Isaiah 36:1-2
In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah and took them. And the king of Assyria sent the Rabshakeh from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem, with a great army. And he stood by the conduit of the upper pool on the highway to the Washer’s Field.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
While the verse states Sennacherib "took" all the fortified cities, it highlights that his ultimate target wasn't simply conquest but a strategic move to isolate Jerusalem, setting the stage for a psychological siege rather than immediate military victory. The commentaries reveal this was the first phase of a "double attempt" on Jerusalem, with the main assault through Rabshakeh coming later.
The prophet Isaiah recounts the devastating Assyrian invasion led by King Sennacherib, who systematically conquered Judah's fortified cities. This invasion serves as a stark prelude to the Assyrians' eventual confrontation with Jerusalem itself, setting the stage for a critical test of faith for King Hezekiah and the people. The narrative immediately following will detail the arrogant Assyrian demands and the prophet Isaiah's powerful divine response.
Imagine the chilling news spreading through Judah: the mighty Assyrian army, a force that had crushed nations, is at your doorstep. In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah's reign, Sennacherib's invasion began, leaving a trail of destruction.
A King's Invasion, A Nation's Fear
Isaiah 36:1 paints a stark picture of a kingdom under siege. Sennacherib, the powerful king of Assyria, launched a military campaign aimed at subjugating Judah. The text states he "came up against all the fortified cities of Judah and took them." This wasn't a minor raid; it was a full-scale invasion designed to break Judah's defenses and bring them under Assyrian control.
The Context of Crisis
The historical commentaries reveal that this invasion, likely in 701 BC, was a pivotal moment. Sennacherib's goal was not just to collect tribute, as Hezekiah's father had done, but to assert Assyrian dominance. Hezekiah had previously tried to shake off the Assyrian yoke, a bold move that now invited the empire's wrath. The Assyrian king's strategy was brutal: to dismantle Judah's defenses by capturing its fortified cities, leaving Jerusalem isolated and vulnerable. This opening verse sets the stage for the terrifying psychological warfare and divine intervention that would follow.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Isaiah 36:1-2 is available in the Sola app.
Why does the Bible sometimes seem to have a 'hiccup' in its timeline? The exact year of Sennacherib's invasion is debated by scholars, yet this very question can lead us to a deeper appreciation of God's timing and purpose.
Wrestling with Dates, Trusting the Source
The precise dating of events in the Bible, especially in historical narratives, can sometimes be a puzzle. In Isaiah 36:1, the "fourteenth year of King Hezekiah" is mentioned. However, historical and Assyrian records suggest Sennacherib's major campaign against Judah occurred around 701 BC. If Hezekiah reigned from 715 BC, the fourteenth year would be 701 BC, fitting neatly. But other interpretations, including those that connect this date to Hezekiah's illness mentioned later (chapter 38), suggest potential discrepancies or a different sequence of events.
Divine Purpose in the Details
Scholars offer various explanations: perhaps the chapters were transposed, or an editor calculated the date based on Hezekiah's later illness. Some suggest an earlier invasion by Sargon, not Sennacherib. Regardless of the exact year, the core truth remains: God's Word, while historically accurate in its message, doesn't always present information in a strictly chronological order that satisfies modern historical methods. The important point is not to get lost in the 'when,' but to grasp the 'who' and 'why.' This invasion was a real, terrifying event meant to test Judah's faith and demonstrate God's power to deliver.
The verse mentions 'fortified cities.' What does that tell us about Judah's strategy and their ultimate vulnerability? It wasn't just about walls; it was about who they trusted.
More Than Just Walls
Isaiah 36:1 highlights that Sennacherib attacked "all the fortified cities of Judah." The term 'fortified' implies that Judah had invested in defenses – walls, strategic locations, perhaps even garrisons. This suggests a human strategy of self-preservation, a reliance on physical barriers and military preparedness against the overwhelming might of Assyria.
The Limits of Human Strength
However, the fact that Sennacherib "took them" underscores the limitations of these fortifications. No matter how strong the walls, they were ultimately insufficient against the Assyrian war machine. This historical reality serves as a powerful backdrop for the spiritual message that follows: Judah's true security lay not in its defenses, but in its relationship with God. The subsequent chapters will reveal how Sennacherib's invasion was not just a military challenge, but a profound test of faith, exposing the inadequacy of material defenses when compared to divine protection.
