Isaiah 36:21 - Printer Friendly

ESV: But they were silent and answered him not a word, for the king 's command was, "Do not answer him."

NIV: But the people remained silent and said nothing in reply, because the king had commanded, "Do not answer him."

NASB: But they were silent and did not answer him so much as a word; for the king’s command was, 'Do not answer him.'

CSB: But they kept silent; they didn’t say anything, for the king’s command was, "Don’t answer him."

NLT: But the people were silent and did not utter a word because Hezekiah had commanded them, 'Do not answer him.'

KJV: But they held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king's commandment was, saying, Answer him not.

NKJV: But they held their peace and answered him not a word; for the king’s commandment was, “Do not answer him.”

Sennacherib, King of Assyria, has brought most of his massive army to camp near Jerusalem. His messenger, called the Rabshakeh (Isaiah 36:1–3) has made a chilling speech to the people of the city (Isaiah 36:11–20) claiming that there is no hope. No god has stopped Assyria's rampage, and neither have the deities of Israel and Judah. With bold sarcasm and a series of mocking pointed questions, the Rabshakeh has attempted to strip away any hope of rescue even by the Lord God of Israel.

Fortunately, both the delegation from Judah and everyone on the city walls had already been commanded not to respond. Even though Hezekiah's emissaries are greatly distressed (Isaiah 36:22), they apparently make no effort to respond. This is a wise choice. First, nothing they would say could change the minds of the Assyrian invaders. Second, nothing they could say would change what God intended to do.

Isaiah 36:11–22 records psychological warfare from the commander of the Assyrian army. He shouts in the local dialect so everyone can experience terror. The speech promises horrors of siege and death unless the people surrender now. The Assyrian notes that no other nation's gods have stopped this invasion. Nor has any supernatural force protected the territories of Israel and Judah. Jerusalem seems to have no earthly hope, and Hezekiah's messengers wisely say nothing before returning to the city in grief.

Sennacherib and the Assyrian army conquer all of Judah except for Jerusalem. There, a remnant of the people waits inside the walls. Sennacherib sends a messenger to meet with Hezekiah's officials. The messenger taunts Hezekiah, mocking their attempts at alliances as well as their faith in God. This commander, also called "the Rabshakeh" calls out in the local Hebrew language so everyone will understand. He offers life and prosperity to those who surrender now. In his opinion, none of the gods of any of the nations the Assyrians have defeated were able to stop them. So why will the Lord God of Israel be any different?

Isaiah 36 shifts from poetic prophecies to the historical account of an Assyrian army's threats against Judah. Sennacherib's army conquers everything in Judah other except for Jerusalem. An Assyrian messenger taunts the people and tells them that no gods have stopped Assyria yet, so they shouldn't trust in Judah's God, either. Diplomats return to King Hezekiah in Jerusalem with this news. Hezekiah will seek help from Isaiah, pray to God, and receive a spectacular miraculous rescue (Isaiah 37).

Isaiah is among the most important prophetic books in the entire Bible. The first segment details God's impending judgment against ancient peoples for sin and idolatry (Isaiah 1—35). The second part of Isaiah briefly explains a failed assault on Jerusalem during the rule of Hezekiah (Isaiah 36—39). The final chapters predict Israel's rescue from Babylonian captivity (Isaiah 40—48), the promised Messiah (Isaiah 49—57), and the final glory of Jerusalem and God's people (Isaiah 58—66).

Accessed 5/30/2026 2:57:32 PM