{"id":66526,"date":"2018-07-09T17:45:28","date_gmt":"2018-07-09T14:45:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wall\/wall-371\/"},"modified":"2023-07-10T21:43:22","modified_gmt":"2023-07-10T18:43:22","slug":"wall-371","status":"publish","type":"wall","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wall\/wall-371\/","title":{"rendered":"chapter-Prophets-Isaiah-37"},"parent":0,"template":"","acf":{"type":"chapter","wall_id":"371","date":"20270131","book":"Isaiah","chapter":"37","chapter_main_number":"371","books_group":"Prophets","posts":[{"order":1,"id":"66656","color":"#f8ebe3","size":"1","name":"JPS Audio Bible - Isaiah Chapter 37 ","post_title":"JPS Audio Bible - Isaiah Chapter 37","slug":"jps-audio-bible-isaiah-chapter-37","old_id":"66656","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":34686,"post_title":"Soundcloud","slug":"soundcloud","old_id":"34686","first_name":"","last_name":"","description":"","short_description":"","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":34656,"alt":"","title":"491","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","width":300,"height":300,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","medium_large-width":300,"medium_large-height":300,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","large-width":300,"large-height":300,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","1536x1536-width":300,"1536x1536-height":300,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","2048x2048-width":300,"2048x2048-height":300,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","post_full_size-width":300,"post_full_size-height":300,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","home_baner-width":300,"home_baner-height":300}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"371","type_929":"4","show_author_image":true,"old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"","post_main_content_image":"","post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"JPS Audio Bible","tile_main_caption":"Isaiah Chapter 37","tile_main_caption_size":"2","tile_sub_caption":"Hear the daily chapter","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":"","tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"https:\/\/soundcloud.com\/user-753876298\/jps_audio_bible_isaiah_chapter_37","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","old_create_date":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Isaiah","chapter":"37","chapter_main_number":"371","date":"20270131","wall_id":"371"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":2,"id":"116567","color":"#f6edf6","size":"1","name":"What Might Have Been\u00a0 ","post_title":"What Might Have Been\u00a0","slug":"what-might-have-been","old_id":"116567","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":92960,"post_title":"Calev Ben-Dor","slug":"calev-ben-dor","old_id":"92960","first_name":"Calev ","last_name":"Ben-Dor ","description":"Having grown up in London, Calev Ben-Dor now lives in Jerusalem with his family. He writes and teaches about Israel and Judaism and is involved in a Whatsapp facilitated 929 learning group with members from across the world.","short_description":"Calev Ben-Dor lives in Jerusalem and writes and teaches about Israel and Judaism.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":92962,"alt":"","title":"calev ben dor","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/calev-ben-dor-1.jpg","width":428,"height":414,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/calev-ben-dor-1-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/calev-ben-dor-1-300x290.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":290,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/calev-ben-dor-1.jpg","medium_large-width":428,"medium_large-height":414,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/calev-ben-dor-1.jpg","large-width":428,"large-height":414,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/calev-ben-dor-1.jpg","1536x1536-width":428,"1536x1536-height":414,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/calev-ben-dor-1.jpg","2048x2048-width":428,"2048x2048-height":414,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/calev-ben-dor-1.jpg","post_full_size-width":428,"post_full_size-height":414,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/calev-ben-dor-1.jpg","home_baner-width":428,"home_baner-height":414}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"371","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Never before or since has so much depended on so few\u2026\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

The Assyrian army surrounding Jerusalem \u2013 trapping it like a \u2018bird in a cage\u2019 \u2013 is struck down by the \u2018Lord\u2019s messenger\u2019 after which Sennecharib returns to Nineveh.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In the book <\/span>What If: Eminent Historians Imagine What Might Have Been<\/span><\/em>, William H McNeill asks a fascinating question which he calls \u201cthe greatest might have been in all military history\u201d: What if Sennecharib had conquered Jerusalem in 701 BC? For McNeill, \u201cJerusalem\u2019s preservation from attack shaped the subsequent history of the world far more profoundly than any other military action I know of.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

McNeill\u2019s claim rests on the argument of how Jewish religious belief evolved between 701 BCE \u2013 when Judah was almost exiled (and only 20 years after the 10 tribes were exiled and subsequently disappeared), and 586 BCE when the first temple was destroyed.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

And it hinges on a key question: Is exile a sign that God wasn\u2019t powerful enough to protect his people, or rather a sign that God was punishing His people?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The experience of deliverance (in 701) helped ensure Judaism promoted the latter option rather than the former when the people were sent to Babylonia.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The story of God saving Jerusalem, McNeill says, \u201cmade it plausible to believe that the God of Moses and of David was in fact omnipotent, protecting his worshippers from the mightiest monarch of the day.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u201cThis episode, as interpreted by the pious party in Jerusalem, made monotheism credible as never before, and emphatic uncompromising monotheism was what fitted the Jewish religion to survive and flourish in the cosmopolitan age that the Assyrian conquests had inaugurated\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

