Bible Commentaries
Isaiah 37

Introduction

A.M. 3292. B.C. 712.

Hezekiah mourns, and sends to Isaiah to pray for him and the people, Isaiah 37:1-5 . He comforts them, Isaiah 37:6 , Isaiah 37:7 . Sennacherib, called away against the king of Ethiopia, sends a blasphemous letter to Hezekiah, Isaiah 37:8-13 . His prayer, Isaiah 37:14-20 . Isaiah’s prophecy, Isaiah 37:21-35 . An angel slays the Assyrians, Isaiah 37:36 . Sennacherib is slain at Nineveh by his own sons, Isaiah 37:37 , Isaiah 37:38 .

Isaiah 37:36. Then the angel of the Lord went forth When “Sennacherib, in his opprobrious message to Hezekiah and his subjects, not only inveighed against them, but blasphemously reviled even their God, bringing down the great God of Israel to the contemptible level of the gods of the nations, putting him to open defiance, and charging him with impotence to his face, it was time for the Lord to vindicate his honour, to assert his supremacy and power, and to make both parties sensible that he was ‘glorious in might, equally able to help and to cast down, to save and to destroy.’ Accordingly, this blasphemous tyrant had scarcely advanced to the holy city, before his forces were instantly broken, and he was obliged to retreat with shame and confusion.” By this tremendous act, Jehovah made it visible to all the nations, especially to the Jews, who had greatly apostatized from his worship and service, and strangely gone over to the heathen idolatry, changing their glory for that which did not profit, that he was a God, “mighty in strength, and excellent in power;” that he was truly what he had styled himself, The Lord of hosts; and that there was no other god that could deliver after this sort. Dodd.

Isaiah 37:37-38. So Sennacherib departed, &c. “The great king, the king of Assyria,” says Henry, “looks very little when he is thus forced to return, not only with shame, because he cannot accomplish what he had projected with so much assurance, but with fear and terror, lest the angel that had destroyed his army should destroy him; yet he is made to look less when his own sons, that should have guarded him, sacrificed him to his idol, whose protection he sought. God can quickly stop the breath of those who breathe out threatenings and slaughter against his people, and will do it when they have filled up the measure of their iniquity.” The Lord is known by the judgments which he executeth; known especially to be a God that resists the proud, and fails not to take speedy and exemplary vengeance on the insolent revilers of his Godhead, and the contemptuous blasphemers of his divine power and glory. We may observe, upon the whole of this wonderful story, that many very important ends were evidently answered by the war which God permitted the king of Assyria to make on Hezekiah, and the invasion of Judea, and by the remarkable issue of that calamity. Hereby, 1st, The Jews were chastised for their various idolatries and other sins, and many of them, no doubt, were humbled and brought to repentance. 2d, The faith of their pious king was tried, and, in consequence of the extraordinary deliverance granted him and his subjects, was greatly increased and confirmed in the power and faithfulness of God. 3d, The people of God were taught and encouraged in all their dangers and distresses to have recourse to him, their refuge and strength, their very present and never failing help in trouble. 4th, A demonstration was given, in the face of the whole world, of the almighty power of Jehovah, and of his superiority over all the gods of the heathen. And, lastly, by this signal vengeance taken on a proud and haughty blasphemer, mankind were given to know that the God of Israel, the only living and true God, was a holy and jealous, as well as a mighty God, who would not give his glory to another, nor suffer it to be insulted with impunity; and were warned of the consequences of reviling and blaspheming his glorious name.