Isaiah 37:33-34
“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. By the way that he came, by the same he shall return, and he shall not come into this city, declares the LORD.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse doesn't just state Sennacherib won't enter Jerusalem, but that he won't even be allowed to initiate a proper siege. God promises that the Assyrian king won't get close enough to shoot an arrow, raise a shield, or build a siege mound, detailing the very specific actions of warfare that will be forbidden.
Sennacherib, king of Assyria, has launched a terrifying invasion, boasting of his conquests and threatening Jerusalem directly. King Hezekiah has prayed earnestly for divine intervention, and the prophet Isaiah has delivered God's powerful message of assurance. This verse is God's direct declaration that Assyria will not breach Jerusalem's defenses, despite their formidable siege tactics.
Sennacherib's army was a terrifying force, poised to conquer Jerusalem. But God's word to Isaiah lays out specific boundaries.
Isaiah 37:33 is not a vague promise, but a detailed declaration of how the Assyrian king's advance would be halted. Notice the specific actions God forbids:
These aren't just military terms; they represent the full spectrum of siege warfare. God declares that none of these would happen. This wasn't just about Jerusalem's walls holding; it was about God actively intervening to prevent any assault from even commencing.
Why does God intervene so decisively? The word 'Therefore' at the start of the verse connects this promise to something crucial that happened just before.
The word 'Therefore' in Isaiah 37:33 isn't just a simple connector; it points back to the fervent prayer of King Hezekiah and the people (Isaiah 37:14-20). After Sennacherib's blasphemous threats, Hezekiah didn't rely on his own strength or political maneuvering. Instead, he brought the situation before the LORD.
God's response, detailed in this verse, is a direct answer to that prayer. It demonstrates that human prayers, especially those offered in deep distress and reliance on God, are heard and acted upon by the Almighty. This wasn't a random act of protection; it was a covenant response to faith in action.
This verse is a direct prophecy from Isaiah, spoken in the immediate aftermath of King Hezekiah's prayer and amidst the terrifying Assyrian invasion. It assures Jerusalem that the mighty Assyrian army, despite its fearsome siege tactics, will not breach the city's defenses. The historical context reveals a moment of extreme peril, where God intervenes miraculously to save His people and vindicate His name against arrogant human power.
c. 701 BC
Assyrian Invasion of Judah
King Sennacherib of Assyria invades Judah, conquering many fortified cities and threatening Jerusalem.
c. 701 BC
Rabshakeh's Blasphemous Taunts
Sennacherib's envoy, Rabshakeh, taunts Jerusalem and King Hezekiah, blaspheming the LORD God of Israel.
c. 701 BC— this verse
Hezekiah's Prayer and Isaiah's Prophecy
Hezekiah prays fervently in the temple, and Isaiah delivers God's prophecy of deliverance and judgment on Assyria.
c. 701 BC
Divine Intervention and Assyrian Defeat
The angel of the LORD strikes down 185,000 Assyrian soldiers in their camp overnight, forcing Sennacherib to withdraw.
This passage directly describes the miraculous destruction of the Assyrian army by an angel of the Lord, underscoring the divine intervention promised in Isaiah 37:33.
Psalm 46:1-3This psalm speaks of God as a refuge and strength, showing that even when nations rage and kingdoms totter, God's presence protects His people from being moved, echoing the protection assured to Jerusalem.
Jeremiah 1:17-19This prophetic promise to Jeremiah assures him that he will be made like a fortified city, a bronze wall against the enemies, showing God's power to protect His servants and His message even against formidable opposition.
Ezekiel 4:2This passage describes the symbolic siege mound cast against Jerusalem. Isaiah 37:33 directly counters this by stating the Assyrian king will not cast a siege mound against the city, highlighting the negation of the enemy's hostile actions.
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.
The verse doesn't just state Sennacherib won't enter Jerusalem, but that he won't even be allowed to initiate a proper siege. God promises that the Assyrian king won't get close enough to shoot an arrow, raise a shield, or build a siege mound, detailing the very specific actions of warfare that will be forbidden.
Sennacherib, king of Assyria, has launched a terrifying invasion, boasting of his conquests and threatening Jerusalem directly. King Hezekiah has prayed earnestly for divine intervention, and the prophet Isaiah has delivered God's powerful message of assurance. This verse is God's direct declaration that Assyria will not breach Jerusalem's defenses, despite their formidable siege tactics.
Sennacherib, king of Assyria, has launched a terrifying invasion, boasting of his conquests and threatening Jerusalem directly. King Hezekiah has prayed earnestly for divine intervention, and the prophet Isaiah has delivered God's powerful message of assurance. This verse is God's direct declaration that Assyria will not breach Jerusalem's defenses, despite their formidable siege tactics.
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c. 701 BC
Sennacherib's Retreat and Death
Sennacherib returns to Nineveh, only to be assassinated by his own sons. His empire faces internal turmoil.
"“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. By the way that he came, by the same he shall retur…" — The verse doesn't just state Sennacherib won't enter Jerusalem, but that he won't even be allowed to initiate a proper siege. God promises that the Assyrian king won't get close enough to shoot an…
