Where is the god of Emath and of Arphad? where is the god of Sepharvaim? have they delivered Samaria out of my hand?
אַיֵּ֞ה אֱלֹהֵ֤י חֲמָת֙ וְאַרְפָּ֔ד אַיֵּ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֣י סְפַרְוָ֑יִם וְכִֽי־הִצִּ֥ילוּ אֶת־שֹׁמְר֖וֹן מִיָּדִֽי׃
3 Church Fathers comment on this verse
Consider his efforts to render the triumph magnificent. Where are the deities of Emath and Arpad? Where are the idols of Separvaim? Have they delivered Samaria from my grasp? You asserted that they provided no salvation; yet if they deliver God, then in your own reasoning, such a God surpasses all others.
Rapsacus remains foolish and speaks disrespectfully of God, boasting that the king of Assyria had conquered numerous cities belonging to the Gentiles, none of which were saved by the idols they worshiped. Yet, he fails to realize that these deities are merely crafted from wood and stone, mere products of human creation. In contrast, the God of the Jews is the true and living God of the entire world—not a recent invention but rather the eternal Creator, the architect of all ages and all things, and the Sovereign over all powers. Rapsacus believes that the most evident sign that the Jews would surely be taken captive, regardless of divine assistance, is that none of the Greek gods could protect the cities or lands where they were venerated.
He taunts, “Where is the God of Emath and Harpeth?” claiming that these deities could not save Samaria from his grip. Yet I would respond to him, O most miserable one: they worshiped golden calves, and your conquest over them occurred because God withdrew His aid. As I previously mentioned, the failure of the Greek gods to safeguard their cities does not pertain at all to the true, supreme God. The divine authority of those idols is merely a façade, while He commands all of creation with an indomitable hand, reigning as the Lord of hosts. No one responds to Rapsacus, for the king had wisely commanded silence. It is far more appropriate to mourn such crude words, barbaric boasts, and insolent remarks against God than to engage with them. This lesson is reflected in the wisdom of the blessed David, who said, “I will keep my mouth when the sinful one rises before me. I am mute and humbled; I do not open my mouth as a result of Your deeds.”
Where is the deity of Emath and Arphad? Where is the deity of Sepharvaim? Have they rescued Samaria from my grasp? Which of all the deities of these nations has delivered his territory from my clutches that the Lord might rescue Jerusalem from my power? But they remained silent and did not respond to him. The king had commanded them, saying, Do not answer him. This indicates that Samaria had worshipped these gods, which is why it fell. If, he argued, despite the protection offered by so many gods, we have easily subdued ten tribes, how much simpler will it be to conquer you, or rather, Jerusalem alone, which is guarded by God? All the people kept silent and did not respond to him, as they were instructed by the king not to reply.
Indeed, Hezekiah acted righteously, demonstrating faith and wisdom in all matters. He instructed the blasphemous Assyrian not to be answered in order to avoid provoking further insults. Hence, it is written, ‘Do not kindle coals for a sinner’ (Sir 8:13); and in the Psalms, we find, ‘When the wicked stand before me, I am mute and humbled, silent from the blessings’ (Psalm 38:2-3); and again, ‘Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips. Incline not my heart to any evil thing’ (Psalm 140:3-4).
Passages read together with this verse.
THEOSIS