Keraia
Isaiah 37

Isaiah 37:38

Jerusalem Delivered from the Assyrians · Isaiah 37:36–38
Read Isaiah 37

Translations

Modern
One day, while he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch, his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer put him to the sword and escaped to the land of Ararat. And his son Esar-haddon reigned in his place.
Traditional
And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword; and they escaped into the land of Armenia: and Esar–haddon his son reigned in his stead.
Literal
And it came to pass, as he was worshiping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sarezer his sons struck him with the sword, and they escaped to the land of Ararat. And Esar-haddon his son reigned in his place.
Latin
Et factum est, cum adoraret in templo Nesroch deum suum, Adramelech et Sarasar, filii ejus, percusserunt eum gladio, fugeruntque in terram Ararat; et regnavit Asarhaddon, filius ejus, pro eo.

Original

Hebrew
English
One day, while he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch, his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer put him to the sword and escaped to the land of Ararat. And his son Esar-haddon reigned in his place.

Notes

Isaiah 37:38

  • One day: Sennacherib was likely killed in 681 BC, about twenty years after he left Jerusalem.

  • Esarhaddon ruled Assyria from 680 to 669 BC. It is ironic that Sennacherib, who mocked the Lord, was killed by his sons in the temple of his own god.

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 19:35–37 2 Chronicles 32:20–23

People

Adrammelech: Son of Sennacherib who murdered his father Esarhaddon: King of Assyria; son and successor of Sennacherib Nisroch: An Assyrian deity, possibly associated with agriculture Sharezer: Assyrian prince who assassinated his father Sennacherib

Places

Ararat: A mountain range where Noah's ark rested after the flood

Glossary

Adrammelech Ararat Armenia Assyria, Assyrians Esarhaddon Gods and Goddesses Hezekiah History of Israel Inscriptions Isaiah (Person) Isaiah, Book of Kings, Books of First and Second Micah (Person) Nineveh, Ninevite Nisroch Sharezer Shebna

Topics

Adrammelech: Son of Sennacherib Ararat: Assassins of Sennacherib Take Refuge In Armenia: Assassins of Sennacherib Take Refuge In Assassination: Sennacherib, by his Sons Esar-Haddon (Esarhaddon): Succeeds Sennacherib Homicide: Felonious of Sennacherib Nineveh: Sennacherib In Nisroch: An Idol Parricide: (Murdering One's own Parent S))) Patricide of Sennacherib Regicide of Sennacherib Sennacherib: Death of Sharezer: Son of Sennacherib