But Rabshakeh 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 dung, and drink their own piss with you?
But the Assyrian commander said to them, 'Do you think my master sent me to speak these words only to your master and to you? Hasn't he sent me to speak to the men sitting on the wall, who will have to eat their own waste and drink their own urine along with you?'
The Assyrian commander is threatening that everyone in Jerusalem - not just the leaders - will face starvation and desperation during the coming siege.
📚 Historical Context
In the 8th century BC, the Assyrian Empire under King Sennacherib was aggressively expanding and besieging Judah as punishment for King Hezekiah's rebellion against their tribute demands. Rabshakeh, an Assyrian official, was sent to deliver a message to the people of Jerusalem, aiming to demoralize them by describing the horrors of a prolonged siege. This event highlights the political tensions and the use of psychological warfare in ancient Near Eastern conflicts.
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