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Isaiah 37-39
Isaiah 37
1 And it came to pass, when king Hezekiah heard it, that he rent his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the LORD.
Remember, in Isaiah 36, Rabshakeh told some of Hezekiah's men that Sennacherib was going to take over Jerusalem. Those guys went and told Hezekiah. Now you are caught up.
Hezekiah then send Eliakim (the nail) and Shebna (not the previous nail) to talk Isaiah.
4 It may be the LORD thy God will hear the words of Rabshakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master hath sent to reproach the living God, and will reprove the words which the LORD thy God hath heard: wherefore lift up thy prayer for the remnant that is left.
6 And Isaiah said unto them, Thus shall ye say unto your master, Thus saith the LORD, Be not afraid of the words that thou hast heard, wherewith the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me.
7 Behold, I will send a blast upon him, and he shall hear a rumour, and return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land.
This narrative seems odd in the book of Isaiah. Chapters 36 and 37 read like a history book, complete with first hand accounts of who said what. Earlier we had the burdens for the places that God is going to destroy. Then there's prophecy about the messiah. But this Hebrew version of the timeline of events surrounding Sennacherib and Hezekiah feels out of place. Supposedly this is still written by the first Isaiah.
Then Rabshakeh goes back to Sennacherib and tells him that Jerusalem isn't going to surrender. So Sennacherib sends rumpshaker back to Hezekiah with the warning about upcoming destruction.
12 Have the gods of the nations delivered them which my fathers have destroyed, as Gozan, and Haran, and Rezeph, and the children of Eden which were in Telassar?
13 Where is the king of Hamath, and the king of Arphad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah?
Of course those gods aren't real gods so they couldn't protect anyone or anything.
Hezekiah is given that note, and he takes it into the temple and prays to the LORD for safety. Hezekiah is scared. He knows God is real, but he also knows that God is somewhat pissed at his chosen people. He hopes that God will put away his grudge and save Jerusalem.
God heard Hezekiah's prayers, and sent Isaiah with a really confusing message for both Hezekiah and Rabshakeh and Sennacherib.
22 This is the word which the LORD hath spoken concerning him; The virgin, the daughter of Zion, hath despised thee, and laughed thee to scorn; the daughter of Jerusalem hath shaken her head at thee.
That was for Sennacherib, as though he showed up to rape Jerusalem, but when he finally got his pants off and was getting ready to penetrate, the "victim" looked down and laughed at the size of his tiny penis. Isaiah said that Sennacherib had a tiny cock.
23 Whom hast thou reproached and blasphemed? and against whom hast thou exalted thy voice, and lifted up thine eyes on high? even against the Holy One of Israel.
That was for Rabshakeh, the messenger who blasphemed the LORD.
29 Because thy rage against me, and thy tumult, is come up into mine ears, therefore will I put my hook in thy nose, and my bridle in thy lips, and I will turn thee back by the way by which thou camest.
The Babylonians, when taking people away would string them together by a hook through the nose. So, here, God is telling Sennacherib that he will be the one who leaves with a hook through the nose.
30 And this shall be a sign unto thee, Ye shall eat this year such as groweth of itself; and the second year that which springeth of the same: and in the third year sow ye, and reap, and plant vineyards, and eat the fruit thereof.
This was for Hezekiah, telling the people, that it's too late to plant crops this year, but that in 2 years they can plant again.
33 Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shields, nor cast a bank against it.
Again, for Sennacherib. He won't be able to attack Jerusalem. God said he'd protect Jerusalem. That ends the message.
36 Then the angel of the LORD went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.
185,000 people. Dead when they woke up. Exactly how that works, I'm not quite sure.
So Sennacherib went back home.
38 And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword; and they escaped into the land of Armenia: and Esarhaddon his son reigned in his stead.
Armenia?
Isaiah 38
Hezekiah was sick.
1 In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came unto him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order: for thou shalt die, and not live.
Isaiah tells Hezekiah to get ready to die. Hezekiah didn't want to die, so he prayed. He prayed good and hard. God heard his prayers and like them.
5 Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years.
So, from death, to having an extra 15 years. Sweet!
