Isaiah 36:18-20

18 'Beware that Hezekiah does not mislead you, saying, "1The LORD will deliver us." Has any one of the gods of the nations delivered his land from the hand of the king of Assyria?
19 'Where are the gods of 2Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of 3Sepharvaim? And when have they 4delivered Samaria from my hand?
20 'Who among all the 5gods of these lands have delivered their land from my hand, that the 6LORD would deliver Jerusalem from my hand?' "

Isaiah 36:18-20 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 36

In this chapter we have an account of the king Assyria's invasion of Judea, and of the railing speech of Rabshakeh his general, to discourage the ministers and subjects of the king of Judah. The time and success of the invasion are observed in Isa 36:1 the messenger the former king sent to the latter, and from whence, and with whom, he conferred, Isa 36:2,3, the speech of the messenger, which consists of two parts; the first part is directed to the ministers of Hezekiah, showing the vain confidence of their prince in his counsels and strength for war, in the king of Egypt, and in his chariots and horsemen, and even in the Lord himself, pretending that he came by his orders to destroy the land, Isa 36:4-10. The other part is directed to the common people on the wall, he refusing to speak in the Syrian language, as desired, Isa 36:11,12, dissuading them from hearkening to Hezekiah to their own deception; persuading them to come into an agreement with him for their own safety and good; observing to them that none of the gods of the nations could deliver them out of his master's hands, and therefore it was in vain for them to expect deliverance from the Lord their God, Isa 36:13-20, to which neither ministers nor people returned any answer; but the former went with their clothes rent to Hezekiah, and reported what had been said, Isa 36:21,22.

Cross References 6

  • 1. Isaiah 36:15
  • 2. Isaiah 10:9-11; Isaiah 37:11-13; Jeremiah 49:23
  • 3. Isaiah 10:9-11; Isaiah 37:11-13; Jeremiah 49:23
  • 4. 2 Kings 17:6
  • 5. 1 Kings 20:23, 28
  • 6. Isaiah 36:15
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