Keraia
Isaiah 37

Isaiah 37:12

Sennacherib’s Blasphemous Letter · Isaiah 37:8–13
Read Isaiah 37

Translations

Modern
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?
Traditional
Have the gods of the nations delivered them which my fathers have destroyed, as Gozan, and Haran, and Rezeph, and the children of Eden which were in Telassar?
Literal
Have the gods of the nations delivered them that my fathers have destroyed—as Gozan, and Haran, and Rezeph, and the sons of Eden who were in Telassar?
Latin
Numquid eruerunt eos dii gentium quos subverterunt patres mei, Gozam, et Haram, et Reseph, et filios Eden qui erant in Thalassar?

Original

Hebrew
English
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?

Notes

Isaiah 37:12

  • The argument was that Judah's god, like the gods of other nations already conquered by Assyria, would not be able to save Judah (see also Isaiah 36:18–20).

  • Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, Eden, and Telassar were cities in Mesopotamia.

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 19:8–13

Places

Eden: A city or region, possibly in Mesopotamia or Syria Gozan: A region in Mesopotamia where Israelite captives were deported Haran: A city in Mesopotamia, associated with Abraham and his family Rezeph: City conquered by the Assyrians Telassar: Mesopotamian city conquered by the Assyrians

Glossary

Assyria, Assyrians Gozan Hezekiah History of Israel Inscriptions Isaiah, Book of Kings, Books of First and Second Micah (Person) Rezeph Shebna Tel-Assar

Topics

Blasphemy: Rabshakeh, in the Siege of Jerusalem Eden: A Marketplace of Costly Merchandise Haran: Also Called Charran: Idolatry In Letters: Rabshakeh to Hezekiah Libnah: A City of the Tribe of Judah, Captured by Joshua: Sennacherib Besieged Rezeph: A City Destroyed by the Assyrians Telassar: A City or District Conquered by the Assyrians Thelasar: A City (District) Conquered by the Assyrians