This idea was absorbed into the Jewish psyche for over 100 years, so when the destruction of 586 happens, this belief accompanies the Jewish exiles.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Why is this relevant for world history? Because, much later, the Jewish faith gives rise to two other religions who between them are followed by over half of the entire world. Without Judaism surviving, monotheism may not have survived, and the history of the world would have looked completely different.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

As McNeill concludes \u201cNever before or since has so much depended on so few, believing so wholly in their one true god.\u201d<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":106332,"alt":"","title":"-62cbfb14ae0fb--62cbfb14ae0fclev23-what 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In Vain ","post_title":"Laboring In Vain","slug":"laboring-in-vain","old_id":"116569","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":78133,"post_title":"Josh Blechner","slug":"josh-blechner","old_id":"78133","first_name":"Josh ","last_name":"Blechner ","description":"Josh first finished the Tanach during Yeshiva in Mevaseret Zion. He and his daughter studied the Tanach again for her bat mitzvah. Josh has taught many classes on Tanach throughout the years and currently in the New Rochelle 929 group. When not studying for 929, Josh works as an in-house lawyer in New Jersey.","short_description":"Josh has taught many classes on Tanach throughout the years and currently in the New Rochelle 929 group, and is an in-house attorney in New Jersey. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":78134,"alt":"","title":"josh blechner","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","width":276,"height":351,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner-236x300.jpg","medium-width":236,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","medium_large-width":276,"medium_large-height":351,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","large-width":276,"large-height":351,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","1536x1536-width":276,"1536x1536-height":351,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","2048x2048-width":276,"2048x2048-height":351,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","post_full_size-width":276,"post_full_size-height":351,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","home_baner-width":276,"home_baner-height":351}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"371","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Salvation, like birth, takes work\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

Chapter 37, save for a few minor word choices, is identical to II Kings chapter 19.\u00a0 In II Kings, Isaiah made a only cameo appearance, but here, in his own book, after 35 chapters of his prophecy, he becomes the well-known character we are familiar with.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u00a0After hearing Rabshakeh\u2019s threats, Hezekiah sends a delegation to Isaiah. The delegation aptly begins their message to the prophet with a metaphor:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

They said to him, \u2018Thus said Hezekiah: This day is a day of distress, of chastisement, and of disgrace. The babes have reached the birthstool, but the strength to give birth is lacking\u2019 (verse 3).\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Here, as opposed to II Kings, there is a little more context to the metaphor of a woman in labor. Isaiah is personally aware of what this metaphor means. Back in chapter 7, God tells Isaiah that a young woman (possibly his wife) is about to give birth and that he should name the child Immanuel. Isaiah also utilizes birthing metaphors himself.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Be ashamed, O Sidon! For the sea\u2014this stronghold of the sea\u2014declares, \u2018I am as one who has never labored, Never given birth, Never raised youths Or reared maidens!\u2019 (23:4); <\/span>
\r\n<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>We were with child, we writhed\u2014 It is as though we had given birth to wind; We have won no victory on earth; The inhabitants of the world have not come to life!\u201d (26:18); <\/span>
\r\n<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>You shall conceive hay, Give birth to straw; My breath will devour you like fire (33:11).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

It makes sense, then, that Hezekiah uses a labor metaphor, but what message is Hezekiah trying to send? Rashi looks at this as a general metaphor. The woman is in distress because she cannot give birth at the time of labor, so too the people in Jerusalem are distressed. The exact details are irrelevant; it is the feeling that is being conveyed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Malbim dissects each part of the metaphor. The pending birth signifies the pending salvation. The inability to give birth symbolizes the fact that the people do not have enough mitzvot or positive reasons for salvation to occur. Perhaps the answer can be found in a later chapter:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Shall I who bring on labor not bring about birth? \u2014says GOD. Shall I who cause birth shut the womb? - said your God (66:10).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Assuming chapter 66 came chronologically after chapter 37, then Isaiah may be answering Hezekiah here. Chapter 66 places God as the one who controls birth and God as the one who can and will complete the task. If this is Isaiah\u2019s response then Hezekiah\u2019s metaphor would be closer to Malbim\u2019s interpretation. The people of Jerusalem are waiting for salvation, but do not see the end coming. Isaiah\u2019s response is that God controls all. If God sets the salvation in motion, He will see it through.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

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","post_title":"O God, Act For Your Sake!","slug":"o-god-act-for-your-sake","old_id":"116580","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":62571,"post_title":"Yaakov Bieler","slug":"yaakov-bieler","old_id":"62571","first_name":"Yaakov ","last_name":"Bieler ","description":"Rabbi Yaakov Bieler has been involved in Jewish education and the synagogue Rabbinate in New York, NY and Silver Spring, MD since being ordained by Yeshiva University in 1974. He has lectured and written extensively on Modern Orthodoxy, and blogs daily at https:\/\/yaakovbieler.wordpress.com ","short_description":"Rabbi Yaakov Bieler has been involved in Jewish education and the synagogue Rabbinate in New York, NY and Silver Spring, MD since being ordained by Yeshiva University. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":62572,"alt":"","title":"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","width":141,"height":180,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler-141x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":141,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","medium-width":141,"medium-height":180,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","medium_large-width":141,"medium_large-height":180,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","large-width":141,"large-height":180,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","1536x1536-width":141,"1536x1536-height":180,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","2048x2048-width":141,"2048x2048-height":180,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","post_full_size-width":141,"post_full_size-height":180,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","home_baner-width":141,"home_baner-height":180}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"371","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"And along the way, for ours as well\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

