28 Then Rabshakeh stood and cried with a loud voice in Judean , saying e , "Hear the word of the great king , the king of Assyria . 29 "Thus says the king , ' Do not let Hezekiah deceive you, for he will not be able to deliver you from my hand ; 30 nor let Hezekiah make you trust in the Lord , saying , "The Lord will surely deliver us, and this city will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria ." 31 'Do not listen to Hezekiah , for thus says the king of Assyria , "Make your peace with me and come out to me, and eat each of his vine and each of his fig tree and drink each of the waters of his own cistern , 32 until I come and take you away to a land like your own land , a land of grain and new wine , a land of bread and vineyards , a land of olive trees and honey , that you may live and not die ." But do not listen to Hezekiah when he misleads you, saying , "The Lord will deliver us." 33 ' Has any one of the gods of the nations delivered his land from the hand of the king of Assyria ? 34 ' Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad ? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim , Hena and Ivvah ? Have they delivered Samaria from my hand ? 35 'Who among all the gods of the lands have delivered their land from my hand , that the Lord should deliver Jerusalem from my hand ?' "
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Kings 18:28-35
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.