The Prophet and His Day: Isaiah 1-39 - Free Bible Commentary
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The Prophet and His Day: Isaiah 1-39 - Free Bible Commentary

The Prophet and His Day: Isaiah 1-39 - Free Bible Commentary The Prophet and His Day: Isaiah 1-39 - Free Bible Commentary

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13.07.2015 Views

1. First paragraph2. Second paragraph3. Third paragraph4. Etc.CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTSA. Verses 1-7 are the reactions of Hezekiah to the Assyrian message in chapter 36.B. It is uncertain if vv. 1-7 and 14-20 are two separate reactions. It seems contextually that aftervv. 8-9 Sennacherib sent a second message to be delivered to Jerusalem and vv. 14-20 areHezekiah’s response to this second message, which is similar to the first one.Possibly Hezekiah was trusting YHWH and Egypt in vv. 1-7, but after v. 9 he had to trustYHWH alone (cf. vv. 14-20,30).WORD AND PHRASE STUDYNASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 37:1-41And when King Hezekiah heard it, he tore his clothes, covered himself with sackcloth andentered the house of the LORD. 2 Then he sent Eliakim who was over the household with Shebna thescribe and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz.3They said to him, "Thus says Hezekiah, 'This day is a day of distress, rebuke and rejection; forchildren have come to birth, and there is no strength to deliver. 4 Perhaps the LORD your God willhear the words of Rabshakeh, whom his master the king of Assyria has sent to reproach the livingGod, and will rebuke the words which the LORD your God has heard. Therefore, offer a prayer forthe remnant that is left.'"37:1 “he tore his clothes, covered himself with sackcloth” These are signs of mourning. See SpecialTopic at 15:2-3.} “the house of the LORD” This refers to the temple in Jerusalem. Exactly what area of the temple heentered is uncertain. Only priests and Levites had access to the sacred buildings. However, there was aspecial area set aside for the monarch to be as close as possible and view the activities of festival rituals.37:2 “Eliakim. . .Shebna” See note at 36:3,22.37:3 Hezekiah vividly describes the situation (cf. II Kgs. 19:3).1. NASB, NRSV , “a day of distress” (BDB 865 I)NKJV, “a day of trouble”NJB, “a day of suffering”LXX, “a day of affliction”2. NASB, NKJV, NRSV, “a day of rebuke” (BDB 407)NJB, “a day of punishment”LXX, “a day of reproach”353

3. NASB, “a day of rejection” (BDB 611)NKJV, “a day of blasphemy”NRSV, NJB, “a day of disgrace”LXX, “a day of rebuke”4. LXX, Peshitta, “a day of anger”5. “time for birth, but no strength to deliver”All of these phrases refer to YHWH’s actions, not Assyria’s. Hezekiah knew the problem was covenantdisobedience and faithlessness. Assyria was not the real problem, but YHWH’s instrument of judgmentagainst a disobedient covenant people.37:4 Hezekiah is hoping that as YHWH heard the blasphemy (i.e., “reproach,” BDB 357, KB 355, PielINFINITIVE CONSTRUCT, cf. vv. 17,23,24) of Assyria’s arrogant boast (cf. 36:15,18,20), He would defendHis name (i.e., Ezek. 36:22-23).} “the remnant” This term can be used in several senses depending on the context. See Special Topicat 1:9.NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 37:5-75So the servants of King Hezekiah came to Isaiah. 6 Isaiah said to them, "Thus you shall say toyour master, 'Thus says the LORD, "Do not be afraid because of the words that you have heard,with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed Me. 7 Behold, I will put a spirit inhim so that he will hear a rumor and return to his own land. And I will make him fall by the swordin his own land."'"37:6 Notice how Isaiah responds to the messengers of Hezekiah with the very words of YHWH (cf. v.21)!} “Do not be afraid” This statement (BDB 431, KB 432, Qal IMPERFECT used in a JUSSIVE sense) is arecurrent message from God to His leaders (cf. 7:4; 8:12; 10:24; 35:4; 40:9; 41:10,13,14; 43:1,5; 44:2;51:7; 54:4; Gen. 15:1; 21:17; 26:24; 46:3; Exod. 20:20; Num. 14:9; Deut. 1:21,29; 3:2,22; 7:18; 20:1,3;31:6,8; Josh. 8:1; 10:8,25; 11:6; Jdgs. 6:23, etc.).37:7NASB, NJB,LXX “I will put a spirit in him”NKJV“I will send a spirit upon him”NRSV“I myself will put a spirit in him”TEV“The LORD will cause the emperor to hear”REB“I shall sap his morale”Peshitta “I will send a blast against himThe MT has ruah (BDB 924), which, in this context, refers to an inner feeling or sense of doom andforeboding. The “great king”of Assyria (cf. 36:4) is controlled by the God of Israel!} “hear a rumor and return to his own land” This is YHWH’s response because Hezekiah turned toHim for help (as Ahaz did not). He will confuse the army and send them home (cf. v. 37). Some havewondered if v. 9 is not a fulfillment of this rumor, but it seems, in context, to refer to a rumor that willforce him to return to Assyria and not simply meet Egypt in battle.354

