ISAIAH
CHAPTER 37
OBSERVATION
STAGE
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
The purpose of
the observation stage is to maintain focus on the text at hand within the
normative rules of language, context and logic 
.
.This
limits the observer to the content offered by the book of Isaiah. This
will serve to avoid going on unnecessary tangents elsewhere; and more
importantly, it will provide the framework for a proper and objective
comparison with passages located elsewhere in Scripture.
Remember that
something elsewhere may be true, but in the text at hand it may not be in
view.
The subject
matter of Isaiah chapters 8 & 10, which was available for the people
of Judah to know, is directly related to that of chapters 36 & 37
relative to ancient Assyria's rampage through the fortified cities of
Judah, and the great army of Assyria set to do battle at the gates of
Jerusalem when Hezekiah was king. For in chapters 8 & 10, Isaiah
encouraged the people of Judah to trust in the LORD's promise of
deliverance of Jerusalem and its people from Assyria:
****** EXCERPTS
FROM ISAIAH CHAPTERS 8 & 10 ******
Or
skip to the beginning of chapter 37: 
(Isa
8:5-15) THE PEOPLE OF THE NORTHERN KINGDOM OF ISRAEL IN SAMARIA REJECTED
THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD AND HIS PEOPLE IN JUDAH FOR AN ALLIANCE
WITH ARAM TO CONQUER AND RULE OVER JUDAH. CONSEQUENTLY, THE LORD
INDICATED THAT ASSRYRIA WOULD FLOOD THEIR ARMIES INTO ARAM, SAMARIA AND
JUDAH EVEN UP TO THE GATES OF JERUSALEM. THE PEOPLE OF JUDAH WERE
REPEATEDLY COMMANDED NOT TO PANIC IN TERROR BUT TO TRUST IN THE LORD TO
PROTECT THEM. WHEN THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL TRUSTED IN THE LORD, HE WAS
THEIR SANCTUARY; BUT WHEN THEY DID NOT, HE WAS A ROCK OF OFFENSE TO BOTH
HOUSES, EVEN THE INHABITANTS OF JERUSALEM. NEVERTHELESS, THE LORD WOULD
PRESERVE JERUSALEM FROM DESTRUCTION BY ASSYRIA
[Compare
Isa 7:1]:
(ISA
10:5-19) CHAPTER TEN MOVES TO THE ROD OF THE LORD'S ANGER AND WRATH
AGAINST HIS UNGODLY PEOPLE FROM THE SOUTHERN KINGDOM OF JUDAH: ASSYRIA,
WHOM HE SENT TO TREAD THEM DOWN AND SEIZE THE SPOILS. THE ASSYRIAN KING
WAS ARROGANT AND CONSIDERED THAT THE CONQUEST OF MANY NATIONS WAS SOLELY
BY HIS OWN WISDOM AND STRENGTH. HE CONSIDERED THAT TO CUT DOWN MANY
NATIONS WAS HIS DESTINY AND THAT HE WAS DEPENDENT UPON NO GOD. HE
CLAIMED THAT HIS POWER WAS GREATER THAN ANY OF THE IDOLS WHOM THE
CONQUERED NATIONS WORSHIPPED; AND THE IDOLS OF THOSE NATIONS HE
CONSIDERED EXCELLED THOSE OF JERUSALEM AND SAMARIA (THE NORTHERN
KINGDOM) BECAUSE OTHER NATIONS WHICH ASSYRIA HAD CONQUERED DEMONSTRATED
SUPERIOR MILITARY POWER AGAINST JUDAH AND ISRAEL! SO WHEN THE WORK OF
THE LORD UPON MT. ZION AND JERUSALEM WAS FINISHED, THE LORD WOULD
DESTROY ASSYRIA
(ISA
