Keraia
Isaiah 37

Isaiah 37:24

Sennacherib’s Fall Prophesied · Isaiah 37:21–35
Read Isaiah 37

Translations

Modern
Through your servants you have taunted the Lord, and you have said: “With my many chariots I have ascended to the heights of the mountains, to the remote peaks of Lebanon. I have cut down its tallest cedars, the finest of its cypresses. I have reached its farthest heights, the densest of its forests.
Traditional
By thy servants hast thou reproached the Lord, and hast said, By the multitude of my chariots am I come up to the height of the mountains, to the sides of Lebanon; and I will cut down the tall cedars thereof, and the choice fir trees thereof: and I will enter into the height of his border, and the forest of his Carmel.
Literal
By the hand of your servants you have reproached the Lord, and you have said, “By the multitude of my chariots I have gone up to the height of the mountains, to the sides of Lebanon; and I have cut down the tallest of its cedars, the choicest of its cypress trees; and I have come to the height of its end, the forest of its Carmel.
Latin
In manu servorum tuorum exprobrasti Domino, et dixisti: In multitudine quadrigarum mearum ego ascendi altitudinem montium juga Libani; et succidam excelsa cedrorum ejus, et electas abietes illius, et introibo altitudinem summitatis ejus, saltum Carmeli ejus.

Original

Hebrew
English
Through your servants you have taunted the Lord, and you have said: “With my many chariots I have ascended to the heights of the mountains, to the remote peaks of Lebanon. I have cut down its tallest cedars, the finest of its cypresses. I have reached its farthest heights, the densest of its forests.

Notes

Isaiah 37:24

Isaiah seems to be familiar with the typical royal Assyrian boasts, including that they possessed the highest mountains. These words sound very much like those found in the annals of the Assyrian kings inscribed on the walls of their temples.

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 19:20–34

People

LORD: Names or title used to refer to God

Places

Lebanon: A mountainous region known for its cedar trees

Glossary

Assyria, Assyrians Hezekiah History of Israel Inscriptions Isaiah, Book of Kings, Books of First and Second Micah (Person) Pine Tree Shebna

Topics

Assyria: Prophecies Concerning Assyria: Sennacherib King of Reproved for Pride and Blasphemy Blasphemy: Rabshakeh, in the Siege of Jerusalem Forests: Carmel Forests: Often Destroyed by Enemies Libnah: A City of the Tribe of Judah, Captured by Joshua: Sennacherib Besieged Reviling and Reproaching: Sennacherib The Cedar: High