Isaiah 36:18

Translations

Modern

Do not let Hezekiah mislead you when he says, ‘The LORD will deliver us.’ Has the god of any nation ever delivered his land from the hand of the king of Assyria?

Traditional

Beware lest Hezekiah persuade you, saying, The Lord will deliver us. Hath any of the gods of the nations delivered his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria?

Literal

Lest Hezekiah should incite you saying, ‘YHWH will surely deliver us.’ Have the gods of the nations delivered every man of his land from the hand of the king of Assyria?

Latin

Nec conturbet vos Ezechias, dicens: Dominus liberabit nos. Numquid liberaverunt dii gentium unusquisque terram suam de manu regis Assyriorum?

Original

Hebrew

English

Do not let Hezekiah mislead you when he says, ‘The LORD will deliver us.’ Has the god of any nation ever delivered his land from the hand of the king of Assyria?

Notes

Isaiah 36:13–20

In the Assyrian chief of staff’s second speech, he claimed that his nation’s gods were more powerful than the God of Judah (compare Isaiah 10:9–10). The ability of God to rescue his people was in question. In the following events, the Lord surprised the Assyrian with his power (Isaiah 37:36–37).

Isaiah 36:4–22

The Assyrian chief of staff tried to use intimidation to negotiate a peaceful settlement. In his first speech (Isaiah 36:4–10), he correctly argued that Egypt could not rescue them but incorrectly accused Hezekiah of misplaced trust in the Lord.

Interestingly, the Assyrian did not view the contest as between the gods of Assyria and the Lord, but rather between Sennacherib (the great king) and the Lord.

Isaiah 36:1–39:8

Jerusalem’s rescue from King Sennacherib of Assyria is a main event in Isaiah 1–39. The Lord promised to save his people. He would remain present with Jerusalem (see 7:14). He would also keep a remnant, a small group who would survive (see study note on Isaiah 10:20).

Much of the land became empty and the population greatly reduced. This happened because Judah made a foolish alliance with Assyria (chapters 7–8). Even so, the Lord did not allow total defeat. He preserved his people through Hezekiah, a faithful king.

Hezekiah faced the same kind of test that King Ahaz had faced. It was a test of trust in the Lord. In chapter 36, the Assyrian officer repeats the word trust as he challenges the people. But Hezekiah had learned from the earlier warnings in chapters 13–35. At least at first, he trusted God and passed the test.

This story also appears in 2 Kings 18:13–20:19.

Theme notes and profiles

Assyria Hezekiah Isaiah Invasion Salvation in Isaiah Trusting God in Isaiah

Events

Prophecies of Isaiahc. 759 BC

Related verses

Isaiah 36:15
Do not let Hezekiah persuade you to trust in the LORD when he says, ‘The LORD will surely deliver us; this city will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.’
Isaiah 37:17–18
Incline Your ear, O LORD, and hear; open Your eyes, O LORD, and see. Listen to all the words that Sennacherib has sent to defy the living God.
Psalm 135:15–18
The idols of the nations are silver and gold, made by the hands of men.
2 Chronicles 32:13–17
Do you not know what I and my fathers have done to all the peoples of the lands? Have the gods of these nations ever been able to deliver their land from my hand?
Isaiah 37:10
“Give this message to Hezekiah king of Judah: ‘Do not let your God, in whom you trust, deceive you by saying that Jerusalem will not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria.
Jeremiah 10:10–12
But the LORD is the true God; He is the living God and eternal King. The earth quakes at His wrath, and the nations cannot endure His indignation.
Psalm 12:4
They say, “With our tongues we will prevail. We own our lips—who can be our master?”
Daniel 3:15
Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the statue I have made, very good. But if you refuse to worship, you will be thrown at once into the blazing fiery furnace. Then what god will be able to deliver you from my hands?”
2 Kings 18:33–35
Has the god of any nation ever delivered his land from the hand of the king of Assyria?
2 Kings 19:12–13
Did the gods of the nations destroyed by my fathers rescue those nations—the gods of Gozan, Haran, and Rezeph, and of the people of Eden in Telassar?
2 Kings 19:17–18
Truly, O LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste these nations and their lands.
Habakkuk 2:19–20
Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Awake!’ or to silent stone, ‘Arise!’ Can it give guidance? Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, yet there is no breath in it at all.”

Parallels

2 Kings 18:13–37 2 Chronicles 32:1–8

People

Hezekiah: A righteous king of Judah

Places

Assyria: A powerful ancient empire, often in conflict with Israel

Glossary

Assyria, Assyrians Book of Nahum Hezekiah Hilkiah History of Israel Inscriptions Isaiah, Book of Joah Kings, Books of First and Second Lachish Micah (Person) Rabshakeh

Topics

Blasphemy: General Scriptures Concerning Blasphemy: Rabshakeh, in the Siege of Jerusalem Diplomacy: Rab-Shakeh, in Trying to Induce Jerusalem to Capitulate by Bombastic Harangue Idolatry: Folly of

Isaiah 36:18

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