Isaiah 36:1, commentary and pictures

Now it came to pass in the fourteenth year of Hezekiah that Sennacherib of Assyria came up against Judah, took its defenced cities, and pressed toward Jerusalem with a great army. The verse stands in the historical chapters of Isaiah 36-39 that tell of the invasion, of Isaiah's counsel to Hezekiah, and of Hezekiah's triumph. Sennacherib's own records agree in claiming forty-six walled cities with their towns taken, Lachish besieged, Hezekiah shut up in Jerusalem, and tribute received from him. The invasion set the scene for Hezekiah's humbling himself and praying for deliverance, and for God to save the city by direct miracle when 185,000 Assyrians died in one night, so that Jerusalem was left untaken and Sennacherib returned to Nineveh where he was slain by his sons.

Historical Setting and Meaning

Isaiah 36:1 belongs to the historical portion in the first part of Isaiah, chapters 36-39, which recount events from the prophet's active years. That section records Sennacherib's invasion of Judah, Isaiah's counsel to Hezekiah, and Hezekiah's triumph. It came to pass in the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah that Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against Judah and took all its defenced, fortified cities. The invasion brought a great enemy army against the land and advanced toward Jerusalem. It sets the historical scene for Hezekiah's humility, his seeking counsel and praying for deliverance, God's message through the prophet, and the account of deliverance in the following chapters.

The invasion followed Assyria's victories over other nations and Judah's attempt to withhold tribute. It also followed Hezekiah's involvement in Ekron's rebellion against Assyria. The campaign came eight years after Shalmaneser's first deportation of Israel.

The Bible's date for the event is placed at 713 B.C., twelve years earlier than the Assyrian records, which date the invasion to 701 B.C., yet the historical account is accurate despite this difference. Those who date it by the Assyrian reckoning place Sennacherib's invasion of Judah and capture of its fortified cities in 701 B.C. In chapter 36 the word destroy means to lay waste and make desolate, as in the threat against Judah's land.

Assyrian Records and Deliverance

Sennacherib's own inscriptions supplement the account of his invasion of Judah and the capture of its fortified cities, claiming he conquered forty-six walled cities with their surrounding towns and villages. He took many people and animals as booty and deported many, and plundered Hezekiah's fortified cities and smaller towns. His record likewise describes the siege of Lachish and the tribute he exacted from Hezekiah, while telling how he confined Hezekiah in Jerusalem and received tribute from him. The invasion followed Hezekiah's involvement in Ekron's rebellion against Assyria.

The inscription's figure of eight hundred talents of silver differs from the biblical account's three hundred talents, and may include spoils taken from other cities besides the tribute from Hezekiah.

The invasion sets the historical scene for Hezekiah's humility, God's message through the prophet, and Judah's deliverance from Assyria. It brought a great enemy army against Jerusalem and sets the scene for Hezekiah to seek counsel and pray for deliverance. It begins the historical account of Assyria's campaign against Judah during Hezekiah's reign and introduces the threat that leads to the account of God's deliverance from Assyria in the following chapters.

The campaign, coming eight years after Shalmaneser's first deportation of Israel, led to the threat against Jerusalem. Jerusalem itself was left untaken when God delivered the city by direct, miraculous intervention, showing that he was mightier than the nations' idols and protecting his people. In the campaign against Jerusalem 185,000 of his forces died in one night. Sennacherib then returned to Nineveh and was later killed by his sons while worshiping his idol.