved Samaria from my hand? How then can the Lord save Jerusalem?” The wall was silent. The king had commanded them not to answer. Eliakim and the officials went back to Hezekiah with their clothes torn.

Words of God and the Prophets

What are you trusting in, that you hold out like this? You are leaning on Egypt, that broken reed. Anyone who leans on it gets his hand pierced through.

Which of all the gods of the nations has saved its land from my hand? How then can the Lord save Jerusalem from my hand?

Please speak in Aramaic, for we understand it. Do not speak in Hebrew where the people on the wall can hear.

Do not answer him a single word.

The sayings are fresh renderings of the original meaning in today's language. Text: 2 Kgs 18:17–37

Background

Pause and Reflect