7 And this shall be a sign unto thee from the LORD, that the LORD will do this thing that he hath spoken;
8 Behold, I will bring again the shadow of the degrees, which is gone down in the sun dial of Ahaz, ten degrees backward. So the sun returned ten degrees, by which degrees it was gone down.
God wanted to show Hezekiah that he was going to add the 15 years, so he moved the sun 10 degrees backward.
Hezekiah then writes a bit.
10 I said in the cutting off of my days, I shall go to the gates of the grave: I am deprived of the residue of my years.
He was afraid to die.
19 The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day: the father to the children shall make known thy truth.
He wanted to live, to praise God more... yeah.
Isaiah 39
1 At that time Merodachbaladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah: for he had heard that he had been sick, and was recovered.
Remember, Sennacherib the Assyrian has just recently died. Sennacherib did conquer most of the Babylonian empire.
So, Hezekiah got the "Get Well Soon" card from Marduk's kid, and thought, that was really nice, we should invite them over for a beer. So Marduk's kid comes over, and Hezekiah shows him all his toys.
2 And Hezekiah was glad of them, and shewed them the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armour, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah shewed them not.
I find it hard to believe that Jerusalem had very much left after the siege by Sennacherib, but apparently there was enough left.
Isaiah sees Hezekiah walking around with Marduk's kid and asks who they are.
3 Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? and from whence came they unto thee? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country unto me, even from Babylon.
Isaiah's like WHAT DID YOU SHOW THEM?
Hezekiah says: Everything why?
(Isaiah's PISSED)
6 Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store until this day, shall be carried to Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the LORD.
Everything that he showed would be taken away.
7 And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.
That's kind of insulting, to tell the king that his kids are going to be eunuchs.
8 Then said Hezekiah to Isaiah, Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken. He said moreover, For there shall be peace and truth in my days.
Hezekiah seems to say, "who cares, I've only got like 15 years left anyway; after I go, I don't really care what happens."
So what have we learned today?
1. God answers prayers. But mostly from kings.
2. God heals people from death, but mostly kings.
3. After you die, it doesn't really matter what happens in the world.
YIC
V
Isaiah 37
1 And it came to pass, when king Hezekiah heard it, that he rent his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the LORD.
Remember, in Isaiah 36, Rabshakeh told some of Hezekiah's men that Sennacherib was going to take over Jerusalem. Those guys went and told Hezekiah. Now you are caught up.
Hezekiah then send Eliakim (the nail) and Shebna (not the previous nail) to talk Isaiah.
4 It may be the LORD thy God will hear the words of Rabshakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master hath sent to reproach the living God, and will reprove the words which the LORD thy God hath heard: wherefore lift up thy prayer for the remnant that is left.
6 And Isaiah said unto them, Thus shall ye say unto your master, Thus saith the LORD, Be not afraid of the words that thou hast heard, wherewith the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me.
7 Behold, I will send a blast upon him, and he shall hear a rumour, and return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land.
This narrative seems odd in the book of Isaiah. Chapters 36 and 37 read like a history book, complete with first hand accounts of who said what. Earlier we had the burdens for the places that God is going to destroy. Then there's prophecy about the messiah. But this Hebrew version of the timeline of events surrounding Sennacherib and Hezekiah feels out of place. Supposedly this is still written by the first Isaiah.
Then Rabshakeh goes back to Sennacherib and tells him that Jerusalem isn't going to surrender. So Sennacherib sends rumpshaker back to Hezekiah with the warning about upcoming destruction.
12 Have the gods of the nations delivered them which my fathers have destroyed, as Gozan, and Haran, and Rezeph, and the children of Eden which were in Telassar?
13 Where is the king of Hamath, and the king of Arphad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah?
Of course those gods aren't real gods so they couldn't protect anyone or anything.
Hezekiah is given that note, and he takes it into the temple and prays to the LORD for safety. Hezekiah is scared. He knows God is real, but he also knows that God is somewhat pissed at his chosen people. He hopes that God will put away his grudge and save Jerusalem.
God heard Hezekiah's prayers, and sent Isaiah with a really confusing message for both Hezekiah and Rabshakeh and Sennacherib.
