Isaiah 37:33
“Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the king of Assyria: He shall not come into this city or shoot an arrow there or come before it with a shield or cast up a siege mound against it.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This verse isn't just about military defense; it’s a divine declaration that Sennacherib won't even get close enough to try the usual tactics of siege warfare, like shooting arrows or building siege mounds. God’s protection is so absolute that the enemy won't even reach the point of a proper assault.
The Assyrian king Sennacherib's army has surrounded Jerusalem, and his commander, Rabshakeh, has arrogantly taunted King Hezekiah and blasphemed the God of Israel. After Hezekiah prays and seeks God's intervention through the prophet Isaiah, this passage delivers God's direct response and promise of protection. It emphatically declares that the Assyrian king will not succeed in his assault on the city, detailing the specific ways the siege will be thwarted.
Assyria was known for its brutal efficiency in siege warfare. But God's promise here is not just about winning; it's about how the attack will fail.
The king of Assyria's army was a formidable force, employing advanced military strategies for their time. The verse lists specific tactics:
God declares that none of these would happen. It wasn't just that Jerusalem wouldn't fall, but that the Assyrians wouldn't even get to execute their full, terrifying siege plan against the city itself.
Sennacherib's confidence was in his military might. God's response is a stark reminder that true power belongs to Him alone.
This prophecy isn't a prediction of a future battle won by human strength. It's a direct declaration from the LORD Himself. The verse begins with 'Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the king of Assyria,' emphasizing that this outcome is not dependent on Hezekiah's military preparations or the city's defenses, but on God's sovereign will.
This divine intervention is highlighted by the swift and decisive end to the Assyrian threat, as described in the following verses where an angel of the LORD strikes down 185,000 Assyrian soldiers overnight (Isaiah 37:36). God didn't just allow Hezekiah's prayer to be heard; He acted directly and dramatically to protect His people and His city.
This prophecy comes during a moment of extreme crisis for Jerusalem, with the mighty Assyrian army encamped nearby, having already conquered much of Judah. God's words to Isaiah are a direct, powerful response to Hezekiah's prayer and the Assyrians' arrogant threats, promising that their siege will utterly fail and the king of Assyria will be decisively repelled.
c. 701 BC
Assyrian Invasion of Judah
Sennacherib, king of Assyria, campaigns in the region, conquering many fortified cities in Judah and threatening Jerusalem.
c. 701 BC
Siege of Lachish
Sennacherib's army captures the heavily fortified city of Lachish, a major setback for Judah.
c. 701 BC
Rabshakeh's Blasphemous Taunts
Sennacherib's envoy, Rabshakeh, stands before Jerusalem and delivers a defiant and blasphemous message, mocking God and King Hezekiah.
c. 701 BC— this verse
Hezekiah's Prayer and Isaiah's Prophecy
King Hezekiah, in deep distress, prays to the LORD, and the prophet Isaiah delivers God's message of assurance and judgment against the Assyrian king.
This passage is the parallel account in 2 Kings and directly states the same promise from the LORD regarding the Assyrian king's inability to attack Jerusalem.
Isaiah 10:28-34This earlier passage in Isaiah describes the Assyrian army's advance and their arrogant confidence, setting the stage for God's judgment that mirrors the prophecy here.
Psalm 46:1-7This psalm speaks of God as a refuge and fortress for His people, declaring that nations rage and kingdoms totter, but God will make His voice thunder and the earth melts, which resonates with the divine intervention described here.
Jeremiah 1:17-19This passage shows God's promise to a prophet to protect him against opposition, similar to how Hezekiah is assured protection against the formidable king of Assyria and his army.
barnesIsaiah 37:33: "Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shields, nor cast a bank against it."
He shall not come into this city - Sennacherib encamped probably on the northeast side of the city, and his army was destroyed there (see the notes at Isaiah 10:28 ff.) Nor shoot an arrow there - That is, nor shoot an arrow within the walls of the city. Nor come before it with shields - (See the not…
cambridgeIsaiah 37:33: "Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shields, nor cast a bank against it."
33 . Therefore probably attaches itself to “whereas” in Isaiah 37:21 (see the note on that verse). 33–35 . An assurance that Jehovah will protect Jerusalem, in answer to Hezekiah’s prayer.
This verse isn't just about military defense; it’s a divine declaration that Sennacherib won't even get close enough to try the usual tactics of siege warfare, like shooting arrows or building siege mounds. God’s protection is so absolute that the enemy won't even reach the point of a proper assault.
The Assyrian king Sennacherib's army has surrounded Jerusalem, and his commander, Rabshakeh, has arrogantly taunted King Hezekiah and blasphemed the God of Israel. After Hezekiah prays and seeks God's intervention through the prophet Isaiah, this passage delivers God's direct response and promise of protection. It emphatically declares that the Assyrian king will not succeed in his assault on the city, detailing the specific ways the siege will be thwarted.
The Assyrian king Sennacherib's army has surrounded Jerusalem, and his commander, Rabshakeh, has arrogantly taunted King Hezekiah and blasphemed the God of Israel. After Hezekiah prays and seeks God's intervention through the prophet Isaiah, this passage delivers God's direct response and promise of protection. It emphatically declares that the Assyrian king will not succeed in his assault on the city, detailing the specific ways the siege will be thwarted.
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c. 701 BC
Divine Judgment on Assyrian Camp
The angel of the LORD strikes down 185,000 Assyrian soldiers in their camp overnight, forcing Sennacherib to withdraw.
c. 701 BC
Sennacherib's Retreat and Assassination
Sennacherib abandons the siege and returns to Nineveh, where he is later assassinated by his own sons.
"“Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the king of Assyria: He shall not come into this city or shoot an arrow there or come before it with a shield or cast up a siege mound against it." — This verse isn't just about military defense; it’s a divine declaration that Sennacherib won't even get close enough to try the usual tactics of siege warfare, like shooting arrows or building sieg…
