ישעיהו, פרק ל״ו, פסוק כ׳

An invading force often relies on psychological warfare to break the morale of a besieged city. In a calculated attempt to undermine the confidence of the people of Jerusalem, the enemy presents a cold, logical argument moving from the general to the specific. Through a mocking rhetorical question, the speaker directly challenges the people's hope and their reliance on their king's promise that God will deliver them [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

This attack is firmly rooted in past experience. Pointing to the many nations that have already been conquered, the speaker notes that not a single god has managed to protect their territory, regardless of the reasons for their failure [מלבי״ם]. The emphasis here is placed entirely on the physical lands that have fallen, highlighting the undeniable reality of these past defeats [שד״ל].

Given the absolute failure of the gods of other nations, the speaker questions how the people of Jerusalem could possibly imagine that God will intervene to save their city from his grip [מצודת דוד]. The intended conclusion drawn from this bleak comparison is meant to be unavoidable: just like the deities of the fallen nations, God will either be unable or unwilling to save His people [מלבי״ם].