10:24-34) THE CONTEXT OF CHAPTER TEN MOVES FROM THE DAY OF THE
LORD WHEN THE REMNANT OF ISRAEL - THE HOUSE OF JACOB - WILL RETURN TO
THE LORD AND NEVER AGAIN DEPEND UPON ANYONE BUT THE LORD; WHEN THE
PEOPLE WILL SUFFER THROUGH A COMPLETE DESTRUCTION, BUT A REMNANT WILL
SURVIVE TO RETURN - IN LIGHT OF THIS PROMISE, THE CONTEXT IN ISAIAH
CHAPTER TEN MOVES TO:
THE
ANCIENT TIMES OF JUDAH AND ASSYRIA. THE PEOPLE WHO DWELT IN ZION WERE
NOT TO BE AFRAID OF THE ASSYRIANS. FOR YET A VERY LITTLE WHILE AND THEIR
DESTRUCTION WOULD CEASE. THE FORCES OF ASSYRIA WOULD HAVE CIRCLED ALL
AROUND JERUSALEM IN THEIR CONQUEST OF JUDAH'S CITIES; BUT THEN THE LORD
OF HOSTS WOULD CUT ASSYRIA DOWN BEFORE THE GATES OF JERUSALEM, WITH ONLY
A FEW SURVIVORS LEFT
****** END
OF EXCERPTS FROM ISAIAH CHAPTER 8 & 10 ******
INTRODUCTION:
REVOLT
IN BABYLON WAS PUT DOWN BY ASSYRIA IN 703 B.C. IN 701 B.C., EGYPT WAS
DEFEATED AT ELTEKEH, JUDAH'S CITIES DESTROYED, 200,000+ JUDEANS TAKEN
CAPTIVE, JERUSALEM SURROUNDED BY A GREAT ASSYRIAN ARMY, KING HEZEKIAH
COMPELLED TO SEND A MESSAGE OF REPENTANCE AND PETITION FOR MERCY AND PAY
A HUGE TRIBUTE. ASSYRIAN KING SENNACHERIB NEVERTHELESS DEMANDED
SURRENDER. HORRIFIC, CRUEL DESTRUCTION AND CAPTIVITY OF THE SURVIVORS
WAS IMMINENT
[Compare
2 Kings 18:14-18]:
[THE
ASSYRIAN - TAYLOR - CHRONICLE]
I)
[Isa 36:22- 37:1-38]:
A)
(36:22-37:4) ELIAKIN, SHEBNA AND JOAH, HAVING TORN THEIR CLOTHES AS A
SIGN OF DISMAY, REPORTED TO HEZEKIAH THE BLASPHEMING, HORRIFIC WORDS OF
SENNACHERIB'S DEMAND THROUGH HIS CHIEF COMMANDER FOR HEZEKIAH TO
SURRENDER JERUSALEM OR BE DESTROYED. HEZEKIAH RENT HIS CLOTHES, COVERED
HIMSELF IN MOURNING SACKCLOTH AND WENT INTO THE HOUSE OF THE LORD. HE
SENT TO ISAIAH, ELIAKIM, SHEBNA AND THE ELDERS OF THE PRIESTS, COVERED
IN MOURNING SACKCLOTH, TO CONVEY THE HELPLESSNESS OF JERUSALEM BEFORE
ASSYRIA'S GREAT ARMY AND TO REQUEST TO ISAIAH TO PRAY TO THE LORD TO
HEAR AND REBUKE SENNACHRIB'S WORDS WHICH REPROACHED THE LORD AND TO
PRESERVE THE REMNANT OF THE PEOPLE OF THE LORD IN JERUSALEM
1)
[Compare Isa 30:1-2]:
B)
(37:5-7) THE LORD, THROUGH ISAIAH, TOLD HEZEKIAH NOT TO FEAR THE
BLASPHEMOUS WORDS OF THE KING OF ASSYRIA. THE LORD SAID THAT HE WOULD
PUT IN THE KING OF ASSYRIA A SPIRIT, AND THE KING WOULD HEAR A REPORT
AND TURN BACK TO HIS LAND. AND THE LORD WOULD CAUSE HIM TO FALL BY THE
SWORD IN HIS LAND. THIS IMPLIES AN END TO THE THREAT FROM SENNACHERIB,
CORROBORATING ONLY ONE CAMPAIGN BY ASSYRIA AGAINST JERUSALEM
C)
(37:8-9) WHEN THE CHIEF COMMANDER RETURNED TO SENACHERIB, HE FOUND THE
KING MOVED FROM DESTROYING LACHISH TO WARRING AGAINST LIBNAH. THE KING
HEARD THAT TIRHAKAH (TAHARQA) KING OF ETHIOPIA AND EGYPT AT THE TIME OF
ISAIAH'S WRITING THIS ACCOUNT CAME, (WHEN HE WAS A PRINCE), WITH AN ARMY
TO FIGHT AGAINST ASSYRIA. HENCE SENNACHERIB, INTENDING TO MEET TIRHAKAH
