Isaiah 36:22
ESV
Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebna the secretary, and Joah the son of Asaph, the recorder, came to Hezekiah with their clothes torn, and told him the words of the Rabshakeh.
NIV
Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah the palace administrator, Shebna the secretary and Joah son of Asaph the recorder went to Hezekiah, with their clothes torn, and told him what the field commander had said.
NASB
Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph, the secretary, came to Hezekiah with their clothes torn, and reported to him the words of Rabshakeh.
CSB
Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah, who was in charge of the palace, Shebna the court secretary, and Joah son of Asaph, the court historian, came to Hezekiah with their clothes torn and reported to him the words of the royal spokesman.
NLT
Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah, the palace administrator; Shebna the court secretary; and Joah son of Asaph, the royal historian, went back to Hezekiah. They tore their clothes in despair, and they went in to see the king and told him what the Assyrian chief of staff had said.
KJV
Then came Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah, that was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah, the son of Asaph, the recorder, to Hezekiah with their clothes rent, and told him the words of Rabshakeh.
NKJV
Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph, the recorder, came to Hezekiah with their clothes torn, and told him the words of the Rabshakeh.
What does Isaiah 36:22 mean?
Three officials sent to attempt diplomacy with an approaching army (Isaiah 36:1–3) return with nothing but bad news. Isaiah does not record it in this telling, but Hezekiah had sent a message to Sennacherib apologizing for defying the Assyrian king. Hezekiah offered to pay any price for a tribute if Sennacherib would not attack the city. Sennacherib agreed, and Hezekiah stripped gold from the doors and doorposts of the temple in to meet Sennacherib's demands. Sennacherib's messenger then arrived to say the Assyrians would attack, anyway (2 Kings 18:13–18). Assyria has betrayed and humiliated Hezekiah.Hezekiah's delegation then heard a terrifying speech from the Assyrian commander dismissing any hope of rescue. Every other nation and state has fallen to his army, and Jerusalem can't expect to be any different. This is enough reason for the Israelite men to tear their robes in grief. But the enemy spokesman has also blasphemed the Lord God of Israel, claiming He cannot be powerful enough to stop the Assyrians. In addition to diminishing Hezekiah in the eyes of the people, Sennacherib seeks to defy and humiliate the Lord.
There is nothing left to be done, other than what the Lord has been calling His people to do all along: to fully rely on Him, and Him alone.
