Isaiah: Chapter 36 | The Wolfe Notes

Welcome, Family! We're spending 2024 with the prophet Isaiah. While we claim no expertise, we're excited to sit with you as we both learn at the feet of Jesus. Each month, we offer a calendar that outlines daily exercises (adapted from Jenn Wilkin's Women of the Word Bible study process) to progress through Isaiah. Download July's calendar to begin with us and witness what we uncovered in our weekly "Wolfe Note" postings.

Contents:

1. Different Versions Noting and clarifying differences between KJV & WEB.
2. Annotation My thoughts, connections, clarifications, and questions.
3. Research Hezekiah's removal of altars.
4. Summary An approximately twenty word overview of the chapter.
5. Memorize Why I chose to memorize Isaiah 36:21.
6. Cross References Of Isaiah 36:21.
7. Respond Based on reflections on God's character and my own.

Different Versions

I read Chapter 36 in the King James Version (KJV) and the World English Bible (WEB). Both are word-for-word translations.

Major differences I noticed (*My thoughts alone are in italics and designated with an asterisk.):

• Isaiah 36:16 
• Comparisons:
• KJV: Hearken not to Hezekiah: for thus saith the king of Assyria, Make an agreement with me (1) by a present, and come out to me: and eat ye every one of his vine, and every one of his fig tree, and drink ye every one the waters of his own cistern.
• WEB: Don't listen to Hezekiah, for the king of Assyria says, 'Make your peace with me (1 omitted), and come out to me; and each of you eat from his vine, and each one from his fig tree, and each one of you drink the waters of his own cistern; 
• Discrepancies: Why is the present (KJV) omitted (WEB)? 
• Clarifications/Conclusions:
• In Hebrew, the word meaning present, or blessing, berakah, is not omitted.
• Cambridge notes this is the only appearance of this phrase. It may mean 'make peaceful submission to me." Pulpit interprets it to mean treaty. And Jamieson-Fausset-Brown sees it as a request to pay homage or congratulate them on victory.
• *A present may not have been offered, yet I still wonder about it's connection to Isaiah 18:7 KJV: In that time shall the present be brought unto the Lord of hosts of a people scattered and peeled...

Annotation

Notes on my process. *Denotes my thoughts alone. ! Denotes a connection. Researched quick answers are in italics. *R Indicates a topic with more extensive notes under the research heading.

