Keraia
Isaiah 36

Isaiah 36:20

Sennacherib Threatens Jerusalem · Isaiah 36:1–22
Read Isaiah 36

Translations

Modern
Who among all the gods of these lands has delivered his land from my hand? How then can the LORD deliver Jerusalem from my hand?”
Traditional
Who are they among all the gods of these lands, that have delivered their land out of my hand, that the Lord should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?
Literal
Who among all the gods of these lands are they who have delivered their lands from my hand, that YHWH might deliver Jerusalem from my hand?”
Latin
Quis est ex omnibus diis terrarum istarum qui eruerit terram suam de manu mea, ut eruat Dominus Jerusalem de manu mea?

Original

Hebrew
English
Who among all the gods of these lands has delivered his land from my hand? How then can the LORD deliver Jerusalem from my hand?”

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.

Events

Parallels

2 Kings 18:13–37 2 Chronicles 32:1–8

Places

Jerusalem: The capital of Israel, a holy city for three religions

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