Isaiah 36:7 - 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?’”
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What does "Isaiah 36:7" mean?
This verse (Isaiah 36:7) is part of a propaganda speech delivered by the Rabshakeh, an envoy of the Assyrian King Sennacherib, to the people of Jerusalem during Sennacherib's siege of the city. To understand its meaning, we need to consider the context of the time.
Here's a breakdown of the verse and its implications:
"But if you tell me, ‘We trust in Yahweh our God,’": The Rabshakeh is anticipating the response of the people, that they will rely on their God, Yahweh (the LORD).
"isn’t that he whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah has taken away,": This is the key point. The Rabshakeh is accusing King Hezekiah of religious reform that has angered Yahweh, not pleased Him.
"high places and altars": These refer to local shrines and altars that had sprung up throughout Judah, often dedicated to Yahweh but also sometimes associated with other deities. These were outside the centralized worship system in the Temple of Jerusalem.
"Hezekiah has taken away": King Hezekiah, known for his piety, had undertaken a religious reform, centralizing worship in the Temple in Jerusalem and destroying these "high places" and local altars. He sought to purify worship and eliminate syncretism (the blending of different religious beliefs).
"and has said to Judah and to Jerusalem, ‘You shall worship before this altar?’": The "this altar" refers to the altar in the Temple in Jerusalem. The Rabshakeh is highlighting that Hezekiah commanded the people to worship only at the Temple's altar, essentially forbidding worship at the local sites.
The Rabshakeh's Argument
The Rabshakeh's argument is a clever piece of psychological warfare. He's attempting to undermine the people's confidence in Hezekiah and their trust in Yahweh. He reasons:
1. Hezekiah has offended Yahweh by destroying the high places and altars.
2. Therefore, Yahweh will not help you because you've angered him through Hezekiah's actions.
3. It's futile to rely on Yahweh in this crisis. Surrender to Assyria is the only logical option.
The Rabshakeh's Misunderstanding (or Deliberate Distortion)
The Rabshakeh fundamentally misunderstands (or deliberately distorts) the nature of Hezekiah's reform. Hezekiah's actions were intended to purify worship and ensure that the people were worshipping Yahweh according to His law, not to diminish Him. The Rabshakeh is attempting to exploit the people's potential uncertainty about Hezekiah's reforms and turn their faith against them. He's trying to convince them that their king has alienated their God.
In essence, the verse is a propaganda tactic designed to weaken the morale of Jerusalem's defenders by portraying their religious reform as an act of rebellion against Yahweh.
Isaiah 36:7 - 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?’”
What does "Isaiah 36:7" mean?
This verse (Isaiah 36:7) is part of a propaganda speech delivered by the Rabshakeh, an envoy of the Assyrian King Sennacherib, to the people of Jerusalem during Sennacherib's siege of the city. To understand its meaning, we need to consider the context of the time.
Here's a breakdown of the verse and its implications:
"But if you tell me, ‘We trust in Yahweh our God,’": The Rabshakeh is anticipating the response of the people, that they will rely on their God, Yahweh (the LORD).
"isn’t that he whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah has taken away,": This is the key point. The Rabshakeh is accusing King Hezekiah of religious reform that has angered Yahweh, not pleased Him.
"high places and altars": These refer to local shrines and altars that had sprung up throughout Judah, often dedicated to Yahweh but also sometimes associated with other deities. These were outside the centralized worship system in the Temple of Jerusalem.
"Hezekiah has taken away": King Hezekiah, known for his piety, had undertaken a religious reform, centralizing worship in the Temple in Jerusalem and destroying these "high places" and local altars. He sought to purify worship and eliminate syncretism (the blending of different religious beliefs).
"and has said to Judah and to Jerusalem, ‘You shall worship before this altar?’": The "this altar" refers to the altar in the Temple in Jerusalem. The Rabshakeh is highlighting that Hezekiah commanded the people to worship only at the Temple's altar, essentially forbidding worship at the local sites.
The Rabshakeh's Argument
The Rabshakeh's argument is a clever piece of psychological warfare. He's attempting to undermine the people's confidence in Hezekiah and their trust in Yahweh. He reasons:
1. Hezekiah has offended Yahweh by destroying the high places and altars.
2. Therefore, Yahweh will not help you because you've angered him through Hezekiah's actions.
3. It's futile to rely on Yahweh in this crisis. Surrender to Assyria is the only logical option.
The Rabshakeh's Misunderstanding (or Deliberate Distortion)
The Rabshakeh fundamentally misunderstands (or deliberately distorts) the nature of Hezekiah's reform. Hezekiah's actions were intended to purify worship and ensure that the people were worshipping Yahweh according to His law, not to diminish Him. The Rabshakeh is attempting to exploit the people's potential uncertainty about Hezekiah's reforms and turn their faith against them. He's trying to convince them that their king has alienated their God.
In essence, the verse is a propaganda tactic designed to weaken the morale of Jerusalem's defenders by portraying their religious reform as an act of rebellion against Yahweh.