The Great Isaiah Scroll, the best preserved of the biblical scrolls found at Qumran from the second century BC, contains all the verses in this chapter.
The parashah sections listed here are based on the Aleppo Codex.[4] Isaiah 36 is a part of the Narrative (Isaiah 36–39). {P}: open parashah; {S}: closed parashah.
{S} 36:1–10 {S} 36:11–16a {P} 36:16b–22 כי כה אמר {S}
The Rock of History
Chapters 36–37 cuts into the historical narrative in 2 Kings 18:13–19:38 to the time after Hezekiah sent tributes to appease Sennacherib (2 Kings 18:13–16) – a 'treachery' that Isaiah already prophesied several times (Isaiah 21:2; 24:16; 33:1) – yet failed to stop the Assyrians from attacking Jerusalem.[5] This sets up for a demonstration of Yahweh's power, and thus, "put the rock of history under the fabric of eschatology."[5]
Rabshakeh's first speech: no salvation in faith! (36:1–10)
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.[6]
Based on Sennacherib's Annals which contain the record of the same event, the time referred here can be determined to be 701 BCE.[1] The text here omits the admission of defeat and the payment for substantial reparations by Hezekiah to Sennacherib, which is recorded in 2 Kings 18:14–16.[1]
"Defenced cities": or "fortified cities" of Judah, forty six cities in total, were besieged and captured by Sennacherib, along with many smaller towns, according to the record of his annals.[5]
Verse 2
And the king of Assyria sent Rabshakeh from Lachish to Jerusalem to King Hezekiah with a large army. And he stood by the conduit of the upper pool on the highway of the fuller's field.[7]
"Rabshakeh" (from Hebrew: רבשקה, Rabshaqeh[8]): or "field commander" (also "chief cup-bearer");[5] perhaps "chief of the officers" among the Assyrian military leaders.[9]
"The conduit of the upper pool": The confrontation took place at the same location where Isaiah confronted Ahaz in Isaiah 7:3, so it presents a great contrast between 'the renegade behavior of Ahaz and the appropriate response from Hezekiah'.[1]
Rabshakeh's second speech: popular appeal – 'Make Peace' (36:11–22)
In his second speech, the Rabshakeh arrogantly addresses the people directly using the language they understand, reminding them that politicians declare wars, but people bear the suffering (verse 11–13), advising them not to trust Hezekiah with his futile faith in his God (verses 14–17), but then the Rabshakeh continues to equate Israel's god with the gods of other nations and to belittle the god's ability to save Jerusalem (verses 18–20).[10] The people appropriately respond to the arrogance with silence (verse 21).[1]
Verse 22
Then came Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah, that 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.[11]
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