מלכים ב, פרק י״ט, פסוק ח׳

Following a campaign of psychological warfare in Jerusalem, the Assyrian emissary Rabshakeh returns south to report to his master. Upon arriving in Judea, he discovers that Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, has relocated his forces from Lachish to wage war against the city of Libnah [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

This sudden shift in location is not a random military maneuver. Rather, it serves as the immediate fulfillment of a prior prophecy stating that Sennacherib would hear a troubling rumor. Word had reached the Assyrian king that the king of Cush was marching to war against him, prompting Sennacherib to reposition his army at Libnah to meet the advancing threat [אברבנאל].

Once Sennacherib defeats the king of Cush at Libnah, he turns his focus back to Jerusalem, dispatching new messengers and letters to King Hezekiah. This new phase of the conflict reveals a sharp contrast between the tactics of Rabshakeh and those of the Assyrian king. Rabshakeh had previously directed his message to the common people, attempting to lure them into surrender with false promises while mocking Hezekiah’s reliance on human allies like Egypt. Sennacherib, however, operates out of blind pride. Considering it beneath his dignity to address the masses, he completely dismisses any mortal threats. Unafraid of human armies, he bypasses the people entirely and directs his threatening letters straight at Hezekiah, specifically targeting the Judean king's faith and trust in God [אברבנאל].