מלכים ב, פרק י״ט, פסוק כ״א

Facing the terrifying military might of the Assyrian empire, the Israelites are gripped by deep fear. Yet, God delivers a powerful message of confidence and encouragement directed at the Assyrian king, Sennacherib. He assures the people that they have absolutely no reason to fear the enemy's threats because His help is guaranteed. Instead of terror, the proper response to Sennacherib is outright contempt and mockery [רלב״ג]. This divine warning is aimed squarely at the foreign king himself [מצודת דוד].

The kingdom and the congregation of Israel are personified in this prophecy [רד״ק]. The primary approach among commentators is that the nation is compared to a young woman to describe a city that has never been conquered or ruled by a foreign power, just as a young woman has not yet passed into the domain of a husband. The residents of Jerusalem themselves [רד״ק] are likened to this woman, collectively expressing deep disdain toward their attacker [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

Anticipating the future, the prophecy reveals how the city will react out of complete trust in God's salvation. The people will openly despise and laugh at the Assyrian king's empty threats [רלב״ג]. Following Sennacherib's inevitable downfall, the city will simply shake its head at him as he retreats, a lasting gesture of mockery and scorn over his utter defeat [מצודת דוד].