IN BATTLE AND THEN RETURN TO BEGIN A SEIGE OF JERUSALEM, FIRST SENT
ANOTHER DEMAND TO HEZEKIAH TO SURRENDER BECAUSE HEZEKIAH HAD NOT
ANSWERED HIS FIRST DEMAND
D)
(37:7; 37:22-29; 37:33-36) HISTORICAL RECORDS INDICATE THAT WITH A
BATTLE IMMINENT WITH TIRHAKAH AND A SEIGE TO COMMENCE UPON JERUSALEM,
SENNACHERIB SUDDENLY ABANDONED HIS CAMPAIGN TO CONQUER EGYPT AND DESTROY
JERUSALEM AND RETURNED TO HIS LAND. ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURE WHEN
SENNACHERIB HEARD THAT TIRHAKAH WAS COMING OUT TO FIGHT AGAINST HIM, HE
SENT HIS MESSENGERS TO HEZEKIAH WITH A SECOND BLASPHEMOUS THREATENING
DEMAND TO SURRENDER. AND WHILE HE WAS MOVING TO MEET TIRHAKAH ON THE
BATTLEFIELD, HE SUDDENLY ABANDONNED IT ALL AND RETURNED TO HIS LAND. A
NUMBER OF HISTORICAL SOURCES INDICATED THAT THE GREAT ASSYRIAN ARMY
ENCAMPED ON THE PALESTINIAN BORDER AT JERUSALEM WAS COMPLETELY
ANNIHILATED AT THAT TIME, LEAVING JERUSALEM COMPLETELY UNTOUCHED AND
EGYPT UNCONQUERED. SOME CONTENDED THAT IT WAS DUE TO A PLAGUE OF
DISEASE, OTHERS TO A PLAGUE OF LEATHER EATING MICE AS A RESULT OF PRAYER
TO THE EGYPTIAN GODS. SENNACHERIB COMPLETELY OMITTED REFERENCE TO HIS
RETREAT IN HIS ANNALS. SCRIPTURE INDICATED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE
ANNIHILATION WAS THE ANGEL OF THE LORD. THEREAFTER, SENNACHERIB DID NOT
RETURN WESTWARD TO FINISH HIS CAMPAIGN. HE LEFT EGYPT AND JERUSALEM
ALONE TO PROSPER, AND WITH NO FURTHER TRIBUTE TO PAY - PRECISELY AS
PROPHESIED BY THE LORD AND REPORTED IN SCRIPTURE BY ISAIAH
1)
[Compare Isa 10:16-19]:
2)
[JOSEPHUS]:
3)
[HERODOTUS]:
4)
[K.A. KITCHEN]:
E)
(37:5-9) SENNACHERIB DWELT IN HIS LAND UNTIL REBELLION ONCE MORE BREWED
IN BABYLON. IN 700 B.C., HE WAGED A SERIES OF BATTLES - GAINING AND
LOSING CONTROL OF THE CITY TO VARIOUS ALLIANCES, EVEN LOSING ONE OF HIS
SONS WHOM HE PLACED ON THE THRONE WHEN HE HAD TEMPORARILY REGAINED
CONTROL. HE FINALLY AND COMPLETELY DEFEATED THE LAST REBELLION IN BITTER
FIGHTING AND DESTROYED THE CITY IN 689 B.C., FLOODING IT INTO A
MARSHLAND. SENNACHRIB'S MILITARY POWER WAS EVIDENTLY CONSIDERABLY LESS
SINCE HE HAD LAUNCHED HIS WESTERN CAMPAIGN TO JUDAH AND EGYPT, FURTHER
CORROBORATING SCRIPTURE RELATIVE TO THE LOSS OF HIS GREAT ARMY AT
JERUSALEM
F)
(37:10-13) SENNACHERIB'S SECOND DEMAND TO HEZEKIAH TO SURRENDER WAS IN
ESSENCE A REPETITION OF THE FIRST DEMAND. IT REEMPHASIZED A WARNING TO
HEZEKIAH TO NOT LET HIS GOD DECEIVE HIM INTO THINKING THAT JERUSALEM
WOULD NOT BE GIVEN INTO THE HAND OF THE KING OF ASSYRIA. HE IMPLIED THAT
THE LORD WAS A DECEIVER, NOT TRUSTWORTHY AND UNABLE TO DELIVER ON WHAT
HE PROMISED - FOR SO MANY NATIONS HAD BEEN GIVEN INTO THE HANDS OF THE
KINGS OF ASSYRIA
G)
(37:14-20) HEZEKIAH TOOK THE LETTER OF SENNACHERIB'S SECOND DEMAND TO
