Isaiah:36

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* Now it came to pass (note :)This history is rehearsed because it is as a seal and confirmation of the doctrine before , both for the threatenings and promises : that is , that God would permit his Church to be afflicted , but at length would send deliverance .(:note ) in the When he had abolished superstition , and idolatry , and restored religion , yet God would exercise his Church to try their faith and patience . fourteenth year of king Hezekiah , [that ] Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah , and took them . * And the King of Asshur sent Rabshakeh from Lachish toward Ierusalem vnto King Hezekiah , with a great hoste , &amp ; he stood by ye conduite of the vpper poole in the path of the fullers fielde . * Then came forth to him Eliakim , Hilkiah 's son , who was (note :)For he was now restored to his office , as Isaiah had prophesied in ( Isa_22:20 ).(:note ) over the house , and Shebna This declares that there were few godly to be found in the king 's house , when he was driven to end this wicked man in such a weighty matter . the scribe , and Joah , Asaph 's son , the recorder . * And (note :)Sennacherib 's chief captain .(:note ) Rabshakeh said to them , Say ye now to Hezekiah , Thus saith the great king , the king of Assyria , What confidence [is ] this in which thou trustest ? * I say , (note :)He speaks this in the person of Hezekiah , falsely charging him that he put his trust in his wit and eloquence , while his only confidence was in the Lord .(:note ) [sayest thou ], (but [they are but ] vain words ) [I have ] counsel and strength for war : now on whom dost thou trust , that thou rebellest against me ? * Lo , thou trustest in the staff of this broken reed , on Egypt ; on which if a man lean , it will enter his hand , and pierce it : so [is ] (note :)Satan laboured to pull the godly king from one vain confidence to another : that is , from trust in the Egyptians , whose power was weak and would deceive them , to yield himself to the Assyrians , and so not to hope for any help from God .(:note ) Pharaoh king of Egypt to all that trust in him . * But if thou say to me , We trust in the Lord our God . Is not that he , whose hie places &amp ; whose altars Hezekiah tooke downe , &amp ; said to Iudah &amp ; to Ierusalem , Ye shall worship before this altar ? * Nowe therefore giue hostages to my lorde the King of Asshur , and I wil giue thee two thousand horses , if thou be able on thy part to set riders vpon them . * How then wilt thou turn away the face of one captain of the (note :)He reproaches Hezekiah 's small power , which is not able to resist one of Sennacherib 's least captains .(:note ) least of my master 's servants , and put thy trust on Egypt for chariots and for horsemen ? * And am I now come up without the LORD against this land to destroy it ? the LORD said to me , (note :)Thus the wicked to deceive us , will pretend the Name of the Lord : but we must try the spirits , whether they are of God or not .(:note ) Go up against this land , and destroy it . * Then said Eliakim and Shebna and Joah to Rabshakeh , (note :)They were afraid , lest by his words , he should have stirred up the people against the king , and also pretended to grow to some appointment with him .(:note ) Speak , I pray thee , to thy servants in the Syrian language ; for we understand [it ]: and speak not to us in the Jews ' language , in the ears of the people that [are ] on the wall . * Then said Rabshakeh , Hath my master sent me to thy master , and to thee to speake these wordes , and not to the men that sit on the wall ? that they may eate their owne doung , and drinke their owne pisse with you ? * So Rabshakeh stood , &amp ; cryed with a loude voyce in the Iewes language , and sayd , Heare the wordes of the great King , of the King of Asshur . * Thus saith the King , Let not Hezekiah deceiue you : for he shall not be able to deliuer you . * Neither let Hezekiah make you to trust in the Lord , saying , The Lorde will surely deliuer vs : this citie shal not be giuen ouer into the hand of the King of Asshur . * Hearken not to Hezekiah : for thus saith the king of Assyria , Make (note :)The Hebrew word signifies blessing , by which this wicked captain would have persuaded the people , that their condition would be better under Sennacherib than under Hezekiah .(:note ) [an agreement ] with me [by ] a present , and come out to me : and eat ye every one of his vine , and every one of his fig tree , and drink ye every one the waters of his own cistern ; * Till I come and bring you to a land like your owne land , euen a land of wheate , and wine , a land of bread and vineyardes , * Least Hezekiah deceiue you , saying , The Lord wil deliuer vs . Hath any of the gods of the nations deliuered his land out of the hand of the King of Asshur ? * Where [are ] the gods of (note :)That is , of Antioch in Syria , of which these two other cities also were : by which we see how every town had its peculiar idol , and how the wicked make God an idol because they do not understand that God makes them his scourge , and punishes cities for sin .(:note ) Hamath and Arphad ? where [are ] the gods of Sepharvaim ? and have they delivered Samaria out of my hand ? * Who is hee among all the gods of these lands , that hath deliuered their countrey out of mine hand , that the Lorde should deliuer Ierusalem out of mine hand ? * But they (note :)Not that they did not show by evident signs that they detested his blasphemy : or they had now rent their clothes , but they knew it was in vain to use long reasoning with this infidel , whose reign they would have so much more provoked .(:note ) held their peace , and answered him not a word : for the king 's commandment was , saying , Answer him not . * Then came Eliakim the sonne of Hilkiah the steward of the house , and Shebna the chanceller , and Ioah the sonne of Asaph the recorder , vnto Hezekiah with rent clothes , and tolde him the wordes of Rabshakeh .

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