And the king of Assyria sent the Rabshakeh,The Rabshakeh was a high-ranking Assyrian official, often considered a chief cupbearer or a military commander. This title indicates a position of significant authority, suggesting the importance of the message he carried. The Assyrian Empire, under King Sennacherib, was a dominant power, known for its military prowess and expansionist policies. The sending of the Rabshakeh signifies the seriousness of the Assyrian threat to Judah.
with a great army,
The presence of a great army underscores the intimidation tactics employed by Assyria. This military show of force was intended to coerce submission without battle. Historically, Assyria was known for its large, well-equipped armies, which were instrumental in its conquests. The mention of a great army highlights the dire situation facing Jerusalem and King Hezekiah.
from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem.
Lachish was a significant fortified city in Judah, and its capture by the Assyrians was a strategic victory. Archaeological evidence, such as the Lachish Reliefs, depicts the siege and conquest of Lachish, illustrating Assyrian military might. The movement from Lachish to Jerusalem indicates the Assyrian campaign's progression and the imminent threat to the capital city, where King Hezekiah reigned.
And he stopped by the aqueduct of the upper pool,
The aqueduct of the upper pool was a crucial water source for Jerusalem, located near the city's defenses. This location was strategic for psychological warfare, as controlling water supplies could lead to a city's surrender. The mention of the aqueduct connects to earlier events inIsaiah 7:3, where Isaiah met King Ahaz, Hezekiah's father, at the same location, highlighting continuity in the prophetic narrative.
on the road to the Launderer’s Field.
The Launderer’s Field was likely an area outside Jerusalem used for washing clothes, indicating a location near the city's outskirts. This setting emphasizes the public nature of the Assyrian envoy's message, intended to demoralize the inhabitants of Jerusalem. The choice of this location for the Rabshakeh's speech was symbolic, as it was a place where many people would gather, ensuring the message reached a wide audience.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
King of AssyriaThe ruler of the Assyrian Empire, a dominant power during this period, known for its military might and conquests.
2.
RabshakehA high-ranking Assyrian official or military commander sent as a spokesperson to deliver messages and negotiate on behalf of the Assyrian king.
3.
LachishA significant city in Judah, which was under siege or control by the Assyrians at this time, demonstrating their reach and power.
4.
King HezekiahThe king of Judah, known for his faithfulness to God and efforts to reform the religious practices of his people.
5.
JerusalemThe capital city of Judah, representing the spiritual and political heart of the Jewish people, and the focal point of the Assyrian threat.
6.
Aqueduct of the Upper PoolA water source in Jerusalem, significant for its strategic importance during a siege.
7.
Launderer’s FieldA location in Jerusalem, possibly a place where clothes were washed, indicating a specific and recognizable landmark.
Teaching Points
Trust in God Amidst ThreatsHezekiah faced a formidable enemy, yet his account encourages believers to trust in God's protection and deliverance, even when circumstances seem dire.
The Power of PrayerHezekiah's response to the Assyrian threat included seeking God's guidance through prayer, reminding us of the importance of turning to God in times of crisis.
Strategic PreparationWhile Hezekiah trusted God, he also took practical steps to prepare for the siege, teaching us the balance between faith and action.
The Role of LeadershipHezekiah's leadership during a national crisis serves as a model for godly leadership, emphasizing reliance on God and wise decision-making.
God's Sovereignty Over NationsThe Assyrian threat and God's eventual deliverance of Jerusalem illustrate His sovereignty over the affairs of nations and His ability to protect His people.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Isaiah 36:2?
2.How does Isaiah 36:2 illustrate God's sovereignty over political and military power?
3.What can we learn from the Assyrian threat about trusting God's protection?
4.How does Isaiah 36:2 connect with God's promises in earlier Isaiah chapters?
5.How should believers respond to intimidating challenges, as seen in Isaiah 36:2?
6.What role does faith play when facing overwhelming odds, according to Isaiah 36:2?
7.What historical evidence supports the Assyrian siege described in Isaiah 36:2?
8.How does Isaiah 36:2 reflect God's sovereignty over nations?
9.Why did the Assyrian king send the Rabshakeh to Jerusalem in Isaiah 36:2?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Isaiah 36?
11.Isaiah 36:2: Is there archaeological evidence confirming the Rabshakeh’s confrontation at the upper pool near the Launderers’ Field?
