Isaiah 36:21 meaning

In the tense atmosphere of King Hezekiah's Jerusalem, a crucial moment unfolds amid the Assyrian siege. The people, who have just heard a blasphemous address from the Assyrian commander Rabshakeh, are instructed to remain silent by Hezekiah. This moment highlights a profound principle of faith under trial: the importance of withholding from responding to provocation to avoid further conflict and preserve unity in the face of intimidation. It reflects a spiritual discipline meant to focus on divine deliverance rather than on earthly consequences.

The need for silence, mandated by Hezekiah, emphasizes reliance on God rather than on human schemes. In the midst of this crisis, it becomes evident that the Judeans' reactions reflect deep spiritual states—while they do not answer Rabshakeh, their silence communicates their agony over the blasphemies aired against their God. This moment sets the stage for a pivotal cry to God, a turning point that will ultimately determine Judah’s fate. The scripture encapsulates this tension and the communal struggle for faith during an existential threat: “But they were silent and answered him not a word.” (NASB95).