SURRENDER AND SPREAD IT BEFORE THE LORD IN THE TEMPLE AND PRAYED,
ACKNOWLEDGING AND HONORING HIM WITH, "O [LORD] OF HOSTS, THE GOD OF
ISRAEL, THAT SITTEST ABOVE THE CHERUBIM, [YOU ARE] THE GOD, EVEN [YOU]
ALONE, OF ALL THE KINGDOMS OF THE EARTH; [YOU HAVE] MADE HEAVEN AND
EARTH." HEZEKIAH ASKED THE LORD TO CONSIDER SENNACHERIB'S WORDS OF
REPROACH, AND ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE KINGS OF ASSYRIA HAD LAID WASTE TO
MANY NATIONS, CASTING THE IDOLS OF CONQUERED PEOPLE'S GODS INTO THE FIRE
BECAUSE THEY WERE MAN MADE - NOT GODS AT ALL. HEZEKIAH PRAYED FOR
DELIVERANCE FROM SENNACHERIB SO THAT ALL THE KINGDOMS OF THE EARTH MIGHT
KNOW THAT THE LORD GOD OF JUDAH - OF ISRAEL - IS THE GOD OF ALL THE
KINGDOMS OF THE WORLD. THAT HE ALONE IS CREATOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH - OF
ALL THINGS.
H)
(37:21-25) ISAIAH SENT A MESSAGE TO HEZEKIAH FROM THE LORD GOD OF ISRAEL
BECAUSE HEZEKIAH HAD PRAYED TO THE LORD AGAINST SENNACHERIB KING OF
ASSYRIA. THE LORD ANSWERED HEZEKIAH'S PRAYER WITH WORDS WHICH WERE IN
PART ADDRESSED TO THE KING OF ASSYRIA: "THE VIRGIN, THE DAUGHTER OF
ZION, [JERUSALEM] HAS DESPISED YOU, LAUGHED YOU TO SCORN; THE DAUGHTER
OF JERUSALEM HAS SHAKEN HER HEAD BEHIND YOUR BACK! WHOM HAVE YOU
REPROACHED AND BLASPHEMED? AGAINST WHOM HAVE YOU RAISED YOUR VOICE, AND
LIFTED UP YOUR EYES ON HIGH? AGAINST THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL. BY YOUR
SERVANTS YOU HAVE REPROACHED THE LORD, AND SAID, 'BY THE MULTITUDE OF MY
CHARIOTS I HAVE COME UP TO THE HEIGHT OF THE MOUNTAINS, TO THE LIMITS OF
LEBANON; I WILL CUT DOWN ITS TALL CEDARS AND ITS CHOICE CYPRESS TREES; I
WILL ENTER ITS FARTHEST HEIGHT, TO ITS [FERTILE FIELD] I DUG WELLS AND
DRANK WATER. I DRIED UP ALL THE STREAMS OF EGYPT WITH THE SOLES OF MY
FEET.' "
1)
[Compare Isa 31:5]:
I)
(37:26-29) ISAIAH CONTINUED TO GIVE THE LORD'S ANSWER TO HEZEKIAH'S
PRAYER FOR DELIVERANCE FROM ASSYRIA - WORDS WHICH WERE ADDRESSED TO
SENNACHERIB RELATIVE TO THE ASSYRIAN KING'S ARROGANCE AND BLASPHEMY: "HAVE
YOU NOT HEARD [FROM] LONG AGO, HOW I HAVE [MADE] IT; AND [FROM] ANCIENT
TIMES, THAT I HAVE FORMED IT? NOW HAVE I BROUGHT IT TO PASS, THAT [YOU
SHOULD] LAY WASTE [FORTIFIED] CITIES INTO RUINOUS HEAPS. THEREFORE THEIR
INHABITANTS WERE OF SMALL POWER, THEY WERE DISMAYED AND CONFOUNDED; THEY
WERE AS THE GRASS OF THE FIELD, AND AS THE GREEN HERB, AS THE GRASS ON
THE HOUSETOPS, AND AS A FIELD OF GRAIN BEFORE IT IS GROWN UP. BUT I KNOW
YOUR DWELLING PLACE, YOUR GOING OUT AND YOUR COMING IN, AND YOUR RAGE
AGAINST ME. BECAUSE OF YOUR RAGING AGAINST ME AND BECAUSE YOUR ARROGANCE
HAS COME UP TO MY EARS, THEREFORE I WILL [HAVE] PUT MY HOOK IN YOUR NOSE
AND MY BRIDLE IN YOUR LIPS, AND I WILL [HAVE TURNED] YOU BACK BY THE WAY
WHICH YOU CAME."
