Isaiah 36:2

Authorized King James Version

And the king of Assyria sent Rabshakeh from Lachish to Jerusalem unto king Hezekiah with a great army. And he stood by the conduit of the upper pool in the highway of the fuller's field.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח
sent
to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)
#2
הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ
And the king
a king
#3
אַשּׁ֣וּר׀
of Assyria
ashshur, the second son of shem; also his descendants and the country occupied by them (i.e., assyria), its region and its empire
#4
אֶת
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
#5
רַבְשָׁקֵ֨ה
Rabshakeh
rabshakeh, a babylonian official
#6
מִלָּכִ֧ישׁ
from Lachish
lakish, a place in palestine
#7
יְרוּשָׁלְַ֛מָה
to Jerusalem
jerushalaim or jerushalem, the capital city of palestine
#8
אֶל
near, with or among; often in general, to
#9
הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ
And the king
a king
#10
חִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ
Hezekiah
chizkijah, a king of judah, also the name of two other israelites
#11
בְּחֵ֣יל
army
an army; also (by analogy,) an intrenchment
#12
כָּבֵ֑ד
with a great
heavy; figuratively in a good sense (numerous) or in a bad sense (severe, difficult, stupid)
#13
וַֽיַּעֲמֹ֗ד
And he stood
to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive)
#14
בִּתְעָלַת֙
by the conduit
a bandage or plaster (as placed upon a wound)
#15
הַבְּרֵכָ֣ה
pool
a reservoir (at which camels kneel as a resting-place)
#16
הָעֶלְיוֹנָ֔ה
of the upper
an elevation, i.e., (adjectively) lofty (comparatively); as title, the supreme
#17
בִּמְסִלַּ֖ת
in the highway
a thoroughfare (as turnpiked), literally or figuratively; specifically a viaduct, a staircase
#18
שְׂדֵ֥ה
field
a field (as flat)
#19
כוֹבֵֽס׃
of the fuller's
to trample; hence, to wash (properly, by stamping with the feet), whether literal (including the fulling process) or figurative

Analysis

This verse develops the salvation theme central to Isaiah. The concept of divine revelation reflects the development of salvation within biblical theology. The literary structure and word choice here contribute to biblical literature contributing to the canon's theological witness, advancing the author's theological argument. The original language emphasizes careful word choice that would have carried specific theological weight for the original audience, providing deeper understanding of the author's theological intention.

Historical Context

The literary and historical milieu of the literary conventions and historical circumstances of biblical literature shapes this text's meaning. The historical development of salvation within the theological tradition of Isaiah Understanding the ancient worldview that shaped the author's theological expression helps modern readers appreciate why the author emphasizes divine revelation in this particular way.

Questions for Reflection

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