13 Now in the fourteenth e year of King Hezekiah , Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah and seized them. 14 Then Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria at Lachish , saying , " I have done wrong . Withdraw from me; whatever you impose on me I will bear ." So the king of Assyria required of Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold . 15 Hezekiah gave him all the silver which was found in the house of the Lord , and in the treasuries of the king's house . 16 At that time Hezekiah cut off the gold from the doors of the temple of the Lord , and from the doorposts which Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid , and gave it to the king of Assyria .
17 Then the king of Assyria sent Tartan and Rab-saris and Rabshakeh from Lachish to King Hezekiah with a large army to Jerusalem . So they went up and came to Jerusalem . And when they went up, they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool , which is on the highway of the fuller's field . 18 When they called to the king , Eliakim the son of Hilkiah , who was over the household , and Shebnah the scribe and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder , came out to them. 19 Then Rabshakeh said to them, "Say now to Hezekiah , 'Thus says the great king , the king of Assyria , " What is this confidence that you have ?
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Kings 18:13-19
Commentary on 2 Kings 18:9-16
(Read 2 Kings 18:9-16)
The descent Sennacherib made upon Judah, was a great calamity to that kingdom, by which God would try the faith of Hezekiah, and chastise the people. The secret dislike, the hypocrisy, and lukewarmness of numbers, require correction; such trials purify the faith and hope of the upright, and bring them to simple dependence on God.
Commentary on 2 Kings 18:17-37
(Read 2 Kings 18:17-37)
Rabshakeh tries to convince the Jews, that it was to no purpose for them to stand it out. What confidence is this wherein thou trustest? It were 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; but a great deal of pride, malice, falsehood, and blasphemy. Hezekiah's nobles held their peace. There is a time to keep silence, as well as a time to speak; and there are those to whom to offer any thing 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 abhorrence is the best testimony against them. The matter must be left to the Lord, who has all hearts in his hands, committing ourselves unto him in humble submission, believing hope, and fervent prayer.