And Rabshakeh said unto them, Speak ye now to Hezekiah, Thus saith the great king, the king of Assyria, What confidence is this wherein thou trustest?
Then Rabshakeh said to them, 'Go tell Hezekiah this message from the great king, the king of Assyria: What makes you so confident? What are you trusting in?'
The Assyrian commander is challenging King Hezekiah, demanding to know what gives him the courage to resist the mighty Assyrian empire.
📚 Historical Context
In the 8th century BC, the Assyrian Empire was a dominant military power that had already conquered much of the ancient Near East, including the northern kingdom of Israel. King Hezekiah of Judah had rebelled against Assyrian control by refusing tribute and placing his trust in God, while also seeking alliances with other nations like Egypt. Rabshakeh, a high-ranking Assyrian official, was sent to Jerusalem to deliver a message from King Sennacherib, mocking Hezekiah's confidence and demanding surrender to avoid destruction.
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