Hezekiah has a weighty decision to make regarding the challenges that Sennacherib of Assyria hurled against God and his kingdom. The sign that God offers Hezekiah that divine salvation will indeed occur, is only to happen after the fact:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

And this is the sign for you:<\/span> This year you eat what grows of itself, and the next year what springs from that, and in the third year sow and reap and plant vineyards and eat their fruit (verse 30).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Didn\u2019t Hezekiah wonder whether this was actually a divine trial, meant to result in severe punishment for the Israelites? There is a rabbinic adage, \u201c<\/span>shema yigrom hachet<\/span><\/em>,\u201d meaning, perhaps subsequent sinfulness on the part of the people will result in delay, or even cancellation, of the divine commitment to salvation. So just as the patriarchs hesitated to place too much weight on God\u2019s assurances, couldn\u2019t the same be true about Isaiah\u2019s prediction that Sennacherib would be defeated?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Perhaps what truly convinced the king that all would turn out well, was how God concluded his message to the king:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

I will protect and save this city for My sake and for the sake of My servant David\u201d (verse 35).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Apparently, Hezekiah had noted two things. First, that despite the sins of Solomon, the kingdom had not been riven by civil war until the time of Rehoboam, as an acknowledgement by God of David\u2019s overall righteousness (see I Kings 11:11-2). And second,\u00a0 that God took seriously what others thought of Him. Moses appealed to this divine characteristic twice in order to save the people from divine destruction after their having sinned (in Exodus 32:12 and Numbers 14:15-16).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Indeed, the identical theme is invoked in the paragraph at the end of the \u201cSilent Devotion\u201d (<\/span>amidah<\/span><\/em>) of every Jewish prayer service:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Act for the sake of Your right hand <\/span>
\r\n<\/span>Act for the sake of Your holiness<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>Act for the sake of Your Torah<\/span><\/p>\r\n

However, there is a great difference between God offering someone like Hezekiah such assurance, and our asking God for it, particularly during a time of national troubles, when God\u2019s presence is perceived as lacking.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

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He is the author of Isaiah and his Contemporaries, now available from Kodesh Press at: https:\/\/kodeshpress.com\/product\/isaiah-and-his-contemporaries","short_description":"Rabbi Dr. Yaakov Jaffe is Dean of Judaic Studies at the Maimonides School in Brookline, and is the Rabbi of the Maimonides Kehillah there. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":64701,"alt":"","title":"yaakov-jaffe","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/yaakov-jaffe.png","width":300,"height":300,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/yaakov-jaffe-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/yaakov-jaffe.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/yaakov-jaffe.png","medium_large-width":300,"medium_large-height":300,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/yaakov-jaffe.png","large-width":300,"large-height":300,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/yaakov-jaffe.png","1536x1536-width":300,"1536x1536-height":300,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/yaakov-jaffe.png","2048x2048-width":300,"2048x2048-height":300,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/yaakov-jaffe.png","post_full_size-width":300,"post_full_size-height":300,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/yaakov-jaffe.png","home_baner-width":300,"home_baner-height":300}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"371","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"New threats will come, but this threat has passed\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

The bulk of this chapter is a continued dialogue and discussion between the Assyrian messengers and the Jews within the besieged Jerusalem. Many of the themes of the chapter are explored elsewhere in the book, with the prophet telling the people that the Assyrians would never enter the city, would not build a ramp to overcome the wall (as they had to defeat the nearby Lachish as is visible in the Lachish reliefs), and would not even send an arrow into it (37:33-35).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

