2 Kings 18:21

21 Whether thou hopest in a staff of (a) reed and broken, (that is, upon) Egypt (Hopest thou in the staff of a broken reed, that is, upon Egypt), on which, if a man leaneth, it shall be broken, and shall enter into his hand, and shall pierce it. So is Pharaoh, king of Egypt, to all men that trust in him.

2 Kings 18:21 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 18:21

(See Gill on 2 Kings 18:17)

2 Kings 18:21 In-Context

19 And Rabshakeh said to them, Speak ye to Hezekiah, (and say,) The great king, the king of Assyrians, saith these things, What is this trust, in which thou endeavourest thee?

20 In hap thou hast taken counsel, that thou wouldest make thee ready to battle. In whom trustest thou, that thou be (so) (fool-)hardy to rebel against Sennacherib?

21 Whether thou hopest in a staff of (a) reed and broken, (that is, upon) Egypt (Hopest thou in the staff of a broken reed, that is, upon Egypt), on which, if a man leaneth, it shall be broken, and shall enter into his hand, and shall pierce it. So is Pharaoh, king of Egypt, to all men that trust in him.

22 That if thou sayest to me, We have trust in the Lord our God; whether this is not he, whose high things and altars Hezekiah took away, and commanded to Judah and to Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem? (But if thou sayest to me, We have trust in the Lord our God; is this not he, whose hill shrines and altars Hezekiah took away, and commanded to Judah and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall worship only before this altar in Jerusalem?)

23 Now therefore, give ye pledges to my lord, the king of Assyrians, and I shall give to you two thousand of horses, and see ye, whether ye be able to have riders of them? (And so now, give ye pledges to my lord, the king of Assyria, and I shall give you two thousand horses, and see ye, if ye be able to have enough riders for them.)