Bible Commentaries
Isaiah 36

Introduction

Overview

Isaiah 36:1, Sennacherib invades Judah; Isaiah 36:2, Rabshakeh, sent by Sennacherib, by blasphemous persuasions solicits the people to revolt; Isaiah 36:22, His words are told to Hezekiah.

Verse 1

it came: 2 Kings 18:13, 2 Kings 18:17, 2 Chronicles 32:1

that Sennacherib: Isaiah 1:7, Isaiah 1:8, Isaiah 7:17, Isaiah 8:7, Isaiah 8:8, Isaiah 10:28-32, Isaiah 33:7, Isaiah 33:8

Reciprocal: 2 Chronicles 12:4 - the fenced 2 Chronicles 32:32 - in the vision Nehemiah 9:32 - since the time Isaiah 19:17 - the land Isaiah 22:8 - he discovered Isaiah 42:22 - a people Isaiah 52:4 - the Assyrian Jeremiah 50:17 - first Hosea 1:7 - I will Matthew 1:9 - Ezekias

Verse 2

am 3294, bc 710

sent: 2 Kings 18:17-37, 2 Chronicles 32:9-23

the conduit: Isaiah 7:3, Isaiah 22:9-11

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 20:13 - the highway 1 Kings 20:2 - General

Verse 3

Eliakim: Isaiah 22:15-20

Shebna: 2 Samuel 8:16, 2 Samuel 8:17, 2 Samuel 20:24, 2 Samuel 20:25

scribe: or, secretary

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 18:18 - Eliakim Isaiah 22:20 - Eliakim Isaiah 33:7 - the ambassadors Isaiah 36:22 - Eliakim Isaiah 37:2 - General

Verse 4

Thus saith: Isaiah 10:8-14, Isaiah 37:11-15, Proverbs 16:18, Ezekiel 31:3-18, Daniel 4:30, Acts 12:22, Acts 12:23, Jude 1:16

Assyria: Assyria proper, now Kourdistan, was bounded by Armenia on the north, Media and Persia on the east, Babylonia on the south, and the Tigris, which divides it from Mesopotamia, on the west, between 33 degrees and 38 degrees n lat. and 42 degrees and 46 degrees e long. But the Assyrian empire, the bounds of which were different at different times, in its most flourishing state, according to the descriptions of the Greek and Roman writers, comprehended all the countries and nations between the Mediterranean on the west, and the Indus on the east, and between the deserts of Scythia on the north, and the Indian ocean on the south.

What: 2 Kings 18:5, 2 Kings 18:19-37, 2 Kings 19:10, 2 Chronicles 32:7-10, 2 Chronicles 32:14-16, Psalms 42:3, Psalms 42:10, Psalms 71:10, Psalms 71:11

Reciprocal: 2 Chronicles 32:10 - Thus saith Isaiah 36:13 - Hear Isaiah 37:10 - Let not Isaiah 37:29 - rage Jeremiah 48:14 - How Ezekiel 29:16 - the confidence Ezekiel 31:5 - his height Ezekiel 31:8 - nor any 2 Corinthians 5:6 - we are always

Verse 5

vain words: Heb. a word of lips. I have counsel and strength for war. or, but counsel and strength are for the war. Proverbs 21:30, Proverbs 21:31, Proverbs 24:5, Proverbs 24:6

that: 2 Kings 18:7, 2 Kings 24:1, Nehemiah 2:19, Nehemiah 2:20, Jeremiah 52:3, Ezekiel 17:15

Reciprocal: Jeremiah 48:14 - How

Verse 6

Isaiah 20:5, Isaiah 20:6, Isaiah 30:1-7, Isaiah 31:3, 2 Kings 17:4, 2 Kings 18:21, Jeremiah 37:5-8, Ezekiel 29:6, Ezekiel 29:7

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 18:24 - thy trust Psalms 118:9 - than to put Proverbs 25:19 - General Song of Solomon 8:5 - leaning Isaiah 30:2 - walk Isaiah 31:1 - to them Isaiah 36:9 - and put Jeremiah 17:5 - Cursed Ezekiel 17:15 - in Ezekiel 17:17 - shall

Verse 7

We trust: 2 Kings 18:5, 2 Kings 18:22, 1 Chronicles 5:20, 2 Chronicles 16:7-9, 2 Chronicles 32:7, 2 Chronicles 32:8, Psalms 22:4, Psalms 22:5, Psalms 42:5, Psalms 42:10, Psalms 42:11

is it not: Deuteronomy 12:2-6, Deuteronomy 12:13, Deuteronomy 12:14, 2 Kings 18:4, 2 Chronicles 30:14, 2 Chronicles 31:1, 2 Chronicles 32:12, 1 Corinthians 2:15

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 18:19 - What confidence Psalms 118:9 - than to put Isaiah 36:15 - General Isaiah 36:18 - lest

