But Rabshakeh said, Hath my master sent me to thy master and to thee to speak these words? hath he not sent me to the men that sit upon the wall, that they may eat their own dung, and drink their own piss with you?
But the Assyrian commander replied, '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 using crude, shocking language to terrorize Jerusalem's people, threatening them with the horrors of a prolonged siege where they would face starvation.
📚 Historical Context
This occurred around 701 BC when the Assyrian army under King Sennacherib had surrounded Jerusalem during King Hezekiah's reign. The Assyrian field commander (Rabshakeh) was using psychological warfare, speaking loudly in Hebrew so all the defenders on the city walls could hear his threats. He was describing the terrible conditions of a siege - starvation so severe that people would consume their own bodily waste to survive.
Ask the AI Assistant
Have a question about this chapter or verse? Ask below for a clear explanation.