2 kings 18:22 - But if you tell me, ‘We trust in Yahweh our God;’ isn’t that he whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah has taken away, and has said to Judah and to Jerusalem, ‘You shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem?’
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What does "2 kings 18:22" mean?
This verse, 2 Kings 18:22, is part of a speech delivered by the Rabshakeh, an envoy of the Assyrian king Sennacherib, to the people of Jerusalem who are under siege. Let's break down what it means:
"But if you tell me, ‘We trust in Yahweh our God;’" The Rabshakeh anticipates the Judahites' potential defense: that they are relying on their God, Yahweh, for deliverance from the Assyrian army.
"isn’t that he whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah has taken away..." This is the crux of the Rabshakeh's argument. He is accusing King Hezekiah of religious reform that has angered Yahweh. Hezekiah, known for his piety, had indeed destroyed the "high places" and local altars throughout Judah, centralizing worship at the Temple in Jerusalem.
"...and has said to Judah and to Jerusalem, ‘You shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem?’" This reinforces the Rabshakeh's accusation. Hezekiah commanded the people to worship only at the altar in the Jerusalem Temple.
The Rabshakeh's Argument:
The Rabshakeh is trying to undermine the Judahites' confidence and faith in Yahweh. His reasoning is:
1. Hezekiah claims to be pious and to serve Yahweh faithfully.
2. However, Hezekiah has destroyed the "high places" and altars.
3. The Rabshakeh suggests that these local shrines were places where Yahweh was worshiped, and by destroying them, Hezekiah has actually offended and angered Yahweh.
4. Therefore, Yahweh will not help Jerusalem because He is displeased with Hezekiah's actions.
Why this is a flawed argument:
Misunderstanding of Yahweh's Law: The Rabshakeh's argument shows a lack of understanding of the requirements of Yahweh's covenant with Israel. The Law of Moses, particularly Deuteronomy, commanded the destruction of Canaanite religious sites and the centralization of worship at the place God would choose (eventually Jerusalem). Hezekiah was acting in accordance with the Law.
Assyrian Propaganda: The Rabshakeh's speech is largely propaganda aimed at demoralizing the defenders of Jerusalem. He uses any argument, even a distorted one, to weaken their resolve.
Monolatry vs. Polytheism: Assyria was a polytheistic empire, worshipping many gods. Their understanding of religion was very different from the Israelite faith, which was moving toward monotheism (the belief in one God). The Rabshakeh likely couldn't grasp the concept of one true God who demands exclusive worship.
In summary, 2 Kings 18:22 presents the Rabshakeh's argument that Hezekiah's religious reforms have angered Yahweh and rendered him unable or unwilling to protect Jerusalem from the Assyrians. It's a clever, though ultimately flawed, piece of propaganda designed to undermine the Judahites' faith and encourage them to surrender. The verse reveals both the Rabshakeh's attempt to manipulate religious beliefs and a potential misunderstanding of Yahweh's commands.
2 kings 18:22 - But if you tell me, ‘We trust in Yahweh our God;’ isn’t that he whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah has taken away, and has said to Judah and to Jerusalem, ‘You shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem?’
What does "2 kings 18:22" mean?
This verse, 2 Kings 18:22, is part of a speech delivered by the Rabshakeh, an envoy of the Assyrian king Sennacherib, to the people of Jerusalem who are under siege. Let's break down what it means:
"But if you tell me, ‘We trust in Yahweh our God;’" The Rabshakeh anticipates the Judahites' potential defense: that they are relying on their God, Yahweh, for deliverance from the Assyrian army.
"isn’t that he whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah has taken away..." This is the crux of the Rabshakeh's argument. He is accusing King Hezekiah of religious reform that has angered Yahweh. Hezekiah, known for his piety, had indeed destroyed the "high places" and local altars throughout Judah, centralizing worship at the Temple in Jerusalem.
"...and has said to Judah and to Jerusalem, ‘You shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem?’" This reinforces the Rabshakeh's accusation. Hezekiah commanded the people to worship only at the altar in the Jerusalem Temple.
The Rabshakeh's Argument:
The Rabshakeh is trying to undermine the Judahites' confidence and faith in Yahweh. His reasoning is:
1. Hezekiah claims to be pious and to serve Yahweh faithfully.
2. However, Hezekiah has destroyed the "high places" and altars.
3. The Rabshakeh suggests that these local shrines were places where Yahweh was worshiped, and by destroying them, Hezekiah has actually offended and angered Yahweh.
4. Therefore, Yahweh will not help Jerusalem because He is displeased with Hezekiah's actions.
Why this is a flawed argument:
Misunderstanding of Yahweh's Law: The Rabshakeh's argument shows a lack of understanding of the requirements of Yahweh's covenant with Israel. The Law of Moses, particularly Deuteronomy, commanded the destruction of Canaanite religious sites and the centralization of worship at the place God would choose (eventually Jerusalem). Hezekiah was acting in accordance with the Law.
Assyrian Propaganda: The Rabshakeh's speech is largely propaganda aimed at demoralizing the defenders of Jerusalem. He uses any argument, even a distorted one, to weaken their resolve.
Monolatry vs. Polytheism: Assyria was a polytheistic empire, worshipping many gods. Their understanding of religion was very different from the Israelite faith, which was moving toward monotheism (the belief in one God). The Rabshakeh likely couldn't grasp the concept of one true God who demands exclusive worship.
In summary, 2 Kings 18:22 presents the Rabshakeh's argument that Hezekiah's religious reforms have angered Yahweh and rendered him unable or unwilling to protect Jerusalem from the Assyrians. It's a clever, though ultimately flawed, piece of propaganda designed to undermine the Judahites' faith and encourage them to surrender. The verse reveals both the Rabshakeh's attempt to manipulate religious beliefs and a potential misunderstanding of Yahweh's commands.