36. Held their peace. There are times when silence is golden. Nothing that any of the people of Judah might have said at this time would have made any impression upon the Assyrian envoys. God Himself would have to provide the answer that was needed.
The king’s commandment. The Rabshakeh had hoped to hear some word of sedition to be followed by a popular outbreak, but instead the people of Judah gave ear to their king.