Isaiah 14:28
In the year that king Ahaz died was this burden.
Original Language Analysis
מ֖וֹת
died
H4194
מ֖וֹת
died
Strong's:
H4194
Word #:
2 of 7
death (natural or violent); concretely, the dead, their place or state (hades); figuratively, pestilence, ruin
הָיָ֖ה
H1961
הָיָ֖ה
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
5 of 7
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
Cross References
2 Kings 16:20And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David: and Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead.Isaiah 13:1The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see.2 Chronicles 28:27And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city, even in Jerusalem: but they brought him not into the sepulchres of the kings of Israel: and Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead.
Historical Context
Ahaz reigned 735-715 BC (2 Kings 16), a period of Assyrian expansion under Tiglath-Pileser III and then Shalmaneser V. Ahaz had made Judah an Assyrian vassal, provoking prophetic condemnation (2 Kings 16:7-9). His death created uncertainty—would his successor (Hezekiah) continue pro-Assyrian policy or rebel? Neighboring states like Philistia watched for opportunity. Isaiah's oracle warns Philistia not to rejoice in whatever changes they anticipated. The specific dating emphasizes prophecy's historical rootedness—God speaks into actual situations, not abstractions.
Questions for Reflection
- How does prophecy's historical specificity (dated to Ahaz's death) demonstrate Scripture's concrete engagement with real situations?
- What does God's involvement in political transitions teach about His sovereignty over seemingly secular events?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
'In the year that king Ahaz died was this burden.' This chronological marker places the following oracle (vv.28-32) in a specific historical moment—732 BC, Ahaz's death. The 'burden' (massa—oracle, prophecy, typically of judgment) concerns Philistia (Palestina). The timing is significant: Ahaz's death marked political transition in Judah, potentially encouraging Philistia to revolt against Assyria or attack Judah. Isaiah's prophecy addresses this political situation with theological truth: God controls outcomes, not human political calculations. The verse reminds us that prophetic word addresses real historical situations, not just timeless generalities.