Study Desk

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

Then did the king of Assyria send Rabshakeh from Lachish to Jerusalem unto King Hezekiah with a heavy force, - and he took his stand by the upper channel of the pool, in the highway of the fullers field.

And there went out to him - Eliakim son of Hilkiah who was over the household, - and Shebna, the scribe, and Joah son of Asaph the recorder.

And Rabshakeh said unto them, Pray you say unto Hezekiah, - Thus, saith the great king, the king of Assyria, What is this trust, wherewith then dost trust?

I have said sayest thou - they are only words of the lips - Counsel and might have I for the war, - Now, upon whom dost thou trust, that thou hast rebelled against me?

Lo! thou dost trust on the support of this bruised cane, on Egypt, whereon if a man lean it will enter his hand and lay it open, - So, is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust upon him.

But, if thou shouldst say unto me, In Yahweh our God, do we trust, Then is that not he whose high places and whose altars, Hezekiah hath removed, and said unto Judah and unto Jerusalem, Before this altar, shall ye bow yourselves down?

Now, therefore, pledge thyself I pray thee with my lord, the king of Assyria, - That I supply thee with two thousand horses, If thou on thy part be able to set riders upon them;

How then wilt thou turn away the face of one pasha of the least of my lords servants? Or hast thou on thy part trusted upon Egypt, for chariots and for horsemen?

But, now, is it, without Yahweh, that I have come up against this land to destroy it? Yahweh himself, said unto me, Go thou up against this land and destroy it!

Then said Eliakim, and Shebna, and Joah, unto Rabshakeh - Speak we pray thee unto thy servants in the Syrian language, for we, can, understand, it, - and do not speak unto us in the Jews language, in the ears of the people who are upon the wall.

But Rabshakeh said - Is it unto thy lord and unto thee, that my lord hath sent me, to speak these things? Is it not concerning the men who are tarrying upon the wall, that they may eat and drink what cometh from them, with you?

So then Rabshakeh took his stand, and cried out with a loud voice, in the Jews language, and said, Hear ye the words of the great king, the king of Assyria:

Thus, saith the king, Let not Hezekiah deceive you, - for he shall not be able to deliver you.

Neither let Hezekiah cause you to trust in Yahweh saying, Yahweh, will certainly deliver, us, - this city shall not be given over, into the hand of the king of Assyria.

Do not hearken unto Hezekiah, - for, thus, saith the king of Assyria, Deal with me thankfully, and come out unto me, Then shall ye eat, Every one of his own vine and Every one of his own fig-tree, And drink every one the Waters of his own cistern:

Until I come and take you, into A land like your own land, - A land of corn and new wine, A land of bread and vineyards: -

Lest Hezekiah, persuade you, saying, Yahweh will deliver us! Have the gods of the nations, delivered, - any one of them - his country, out of the hand of the king of Assyria?

Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad, Where are the gods of Sepharvaim? If indeed they had only delivered Samaria, out of my hand!

Who are they, among all the gods of these countries that have delivered their country out of my hand? That, Yahweh, should deliver, Jerusalem, out of my hand!

But they held their peace, and answered him not a word, - for the command of the king, it was, saying, - Ye must not answer him.

Then came in - Eliakim son of Hilkiah who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah son of Asaph, the recorder, unto Hezekiah, with rent clothes, - and they told him the words of Rabshakeh.