Isaiah 36:17 - Printer Friendly

ESV: until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of grain and wine, a land of bread and vineyards.

NIV: until I come and take you to a land like your own—a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards.

NASB: until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards.

CSB: until I come and take you away to a land like your own land—a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards.

NLT: Then I will arrange to take you to another land like this one — a land of grain and new wine, bread and vineyards.

KJV: Until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of corn and wine, a land of bread and vineyards.

NKJV: until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards.

Before investing time and effort in a siege of Jerusalem (Isaiah 36:12), Assyria's King Sennacherib wants to strike terror into the hearts of the people inside. His messenger (Isaiah 36:1–3) is speaking loudly in the language of Judah to make an offer. Those who defy their king and surrender to the Assyrians will be allowed to live in peace in their own homes. The alternative is the wrath of a nation known for its cruelty and barbarism in war.

Now comes a crucial "catch" in the offer. The people who surrender will live at home, for a while, but will then be relocated. The Rabshakeh (Isaiah 36:4) claims this will be from one good land to another. Judah can skip starvation and bloodshed if they ignore Hezekiah's assurances. But one way or another, they won't be staying here forever. Relocating conquered populations provides convenient labor and makes it more difficult for the transplanted people to rebel against their captors.

Even facing the terror of siege and Assyrian violence, the people of Jerusalem seem to realize that Sennacherib could not be trusted to keep his word. He had recently demanded ransom from Hezekiah, took it, then sent his emissary to say they'd be attacking anyway (2 Kings 18:13–18).

Isaiah 36:11–22 records psychological warfare from the commander of the Assyrian army. He shouts in the local dialect so everyone can experience terror. The speech promises horrors of siege and death unless the people surrender now. The Assyrian notes that no other nation's gods have stopped this invasion. Nor has any supernatural force protected the territories of Israel and Judah. Jerusalem seems to have no earthly hope, and Hezekiah's messengers wisely say nothing before returning to the city in grief.

Sennacherib and the Assyrian army conquer all of Judah except for Jerusalem. There, a remnant of the people waits inside the walls. Sennacherib sends a messenger to meet with Hezekiah's officials. The messenger taunts Hezekiah, mocking their attempts at alliances as well as their faith in God. This commander, also called "the Rabshakeh" calls out in the local Hebrew language so everyone will understand. He offers life and prosperity to those who surrender now. In his opinion, none of the gods of any of the nations the Assyrians have defeated were able to stop them. So why will the Lord God of Israel be any different?

Isaiah 36 shifts from poetic prophecies to the historical account of an Assyrian army's threats against Judah. Sennacherib's army conquers everything in Judah other except for Jerusalem. An Assyrian messenger taunts the people and tells them that no gods have stopped Assyria yet, so they shouldn't trust in Judah's God, either. Diplomats return to King Hezekiah in Jerusalem with this news. Hezekiah will seek help from Isaiah, pray to God, and receive a spectacular miraculous rescue (Isaiah 37).

Isaiah is among the most important prophetic books in the entire Bible. The first segment details God's impending judgment against ancient peoples for sin and idolatry (Isaiah 1—35). The second part of Isaiah briefly explains a failed assault on Jerusalem during the rule of Hezekiah (Isaiah 36—39). The final chapters predict Israel's rescue from Babylonian captivity (Isaiah 40—48), the promised Messiah (Isaiah 49—57), and the final glory of Jerusalem and God's people (Isaiah 58—66).