1. Judah is Captured (v1)
1. The King of Assyria captures Judah.
1. Hezekiah, the King of Judah, was faithful to God. He took down altars to false gods throughout Judah. - The Old Testament Handbook
2. Judah is Challenged (v2-7)
1. Assyria sends Rabshakeh as a messenger to Judah.
1. *It wasn't just a message. It was a show of force - an entire army came with him.
2. ? Was it common to meet by the fuller's field? 
1. Isaiah 7:3 WEB: Then Yahweh said to Isaiah, "Go out now to meet Ahaz, you, and Shearjashub your son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool, on the highway of the fuller's field. 
2. See also the first bullet point in our notes on Isaiah 7.
2. Judah sends the house overseer, scribe, and recorder to engage.
1. ! We've seen the overseer and scribe before: Eliakim and Shebna.
1. Isaiah 22:15-18 KJV: Thus saith the Lord God of hosts, Go, get thee unto this treasurer, even unto Shebna, which is over the house...Behold, the Lord will carry thee away with a mighty captivity, and will surely cover thee. He will surely violently turn and toss thee like a ball into a large country: there shalt thou die, and there the chariots of thy glory shall be the shame of thy lord's house.
2. Isaiah 22:20-23 WEB: It will happen in that day that I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and I will clothe him with your [Shebna's] robe, and strengthen him with your belt. I will commit your government into his hand; and he will be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah...He will be for a throne of glory to his father's house.
3. See our research on Shebna and Eliakim.
4. ? If Shebna and Eliakim represent Satan and Jesus, why are they working together here?
1. *We do see that Eliakim has taken Shebna's place here as overseer. Shebna is the scribe, Eliakim the overseer.
2. ! These roles are familiar too. 
1. Isaiah 33:18 KJV: Thine heart shall meditate terror. Where is the scribe? where is the receiver? where is he that counted the towers.
2. See our research on these roles. 
1. *The scribe, Satan here, is responsible for keeping track of our debts. Which he tries to use against us, to make us hide in shame, to manipulate us to turn away from God, and to immobilize us in fear. 
2. Thank God that the Keeper of the House, Jesus, [blotted] out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross. Colossians 2:14 KJV
3. ? Could this engagement be what Isaiah 33 references? 
3. Assyria taunts Judah: where is your confidence now? 
4. Will you continue to rebel against us?
5. You trusted in Egypt and Egypt betrayed you.
1. Isaiah 10:20 WEB: It will come to pass in that day that the remnant of Israel, and those who have escaped from the house of Jacob will no more lean on him who struck them, but shall lean on Yahweh, the Holy One of Israel in truth.
2. See our cross references to Isaiah 10:20.
3. Isaiah 20:4-6 WEB: So the king of Assyria will lead away the captives of Egypt and the exiles of Ethiopia, young and old, naked and barefoot, and with buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt. They will be dismayed and confounded, because of Ethiopia their expectation, and of Egypt their glory. The inhabitants of this coast land will say in that day, 'Behold, this is our expectation, where we fled for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria. And we, how will we escape?'
4. See our annotation of Isaiah 20 & 21. 
5. ? Is Isaiah 20-21 the prophecy of this moment?
6. ! Pierced hands reminds me of Jesus' crucifixion.
1. "...if a man leans on [Egypt's staff], it will go into his hand and pierce it..." Isaiah 36:6 WEB
2. "...Except I shall see in [Jesus'] hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails..." John 20:25 KJV
7. Egypt symbolically represents a sinful life, or the world, throughout the Bible. Bible Hub
6. If you say it's God that you trust, I won't believe it. Your own king tore down all his altars.
1. ? Was this a misunderstanding of what Hezekiah did? A popular belief of other religions of the time was that removing altars removed a gods' presence from that land. - NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible *R
3. Assyria's Proposal (v8-10)
1. Pledge loyalty to Assyria. Receive horses and join our forces.
2. You know this is a better offer than anything you'd get from Egypt.
1. "How then can you...put your trust in Egypt for chariots and for horseman?" Isaiah 36:9 WEB
2. ! Some trust in chariots, and some in horses, but we trust in the name of Yahweh our God. Psalm 20:7 WEB
3. Especially considering it was Yahweh's command that I take this land.
1. ? Is there a cross-reference that shows this? 
1. Not specifically. It was likely an empty boast. It was not uncommon that heathen monarchs would attempt to empower their position with claims of God's command. - Bible Hub
2. But, it could be linked to:
1. Isaiah 10:5 KJV: O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, the staff in their hand is my indignation. *Which is the same chapter which prophesies that from this event Israel will learn to lean on the Lord. See Isaiah 10:20 & above.
2. Isaiah 7:17-18 WEB: Yahweh will bring on you, on your people, and on your father's house, days that have not come, from the day that Ephraim departed from Judah, even the king of Assyria. It will happen in that day that Yahweh will whistle for the fly that is in the uttermost part of the rivers of Egypt, and for the bee that is in the land of Assyria.
4. Israel's Request (v11)
1. Please speak to us so that the crowd can't hear.
5. Assyria Addresses Jerusalem (v12-20)
1. Rabshakeh comments that he was sent to communicate future misery to all Israel then loudly addresses the crowd:
2. Don't trust Hezekiah, He won't save you.
3. Don't trust your God either.
1. Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not, your God will come with vengeance, even with a recompense, he will come and save you. Isaiah 35:4 KJV
4. Instead, make a treaty with us, you will prosper. 
1. ! The present brought to God in chapter 18.
1. ... Make an agreement with me by a present...Isaiah 36:16 KJV
2. ! In that time shall the present be brought unto the Lord of hosts of a people scattered and peeled, and from a people terrible from their beginning hitherto; a nation meted out and trodden under foot, whose land the rivers have spoiled to the place of the name of the Lord of hosts, the mount Zion. Isaiah 18:7 KJV (See our research on the meted out nation.)
2. ! The advice in Proverbs to drink from your own cistern.
1. "...each one of you drink the waters of his own cistern..." Isaiah 36:16 WEB
2. Drink water out of your own cistern, running water out of your own well." Proverbs 5:15 WEB
5. Our land is rich like your land.
6. Don't fight it: no other god has protected any other nation from us. 
7. Your God won't protect you either.
6. Jerusalem Response (v21-22)
1. Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah remained quiet, as Hezekiah commanded them. 
2. They rent their clothes and relayed the conversation to Hezekiah.

Research

*Thoughts that are mine alone are marked with an asterisk and italicized.

Did Hezekiah remove all the high places to God as Rabshakeh claimed he did? Isaiah 36:7

Removal of Altars

• 2 Kings 18:4 WEB: [Hezekiah] did that which was right in Yahweh's eyes, according to all that David his father had done. He removed the high places, and broke the pillars, and cut down the Asherah. He also broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, because in those days the children of Israel burned incense to it; and he called it Nehushtan.
• The Assyrians considered tearing down of altars to be offensive to the god they were built for. - Ellicott, Pulpit & NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible

