Isaiah 36:8-18

8 et nunc trade te domino meo regi Assyriorum et dabo tibi duo milia equorum nec poteris ex te praebere ascensores eorum
9 et quomodo sustinebis faciem iudicis unius loci ex servis domini mei minoribus quod si confidis in Aegypto in quadriga et in equitibus
10 et nunc numquid sine Domino ascendi ad terram istam ut disperderem eam Dominus dixit ad me ascende super terram istam et disperde eam
11 et dixit Eliachim et Sobna et Ioae ad Rabsacen loquere ad servos tuos syra lingua intellegimus enim ne loquaris ad nos iudaice in auribus populi qui est super murum
12 et dixit ad eos Rabsaces numquid ad dominum tuum et ad te misit me dominus meus ut loquerer omnia verba ista et non potius ad viros qui sedent in muro ut comedant stercora sua et bibant urinam pedum suorum vobiscum
13 et stetit Rabsaces et clamavit voce magna iudaice et dixit audite verba regis magni regis Assyriorum
14 haec dicit rex non seducat vos Ezechias quia non poterit eruere vos
15 et non vobis tribuat fiduciam Ezechias super Domino dicens eruens liberabit nos Dominus non dabitur civitas ista in manu regis Assyriorum
16 nolite audire Ezechiam haec enim dicit rex Assyriorum facite mecum benedictionem et egredimini ad me et comedite unusquisque vineam suam et unusquisque ficum suam et bibite unusquisque aquam cisternae suae
17 donec veniam et tollam vos ad terram quae est ut terra vestra terram frumenti et vini terram panum et vinearum
18 ne conturbet vos Ezechias dicens Dominus liberabit nos numquid liberaverunt dii gentium unusquisque terram suam de manu regis Assyriorum

Isaiah 36:8-18 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 36

In this chapter we have an account of the king Assyria's invasion of Judea, and of the railing speech of Rabshakeh his general, to discourage the ministers and subjects of the king of Judah. The time and success of the invasion are observed in Isa 36:1 the messenger the former king sent to the latter, and from whence, and with whom, he conferred, Isa 36:2,3, the speech of the messenger, which consists of two parts; the first part is directed to the ministers of Hezekiah, showing the vain confidence of their prince in his counsels and strength for war, in the king of Egypt, and in his chariots and horsemen, and even in the Lord himself, pretending that he came by his orders to destroy the land, Isa 36:4-10. The other part is directed to the common people on the wall, he refusing to speak in the Syrian language, as desired, Isa 36:11,12, dissuading them from hearkening to Hezekiah to their own deception; persuading them to come into an agreement with him for their own safety and good; observing to them that none of the gods of the nations could deliver them out of his master's hands, and therefore it was in vain for them to expect deliverance from the Lord their God, Isa 36:13-20, to which neither ministers nor people returned any answer; but the former went with their clothes rent to Hezekiah, and reported what had been said, Isa 36:21,22.

The Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.