One night, as the people are sleeping in the city \u2013 unable to leave \u2013 and danger lurks outside the city, an angel of the Lord strikes the enemy camp thereby saving the Judans (37:36-38). The structure parallels that of the night of the Exodus \u2013 when again the Israelites are saved at night, while stuck inside, from an enemy lurking outside, without any effort of their own. For that reason, Jewish tradition imagines this salvation also took place on the first night of Pesach, and it is so commemorated in the Seder each year in Nirtzah.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Hezekiah\u2019s salvation and the end of the Assyrian siege short of conquest is also attested to in two secular sources. Sennecharib\u2019s own chronicles express that the Jews in Jerusalem were held captive, \u201clike a bird in a cage\u201d and forced to pay tribute, but the chronicles noticeably refrain from cheering the defeat or conquest of the city. A passage in Herodotus (2:141) also describes the defeat of the Assyrian army one night, through a seemingly miraculous intervention.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Yet as we noted in our study of chapter 12, Hezekiah seems so weary from the risk and the fear that he refrains from composing the great song of thanks that might have been expected given the situation. The Assyrian threat ends, and the kingdom of Judah will enjoy a few decades of peace and quiet. New threats will come, but this threat has passed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Image: Arthur Hacker, \"And There Was a Great Cry in Egypt\" (1897) \/ 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Miraculous Liberation ","post_title":"The Miraculous Liberation","slug":"the-miraculous-liberation","old_id":"66892","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":65182,"post_title":"Benny Lau & Yoel Bin Nun","slug":"benny-lau-yoel-bin-nun","old_id":"65182","first_name":"Benny Lau","last_name":"and Yoel Bin Nun","description":"Rabbi Dr. Binyamin Lau is the founder and head of the Israeli initiative 929 and is a community leader, activist, author, and public speaker.\r\nRabbi Yoel Bin Nun, PhD. is a religious Zionist rabbi who was among the founders of Yeshivat Har Etzion and who emphasized the importance of the study of Tanach, and not just Talmud, in yeshiva. \r\nTogether they are the authors of \"Isaiah: Prophet of Righteousness and Justice\" (Maggid Books, 2019)","short_description":"Rabbi Dr. Binyamin Lau is the founder and head of the Israeli initiative 929. Rabbi Yoel Bin Nun, PhD. is a religious Zionist rabbi who was among the founders of Yeshivat Har Etzion. Together they are the authors of \"Isaiah: Prophet of Righteousness and Justice\" (Maggid Books, 2019)\r\n","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":65183,"alt":"","title":"lau bin nun","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/lau-bin-nun.jpg","width":1054,"height":691,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/lau-bin-nun-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/lau-bin-nun-300x197.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":197,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/lau-bin-nun-768x503.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":503,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/lau-bin-nun-1024x671.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":671,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/lau-bin-nun.jpg","1536x1536-width":1054,"1536x1536-height":691,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/lau-bin-nun.jpg","2048x2048-width":1054,"2048x2048-height":691,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/lau-bin-nun.jpg","post_full_size-width":1054,"post_full_size-height":691,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/lau-bin-nun-641x420.jpg","home_baner-width":641,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"371","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Was it the plague? Rats? The Egyptian pharaoh? Or Hezekiah\u2019s Leadership?","post_main_content_content":"

The miracle of the reconciliation between the prophet and the king, through Hezekiah\u2019s prayer and Isaiah\u2019s vision of God\u2019s answer, was the climax of Hezekiah\u2019s reign and of Isaiah\u2019s prophecy.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The miracle of Jerusalem\u2019s salvation is described in a brief prophetic narrative: <\/span><\/p>\r\n

And it came to pass on that night, an angel of the Lord went out and smote the Assyrian camp, one hundred and eighty-five thousand, and the following morning they were all dead corpses. So King Sennacherib of Assyria broke camp and retreated, and stayed in Nineveh. (Is. 37:36\u201337).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Early historians such as Josephus explained this as the plague, which occasionally struck military camps or besieged cities during wartime (Antiquities X, 1:5). Herodotus (2.141) bases his version of this episode on an Egyptian tradition that the Assyrian army encroached on its border was struck by a plague of rats (who were often carriers of disease). Nonetheless, the Egyptians believed that their pharaoh, Taharqa, was responsible for Sennacherib\u2019s retreat.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Modern historians have shown skepticism towards the biblical account, which is reminiscent of the ten plagues of Egypt. The lack of an explanation for Sennacherib\u2019s desertion of Jerusalem in the Assyrian records, however, reinforces the narrative of the miraculous salvation. Sennacherib\u2019s records only mention the conquest of Lachish and its exiles marching in front of the Assyrian king, which, as mentioned earlier, seems exaggerated, as if to compensate for his failure to conquer the capital. Jerusalem, rebelling under Hezekiah\u2019s leadership, merits an unusually brief mention: \"And as for Hezekiah the Judahite\u2026like a caged bird I shut up in Jerusalem his royal city. Earthworks I threw up against him [to besiege him] \u2013 the one coming out of the city-gate, I turned back to his misery.\"<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Shalmaneser besieged Samaria for three years before he managed to conquer the city, displaying typical Assyrian obstinacy. Sennacherib, however, withdrew from Jerusalem without offering any explanation. Isaiah\u2019s prophecy echoes the arrogance of the Assyrian records, just like his prophetic response to Sennacherib\u2019s brash words to Hezekiah.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In contrast to the image of the \u201ccaged bird,\u201d Isaiah portrayed God as a mother bird, flying free and hovering protectively over Jerusalem: \"Like hovering birds, even so will the Lord of Hosts shield Jerusalem, shielding and saving, protecting and rescuing\" (Is. 31:5).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

