Hath any of the gods of the nations delivered at all his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria?
The Assyrians had captured Samaria and scattered the ten tribes, and this disaster led many to question the power of Israel's God. Their later attacks upon Judah renewed the same issue, forcing a fresh decision over whether the heathen gods would prevail. In that setting the challenge was put in the form of a question, whether any of the gods of the nations had been able at all to deliver his own land out of the hand of the king of Assyria.
The Assyrians had captured Samaria and scattered the ten tribes, and this disaster led many to question the power of Israel's God. Their later attacks upon Judah renewed the same issue, forcing a fresh decision over whether the heathen gods would prevail. In that setting the challenge was put in the form of a question, whether any of the gods of the nations had been able at all to deliver his own land out of the hand of the king of Assyria.