An Insightful Look at Ancient Heathen Culture

Today this chapter spoke more to me about Sennacherib the king of Assyria and the Assyrian people than either Hezekiah or Israel in general.  It is very interesting what we learn about the people of Assyria and their king as they approach Jerusalem to conquer it and add it to their list of trophies as they move through out the region expanding their kingdom and spoiling the land around them. 

Three things jump out right away.

1. These people were very bold and arrogant
2. They wanted to take Judah without a fight
3. They had little or no regard for human life

As to the first point -- I believe it is clear that the Assyrian king wasn't interested in any kind of diplomacy.  There doesn't appear to have been any ax to grind either (i.e. no hint of any previous relationship with Israel).  They simply were there to destroy Jerusalem and had no qualms about making this intent blatantly obvious.  The boldness of this approach strikes me as familiar and common practise . . . not unusual or particularly unique.  The Assyrians appear to have a sort of entitlement to conquest and this produces a sort of ruthlessness in their approach to invading the foreign inhabits they encounter.  The boasting of their accomplishment before engaging their enemy is really so telling to me. 

Know ye not what I and my fathers have done unto all the people of other lands? were the gods of the nations of those lands any ways able to deliver their lands out of mine hand? Who was there among all the gods of those nations that my fathers utterly destroyed, that could deliver his people out of mine hand, that your God should be able to deliver you out of mine hand?  -- II Chronicles 32:13-14

The arrogance here is off the charts!  These are the words of a man who truly has no expectation other than to have his way utterly and completely.  Could this also represent the general attitude of the people of Assyria?  I tend to think so.

As to the second point -- I can't see any other reason to send messengers into Jerusalem with the brazen and contemptuous words of Sennacherib except to cause fear and terror to overcome the people of Judah.  Any why cause fear and terror? -- to prevent them from putting up a fight.  It almost appears to bother the king of Assyria that Judah would dare to resist him. 

"Whereon do ye trust, that ye abide in the siege in Jerusalem? Doth not Hezekiah persuade you to give over yourselves to die by famine and by thirst, saying, The LORD our God shall deliver us out of the hand of the king of Assyria?" -- II Chronicles 32:10-11

It is interesting that Sennacherib took great measures to put together this lengthy message of doom and gloom to demoralize the people of Judah.  I get the feeling that this is a man who would rather sit and watch while others fight his battles for him.  He would much rather waltz right in and take this or any other city without any resistance from people shaking at the knees and paralyzed with fear than to prevail in battle with a proud enemy that has confidence in their king and their god.  Thay would be too much trouble.

As to the last point -- It is so obvious how little regard for life these people have when we see how they ruthlessly slaughter their own king in cold blood for no other reason I can tell other than the fact that he comes home embarrased and defeated in battle.  And to top it all off, Sennacherib is killed by his own children!

So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he was come into the house of his god, they that came forth of his own bowels slew him there with the sword.  -- II Chronicles 32:10-11

Yikes!  Talk about brutal and cold!  What savages were these people!