Returning to Right Relationship

• Hezekiah worked to cleanse the temple so Yahweh could be worshiped properly.
• 2 Chronicles 29:18 KJV: Then they went in to Hezekiah the king, and said, We have cleansed all the house of the Lord, and the altar of burnt offering, with all the vessels thereof, and the shewbread table, with all the vessels thereof.
• 2 Chronicles 29:31-35 WEB: Then Hezekiah answered, "Now you have consecrated yourselves to Yahweh. Come near and bring sacrifices and thank offerings into Yahweh's house." The assembly brought in sacrifices and thank offerings, and as many as were of a willing heart brought burnt offerings...the burnt offerings were in abundance, with the fat of the peace offerings, and with the drink offerings for every burnt offering. So the service of Yahweh's house was set in order.
• 2 Chronicles 30:6-9 WEB: So the couriers went with the letters from the king and his princes throughout all Israel and Judah, and according to the commandment of the king, saying, "You children of Israel, turn again to Yahweh, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, that he may return to the remnant of you that have escaped out of the hand of the kings of Assyria. Don't be like your fathers and like your brothers, who trespassed against Yahweh, the God of their fathers, so that he gave them up to desolation, as you see. Now don't be stiff-necked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves to Yahweh, and enter into his sanctuary, which he has sanctified forever, and serve Yahweh your God, that his fierce anger may turn away from you. For if you turn again to Yahweh, your brothers and your children will find compassion before those who led them captive, and will come again into this land, because Yahweh your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if you return to him.
• Jewish sacrifices were to only be offered in one place. Assyrians did not understand this was the custom. - Pulpit & Cambridge

*Conclusions: Hezekiah removed pagan altars. The Assyrians were confused because they believed that removal of any altar was removing Jehovah's influence in the land. The idea of worshiping at one designated altar was foreign to them. To the Assyrians, more altars to a specific god meant that god had more influence in the land. So, Rabshakeh believed that while Hezekiah said he had faith in God his actions showed that he was trying to remove God's power. In actuality, Hezekiah worked diligently to return Israel to Godly practices.

Summary

Judah, captured by Assyria, is ridiculed for their faith in God and told not to trust Him.

Memorize

I chose to memorize Isaiah 36:21.

But they held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king's commandment was, saying, Answer him not.

Sometimes the best answer is no answer. Sometimes the best response is no response. Sometimes we are too quick to act when God wants us to be still and know. (Read Saul failing "to be still and know" in I Samuel 13:7-14.) And at all times, it's good to remember we need to submit to authority. Submission is hard because we want to be in charge, so we resist following.

Cross References

*Thoughts that are mine alone are marked with an asterisk and italicized.

Of Isaiah 36:21.

But they held their peace,...

• Exodus 14:14 KJV: The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.
• Esther 4:14 KJV: For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jew from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?
• Psalm 39:1 WEB: I said, "I will watch my ways, so that I don't sin with my tongue. I will keep my mouth with a bridle while the wicked is before me."

...and answered him not a word:...

• James 1:19 WEB: So, then, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger;
• Proverbs 9:7-8 WEB: One who corrects a mocker invites insult. One who reproves a wicked man invites abuse. Don't reprove a scoffer, lest he hate you. Reprove a wise person, and he will love you.
• Job 13:5 WEB: Oh that you would be completely silent! Then you would be wise.

...for the king's commandment was, saying, ...

• Romans 13:1 WEB: Let every soul be in subjection to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those who exist are ordained by God.
• Ecclesiastes 8:2 WEB: I say, "Keep the king's command!" because of the oath to God.
• Titus 3:1 WEB: Remind them to be in subjection to rulers and to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work,

...Answer him not.

• Proverbs 17:27-28 WEB: He who spares his words has knowledge. He who is even tempered is am an of understanding. Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is counted wise. When he shuts his lips, he is thought to be discerning.
• Isaiah 26:3 KJV: Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
• Lamentations 3:26 KJV: It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.

*Conclusion: There is a time to be quiet, like here (Isaiah 36:21), and a time to speak, as in Esther 4:14 (See Ecclesiastes 3:7). Remaining quiet, peaceful, and restrained shows respect in authority. We do not have to take the reins. We wait confidently knowing that He is in control.

Respond

1. God sometimes allows bad things to happen to us. I get caught believing that nothing bad will happen if you have enough faith. Yet, King Hezekiah was known for his amazing faith, and Assyria still won against him (Isaiah 36:1). I must trust God's long-term plan not my short-term perspective.
2. God will be ridiculed because people don't understand Him (Isaiah 36:7,18, and 20). Likewise, I will be mocked because I trust Him. Knowing this is coming, I must stand firm and be unwavering in my faith, regardless of what people say.
3. God expects us to submit to higher authority (Isaiah 36:21). I want to be in charge, but I am to resist that urge and follow the commands of God and the people God placed in power over me willingly - unless it dishonors God.

In Closing

Father God, I need to remember that even when I don't see it, You're working. When the world seems to fall apart around me, I can find peace by remembering You are on Your throne and can rest knowing You're still in control. Thank you for Your firm foundation which enables me to stand strong in You. Because of Your faithfulness, I know I can submit to Your will and to the authority of the people You placed in power over me. I trust You. You alone see beginning to end. I willingly place my life in Your hands knowing You'll see me safely through every storm.

Learning with You,

Ready for Isaiah 37 & 38?

Sample these related posts:

To locate the Isaiah study guide for July.

To review notes on Isaiah Chapter 35.

To gird your loins and strengthen your arms.

To practice submission to Jesus.

To rest quietly with God.

Interested in more faith-related blogs? Then you're looking for Faith Food. At Faith Food, you'll find links to all our faith-related blogs and a short description of each.

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