Hezekiah's Foreign Policy
Because of the Assyrian insult to YAHWEH the situation was entirely changed
Fourth Act: Hezekiah decided to ask YeshaYahu's advice
Hezekiah's further imprudent action; Yerusalem providentially saved from destruction Hezekiah remained impulsive at heart and far too eager to take action; as a consequence he was to experience still further times of difficulty.13
In about 690 Hezekiah and Tirhakah fomented a further revolt against Assyria, Sennacherib, informed by his spies, decided to punish his perjured vassal with all severity; he marched on Canaan. First, he laid siege to the southern citadel Lachish, and from there sent his chief cupbearer before the ramparts of Yerusalem whose gates had been closed as a precautionary measure. The population of the city crowded on the walls to hear the important speech which, according to the custom of the times, the besieger's envoy would address to the beleagured city. The Assyrian envoy made a long speech (2 Melechim 18:17-37). He said in effect that the Judaeans should not place their trust in YAHWEH; in all circumstances the Assyrian gods had shown that they were more powerful than the deities of the vanquished peoples. If Yahudah agreed to capitulate the inhabitants would be deported to a land of corn and good wine, a land of bread and of vineyards, a land of oil and of honey where they would live among plenty. The speaker did not hesitate, it would seem, to show things in the most favourable light. What caused the Judaeans particular distress were the blasphemies uttered against YAHWEH, the sarcastic jokes against YAHWEH, whose powerlessness, at least from the military point of view, they were bound to admit.
Because of the Assyrian insult to YAHWEH the situation was entirely changed
Hezekiah's officials, who had been sent to listen to the message, returned to the king with their garments torn (a sign of mourning) and reported to him the insults heaped on YAHWEH of Yisrael.
Hezekiah then decided to ask YeshaYahu's advice. Should he surrender once more and throw himself on the mercy of Sennacherib?
Unexpectedly, YeshaYahu favoured war, or at least resistance to the Assyrians. 'YAHWEH says this,' he declared. 'Do not be afraid of the words you have heard or the blasphemies the minions of the king of Assyria have uttered against me He will return to his own country!' (2 Melechim 19:6-7).
It was something entirely new to find YeshaYahu pressing for the continuation of hostilities; hitherto he had urged complete submission to the Assyrian yoke. But directly Sennarcherib began to insult YAHWEH the situation was entirely changed, and YeshaYahu foretold the most terrible misfortunes for the hitherto victorious Assyrian king.
Whom have you insulted, whom did you blaspheme?
Against whom raised your voice
and lifted your haughty eyes?
Through your envoys you have
insulted YAHWEH...
Because you have raved against me
and your insolence has come to my ears,
I will put my ring through your nostrils,
my bit between your lips,
to make you return by the road
on which you
came.14 (2 Melechim 19: 22, 28)
13 If we adopt the view that Sennacherib conducted two campaigns in succession (701, and then 688), events can be explained as follows: first siege of Yerusalem (701), Assyrian victory; second siege ending with the unexpected withdrawal of the Assyrian troops (2 Melechim 19:8)
14 The Assyrian bas-reliefs show deported prisoners with a ring through their nostrils and led in a long file like farm animals by the victorious soldiers.
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