Understand the original words
Rab-shaqeh · Hebrew Noun
A Hebrew title meaning 'the king's brother' or a similar derivative, historically interpreted as a high-ranking military or civil official or field commander under the Assyrian king. In the context of biblical history, he served as the primary spokesman for Sennacherib.
The verse places us directly in the midst of Sennacherib's formidable Assyrian invasion of Judah. This wasn't just a random military excursion; it was part of a larger imperial strategy, likely aimed at securing Assyrian dominance and potentially challenging Egypt. The conquest of Judah's fortified cities set the stage for the dramatic confrontation at Jerusalem, highlighting the precariousness of Judah's existence and the immense pressure on King Hezekiah.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria
The northern Kingdom of Israel falls to Assyria, and many are exiled. This event would have created deep anxiety in Judah about Assyrian power.
c. 711 BC
Sargon II's possible campaign
Some scholars suggest Sargon II of Assyria may have campaigned in Judah or the surrounding region, possibly related to rebellions in Ashdod.
c. 705 BC
Death of Sargon II, Accession of Sennacherib
Sennacherib becomes king of Assyria, a period of potential instability that Hezekiah may have sought to exploit by ceasing tribute.
c. 701 BC— this verse
Sennacherib's Campaign Against Judah
Assyrian king Sennacherib invades Judah, capturing numerous fortified cities and devastating the land. This event is the direct context for Isaiah 36:1.
c. 701 BC
Siege of Jerusalem
After conquering many cities, Sennacherib's forces lay siege to Jerusalem, but miraculously withdraw after a divine intervention.
c. 681 BC
Death of Sennacherib
Sennacherib is assassinated by his own sons. He reigned for over 20 years after his campaign against Judah.
This passage is essentially the same account, highlighting the historical parallel and providing a fuller narrative context for Sennacherib's invasion and Hezekiah's subsequent actions.
2 Chronicles 32:1-8This parallel account emphasizes Hezekiah's response to the invasion, including his efforts to prepare Jerusalem for defense and his reliance on God, which directly contrasts with the Assyrian king's aggression.
Isaiah 10:5-15This earlier prophecy from Isaiah sets the stage for the Assyrian threat, describing the arrogant pride of the Assyrian king and God's ultimate judgment against him, providing prophetic context for the historical events in Isaiah 36.
Isaiah 37:1-7This passage immediately follows the invasion narrative and showcases Isaiah's direct intervention and God's powerful response to Sennacherib's blasphemy, demonstrating God's sovereignty over empires.
cambridgeIsaiah 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."
1 . (Cf. 2 Kings 18:13 ) in the fourteenth year ] The year of Sennacherib’s expedition was beyond question 701 b.c. If this was really the fourteenth year of Hezekiah his accession must have taken place in 715. On the objections to this date, see Chronological Note, pp. lxxvi f. Assuming that the arguments there given are v…
bensonIsaiah 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."
A.M. 3292. — B.C. 712. In this and the three following chapters is contained the historical part of the book of Isaiah, relating a memorable transaction, strongly confirmative of the divine mission of our prophet, and illustrative of some of the foregoing predictions. In this chapter we have the invasion of Judah by Sennach…
While the verse states Sennacherib "took" all the fortified cities, it highlights that his ultimate target wasn't simply conquest but a strategic move to isolate Jerusalem, setting the stage for a psychological siege rather than immediate military victory. The commentaries reveal this was the first phase of a "double attempt" on Jerusalem, with the main assault through Rabshakeh coming later.
The prophet Isaiah recounts the devastating Assyrian invasion led by King Sennacherib, who systematically conquered Judah's fortified cities. This invasion serves as a stark prelude to the Assyrians' eventual confrontation with Jerusalem itself, setting the stage for a critical test of faith for King Hezekiah and the people. The narrative immediately following will detail the arrogant Assyrian demands and the prophet Isaiah's powerful divine response.
The prophet Isaiah recounts the devastating Assyrian invasion led by King Sennacherib, who systematically conquered Judah's fortified cities. This invasion serves as a stark prelude to the Assyrians' eventual confrontation with Jerusalem itself, setting the stage for a critical test of faith for King Hezekiah and the people. The narrative immediately following will detail the arrogant Assyrian demands and the prophet Isaiah's powerful divine response.
"In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah and took them. And the king of Assyria sent the Rabshakeh from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem, with a great army.…" — While the verse states Sennacherib "took" all the fortified cities, it highlights that his ultimate target wasn't simply conquest but a strategic move to isolate Jerusalem, setting the stage for a ps…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
