Isaiah 36:17-22

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
19 ubi est deus Emath et Arfad ubi est deus Seffarvaim numquid liberaverunt Samariam de manu mea
20 quis est ex omnibus diis terrarum istarum qui eruerit terram suam de manu mea ut eruat Dominus Hierusalem de manu mea
21 et siluerunt et non responderunt ei verbum mandaverat enim rex dicens ne respondeatis ei
22 et ingressus est Eliachim filius Helciae qui erat super domum et Sobna scriba et Ioae filius Asaph a commentariis ad Ezechiam scissis vestibus et nuntiaverunt ei verba Rabsacis

Isaiah 36:17-22 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.