Isaiah 36:21-22
But they were silent and answered him not a word, for the king’s command was, “Do not answer him.” Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebna the secretary, and Joah the son of Asaph, the recorder, came to Hezekiah with their clothes torn, and told him the words of the Rabshakeh.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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While the verse states the people were silent because the king commanded it, the deeper insight lies in Hezekiah's strategic wisdom. By ordering silence, he prevented further provocation and potential diplomatic missteps, recognizing that some insolence is best met not with words, but by taking the whole matter directly to God. This act of quiet defiance, though seemingly passive, set the stage for divine intervention.
Rabshakeh, the Assyrian commander, has just delivered a barrage of arrogant boasts and blasphemies, attempting to break the spirits of the people of Jerusalem and convince them to surrender. The Jewish officials who were sent to meet him, though insulted and likely angered by his words, ultimately remain silent as per Hezekiah's direct command. This silence is not due to a lack of words, but a deliberate strategy to avoid further provocation and to bring the entire matter before God.
When facing overwhelming verbal attacks or blasphemy, is silence always the best response?
Rabshakeh, the Assyrian envoy, unleashed a torrent of insults, threats, and blasphemies against God and King Hezekiah. The Jewish officials, though capable of responding, were under strict orders from Hezekiah: 'Do not answer him.'
This wasn't a sign of weakness or ignorance. The commentaries suggest several reasons for this strategic silence:
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There are times when responding to slander or blasphemy with words is not only ineffective but also unwise. True strength can be found in a God-honoring silence, turning our attention from the accuser to the Almighty.
How can the name and reputation of God be defended when it's being slandered?
Rabshakeh's assault wasn't just political; it was deeply spiritual. He directly challenged the power and efficacy of Yahweh, Israel's God. He listed other nations whose gods had failed to protect them and mockingly asked if Yahweh would be any different (Isaiah 36:18-20).
This was a direct attack on God's very nature and His promises to His people. However, the Jewish officials' silence, while commanded, was not an endorsement of this blasphemy. Their subsequent report to Hezekiah (Isaiah 36:22) and Hezekiah's prayer to Isaiah (Isaiah 37:1-4) show that the 'silence' was a pause, not an acceptance.
The strategy here is that God's honor is ultimately His own to defend. While we are called to contend for the faith, there are moments when the most powerful act is to bring the slanderous words directly before God in prayer, trusting Him to vindicate His own name. The ultimate 'answer' to blasphemy comes not from human defense, but from divine intervention.
Understand the original words
charash · Hebrew Verb
Refers to the state of being mute or quiet; in a biblical context, it often signifies wisdom in the face of provocation, submissiveness, or a lack of defense when God is acting or when the enemy is blaspheming.
melek · Hebrew Noun
A person of authority, frequently referring to a monarch. Theologically, it often contrasts human sovereignty with the ultimate sovereignty of God, the King of Kings.
mitsvah · Hebrew Noun
A formal directive or edict, often carrying the weight of sovereign authority. In Scripture, commands reflect the character and intent of the one issuing them.
bayith · Hebrew Noun
A high-ranking official or steward responsible for the management of the king's palace or administration. Historically, this role involved managing the king’s affairs and representing his interests.
sopher · Hebrew Noun
A state official responsible for drafting, copying, and maintaining state documents. This role implied high levels of literacy and administrative influence in the royal court.
mazkir · Hebrew Noun
A royal official responsible for maintaining records and historical chronicles of the kingdom’s events.
qara · Hebrew Verb
An act of rending or tearing garments, which serves as a traditional Israelite expression of intense grief, distress, mourning, or repentance before God.
Rabshaqeh · Hebrew Noun
A military or administrative title (likely of Assyrian origin) denoting a high-ranking field commander or envoy who served as the king's primary mouthpiece during diplomatic or military confrontations.