From: Lau and Bin Nun,\u00a0Isaiah: Prophet of Righteousness and Justice\u00a0<\/em>(Maggid Books, 2019).<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":65184,"alt":"","title":"Isaiah-LauBinNun","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Isaiah-LauBinNun.png","width":1816,"height":1816,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Isaiah-LauBinNun-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Isaiah-LauBinNun-300x300.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Isaiah-LauBinNun-768x768.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Isaiah-LauBinNun-1024x1024.png","large-width":1024,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Isaiah-LauBinNun.png","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Isaiah-LauBinNun.png","2048x2048-width":1816,"2048x2048-height":1816,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Isaiah-LauBinNun-1200x1200.png","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Isaiah-LauBinNun-420x420.png","home_baner-width":420,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"Excerpts from \"Isaiah: Prophet of Righteousness and Justice\"","tile_main_caption":"The Miraculous Liberation","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Was it the plague? Rats? The Egyptian pharaoh? Or Hezekiah\u2019s Leadership?","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":65184,"alt":"","title":"Isaiah-LauBinNun","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Isaiah-LauBinNun.png","width":1816,"height":1816,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Isaiah-LauBinNun-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Isaiah-LauBinNun-300x300.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Isaiah-LauBinNun-768x768.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Isaiah-LauBinNun-1024x1024.png","large-width":1024,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Isaiah-LauBinNun.png","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Isaiah-LauBinNun.png","2048x2048-width":1816,"2048x2048-height":1816,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Isaiah-LauBinNun-1200x1200.png","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Isaiah-LauBinNun-420x420.png","home_baner-width":420,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Isaiah","chapter":"37","chapter_main_number":"371","date":"20270131","wall_id":"371"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"469","name":"Egypt","old_id":"869"},{"term_id":"618","name":"Plagues","old_id":"1018"},{"term_id":"898","name":"Hezekiah","old_id":"1298"},{"term_id":"940","name":"Isaiah","old_id":"1340"}]},{"order":7,"id":"66894","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Star Wars, Isaiah Style ","post_title":"Star Wars, Isaiah Style","slug":"star-wars-isaiah-style","old_id":"66894","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":64462,"post_title":"Analia Bortz","slug":"analia-bortz","old_id":"64462","first_name":"Analia ","last_name":"Bortz ","description":"Rabbi Dr. Analia Bortz is a medical doctor with postdoctoral studies in Bioethics. She is the first female Latin American rabbi, and is a AJWS Global Justice Fellow in 2019-2020 She and her husband Rabbi Mario Karpuj founded Congregation Or Hadash in Sandy Springs, Georgia. She is the author of The Voice of Silence: A Rabbi's Journey into a Trappist Monastery and Other Contemplation (2017)","short_description":"Rabbi Dr. Analia Bortz is a medical doctor and with her husband Rabbi Mario Karpuj founded Congregation Or Hadash in Sandy Springs, Georgia. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":64463,"alt":"","title":"analia bortz","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/analia-bortz.jpg","width":225,"height":225,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/analia-bortz-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/analia-bortz.jpg","medium-width":225,"medium-height":225,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/analia-bortz.jpg","medium_large-width":225,"medium_large-height":225,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/analia-bortz.jpg","large-width":225,"large-height":225,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/analia-bortz.jpg","1536x1536-width":225,"1536x1536-height":225,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/analia-bortz.jpg","2048x2048-width":225,"2048x2048-height":225,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/analia-bortz.jpg","post_full_size-width":225,"post_full_size-height":225,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/analia-bortz.jpg","home_baner-width":225,"home_baner-height":225}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"371","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"With Sennecharib as Darth Vader\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

