King of Judah: Hezekiah; King of Israel: Hoshea; King of Assyria: Sennacherib
We switch over to the kingdom of Judah and Hezekiah. Hezekiah did right by Jehovah:
2 Kings 18:4 – He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan.
Did Moses’ serpent staff become a god named Nehushtan? OR was Nehushtan a god all along whose power was being used by Moses wielding the staff? I earlier noted that it seemed odd that Jehovah, supposedly omnipotent, would need his priest/prophet Moses to wield something physical. After all, we are reminded that in the battle in Exodus 17 that Moses need his arms propped up to hold the staff upwards to ensure victory in battle.
Hezekiah was able to repel the king of Assyria, who at the time was able to capture Samaria and take the Israelites into captivity. He had victory against the Philistines as well.
Assyria Against Judah
14 years into Hezekiah’s reign, we are told a new king of Assyria, Sennacherib, went up to Judah. So, since Hezekiah was unlike any other king of Judah (as mentioned in verse 18:5) in being right in the sight of Jehovah, surely he could repel the Assyrian invasion?
Hezekiah sends Sennacherib a message: tell me how much to pay you to leave me be
18:14 – And Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria to Lachish, saying, I have offended; return from me: that which thou puttest on me I will bear. And the king of Assyria appointed unto Hezekiah king of Judah 300 talents of silver and gold.
So despite rebelling against Shalmaneser, Hezekiaha bends to Sennacherib. Here’s where the story becomes odd. Hezekiah takes all the treasures of the house of Jehovah, and even mutilates the house by taking gold overlay from its pillars and doors, and sent it all to Sennacherib. Apparently it wasn’t enough?
Sennacherib sends 3 men, including a messenger named Rab-shakeh and an army to Jerusalem. Rab-shakeh calls out to king Hezekiah’s house, and is answered by some of Hezekiah’s servants. Rab-shakeh seems to be speaking on behalf of Sennacherib, telling Hezekiah’s servants to ask Hezekiah why he believes he is prepared for war. He also questions why they rebel against him.
Can’t Trust Egypt
18:21 – Now, behold, thou trustest upon the staff of this bruised reed, even upon Egypt, on which if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt unto all that trust on him.
Rab-shakeh seems to be implying that the kingdom of Judah would be relying on Egypt to come to their aid, and Rab-shakeh says the Pharaoh can’t be trusted. He questions the Jews ability to rely on Jehovah, despite the fact Hezekiah has ordered them to worship him. He seems to be offering them horses to use in battle against him, so that they don’t reach out to the untrusted Egyptians for horses and chariots.
18:25 – Am I now come up with Jehovah against this place to destroy it? Jehovah said to me, Go up against this land, and destroy it.
So, according to Rab-shakeh, Jehovah has sided with the Assyrians, to the point he told Rab-shakeh to invade Jerusalem. But I thought Hezekiah was a good king? Will Rab-shakeh be proven wrong? Or is the damage the kingdom of Judah did in the past so bad Jehovah will overlook the loyalty Hezekiah has given him. Judging by Jehovah’s personality, character, and past, I’d bet he abandons Hezekiah. We shall see…
The servants of Hezekiah ask Rab-shakeh to speak to them in Syrian, and not in the Jew language. They seem to not want Jews “on the wall” to hear Rab-shakeh threats.
18:27 – But Rab-shakeh said unto them, Hath my master sent me to thy master, and to thee, to speak these words? hath he not sent me to the men which sit on the wall, that they may eat their own drunk, and drink their own piss with you?
I’ve to say sometimes this book gets WEIRD, especially if he is speaking literally.
Rab-shakeh denies their request and now yells out, speaking directly to the Jews on the wall. He tells them not let Hezekiah have them put trust in Jehovah, that Jehovah will save them from Assyria, and take them to a new land just like the one they are in now. He asks them about ANY of the gods of the lands being able to save the respective nations from being defeated by the king of Assyria. It’s odd because he lists Hamath, Arpad, Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah, the groups that became the Samaritans, so apparently he’s defeated them too (or at least made them pay tribute to prevent invasion.)
The Jews on the wall didn’t reply to Rab-shakeh’s speech. Hezekiah’s servants return to Hezekiah with their clothes torn, and passed the message on.
My Biblical Journey 