Yeshaya Perek 36

Note: This perek mirrors Melachim II, perakim 18, 19, 20.

• By the 14th year of Chizkiyahu’s rule, Sancheriv had already attacked and defeated many cities throughout Yehudah.

• Sancheriv sent his chief general, Ravshakei, to deliver a harsh message to Chizkiyahu about the devastation that would soon befall the residents of Yerushalayim.

• Chizkiyahu sent a delegation of dignitaries to meet Ravshakei. Ravshakei arrogantly declared, “Hashem will not save you from my army. Hashem has granted me permission to destroy Yerushalayim.”

• Chizkiyahu’s delegation requested that Ravshakei speak in Aramaic, and not in Hebrew, so as not to frighten the residents inside the city walls of Yerushalayim. Note: At that time, only aristocrats spoke Aramaic.

• Ravshakei proceeded to yell even louder for all of the residents of Yerushalayim to hear, “Do not let Chizkiyahu convince you that Hashem will save you, because He won’t! Hashem no longer cares about you!”

• The people remained silent and did not respond to Ravshakei, as per Chizkiyahu’s orders.