22 This is the word which the LORD hath spoken concerning him; The virgin, the daughter of Zion, hath despised thee, and laughed thee to scorn; the daughter of Jerusalem hath shaken her head at thee.
That was for Sennacherib, as though he showed up to rape Jerusalem, but when he finally got his pants off and was getting ready to penetrate, the "victim" looked down and laughed at the size of his tiny penis. Isaiah said that Sennacherib had a tiny cock.
23 Whom hast thou reproached and blasphemed? and against whom hast thou exalted thy voice, and lifted up thine eyes on high? even against the Holy One of Israel.
That was for Rabshakeh, the messenger who blasphemed the LORD.
29 Because thy rage against me, and thy tumult, is come up into mine ears, therefore will I put my hook in thy nose, and my bridle in thy lips, and I will turn thee back by the way by which thou camest.
The Babylonians, when taking people away would string them together by a hook through the nose. So, here, God is telling Sennacherib that he will be the one who leaves with a hook through the nose.
30 And this shall be a sign unto thee, Ye shall eat this year such as groweth of itself; and the second year that which springeth of the same: and in the third year sow ye, and reap, and plant vineyards, and eat the fruit thereof.
This was for Hezekiah, telling the people, that it's too late to plant crops this year, but that in 2 years they can plant again.
33 Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shields, nor cast a bank against it.
Again, for Sennacherib. He won't be able to attack Jerusalem. God said he'd protect Jerusalem. That ends the message.
36 Then the angel of the LORD went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.
185,000 people. Dead when they woke up. Exactly how that works, I'm not quite sure.
So Sennacherib went back home.
38 And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword; and they escaped into the land of Armenia: and Esarhaddon his son reigned in his stead.
Armenia?
Isaiah 38
Hezekiah was sick.
1 In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came unto him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order: for thou shalt die, and not live.
Isaiah tells Hezekiah to get ready to die. Hezekiah didn't want to die, so he prayed. He prayed good and hard. God heard his prayers and like them.
5 Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years.
So, from death, to having an extra 15 years. Sweet!
7 And this shall be a sign unto thee from the LORD, that the LORD will do this thing that he hath spoken;
8 Behold, I will bring again the shadow of the degrees, which is gone down in the sun dial of Ahaz, ten degrees backward. So the sun returned ten degrees, by which degrees it was gone down.
God wanted to show Hezekiah that he was going to add the 15 years, so he moved the sun 10 degrees backward.
Hezekiah then writes a bit.
10 I said in the cutting off of my days, I shall go to the gates of the grave: I am deprived of the residue of my years.
He was afraid to die.
19 The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day: the father to the children shall make known thy truth.
He wanted to live, to praise God more... yeah.
Isaiah 39
1 At that time Merodachbaladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah: for he had heard that he had been sick, and was recovered.
Remember, Sennacherib the Assyrian has just recently died. Sennacherib did conquer most of the Babylonian empire.
So, Hezekiah got the "Get Well Soon" card from Marduk's kid, and thought, that was really nice, we should invite them over for a beer. So Marduk's kid comes over, and Hezekiah shows him all his toys.
2 And Hezekiah was glad of them, and shewed them the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armour, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah shewed them not.
I find it hard to believe that Jerusalem had very much left after the siege by Sennacherib, but apparently there was enough left.
Isaiah sees Hezekiah walking around with Marduk's kid and asks who they are.
3 Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? and from whence came they unto thee? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country unto me, even from Babylon.
Isaiah's like WHAT DID YOU SHOW THEM?
Hezekiah says: Everything why?
(Isaiah's PISSED)
6 Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store until this day, shall be carried to Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the LORD.
Everything that he showed would be taken away.
7 And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.
That's kind of insulting, to tell the king that his kids are going to be eunuchs.
8 Then said Hezekiah to Isaiah, Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken. He said moreover, For there shall be peace and truth in my days.
Hezekiah seems to say, "who cares, I've only got like 15 years left anyway; after I go, I don't really care what happens."
So what have we learned today?
1. God answers prayers. But mostly from kings.
2. God heals people from death, but mostly kings.
3. After you die, it doesn't really matter what happens in the world.
YIC
V