The galaxy is in the midst of a civil war. There is confusion and chaos. Rebel spies have stolen plans to the Galactic Empire's Death Star, a colossal, moon-sized, space station capable of destroying entire planets.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The prophet Isaiah sits uncomfortably in a time capsule boarding a space shuttle, traveling to \u201ca galaxy <\/span>far far away\u201d. Isaiah is used to chaos and confusion. The prophet has been perplexed, watching his beloved Jerusalem, the city of Shalem, a place of wholeness being shattered.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The Rebels are fighting against the despicable evil imperial leader, armored in his black suit, his name is Darth Vader but Isaiah calls him king Sennacherib. Darth Vader has brought with him his imperial forces from the Galactic Empire, a tyrannical army intent on destroying civilizations across the universe. Isaiah wishes he could engage the prophetess Deborah, a woman of torches, to combat the evil forces but immediately realizes that Deborah belongs to the book of Judges, it\u2019s too late to call her. All of a sudden Isaiah encounters Princess Leia, she is brave, strong-minded and determined to fight for justice.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Isaiah shows Princess Leia a picture of Jerusalem. She looks with consternation and hopes she could help. Leia rides the time capsule with the prophet, back to Jerusalem of the 7<\/span>th<\/span> century BCE. Leia imagines this city in peace and takes action. When God appreciates that finally someone is walking the walk and not just talking the talk, the Lord of Israel declares \u201cFor the remnant shall come forth from Jerusalem. Survivors from Mount Zion. The zeal of the Lord of Hosts shall bring this to pass\u201d (Isaiah 37:32)<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Isaiah stress\u2019 level diminishes, the prophet feels more confident regarding the future of his city. As he thanks Leia and sends his regards to Luke Skywalker, a heavenly voice is heard \u201cI will protect and save this for My sake and for the sake of My servant David\u201d (Isaiah 37:35). Leia winks and leaves back to a galaxy far far away.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":66905,"alt":"","title":"is37-darth vader","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is37-darth-vader.jpg","width":1920,"height":1276,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is37-darth-vader-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is37-darth-vader-300x199.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":199,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is37-darth-vader-768x510.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":510,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is37-darth-vader-1024x681.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":681,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is37-darth-vader.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1021,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is37-darth-vader.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1276,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is37-darth-vader-1200x798.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":798,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is37-darth-vader-632x420.jpg","home_baner-width":632,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Star Wars, Isaiah Style","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"With Sennecharib as Darth Vader","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":66905,"alt":"","title":"is37-darth vader","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is37-darth-vader.jpg","width":1920,"height":1276,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is37-darth-vader-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is37-darth-vader-300x199.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":199,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is37-darth-vader-768x510.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":510,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is37-darth-vader-1024x681.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":681,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is37-darth-vader.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1021,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is37-darth-vader.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1276,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is37-darth-vader-1200x798.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":798,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is37-darth-vader-632x420.jpg","home_baner-width":632,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Isaiah","chapter":"37","chapter_main_number":"371","date":"20270131","wall_id":"371"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"389","name":"Culture","old_id":"789"},{"term_id":"940","name":"Isaiah","old_id":"1340"},{"term_id":"988","name":"Modern","old_id":"1388"}]},{"order":8,"id":"66912","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Sennacherib\u2019s Downfall: Take Two ","post_title":"Sennacherib\u2019s Downfall: Take Two","slug":"sennacheribs-downfall-take-two","old_id":"66912","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":34243,"post_title":"Moshe Sokolow","slug":"moshe-sokolow","old_id":"34243","first_name":"Moshe","last_name":"Sokolow","description":"Dr. Moshe Sokolow is Associate Dean of the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration, Yeshiva University, and teaches a weekly class in parashat hashavu`a at Lincoln Square Synagogue. He is the author of TANAKH: An Owner\u2019s Manual (Jerusalem: Urim\/Ktav, 2015).\r\n\r\n","short_description":"Dr. Moshe Sokolow is Associate Dean of the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration, Yeshiva University","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":34244,"alt":"","title":"sokolow","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","width":302,"height":300,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow-300x298.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":298,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","medium_large-width":302,"medium_large-height":300,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","large-width":302,"large-height":300,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","1536x1536-width":302,"1536x1536-height":300,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","2048x2048-width":302,"2048x2048-height":300,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","post_full_size-width":302,"post_full_size-height":300,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","home_baner-width":302,"home_baner-height":300}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"371","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Just like a woman in childbirth sitting on the birthing stool, who despite the great pain recognizes that the birth is near, so, we shall know that salvation is near","post_main_content_content":"

Hezekiah dispatched a delegation of notables to seek advice from Isaiah himself on <\/span>\u201c<\/span>a day of distress, of chastisement, and of disgrace\u201d (3)<\/span>. <\/span>Malbim* related this incident to an earlier prophecy (recorded in chapter 10) in which God consoled Israel with the assurance that the Assyrians were only \u201cthe staff of My anger\u201d (5) and that their incursion into Judah would be halted at Nob, just short of Jerusalem (32). Here (v.3), he elaborated as follows:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Isaiah had already prophesied to them that Sennacherib would falter at Mt. Zion and explained, there, that his downfall would occur after two things would precede it. (A) He would have to curse and blaspheme the preeminent Lord (10:8-20), and (B) Zion\u2019s salvation would occur only at the end of her distress, at the darkest time of night (24 f.). Therefore, now he stipulated that the conditions had been met.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    \r\n\t
  1. This was indeed a \u201cday of distress\u201d because the enemy had reached the gates of Jerusalem.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  2. It was a day of \u201cdisgrace\u201d because [Sennecharib\/ Rab Shakeh] had cursed and blasphemed God.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  3. It was also a day of \u201cchastisement\u201d since he had come to demonstrate that God would not save them, which would lead people to assert that He was incapable of salvation.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n

