Isaiah 36 1

Isaiah 36:1 kjv

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.

Isaiah 36:1 nkjv

Now it came to pass in the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah that Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah and took them.

Isaiah 36:1 niv

In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah's reign, Sennacherib king of Assyria attacked all the fortified cities of Judah and captured them.

Isaiah 36:1 esv

In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah and took them.

Isaiah 36:1 nlt

In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah's reign, King Sennacherib of Assyria came to attack the fortified towns of Judah and conquered them.

Isaiah 36 verses

Isaiah 36 1 Meaning

Isaiah 36:1 introduces a pivotal historical moment: the Assyrian invasion of Judah during the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah's reign. This verse establishes the setting for the dramatic confrontation between the dominant superpower, Assyria, led by King Sennacherib, and the Kingdom of Judah. It specifically records the success of Sennacherib in capturing many of Judah's fortified cities, underscoring the severe and existential threat posed to Jerusalem and the nation. This event serves as a critical test of faith for Hezekiah and Judah, immediately following earlier prophetic pronouncements and preparing the ground for the miraculous deliverance recounted in the subsequent chapters.

Isaiah 36 1 Context

Isaiah chapter 36 initiates a significant shift in the book of Isaiah, moving from predominantly prophetic pronouncements (chapters 1-35) to a historical narrative (chapters 36-39). This section closely parallels accounts found in 2 Kings 18-20 and 2 Chronicles 32, detailing a specific historical crisis. Immediately preceding this, Isaiah's prophecies included warnings against foreign alliances (Isa 30:1-7) and trust in human power, contrasted with calls to trust solely in the Lord (Isa 30:15-18, Isa 31:1-3). The previous chapter (Isa 35) paints a picture of glorious restoration and redemption. Thus, Isaiah 36:1 introduces the severe challenge that will test Judah's faith and the efficacy of God's word in a direct, dramatic confrontation with a powerful enemy. The historical context is the late 8th century BCE, a period dominated by the mighty Assyrian Empire, which had already conquered the northern kingdom of Israel and posed a constant threat to all smaller nations in the Near East.

Isaiah 36 1 Word analysis

• Now it came to pass (וַיְהִי - va-y’hî): A common narrative connector in Hebrew, signalling the beginning of a new historical event or episode. It functions as a temporal and sequential marker, linking the ensuing narrative to previous events or prophecies implicitly.
• in the fourteenth year (בְּאַרְבַּע עֶשְׂרֵה שָׁנָה - b’arbâʻ ʻeśrêh shânâh): Provides precise historical dating, anchoring the narrative firmly in known chronology. This specificity is a hallmark of historical accounts in the Bible.
• of King Hezekiah (לַמֶּלֶךְ יְחִזְקִיָּהוּ - lammeleḵ Y’ḥizqiyâhu): Refers to the righteous king of Judah (reigned c. 715–686 BCE). His name, יְחִזְקִיָּהוּ (Y’ḥizqiyâhu), means "Yahweh (the LORD) strengthens." This name foreshadows the divine strengthening and deliverance that Judah will eventually experience under his leadership despite the initial military setbacks. Hezekiah's reforms are detailed in 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles.
• that Sennacherib (סַנְחֵרִיב - Sanḥêrîv): The infamous king of Assyria (reigned 705–681 BCE), a historical figure attested extensively in Assyrian records, including the "Sennacherib Prism." He represents the embodiment of immense worldly power and pride. His name is of Akkadian origin, possibly meaning "Sin (the moon-god) has replaced brothers."
• king of Assyria (מֶלֶךְ אַשּׁוּר - meleḵ ʼAshšûr): Assyria was the dominant imperial power of the ancient Near East during this period, known for its brutal military tactics and effective administration. Its capital was Nineveh. For Judah, Assyria represented an unstoppable force, a divine instrument of judgment (Isa 10:5). This title signifies ultimate earthly authority and military might.
• came up against (עָלָה עַל - ʻâlâh ʻal): A military idiom signifying an attack or invasion, often involving a journey from a lower elevation (e.g., Mesopotamia) to a higher one (e.g., the mountainous region of Judah), or simply "marched against."
• all the fortified cities (כָּל עָרֵי מִבְצַר - kol ʻârê mivtzâr): Emphasizes the comprehensiveness of the invasion. These "cities of fortification/strongholds" (מִבְצַר - mivtzar) were crucial for defense, built with walls and towers. The taking of "all" (כָּל - kol) implies a thorough and devastating conquest of the Judean countryside, leaving Jerusalem isolated and vulnerable.
• of Judah (יְהוּדָה - Y’hudâh): The southern kingdom, distinct from the already fallen northern kingdom of Israel. Its capital was Jerusalem.
• and took them (וַיִּתְפְּשֵׂם - vayyitp’śēm): Denotes the military success of Sennacherib's initial campaign. This conquest was a real and severe historical event, acknowledged by Assyrian records as well. It stripped Judah of its defenses and revenue, increasing pressure on Jerusalem.

• "King Hezekiah, that Sennacherib king of Assyria": Juxtaposes the local Judean monarch, who despite being generally righteous, faces a grave threat, with the mighty imperial aggressor. This sets the stage for a conflict of vastly unequal human powers.
• "came up against all the fortified cities of Judah and took them": Highlights the devastating scope of the invasion. It implies a strategic and tactical triumph for Assyria and a catastrophic loss for Judah, isolating Jerusalem as the last stronghold. This widespread destruction was intended to terrorize the population and force Jerusalem's surrender without a prolonged siege.

Isaiah 36 1 Bonus section

This verse initiates what scholars sometimes call "The Book of Hezekiah" or "The Sennacherib Campaign Narrative" within Isaiah (chapters 36-39). The inclusion of this extensive historical section, paralleling narratives in 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles, is crucial to Isaiah's message. It moves beyond abstract prophecy to demonstrate how God's words—both judgment and salvation—were tangibly fulfilled in Judah's recent past. The devastating success of Sennacherib against Judah's strongholds, which Assyrian records confirm in detail, validates the historical reality of the biblical account and amplifies the magnitude of God's later intervention in sparing Jerusalem. The historical accounts of Sennacherib often mention his claim of "shutting up Hezekiah like a bird in a cage" in Jerusalem, without explicitly claiming the capture of the city itself, thus aligning with the biblical record of Jerusalem's unique preservation.

Isaiah 36 1 Commentary

Isaiah 36:1 serves as the abrupt and sobering introduction to the historical narrative of the Assyrian invasion, marking the "trial by fire" for King Hezekiah and the people of Judah. It underscores the severity of the threat by noting the success of Sennacherib's campaign in seizing virtually all of Judah's fortified cities. This detailed dating and specific mention of historical figures like Hezekiah and Sennacherib anchor the divine message firmly in human history, demonstrating God's involvement in temporal affairs. The taking of these cities was a fulfillment of earlier prophetic warnings against Judah's sin and reliance on human alliances, setting the stage for Jerusalem's miraculous deliverance—an event that would profoundly display the Lord's sovereignty over the mightiest empires. It serves as a reminder that divine judgment often precedes divine mercy and that the gravest human predicaments are opportunities for God's greatest works of salvation, demanding faith and reliance on Him alone. The verse dramatically sets up the unfolding conflict not merely as a clash between nations, but as a test of Judah's trust in Yahweh versus the overwhelming power of the world.