Verse 8

pledges: or, hostages, 2 Kings 14:14

and I: Isaiah 10:13, Isaiah 10:14, 1 Samuel 17:40-43, 1 Kings 20:10, 1 Kings 20:18, 2 Kings 18:23, Nehemiah 4:2-5, Psalms 20:7, Psalms 20:8, Psalms 123:3, Psalms 123:4

Reciprocal: Genesis 49:18 - General Deuteronomy 17:16 - multiply horses Judges 9:29 - Increase thine army 1 Samuel 17:36 - seeing 2 Kings 13:7 - fifty horsemen Psalms 80:6 - our enemies Isaiah 10:8 - General Jeremiah 9:23 - neither Hosea 14:3 - we will not

Verse 9

the least: Isaiah 10:8, 2 Kings 18:24

and put: Isaiah 36:6, Isaiah 30:16, Isaiah 30:17, Deuteronomy 17:16, Proverbs 21:31, Jeremiah 2:36

Reciprocal: Judges 9:29 - Increase thine army 1 Kings 10:28 - horses brought 2 Kings 7:6 - the kings of the Egyptians 2 Kings 18:23 - I will deliver 2 Chronicles 32:21 - the leaders 2 Chronicles 33:11 - the captains Isaiah 23:8 - merchants Isaiah 31:1 - stay on horses Isaiah 37:24 - By the Jeremiah 9:23 - neither

Verse 10

Isaiah 10:5-7, Isaiah 37:28, 1 Kings 13:18, 2 Kings 18:25, 2 Chronicles 35:21, Amos 3:6

Reciprocal: Genesis 19:13 - Lord hath Isaiah 36:18 - lest Isaiah 37:29 - rage

Verse 11

in the Syrian: 2 Kings 18:26, 2 Kings 18:27, Ezra 4:7, Daniel 2:4

Reciprocal: Nehemiah 4:5 - before the builders Isaiah 22:20 - Eliakim Isaiah 36:22 - Eliakim

Verse 12

that they may: Isaiah 9:20, Leviticus 26:29, Deuteronomy 28:53-57, 2 Kings 6:25-29, 2 Kings 18:27, Jeremiah 19:9, Lamentations 4:9, Lamentations 4:10, Ezekiel 4:16

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 18:26 - in the Syrian language 2 Chronicles 32:11 - to give over Nehemiah 4:5 - before the builders Psalms 80:6 - our enemies Isaiah 3:1 - the Lord Isaiah 37:25 - with the sole

Verse 13

cried: 1 Samuel 17:8-11, 2 Kings 18:28-32, 2 Chronicles 32:18, Psalms 17:10-13, Psalms 73:8, Psalms 73:9, Psalms 82:6, Psalms 82:7

Hear: Isaiah 36:4, Isaiah 8:7, Isaiah 10:8-13, Ezekiel 31:3-10, Daniel 4:37

Reciprocal: Hosea 8:10 - the king

Verse 14

Isaiah 37:10-13, 2 Kings 19:10-13, 2 Kings 19:22, 2 Chronicles 32:11, 2 Chronicles 32:13-19, Daniel 3:15-17, Daniel 6:20, Daniel 7:25, 2 Thessalonians 2:4, Revelation 13:5, Revelation 13:6

Reciprocal: Psalms 25:2 - let not

Verse 15

Isaiah 36:7, Isaiah 37:23, Isaiah 37:24, Psalms 4:2, Psalms 22:7, Psalms 22:8, Psalms 71:9-11, Matthew 27:43

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 17:36 - seeing Isaiah 36:18 - lest Isaiah 37:10 - Let not Isaiah 37:38 - his god

Verse 16

Make an agreement with me by a present: or, Seek my favour by a present, Heb. Make with me a blessing, Genesis 32:20, Genesis 33:11, 1 Samuel 25:27, 2 Samuel 8:6, 2 Kings 5:15, 2 Kings 18:31, 2 Corinthians 9:5, *marg.

come out: 1 Samuel 11:3, 2 Kings 24:12-16

eat ye: 1 Kings 4:20, 1 Kings 4:25, Micah 4:4, Zechariah 3:10

Reciprocal: Judges 3:15 - sent a present 1 Samuel 11:1 - Make 2 Samuel 8:2 - brought gifts 1 Kings 10:25 - every man

Verse 17

I come: 2 Kings 17:6-23, 2 Kings 18:9-12, 2 Kings 24:11, Proverbs 12:10

a land of corn: Exodus 3:8, Deuteronomy 8:7-9, Deuteronomy 11:12, Job 20:17, The other copy in 2 Kings 18:32, adds here, "a land of oil olive, and of honey; that ye may live, and not die, and hearken not unto Hezekiah when he seduceth you.