    Just like a woman in childbirth sitting on the birthing stool, who despite the great pain [recognizes] that the birth is near, so, we shall know that salvation is near. However, just as she lacks the strength to give birth, so do we lack the mitzvot and good deeds that are the force that will naturally propel [our deliverance] outwards.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    By utilizing the metaphor of birthing, with which the verse concludes, Malbim draws our attention to the fact that national salvation, too, comes at considerable physical exertion and spiritual energy.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    *For the significance of Malbim\u2019s commentary to the Book of Isaiah,<\/span> see our introduction to chapter 1.<\/span><\/a><\/p>","post_main_content_image":"","post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"Sennecharib\u2019s Downfall: Take Two","tile_main_caption":"Just like a woman in childbirth sitting on the birthing stool, who despite the great pain recognizes that the birth is near, so, we shall know that salvation is near","tile_main_caption_size":"2","tile_sub_caption":"","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":"","tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Isaiah","chapter":"37","chapter_main_number":"371","date":"20270131","wall_id":"371"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"754","name":"Childbirth","old_id":"1154"},{"term_id":"854","name":"Metaphor","old_id":"1254"},{"term_id":"940","name":"Isaiah","old_id":"1340"}]},{"order":9,"id":"116581","color":"#f6edf6","size":"1","name":"The Tanakh Podcast-Isaiah37 ","post_title":"The Tanakh Podcast-Isaiah37","slug":"the-tanakh-podcast-isaiah37","old_id":"116581","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":33692,"post_title":"Alex Israel","slug":"33692-2","old_id":"33692","first_name":"Alex","last_name":"Israel","description":"Alex Israel teaches Tanakh at the Pardes Institute, Yeshivat Eretz Hatzvi and Matan, Jerusalem. 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    Our chapter ends with the miraculous salvation of Jerusalem, followed (literarily) by the rapid death of Sennacherib. There are plenty of mundane reasons why the Assyrians failed to capture Jerusalem \u2013 many months of military campaigning, far from home, a plague that struck the camp (in verse 36 of today\u2019s chapter), the strong defenses of Jerusalem which Hezekiah constructed. And there is one more, mentioned in verse 9: the Egyptians: \u201cBut [the king of Assyria] learned that King Tirhakah of Nubia had come out to fight him.\u201d Technically,<\/span> Taharqa<\/span><\/a> was not yet king in 701 (he ascended the throne only in 690), but he clearly led the Egyptian forces that challenged the Assyrians. In<\/span> his own account of this campaign<\/span><\/a>, Sennacherib mentions that he fought the Egyptians<\/span> at Eltekeh<\/span><\/a> in the Shephelah.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Tirhakah\/Taharqa is called \u201cking of Nubia (Kush)\u201d in our chapter because the Twenty-Fifth dynasty, of which he was a part,<\/span> was Nubian in origin<\/span><\/a>. So he would actually be king of Egypt, but his origins accompany him in his title in the Bible.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    We should not be surprised that the Egyptians came. Isaiah had criticized Hezekiah for making a treaty with them (Chapters 30 and 31), and the <\/span>rab shaqeh<\/em> <\/span>had mocked the Judeans for relying on them. But it turns out that they were true to their word, and did engage the Assyrians in battle in an effort to drive them back to Mesopotamia. While it seems clear that the Egyptians-Nubians did not defeat the Assyrians, there is no doubt that this battle added to the pressure on Sennacherib to get home quickly, especially as more Egyptian forces may have been on their way. In part, then, our chapter tells a story of the Egyptians saving Jerusalem.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Image: Granite sphinx of Taharqa, 25th Dynasty from a temple at Kawa. Now residing in the British Museum, London \/ wikimedia<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":66915,"alt":"","title":"is37-SphinxOfTaharqa","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is37-SphinxOfTaharqa.jpg","width":469,"height":639,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is37-SphinxOfTaharqa-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is37-SphinxOfTaharqa-220x300.jpg","medium-width":220,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is37-SphinxOfTaharqa.jpg","medium_large-width":469,"medium_large-height":639,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is37-SphinxOfTaharqa.jpg","large-width":469,"large-height":639,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is37-SphinxOfTaharqa.jpg","1536x1536-width":469,"1536x1536-height":639,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is37-SphinxOfTaharqa.jpg","2048x2048-width":469,"2048x2048-height":639,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is37-SphinxOfTaharqa.jpg","post_full_size-width":469,"post_full_size-height":639,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is37-SphinxOfTaharqa-308x420.jpg","home_baner-width":308,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"When Egypt Saved Jerusalem","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Taharqa to the rescue!","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":66915,"alt":"","title":"is37-SphinxOfTaharqa","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is37-SphinxOfTaharqa.jpg","width":469,"height":639,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is37-SphinxOfTaharqa-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is37-SphinxOfTaharqa-220x300.jpg","medium-width":220,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is37-SphinxOfTaharqa.jpg","medium_large-width":469,"medium_large-height":639,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is37-SphinxOfTaharqa.jpg","large-width":469,"large-height":639,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is37-SphinxOfTaharqa.jpg","1536x1536-width":469,"1536x1536-height":639,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is37-SphinxOfTaharqa.jpg","2048x2048-width":469,"2048x2048-height":639,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is37-SphinxOfTaharqa.jpg","post_full_size-width":469,"post_full_size-height":639,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is37-SphinxOfTaharqa-308x420.jpg","home_baner-width":308,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Isaiah","chapter":"37","chapter_main_number":"371","date":"20270131","wall_id":"371"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"444","name":"History","old_id":"844"},{"term_id":"469","name":"Egypt","old_id":"869"},{"term_id":"635","name":"Jerusalem","old_id":"1035"}]},{"order":11,"id":"66887","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Sennecharib\u2019s Boast ","post_title":"Sennecharib\u2019s Boast","slug":"sennecharibs-boast","old_id":"66887","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":54356,"post_title":"Robert Alter","slug":"robert-alter","old_id":"54356","first_name":"Robert ","last_name":"Alter","description":"Robert Alter is the Class of 1937 Professor of Hebrew and Comparative Literature at the University of California at Berkeley, where he has taught since 1967. 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Norton & Co., 2019.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":54357,"alt":"","title":"robert alter","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","width":184,"height":275,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","medium-width":184,"medium-height":275,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","medium_large-width":184,"medium_large-height":275,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","large-width":184,"large-height":275,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","1536x1536-width":184,"1536x1536-height":275,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","2048x2048-width":184,"2048x2048-height":275,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","post_full_size-width":184,"post_full_size-height":275,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","home_baner-width":184,"home_baner-height":275}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"371","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"He himself dried up the Nile...\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

