prophets and kings-第61章
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ah rallied the forces of his realm to resist with unfailing courage their heathen oppressors and to trust in the power of Jehovah to deliver。 〃Be strong and courageous； be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria； nor for all the multitude that is with him；〃 Hezekiah exhorted the men of Judah； 〃for there be more with us than with him： with him is an arm of flesh； but with us is the Lord our God to help us； and to fight our battles。〃 2 Chronicles 32：7； 8。
It was not without reason that Hezekiah could speak with certainty of the outcome。 The boastful Assyrian； while used by God for a season as the rod of His anger for the punishment of the nations； was not always to prevail。 See Isaiah 10：5。 〃Be not afraid of the Assyrian；〃 had been the message of the Lord through Isaiah some years before to
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those that dwelt in Zion； 〃for yet a very little while； 。 。 。 and the Lord of hosts shall stir up a scourge for him according to the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Oreb： and as His rod was upon the sea； so shall He lift it up after the manner of Egypt。 And it shall come to pass in that day； that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder； and his yoke from off thy neck； and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing。〃 Verses 24…27。
In another prophetic message； given 〃in the year that King Ahaz died；〃 the prophet had declared： 〃The Lord of hosts hath sworn； saying； Surely as I have thought； so shall it come to pass； and as I have purposed； so shall it stand： that I will break the Assyrian in My land； and upon My mountains tread him underfoot： then shall his yoke depart from off them； and his burden depart from off their shoulders。 This is the purpose that is purposed upon the whole earth： and this is the hand that is stretched out upon all the nations。 For the Lord of hosts hath purposed； and who shall disannul it？ and His hand is stretched out； and who shall turn it back？〃 Isaiah 14：28； 24…27。
The power of the oppressor was to be broken。 Yet Hezekiah； in the earlier years of his reign； had continued to pay tribute to Assyria； in harmony with the agreement entered into by Ahaz。 Meanwhile the king had taken 〃counsel with his princes and his mighty men；〃 and had done everything possible for the defense of his kingdom。 He had made sure of a bountiful supply of water within the walls of Jerusalem； while without the city there should be a scarcity。 〃Also he strengthened himself； and built up all the wall that was broken； and raised it up to the towers；
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and another wall without； and repaired Millo in the city of David； and made darts and shields in abundance。 And he set captains of war over the people。〃 2 Chronicles 32：3； 5； 6。 Nothing had been left undone that could be done in preparation for a siege。
At the time of Hezekiah's accession to the throne of Judah； the Assyrians had already carried captive a large number of the children of Israel from the northern kingdom； and a few years after he had begun to reign； and while he was still strengthening the defenses of Jerusalem； the Assyrians besieged and captured Samaria and scattered the ten tribes among the many provinces of the Assyrian realm。 The borders of Judah were only a few miles distant； with Jerusalem less than fifty miles away； and the rich spoils to be found within the temple would tempt the enemy to return。
But the king of Judah had determined to do his part in preparing to resist the enemy； and； having accomplished all that human ingenuity and energy could do； he had assembled his forces and had exhorted them to be of good courage。 〃Great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee〃 had been the message of the prophet Isaiah to Judah； and the king with unwavering faith now declared； 〃With us is the Lord our God to help us； and to fight our battles。〃 Isaiah 12：6； 2 Chronicles 32：8。
Nothing more quickly inspires faith than the exercise of faith。 The king of Judah had prepared for the coming storm； and now； confident that the prophecy against the Assyrians would be fulfilled； he stayed his soul upon God。 〃And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah。〃 2 Chronicles 32：8。 What though the armies of
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Assyria； fresh from the conquest of the greatest nations of earth； and triumphant over Samaria in Israel； should now turn their forces against Judah？ What though they should boast； 〃As my hand hath found the kingdoms of the idols； and whose graven images did excel them of Jerusalem and of Samaria； shall I not； as I have done unto Samaria and her idols； so do to Jerusalem and her idols？〃 Isaiah 10：10； 11。 Judah had nothing to fear； for their trust was in Jehovah。
The long…expected crisis finally came。 The forces of Assyria； advancing from triumph to triumph； appeared in Judea。 Confident of victory； the leaders divided their forces into two armies； one of which was to meet the Egyptian army to the southward； while the other was to besiege Jerusalem。
Judah's only hope was now in God。 All possible help from Egypt had been cut off； and no other nations were near to lend a friendly hand。
The Assyrian officers； sure of the strength of their disciplined forces； arranged for a conference with the chief men of Judah； during which they insolently demanded the surrender of the city。 This demand was accompanied by blasphemous revilings against the God of the Hebrews。 Because of the weakness and apostasy of Israel and Judah； the name of God was no longer feared among the nations； but had become a subject for continual reproach。 See Isaiah 52：5。
〃Speak ye now to Hezekiah；〃 said Rabshakeh； one of Sennacherib's chief officers； 〃Thus saith the great king； the king of Assyria； What confidence is this wherein thou trustest？ Thou sayest； （but they are but vain words；） I have
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counsel and strength for the war。 Now on whom dost thou trust； that thou rebellest against me？〃 2 Kings 18：19； 20。
The officers were conferring outside the gates of the city； but within the hearing of the sentries on the wall； and as the representatives of the Assyrian king loudly urged their proposals upon the chief men of Judah； they were requested to speak in the Syrian rather than the Jewish language； in order that those upon the wall might not have knowledge of the proceedings of the conference。 Rabshakeh； scorning this suggestion； lifted his voice still higher； and； continuing to speak in the Jewish language； said：
〃Hear ye the words of the great king； the king of Assyria。 Thus saith the king； Let not Hezekiah deceive you： for he shall not be able to deliver you。 Neither let Hezekiah make you trust in the Lord； saying； The Lord will surely deliver us： this city shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria。
〃Hearken not to Hezekiah： for thus saith the king of Assyria； Make an agreement with me by a present； and come out to me： and eat ye everyone of his vine； and everyone of his fig tree； and drink ye everyone the waters of his own cistern； until I come and take you away to a land like your own land； a land of corn and wine； a land of bread and vineyards。
〃Beware lest Hezekiah persuade you； saying； The Lord will deliver us。 Hath any of the gods of the nations delivered his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria？ Where are the gods of Hamath and Arphad？ where are the gods of Sepharvaim？ and have they delivered Samaria out of my hand？ Who are they among all the gods of these lands；
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that have delivered their land out of my hand； that the Lord should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand？〃 Isaiah 36：13…20。
To these taunts the children of Judah 〃answered him not a word。〃 The conference was at an end。 The Jewish representatives returned to Hezekiah 〃with their clothes rent； and told him the words of Rabshakeh。〃 Verses 21； 22。 The king； upon learning of the blasphemous challenge； 〃rent his clothes； and covered himself with sackcloth； and went into the house of the Lord。〃 2 Kings 19：1。
A messenger was dispatched to Isaiah to inform him of the outcome of the conference。 〃This day is a day of trouble； and of rebuke； and blasphemy；〃 was the word the king sent。 〃It
