In Second Kings, chapter eighteen, verse thirty, for an unspecified reason, King Sennacherib of Assyria invaded Judah with a large army and besieged Jerusalem. The Assyrian generals sought to intimidate Hezekiah and all of Jerusalem by defiantly belittling the Lord and mocking the people’s trust in Him. The blasphemy against God resulted in an angelic intervention by God whereby one hundred and eighty-five thousand men of Sennacherib’s army got killed, and Judah delivered as in chapter nineteen, verses six through thirty-seven, Second Chronicles thirty-two, verses twenty-one to twenty-two, Isaiah thirty-seven, verses fourteen through twenty, and verses thirty-three through thirty-eight, respectively.
Rabshakeh seems to be aware that this is the argument that Hezekiah is, in point of fact, mainly urging. If at one time he had trusted in Egypt, that trust was now gone. The tone of his encouragement was that recorded in Second Chronicles thirty-two, verses six through eight. Second Kings six, verse sixteen, said, “And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.”
Rabshakeh tries to convince the Jews that it was to no purpose for them to stand out. What confidence is this wherein thou trustest? It was well if sinners would submit to the force of this argument in seeking peace with God. It is, therefore, our wisdom to yield to him because it is in vain to contend with him: what confidence is that which those trust in who stand out against him? A great deal of art there is in this speech of Rabshakeh. However, there is a great deal of pride, malice, falsehood, and blasphemy.
Hezekiah’s nobles held their peace. There is a time to keep silent, as well as a time to speak, and there are those to whom to offer anything religious or rational, is to cast pearls before swine. Their silence made Rabshakeh yet more proud and secure. It is often best to leave such persons to rail and blaspheme; a decided expression of disgust is the best testimony against them. The matter must be in the hands of the Lord, who has all hearts in his hands, committing ourselves unto him in humble submission, believing hope, and fervent prayer.