Isaiah 36
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TheGreat Isaiah Scroll, the best preserved of the biblical scrolls found atQumran from the second century BC, contains all the verses in this chapter.
Book	Book of Isaiah
Hebrew Bible part	Nevi'im
Order in the Hebrew part	5
Category	Latter Prophets
Christian Bible part	Old Testament
Order in the Christian part	23

Isaiah 36 is the thirty-sixthchapter of theBook of Isaiah in theHebrew Bible or theOld Testament of theChristianBible. This book contains the prophecies attributed to the prophetIsaiah, and is one of theBooks of the Prophets. The text, describing the invasion of the Assyrian kingSennacherib to theKingdom of Judah underHezekiah.^[1]

The original text was written inHebrew language.This chapter is divided into 22 verses.

Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter inHebrew are of theMasoretic Text tradition, which includes theCodex Cairensis (895),the Petersburg Codex of the Prophets (916),Aleppo Codex (10th century),Codex Leningradensis (1008).^[2]

Fragments containing parts of this chapter were found among theDead Sea Scrolls (3rd century BC or later):

• 1QIsa^a: complete
• 4QIsa^b (4Q56): extant: verses 1–2

There is also a translation intoKoine Greek known as theSeptuagint, made in the last few centuries BCE. Extant ancient manuscripts of theSeptuagint version includeCodex Vaticanus (B;${\displaystyle \mathfrak{G}}$^B; 4th century),Codex Sinaiticus (S;BHK:${\displaystyle \mathfrak{G}}$^S; 4th century),Codex Alexandrinus (A;${\displaystyle \mathfrak{G}}$^A; 5th century) andCodex Marchalianus (Q;${\displaystyle \mathfrak{G}}$^Q; 6th century).^[3]

Theparashah sections listed here are based on theAleppo Codex.^[4] Isaiah 36 is a part of theNarrative (Isaiah 36–39). {P}: openparashah; {S}: closedparashah.

{S} 36:1–10 {S} 36:11–16a {P} 36:16b–22 כי כה אמר {S}

Chapters 36–37 cuts into the historical narrative in2 Kings 18:13–19:38 to the time after Hezekiah sent tributes to appease Sennacherib (2 Kings 18:13–16)  – a 'treachery' that Isaiah already prophesied several times (Isaiah 21:2;24:16;33:1)  – yet failed to stop the Assyrians from attackingJerusalem.^[5] This sets up for a demonstration of Yahweh's power, and thus, "put the rock of history under the fabric of eschatology."^[5]

Taylor Prism, London

Oriental Institute Prism, Chicago

Jerusalem Prism, Israel

Sennacherib's Annals of his military campaign (704–681 BC), including his invasion into theKingdom of Judah

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.^[6]

Based onSennacherib's Annals which contain the record of the same event, the time referred here can be determined to be 701 BCE.^[1] The text here omits the admission of defeat and the payment for substantial reparations by Hezekiah to Sennacherib, which is recorded in2 Kings 18:14–16.^[1]

• "Defenced cities": or "fortified cities" of Judah, forty six cities in total, were besieged and captured bySennacherib, along with many smaller towns, according to the record of his annals.^[5]

And the king of Assyria sent Rabshakeh from Lachish to Jerusalem to King Hezekiah with a large army. And he stood by the conduit of the upper pool on the highway of the fuller's field.^[7]

• "Rabshakeh" (fromHebrew:רבשקה,Rabshaqeh^[8]): or "field commander" (also "chief cup-bearer");^[5] perhaps "chief of the officers" among the Assyrian military leaders.^[9]
• "The conduit of the upper pool": The confrontation took place at the same location whereIsaiah confrontedAhaz inIsaiah 7:3, so it presents a great contrast between 'the renegade behavior of Ahaz and the appropriate response from Hezekiah'.^[1]

In his second speech, the Rabshakeh arrogantly addresses the people directly using the language they understand, reminding them that politicians declare wars, but people bear the suffering (verse 11–13), advising them not to trust Hezekiah with his futile faith in his God (verses 14–17), but then the Rabshakeh continues to equate Israel's god with the gods of other nations and to belittle the god's ability to save Jerusalem (verses 18–20).^[10] The people appropriately respond to the arrogance with silence (verse 21).^[1]

Then came Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah, that was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah, the son of Asaph, the recorder, to Hezekiah with their clothes rent, and told him the words of Rabshakeh.^[11]

• "With their clothes rent": A common display of grief among the Jews (cf.2 Samuel 3:31;1 Kings 21:27;Ezra 9:3;Job 1:20;Job 2:12;Jeremiah 36:24; also in theNew Testament period:Matthew 26:65;Acts 14:14).^[12]

• Coggins, R (2007). "22. Isaiah". InBarton, John;Muddiman, John (eds.).The Oxford Bible Commentary (first (paperback) ed.). Oxford University Press. pp. 433–486.ISBN 978-0199277186. RetrievedFebruary 6, 2019.
• Motyer, J. Alec (2015).The Prophecy of Isaiah: An Introduction & Commentary. InterVarsity Press.ISBN 9780830895243.
• Würthwein, Ernst (1995).The Text of the Old Testament. Translated by Rhodes, Erroll F. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans.ISBN 0-8028-0788-7. RetrievedJanuary 26, 2019.

• Isaiah 36 Hebrew with Parallel English

• Isaiah 36 English Translation with Parallel Latin VulgateArchived 2016-12-24 at theWayback Machine

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