12.Who was Rabshakeh in the Bible?
13.Who was Rabshakeh in the Bible?
14.Isaiah 36:1: How do we reconcile the biblical account of Sennacherib’s invasion in Hezekiah’s fourteenth year with Assyrian records that date this campaign differently?What Does Isaiah 36:2 Mean
And the king of Assyria sent the Rabshakeh,• The event sets the stage for a showdown between two kingdoms—Assyria under Sennacherib and Judah under Hezekiah (2 Kings 18:17;2 Chronicles 32:9).
• “Rabshakeh” is a title, not a name, indicating a high-ranking field commander who speaks for the king. His words will carry Sennacherib’s authority, underscoring the seriousness of the threat.
• God’s Word shows that earthly power often confronts God’s people, yet the Lord remains sovereign (Psalm 2:1-6;Isaiah 37:26).
with a great army,• The size of the force highlights Assyria’s military dominance, meant to intimidate Jerusalem into surrender without a fight (Isaiah 10:13-14).
• Judah’s defenses look inadequate, but Scripture consistently teaches that victory depends on the Lord, not numbers (1 Samuel 14:6;Psalm 20:7).
• This phrase reminds readers that the Lord sometimes allows overwhelming odds to display His deliverance (Judges 7:2).
from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem.• Lachish was Judah’s second-strongest city; its fall (2 Chronicles 32:9) signals that Jerusalem is next.
• The march from a captured city to the capital illustrates Assyria’s momentum and Judah’s shrinking options.
• Hezekiah’s faith will be tested at the point where human resources are exhausted (Isaiah 37:1-4).
And he stopped by the aqueduct of the upper pool,• This precise location matters: the same spot where Isaiah earlier met King Ahaz and urged trust in God rather than Assyria (Isaiah 7:3-9).
• The water supply is a strategic lifeline for a besieged city; Assyria’s envoy chooses it to underscore Jerusalem’s vulnerability.
• The setting contrasts human dependence on water with the Lord, “the fountain of living water” (Jeremiah 2:13).
on the road to the Launderer’s Field.• Near the city walls, this open area ensured that Rabshakeh’s speech could be heard by soldiers and citizens alike (2 Kings 18:26-28).
• A launderer’s field, associated with cleansing, becomes the stage for words meant to soil faith with doubt—yet God will purify His people through the trial (Malachi 3:2-3).
• The ordinary backdrop shows how God works in everyday places to reveal His power (Exodus 3:1-2).
summaryIsaiah 36:2 records Assyria’s calculated move against Jerusalem: a trusted commander, a vast army, and a strategic location by the city’s water source. Each detail magnifies Judah’s peril while preparing readers for God’s dramatic intervention inIsaiah 37. The verse teaches that intimidating threats, precise strategies, and overwhelming odds never outweigh the Lord’s covenant faithfulness. Standing at the very place where an earlier king doubted, Hezekiah—and every believer—must choose to rest in God’s proven power rather than fear human might.
(2)
The king of Assyria sent Rabshakeh.--The word is a title (
theRabshakeh) probably the chief officer or cup-bearer. In 2 Kings 18; 2 Chronicles 32, we have the previous history of the war. Hezekiah, on hearing Sennacherib's reproach, began to strengthen the fortifications of Jerusalem, called his officers and troops together, and made an appeal to their faith and courage. In Isaiah 22 we have the prophet's view of those preparations. Probably by Isaiah's advice, who put no confidence in this boastful and blustering courage, Hezekiah sent to Sennacherib, who was then besieging Lachish, to sue for peace, acknowledging that he had offended. A penalty of three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold was imposed and paid, Hezekiah being reduced to empty his own treasury and that of the Temple, and even to strip the Temple doors and pillars of the plates of gold with which they were overlaid. Peace, however, was not to be had even at that price. Encouraged, perhaps, by this prompt submission, and tearing up the treaty (the breach of covenant of which Isaiah complains in
Isaiah 35:1), Sennacherib sent his officers, the Tartan, the Rabsaris, and the Rabshakeh (the names are all official titles) to demand an unconditional surrender.
He stood by the conduit of the upper pool.--The spot was the same as that at which Isaiah had addressed Ahaz thirty or more years before (Isaiah 7:3). It was probably chosen by the Rabshakeh as commanding one end of the aqueduct which supplied the city with water, and thus enabling him to threaten that heú would cut off the supply (Isaiah 36:12).
