Isaiah 36:11 - Then Eliakim, Shebna and Joah said to Rabshakeh, “Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, for we understand it; and don’t speak to us in the Jews’ language in the hearing of the people who are on the wall.”
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What does "Isaiah 36:11" mean?
This verse from Isaiah 36:11 is a key moment in the lead-up to the siege of Jerusalem by the Assyrian army. Let's break down what it means:
Context: The Assyrian army, led by King Sennacherib, had conquered many cities in Judah and was now threatening Jerusalem. The Rabshakeh was Sennacherib's chief officer, sent to intimidate the city into surrendering. He stood outside the walls of Jerusalem and delivered a taunting speech in Hebrew (the "Jews' language"), designed to demoralize the people and undermine their faith in God and King Hezekiah.
Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah: These were high-ranking officials in King Hezekiah's court. They represented the leadership of Jerusalem.
"Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, for we understand it": Aramaic was the diplomatic language of the time, understood by educated officials and diplomats throughout the region. They are asking the Rabshakeh to switch to Aramaic so that the common people on the wall (the "people who are on the wall") wouldn't understand the conversation.
"and don’t speak to us in the Jews’ language in the hearing of the people who are on the wall": This is the key request. They don't want the Rabshakeh to continue speaking Hebrew because:
Demoralization: The Rabshakeh's speech was designed to frighten the people and make them lose hope. Hearing it would likely break their morale and make them more likely to surrender.
Undermining Authority: The Rabshakeh was trying to convince the people to betray King Hezekiah and surrender to the Assyrians. The officials feared this direct appeal would be effective.
Maintaining Control: They wanted to control the narrative and manage the situation. By keeping the people from hearing the Rabshakeh's message, they could try to maintain order and prevent panic.
In Summary:
The verse reveals the officials' attempt to limit the damage caused by the Rabshakeh's propaganda. They recognize the power of his words to influence the people and try to keep the conversation private so they can handle the situation themselves. It shows a moment of strategic maneuvering in a desperate situation during the siege of Jerusalem. They hoped to negotiate or at least buy time without the added pressure of a demoralized populace.
Isaiah 36:11 - Then Eliakim, Shebna and Joah said to Rabshakeh, “Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, for we understand it; and don’t speak to us in the Jews’ language in the hearing of the people who are on the wall.”
What does "Isaiah 36:11" mean?
This verse from Isaiah 36:11 is a key moment in the lead-up to the siege of Jerusalem by the Assyrian army. Let's break down what it means:
Context: The Assyrian army, led by King Sennacherib, had conquered many cities in Judah and was now threatening Jerusalem. The Rabshakeh was Sennacherib's chief officer, sent to intimidate the city into surrendering. He stood outside the walls of Jerusalem and delivered a taunting speech in Hebrew (the "Jews' language"), designed to demoralize the people and undermine their faith in God and King Hezekiah.
Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah: These were high-ranking officials in King Hezekiah's court. They represented the leadership of Jerusalem.
"Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, for we understand it": Aramaic was the diplomatic language of the time, understood by educated officials and diplomats throughout the region. They are asking the Rabshakeh to switch to Aramaic so that the common people on the wall (the "people who are on the wall") wouldn't understand the conversation.
"and don’t speak to us in the Jews’ language in the hearing of the people who are on the wall": This is the key request. They don't want the Rabshakeh to continue speaking Hebrew because:
Demoralization: The Rabshakeh's speech was designed to frighten the people and make them lose hope. Hearing it would likely break their morale and make them more likely to surrender.
Undermining Authority: The Rabshakeh was trying to convince the people to betray King Hezekiah and surrender to the Assyrians. The officials feared this direct appeal would be effective.
Maintaining Control: They wanted to control the narrative and manage the situation. By keeping the people from hearing the Rabshakeh's message, they could try to maintain order and prevent panic.
In Summary:
The verse reveals the officials' attempt to limit the damage caused by the Rabshakeh's propaganda. They recognize the power of his words to influence the people and try to keep the conversation private so they can handle the situation themselves. It shows a moment of strategic maneuvering in a desperate situation during the siege of Jerusalem. They hoped to negotiate or at least buy time without the added pressure of a demoralized populace.