Isaiah 36:1
Now it came to pass in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah, that Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the defenced cities of Judah, and took them.
Original Language Analysis
וַיְהִ֡י
H1961
וַיְהִ֡י
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
1 of 16
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
עֶשְׂרֵ֨ה
H6240
עֶשְׂרֵ֨ה
Strong's:
H6240
Word #:
3 of 16
ten (only in combination), i.e., -teen; also (ordinal) -teenth
חִזְקִיָּ֗הוּ
Hezekiah
H2396
חִזְקִיָּ֗הוּ
Hezekiah
Strong's:
H2396
Word #:
6 of 16
chizkijah, a king of judah, also the name of two other israelites
עָלָ֞ה
came up
H5927
עָלָ֞ה
came up
Strong's:
H5927
Word #:
7 of 16
to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative
אַשּׁוּר֙
of Assyria
H804
אַשּׁוּר֙
of Assyria
Strong's:
H804
Word #:
10 of 16
ashshur, the second son of shem; also his descendants and the country occupied by them (i.e., assyria), its region and its empire
עַ֣ל
H5921
עַ֣ל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
11 of 16
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
12 of 16
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
עָרֵ֧י
cities
H5892
עָרֵ֧י
cities
Strong's:
H5892
Word #:
13 of 16
a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
יְהוּדָ֛ה
of Judah
H3063
יְהוּדָ֛ה
of Judah
Strong's:
H3063
Word #:
14 of 16
jehudah (or judah), the name of five israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory
Cross References
2 Chronicles 32:1After these things, and the establishment thereof, Sennacherib king of Assyria came, and entered into Judah, and encamped against the fenced cities, and thought to win them for himself.2 Kings 18:13Now in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah did Sennacherib king of Assyria come up against all the fenced cities of Judah, and took them.2 Kings 18:17And the king of Assyria sent Tartan and Rabsaris and Rabshakeh from Lachish to king Hezekiah with a great host against Jerusalem. And they went up and came to Jerusalem. And when they were come up, they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which is in the highway of the fuller's field.
Historical Context
The invasion occurred in 701 BC when Sennacherib conquered 46 Judean cities (as confirmed by the Taylor Prism). This was Isaiah's prophetic ministry culminating in tangible deliverance, vindicating his decades of warnings and promises.
Questions for Reflection
- When faced with overwhelming circumstances, do you trust God's promises more than visible evidence?
- How can you recognize and resist the enemy's strategy of attacking God's character and reliability?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
This historical crisis introduces the Assyrian siege of Jerusalem under Hezekiah, testing faith in God's promises to protect Zion. The synchronization with Hezekiah's fourteenth year (701 BC) confirms biblical chronology and demonstrates God's sovereignty over pagan empires. The Rabshakeh's propaganda campaign foreshadows Satan's tactics of undermining trust in God's Word through logical-sounding arguments.