This moment of enforced silence, dictated by King Hezekiah, highlights a strategic decision to avoid dignifying blasphemy with a response and to instead place their trust in God's intervention.
c. 701 BC— this verse
Sennacherib's Campaign in Judah
The Assyrian king Sennacherib invades Judah, conquering many of its fortified cities and besieging Jerusalem. The Assyrian general, the Rabshakeh, attempts to demoralize the city's defenders and King Hezekiah through intimidation and blasphemy.
c. 701 BC
Rabshakeh's Failed Diplomacy
The Assyrian envoy, Rabshakeh, directly addresses the people on Jerusalem's walls, using taunts and blasphemies to encourage surrender. Hezekiah's appointed officials, following the king's orders, remain silent.
c. 701 BC
Hezekiah Seeks Isaiah's Counsel
After hearing Rabshakeh's words, the officials, along with torn clothes, report back to Hezekiah. The king then sends them to the prophet Isaiah to intercede with God on behalf of Jerusalem.
c. 701 BC
Divine Intervention and Assyrian Retreat
The prophet Isaiah delivers God's message of assurance to Hezekiah. That night, the angel of the Lord strikes down 185,000 Assyrian soldiers, causing Sennacherib to withdraw his army and return to Nineveh.
This passage describes the Israelites reacting with fear and scattering when they saw the Philistine army, highlighting a similar human tendency towards panic in the face of overwhelming opposition, mirroring the silence of Hezekiah's officials.
2 Kings 18:36This parallel account in Kings explicitly states 'the people held their peace' and links it to Hezekiah's command, reinforcing the reason for the silence and showing the unified response under royal instruction.
Proverbs 17:28This verse states, 'Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.' It offers a wisdom perspective on silence, suggesting that sometimes withholding words, especially in the face of provocation, can be a sign of wisdom, echoing the strategic silence here.
Daniel 3:16Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego faced a similar impossible demand, and instead of engaging in debate, they stated their unwavering resolve to God, showing a different but related response of faith-filled silence in the face of existential threat.
Matthew 27:14When Jesus was accused before Pilate, He also remained silent, offering a powerful example of divine wisdom and restraint in the face of false accusations, much like Hezekiah's officials responding to Rabshakeh's blasphemies.
cambridgeIsaiah 36:21: "But they held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king's commandment was, saying, Answer him not."
21 . they held their peace ] i.e. the people on the wall, as is expressed in 2 Kings 18:36 . Isaiah 37:1-4 . Hezekiah, thrown back at last on the policy of faith consistently advocated by Isaiah, sends an influential deputation to the prophet, entreating him to intercede for the nation in this extremity. (Cf. 2 Kings 12:12-14 ; Jeremiah 37:3 ) The king’s message could…
clarkeIsaiah 36:21: "But they held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king's commandment was, saying, Answer him not."
But they held their peace "But the people held their peace" - The word העם haam, the people, is supplied from the other copy, and is authorized by a MS. which inserts it after אתו otho.
While the verse states the people were silent because the king commanded it, the deeper insight lies in Hezekiah's strategic wisdom. By ordering silence, he prevented further provocation and potential diplomatic missteps, recognizing that some insolence is best met not with words, but by taking the whole matter directly to God. This act of quiet defiance, though seemingly passive, set the stage for divine intervention.
Rabshakeh, the Assyrian commander, has just delivered a barrage of arrogant boasts and blasphemies, attempting to break the spirits of the people of Jerusalem and convince them to surrender. The Jewish officials who were sent to meet him, though insulted and likely angered by his words, ultimately remain silent as per Hezekiah's direct command. This silence is not due to a lack of words, but a deliberate strategy to avoid further provocation and to bring the entire matter before God.
Rabshakeh, the Assyrian commander, has just delivered a barrage of arrogant boasts and blasphemies, attempting to break the spirits of the people of Jerusalem and convince them to surrender. The Jewish officials who were sent to meet him, though insulted and likely angered by his words, ultimately remain silent as per Hezekiah's direct command. This silence is not due to a lack of words, but a deliberate strategy to avoid further provocation and to bring the entire matter before God.
"But they were silent and answered him not a word, for the king’s command was, “Do not answer him.” Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebna the secretary, and Joah the son of Asaph, the recorder, came to Heze…" — While the verse states the people were silent because the king commanded it, the deeper insight lies in Hezekiah's strategic wisdom. By ordering silence, he prevented further provocation and potentia…
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