Isaiah 37

Hezekiah Seeks God’s Help

1 When King Hezekiah heard what was said, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and went straight to the house of the Lord.

2 He sent Eliakim the palace manager, Shebna the secretary, and the leading priests, all dressed in sackcloth, to the prophet Isaiah, son of Amoz.

3 They told him, “This is what Hezekiah says: Today’s a day of trouble, insults, and disgrace, like a woman trying to give birth but too weak to deliver.”

4 “Maybe the Lord your God heard all the words that the Assyrian commander spoke, all that trash he talked against the living God. Please pray for the people who are still alive.”

5 When King Hezekiah’s officials got to Isaiah,

6 Isaiah told them, “Go tell your master this: The Lord says, ‘Do not be scared by those words you heard, by the threats those Assyrian servants threw at Me.’”

7 “Listen, I am going to put a spirit in him. He is going to hear a rumor and go back home, and there he will die by the sword.”

The Assyrian Threatens Again

8 The commander went back and found the king of Assyria fighting against Libnah, after hearing he had moved from Lachish.

9 Then he heard that Tirhakah, the king of Cush, was marching out to fight him. When he heard it, he sent messengers again to Hezekiah, saying,

10 “Tell Hezekiah, king of Judah, ‘Do not let your God you trust trick you into thinking Jerusalem will not fall into my hands.’”

11 “You heard what I did to all those nations, wiped them out completely. You think you are going to be the one to escape?”

12 “Did the gods of the nations my ancestors destroyed, Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, or the people of Eden in Telassar, save them?”

13 “Where is the king of Hamath, The king of Arpad, The king of the city of Sepharvaim, Where are Hena and Ivvah?”

Hezekiah’s Prayer

14 Hezekiah took the letter from the messengers, read it, and went up to the Lord’s temple. He spread it out before the Lord.

15 Then Hezekiah prayed,

16 “Lord of Armies, God of Israel, You sit on the throne above the cherubim. You alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You made heaven and earth.”

17 “Listen closely, Lord, and see. Hear all the words Sennacherib sent to insult the living God.”

18 “It is true, Lord, the kings of Assyria have destroyed all those nations and their lands.”

19 “They threw their gods into the fire, but those were not real gods, just wood and stone made by human hands.”

20 “Now, Lord our God, save us from his hand so all the kingdoms of the earth will know that You alone are the Lord.”

God’s Answer Through Isaiah

21 Then Isaiah, son of Amoz, sent word to Hezekiah: “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says, since you prayed to Me about King Sennacherib of Assyria, I have heard you.”

22 “This is what the Lord says about him: the virgin daughter Zion laughs at you, mocks you. The daughter of Jerusalem shakes her head as you run away.”

23 “Who you think you insulted and blasphemed, Who are you raising your voice against, You been talking reckless against the Holy One of Israel.”

24 “Through your servants you bragged against Me, saying, ‘With my chariots I climbed the mountains, reached Lebanon’s highest peaks, and cut down its tallest cedars.’”

25 “‘I dug wells, drank foreign waters, and dried up rivers under my feet.’”

26 “You did not know I planned this long ago, I already decided you would crush fortified cities and turn them into ruins.”

27 “The people living there were powerless, scared, and weak, like grass on rooftops that dies before it grows.”

28 “But I know where you stay, when you come and go, and how you rage against Me.”

29 “Because you raged against Me and your arrogance reached My ears, I am going to put My hook in your nose and My bit in your mouth, and make you go back the same way you came.”

A Sign for Hezekiah

30 “This will be your sign, Hezekiah: This year you will eat what grows by itself, next year what springs up from that, but the year after that, you will plant and harvest, and vineyards will produce fruit.”

31 “The people of Judah who survive will take root again and bear fruit.”

32 “For out of Jerusalem will come a remnant, and out of Mount Zion, survivors. The Lord’s zeal will make it happen.”

God Protects Jerusalem

33 “This is what the Lord says about the king of Assyria: He will not enter this city, or even shoot an arrow here. He will not attack it or build siege ramps around it.”

34 “He will go back the same way he came. He will not set foot in this city,” says the Lord.

35 “I will defend this city and save it for My sake and for My servant David’s sake.”

The Lord Strikes the Assyrian Army

36 That night, the angel of the Lord went out and struck down 185,000 men in the Assyrian camp. When the people woke up in the morning, the camp was full of dead bodies.

37 So King Sennacherib of Assyria broke camp and went back home to Nineveh.

38 While he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch, his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer killed him with the sword, then ran off to Ararat. His son Esarhaddon became king after him.