3. NASB, “a day of rejection” (BDB 611)NKJV, “a day of blasphemy”NRSV, NJB, “a day of disgrace”LXX, “a day of rebuke”4. LXX, Peshitta, “a day of anger”5. “time for birth, but no strength to deliver”All of these phrases refer to YHWH’s actions, not Assyria’s. Hezekiah knew the problem was covenantdisobedience <strong>and</strong> faithlessness. Assyria was not the real problem, but YHWH’s instrument of judgmentagainst a disobedient covenant people.37:4 Hezekiah is hoping that as YHWH heard the blasphemy (i.e., “reproach,” BDB 357, KB 355, PielINFINITIVE CONSTRUCT, cf. vv. 17,23,24) of Assyria’s arrogant boast (cf. 36:15,18,20), He would defend<strong>His</strong> name (i.e., Ezek. 36:22-23).} “the remnant” This term can be used in several senses depending on the context. See Special Topicat 1:9.NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 37:5-75So the servants of King Hezekiah came to <strong>Isaiah</strong>. 6 <strong>Isaiah</strong> said to them, "Thus you shall say toyour master, 'Thus says the LORD, "Do not be afraid because of the words that you have heard,with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed Me. 7 Behold, I will put a spirit inhim so that he will hear a rumor <strong>and</strong> return to his own l<strong>and</strong>. And I will make him fall by the swordin his own l<strong>and</strong>."'"37:6 Notice how <strong>Isaiah</strong> responds to the messengers of Hezekiah with the very words of YHWH (cf. v.21)!} “Do not be afraid” This statement (BDB 431, KB 432, Qal IMPERFECT used in a JUSSIVE sense) is arecurrent message from God to <strong>His</strong> leaders (cf. 7:4; 8:12; 10:24; 35:4; 40:9; 41:10,13,14; 43:1,5; 44:2;51:7; 54:4; Gen. 15:1; 21:17; 26:24; 46:3; Exod. 20:20; Num. 14:9; Deut. 1:21,29; 3:2,22; 7:18; 20:1,3;31:6,8; Josh. 8:1; 10:8,25; 11:6; Jdgs. 6:23, etc.).37:7NASB, NJB,LXX “I will put a spirit in him”NKJV“I will send a spirit upon him”NRSV“I myself will put a spirit in him”TEV“<strong>The</strong> LORD will cause the emperor to hear”REB“I shall sap his morale”Peshitta “I will send a blast against him<strong>The</strong> MT has ruah (BDB 924), which, in this context, refers to an inner feeling or sense of doom <strong>and</strong>foreboding. <strong>The</strong> “great king”of Assyria (cf. 36:4) is controlled by the God of Israel!} “hear a rumor <strong>and</strong> return to his own l<strong>and</strong>” This is YHWH’s response because Hezekiah turned toHim for help (as Ahaz did not). He will confuse the army <strong>and</strong> send them home (cf. v. 37). Some havewondered if v. 9 is not a fulfillment of this rumor, but it seems, in context, to refer to a rumor that willforce him to return to Assyria <strong>and</strong> not simply meet Egypt in battle.354

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