Verse 18

lest: Isaiah 36:7, Isaiah 36:10, Isaiah 36:15, Isaiah 37:10, Psalms 12:4, Psalms 92:5-7

Hath: Isaiah 37:12, Isaiah 37:13, Isaiah 37:17, Isaiah 37:18, 2 Kings 18:33-35, 2 Kings 19:12, 2 Kings 19:13, 2 Kings 19:17, 2 Kings 19:18, 2 Chronicles 32:13-17, Psalms 115:2-8, Psalms 135:5, Psalms 135:6, Psalms 135:15-18, Jeremiah 10:3-5, Jeremiah 10:10-12, Daniel 3:15, Habakkuk 2:19, Habakkuk 2:20

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 17:36 - seeing 2 Kings 18:34 - the gods 2 Chronicles 32:8 - rested 2 Chronicles 32:11 - to give over 2 Chronicles 32:15 - persuade Isaiah 10:7 - in his heart Isaiah 37:11 - General Isaiah 37:19 - And have Isaiah 37:38 - his god Isaiah 46:2 - they could Ezekiel 25:8 - the house Ezekiel 31:5 - his height Amos 6:2 - better Matthew 27:43 - trusted

Verse 19

Hamath: Numbers 34:8, 2 Samuel 8:9

Arphad: The variation of Arphad and Arpad exists only in the translation; the original being uniformly ארפד [Strong's H774]. Isaiah 10:9; Jeremiah 49:23, Arpad

Sepharvaim: Calmet is of opinion that Sepharvaim was the capital of the Saspires, who, according to Herodotus, were the only people that inhabited between the Colchians and Medes; and probably the Sarapases, whom Strabo places in Armenia. Hiller considers the name as denoting Sephar of the Parvaim, i.e., Mount Sephar adjacent to the regions of Arabia called Parvaim. But it is more probable, as Wells and others suppose, that Sepharvaim is the ינצבסב, Sipphara, of Ptolemy, the יננבסחםשם נןכיע, the city of the Sippareni, mentioned by Abydenus, and probably the Hipparenum of Pliny, a city of Mesopotamia, situated upon the Euphrates, near where it is divided into two arms, by one of which, it is probable, it was divided into two parts. 2 Kings 17:24

and have: Isaiah 10:10, Isaiah 10:11, 2 Kings 17:5-7, 2 Kings 18:10-12

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 18:34 - the gods Isaiah 37:13 - Hamath Isaiah 44:17 - Deliver me Isaiah 46:2 - they could Jeremiah 16:20 - General Ezekiel 31:5 - his height Amos 6:2 - better

Verse 20

that the Lord: Isaiah 37:18, Isaiah 37:19, Isaiah 37:23-29, Isaiah 45:16, Isaiah 45:17, Exodus 5:2, 2 Kings 19:22-37, 2 Chronicles 32:15, 2 Chronicles 32:19, Job 15:25, Job 15:26, Job 40:9-12, Psalms 50:21, Psalms 73:9, Daniel 3:15

Reciprocal: Exodus 15:9 - I will pursue Psalms 55:19 - no changes Isaiah 10:11 - as I have Isaiah 37:4 - to reproach Isaiah 37:10 - Let not Isaiah 37:12 - the gods Isaiah 44:17 - Deliver me Isaiah 50:2 - have I Ezekiel 35:13 - with

Verse 21

2 Kings 18:26, 2 Kings 18:37, Psalms 38:13-15, Psalms 39:1, Proverbs 9:7, Proverbs 26:4, Amos 5:13, Matthew 7:6

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 10:27 - he held his peace 1 Samuel 25:12 - came Proverbs 23:9 - Speak Ecclesiastes 3:7 - time to keep

Verse 22

Eliakim: Isaiah 36:3, Isaiah 36:11

with their: Isaiah 33:7, Isaiah 37:1, Isaiah 37:2, 2 Kings 5:7, Ezra 9:3, Matthew 26:65, The history of the invasion of Sennacherib, observes Bp. Lowth, and the miraculous destruction of his army, which makes the subject of so many of Isaiah's prophecies, is very properly inserted here, as affording the best light to many parts of these prophecies; and as almost necessary to introduce the prophecy in the Isaiah 37:1, being the answer of God to Hezekiah's prayer, which could not be properly understood without it. Sennacherib succeeded his father Shalmaneser on the throne of Assyria, am 3290, bc 714, and reigned only about eight years.

Reciprocal: Genesis 37:34 - General 1 Samuel 25:12 - came 2 Kings 18:18 - Eliakim 2 Kings 18:37 - with their clothes rent Proverbs 25:1 - which Isaiah 22:20 - Eliakim Isaiah 28:19 - and it Isaiah 29:2 - I will Jeremiah 18:13 - virgin Jeremiah 36:24 - nor rent Lamentations 2:10 - they have girded Mark 14:63 - his