וְהֶחֱרִ֣ישׁוּ הָעָ֔ם וְלֹֽא־עָנ֥וּ אֹת֖וֹ דָּבָ֑ר כִּי־מִצְוַ֨ת הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ הִ֛יא לֵאמֹ֖ר לֹ֥א תַעֲנֻֽהוּ׃
But the people held their peace, and answered him not a word; for the king’s commandment was, saying: ‘Answer him not.’
Read midrashic interpretation of II Kings 18:36: and classical rabbinic exegesis.