J)
(37:30-35) ISAIAH CONTINUED TO GIVE THE LORD'S ANSWER TO KING HEZEKIAH
RELATIVE TO HEZEKIAH'S PRAYER FOR DELIVERANCE FROM ASSYRIA - WORDS WHICH
WERE THIS TIME DIRECTED TO HEZEKIAH AND THE LORD'S PEOPLE, THE HOUSE OF
JUDAH: "THEN THIS SHALL BE THE SIGN FOR YOU [HEZEKIAH AND THE
SURVIVING REMNANT OF THE HOUSE OF JUDAH: YOU WILL EAT THIS YEAR WHAT
GROWS OF ITSELF, IN THE SECOND YEAR WHAT SPRINGS FROM THE SAME, AND IN
THE THIRD YEAR SOW, REAP, PLANT VINEYARDS AND EAT THEIR FRUIT. [AND] THE
SURVIVING REMNANT OF THE HOUSE OF JUDAH WILL AGAIN TAKE ROOT DOWNWARD
AND BEAR FRUIT UPWARD. FOR A REMNANT WILL GO OUT FROM JERUSALEM AND
SURVIVORS, FROM MOUNT ZION. THE ZEAL OF THE LORD OF HOSTS WILL
ACCOMPLISH THIS. [AND ON THE MATTER OF ASSYRIA'S ARMY]: THEREFORE, THIS
IS WHAT THE LORD [HAS SAID] ABOUT THE KING OF ASSYRIA: HE WILL NOT ENTER
THIS CITY OR SHOOT AN ARROW THERE OR COME BEFORE IT WITH A SHIELD OR
BUILD UP AN ASSAULT RAMP AGAINST IT. HE WILL GO BACK THE WAY HE CAME,
AND HE WILL NOT ENTER THIS CITY. THIS IS THE LORD'S DECLARATION: "FOR
I WILL DEFEND THIS CITY, TO SAVE IT FOR MY OWN SAKE AND FOR MY SERVANT
DAVID'S SAKE."
K)
(37:36-38) THEN THE ANGEL OF THE LORD WENT OUT, AND KILLED IN THE CAMP
OF THE ASSYRIANS ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-FIVE THOUSAND; AND WHEN PEOPLE
AROSE EARLY IN THE MORNING, [BEHOLD ALL OF THEM] CORPSES - DEAD [MEN].
SO SENNACHERIB KING OF ASSYRIA DEPARTED AND WENT AWAY, RETURNED HOME,
AND [DWELLED] AT NINEVEH. NOW IT CAME TO PASS, AS HE WAS WORSHIPING IN
THE HOUSE OF NISROCH HIS GOD, THAT HIS SONS ADRAMMELECH AND SHAREZER
STRUCK HIM DOWN WITH THE SWORD; AND THEY ESCAPED INTO THE LAND OF
ARARAT. THEN ESARHADDON HIS SON REIGNED IN HIS PLACE
CONTINUE
TO ISAIAH CHAPTER 38 .
