THEOSISCyrill of Alexandria
Rapsacus displays a lack of understanding and disrespects God with his words, boasting that the king of Assyria has conquered numerous cities of the nations, none of which were saved by the false deities worshipped within them. However, he fails to recognize that these gods are mere idols made of wood and stone, crafted by human hands, lacking any real power. In contrast, the God of the Jews is the living and true God of the entire world—He is not a recent invention, but rather the Creator of all ages and all things, sovereign over the heavenly hosts.
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Thus, Rapsacus believes that the clearest evidence for the Jews’ inevitable captivity, even with the support of a great God, stems from the fact that no Greek gods could deliver the cities or lands honoring them. He inquires, "Where is the God of Emath and Harpeth?" He also claims they failed to spare Samaria from his conquest. In response, I would remind him that the people he refers to once worshiped golden calves, and their land fell into his hands because God withdrew His aid from them. Furthermore, the failure of the Greek gods to save their city does not pertain to the living and true God; these so-called deities are mere products of human craftsmanship and only possess an illusory presence. In contrast, He rules over the universe with an unstoppable power and is the Lord of all hosts.
No one responds to Rapsacus, for the king had wisely commanded silence. It was deemed more appropriate to mourn the crude insults, barbaric arrogance, and blasphemous claims against God than to engage in futile conversation. This sentiment echoes the teaching of the blessed David, who stated, "I will keep my mouth while the wicked are before me." He expressed his state of numbness, humility, and silence in the face of adversity (Psalm 38:2, 3).