Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 36:9
How then wilt thou turn away the face of one captain of the least of my master’s servants, and put thy trust on Egypt for chariots and for horsemen?
9. Hezekiah’s power is not equal to that of the lowest official in the Assyrian Empire; yet he dares to defy the great king! The word rendered captain means the governor of a province.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
How then wilt thou turn away the face – The most unimportant captain in the army of Assyria commands more horsemen than this, and how can you expect to oppose even him, much more how can you be able to resist all the mighty army of the Assyrians?
One captain of the least – The word captain here ( pachat, construct state from pechah) denotes a prefect or governor of a province less than a satrap, an officer who was under the satrap, and subject to him. It is applied to an officer in the Assyrian empire 2Ki 18:24; in the Chaldean empire Jer 51:23; the Persian Est 8:9; Est 9:3; and to the prefects of Judea in the time of Solomon 1Ki 10:15. The word is of foreign origin.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
9. captaina governor under asatrap; even he commands more horsemen than this.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
How then wilt thou turn away the face of one captain of the least of my master’s servants,…. Be able to resist him; or be a match for him; or cause him to flee; the least captain or general in the army having, as Kimchi says, two thousand men under him; and therefore, if Hezekiah could not produce two thousand men, to sit upon so many horses offered, he could not be a match for, or hope to conquer, or cause to flee, the least officer in the army, who had the fewest men under him, and much less conquer, or cause to flee, the whole Assyrian army. Some think Rabshakeh means himself, but that does not seem likely, that Sennacherib should send an inferior officer, or a person of a low character, and in a low station, or that such an one should be the principal speaker; nor does it suit with the imperious and haughty disposition of Rabshakeh to speak in such a manner of himself:
and put thy trust on Egypt for chariots, and for horsemen? for to what purpose was it to seek and send to Egypt for chariots and horses, since he had not a sufficient number of men to put upon them, but must be obliged to have men, as well as horses and chariots; and which, as before observed, it was a vain thing to trust to, and was quite needless, when he might have enough from his master, the Assyrian king, would he agree with him.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
9. And how dost thou despise? (35) He confirms the preceding statement, and shews that ttezekiah is so far from being able to endure the presence of his king, that he ought not to be compared to the very smallest of his captains. In this insolent manner does he taunt him, that the Jews may not derive courage from the absence of Sennacherib, who was still detained by the siege of Lachish. Although, therefore, Sennacherib does not yet appear before them with his whole army, Rabshakeh boasts that his lieutenants are sufficiently powerful, so that Hezekiah ought not to hesitate to make submission.
(35) “How then wilt thou turn away?” — Eng. Ver.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
9. How turn away one captain How will you, even then, figure in a hand to hand fight with the least one of my satraps or small governors? Which do you think would first take flight?
And put thy trust on Egypt Can Egypt come to you with any more glorious rescue with her cavalry?
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
“How can you then turn away the face of one captain of the least of my master’s servants? And do you put your trust in Egypt for chariots and for horsemen?”
His contempt is openly expressed. The cavalry position being what it was, how can they hope to turn away even the very lowest of the Assyrian captains? Or perhaps they are looking for cavalry and chariots from Egypt with which to do it? The impression given is, ‘what a hope!’
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Egypt. Hezekiah at first looked for help there (See Isa 20:3-6; Isa 30:2-5; 2Ki 18:21).
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
the least: Isa 10:8, 2Ki 18:24
and put: Isa 36:6, Isa 30:16, Isa 30:17, Deu 17:16, Pro 21:31, Jer 2:36
Reciprocal: Jdg 9:29 – Increase thine army 1Ki 10:28 – horses brought 2Ki 7:6 – the kings of the Egyptians 2Ki 18:23 – I will deliver 2Ch 32:21 – the leaders 2Ch 33:11 – the captains Isa 23:8 – merchants Isa 31:1 – stay on horses Isa 37:24 – By the Jer 9:23 – neither
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
36:9 How then wilt thou turn away the face of one captain of the {h} least of my master’s servants, and put thy trust on Egypt for chariots and for horsemen?
(h) He reproaches Hezekiah’s small power, which is not able to resist one of Sennacherib’s least captains.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
The Judeans did not have enough strength to repulse even a minor Assyrian officer or enough soldiers to man the horses and chariots that they were looking to Egypt to supply.