Isaiah 36:3

Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah were all important officials in Hezekiah’s government (cf. Isaiah 22:20-23). Some commentators believed that Isaiah’s prophecy of Isaiah 22:20-23 had been fulfilled at this time, since Eliakim was now the prime minister and Shebna was the secretary, a lower position. This may be true, or the exaltation of Eliakim and the humiliation of Shebna may have come later.

The point of the Rabshakeh’s first speech (Isaiah 36:4-10) was that there is no salvation in faith; no deliverance would come from trusting Yahweh. Judah should surrender because Egypt would not help her (Isaiah 36:6), Yahweh would not help her (Isaiah 36:7), she did not have enough military manpower to win (Isaiah 36:8-9), and Assyria had authority from Yahweh to attack Jerusalem (Isaiah 36:10). This speech challenged everything Isaiah had been preaching. [Note: The Hebrew word for "trust" occurs seven times in the Rabshakeh’s speech (Isaiah 36:4-10) making it the key word.]