Verse 2. -
And the King of Assyria sent Rabshakeh... with a great army (comp.
2 Kings 18:13-17, where we find sufficient ground for believing that this expedition is entirely distinct from that of ver. 1, which was conducted by Sennacherib in person, and led to Hezekiah's submission and the payment of a large tribute). It is inconceivable that, immediately after the grant of terms of peace and their acceptance, Sennacherib should have renewed the war; there must have been an interval, and a fresh provocation. The interval can have been only a short one, since Hezekiah died in
B.C. 697. It may have been a couple of years, or perhaps no more than a year, or possibly only a few months. The fresh provocation probably consisted in an application for aid, made by Hezekiah to Tir-hakah, or to the subordinate Egyptian kings, which is glanced at in ver. 6. The Assyrian annals, which never record any reverse or defeat, are wholly silent as to this second expedition. The only profane confirmation of it is to be found in Herodotus (2:141).
From Lackish. Laehish, an ancient city of the Amorites (
Joshua 10:5), was assigned by Joshua to the tribe of Judah (
Joshua 15:39), and seems to have been still a Jewish possession (
2 Kings 14:19). It occupied "a low round swell or knoll" in the Shefelch, or low tract between the Judaean highland and the Mediterranean, and lay near, if not directly on, the direct route which armies commonly followed in their march from Syria into Egypt. The site is now known as
Um-Lakis; it lies between Gaza and
Ajlan (Eglon), about two miles west of the hitter. Sennacherib represents himself as engaged in its siege on a bas-relief in the British Museum (see Layard, 'Monuments of Nineveh," second series, pl. 21).
The conduit of the upper pool (see the comment on ch. 7:3). The spot was that at which Isaiah had been commanded to meet Ahaz some forty years previously. It was probably on the north side of Jerusalem, not tar from the Damascus gate.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
And the kingמֶֽלֶךְ־(me·leḵ-)Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4428:A kingof Assyriaאַשּׁ֣וּר ׀(’aš·šūr)Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 804:Ashshursentוַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח(way·yiš·laḥ)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7971:To send away, for, out[the] Rab-shakeh,שָׁקֵ֨ה(šā·qêh)Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7262:Rabshakeh -- perhaps 'chief of the officers', an Assyrian military leaderwith a greatכָּבֵ֑ד(kā·ḇêḏ)Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 3515:Heavyarmy,בְּחֵ֣יל(bə·ḥêl)Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 2426:An army, an intrenchmentfrom Lachishמִלָּכִ֧ישׁ(mil·lā·ḵîš)Preposition-m | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 3923:Lachish -- a Canaanite city Southwest of Jerusalemtoאֶל־(’el-)Preposition
Strong's 413:Near, with, among, toKingהַמֶּ֥לֶךְ(ham·me·leḵ)Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428:A kingHezekiahחִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ(ḥiz·qî·yā·hū)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 2396:Hezekiah -- 'Yah has strengthened', a king of Judah, also several other Israelitesat Jerusalem.יְרוּשָׁלְַ֛מָה(yə·rū·šā·lə·māh)Noun - proper - feminine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 3389:Jerusalem -- probably 'foundation of peace', capital city of all IsraelAnd he stoppedוַֽיַּעֲמֹ֗ד(way·ya·‘ă·mōḏ)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5975:To stand, in various relationsby the aqueductבִּתְעָלַת֙(biṯ·‘ā·laṯ)Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 8585:A channel, a bandage, plasterof the upperהָעֶלְיוֹנָ֔ה(hā·‘el·yō·w·nāh)Article | Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 5945:An elevation, lofty, as title, the Supremepool,הַבְּרֵכָ֣ה(hab·bə·rê·ḵāh)Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 1295:A pool, pondon the roadבִּמְסִלַּ֖ת(bim·sil·laṯ)Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 4546:A thoroughfare, a viaduct, a staircaseto the Launderer’sכוֹבֵֽס׃(ḵō·w·ḇês)Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 3526:To trample, to washField.שְׂדֵ֥ה(śə·ḏêh)Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7704:Field, land
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OT Prophets: Isaiah 36:2 The king of Assyria sent Rabshakeh (Isa Isi Is) 