    37:25 \u201cIt is I who have dug and drunk the waters of foreigners and dried up with the soles of my feet all Egypt\u2019s rivers.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    The Masoretic Text here says only \u201cwaters,\u201d and the translation follows the version of this line in 2 Kings 19:24. The phrase, slightly opaque, is part of Sennacherib\u2019s boast of conquest: he has seized the territories of nations and even sunk wells to exploit their water resources.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    From: Robert Alter, The Hebrew Bible<\/em>, vol. 2: Prophets, W. W. Norton & Co., 2019, ad loc. By permission of the author.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":54890,"alt":"","title":"Alter-Cover","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","width":1200,"height":693,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-300x173.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":173,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-768x444.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":444,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-1024x591.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":591,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","1536x1536-width":1200,"1536x1536-height":693,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","2048x2048-width":1200,"2048x2048-height":693,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-1200x693.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":693,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-727x420.jpg","home_baner-width":727,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"From Robert Alter's Bible Translation and Commentary","tile_main_caption":"Sennecharib\u2019s Boast","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"He himself dried up the Nile...","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":54890,"alt":"","title":"Alter-Cover","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","width":1200,"height":693,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-300x173.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":173,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-768x444.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":444,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-1024x591.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":591,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","1536x1536-width":1200,"1536x1536-height":693,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","2048x2048-width":1200,"2048x2048-height":693,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-1200x693.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":693,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-727x420.jpg","home_baner-width":727,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Isaiah","chapter":"37","chapter_main_number":"371","date":"20270131","wall_id":"371"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":12,"id":"66644","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Sefaria Source Sheets - Isaiah 37 ","post_title":"Sefaria Source Sheets - Isaiah 37","slug":"sefaria-source-sheets-isaiah-37","old_id":"66644","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":42228,"post_title":"Sefaria","slug":"sefaria","old_id":"42228","first_name":"","last_name":"Sefaria","description":"Sefaria is a non-profit organization dedicated to building the future of Jewish learning in an open and participatory way. 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    \u201cZion as Woman as God's Dwelling Place in the Book of Isaiah\u201d<\/a> by Dena Trugman: Explore different metaphors for the holy city.<\/p>","post_main_content_image":"","post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"Go deeper into the chapter....","tile_main_caption":"Source Sheets - Isaiah 37","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Links to learning resources","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":42232,"alt":"","title":"sefaria-words-sunburst","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","width":608,"height":395,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst-300x195.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":195,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","medium_large-width":608,"medium_large-height":395,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","large-width":608,"large-height":395,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","1536x1536-width":608,"1536x1536-height":395,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","2048x2048-width":608,"2048x2048-height":395,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","post_full_size-width":608,"post_full_size-height":395,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","home_baner-width":608,"home_baner-height":395}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"Sefaria word sunburst visualization","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","old_create_date":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Isaiah","chapter":"37","chapter_main_number":"371","date":"20270131","wall_id":"371"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":13,"id":"66880","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Points to Ponder - Isaiah 37 ","post_title":"Points to Ponder - Isaiah 37","slug":"points-to-ponder-isaiah-37","old_id":"66880","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":38102,"post_title":"929-English","slug":"929-english","old_id":"38102","first_name":"","last_name":"929-English","description":"","short_description":"","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":38333,"alt":"","title":"\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5.png","width":1513,"height":860,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-300x171.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":171,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-768x437.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":437,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-1024x582.png","large-width":1024,"large-height":582,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5.png","1536x1536-width":1513,"1536x1536-height":860,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5.png","2048x2048-width":1513,"2048x2048-height":860,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-1200x682.png","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":682,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-739x420.png","home_baner-width":739,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"371","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"

      \r\n\t
    1. Told you so?<\/em> Surprisingly, no - even though Isaiah had a clear position against the rebellion against Assyria. There is no tone of rebuke towards Hezekiah in his words. Isaiah is 100% on his side.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
    2. Two stories - similar yet different<\/em>. Two stories of Sennecharib\u2019s campaign are brought one after the other. The story that began in chapter 36 ends in our chapter in verse 9, where a new narrative begins. Both stories include the Assyrian demand to Hezekiah to surrender, full of threats and braggadocio. In both, a prayer of Hezekiah at home, and a prophecy of Isaiah regarding the failure of the Assyrian attack in Jerusalem. And in both - the king of Assyrian miraculously retreats. But the details are different: Are Rabshakeh\u2019s words presented in a speech, or does a delegation arrive with books from the king? Is the prophetic message terse, or is it a long song of mocking Assyria? Is the victory due to a retreat stemming from an internal political ruler, or the intervention of an angel of God who strikes the Assyrian camp.
      \r\nWhat is the unique message of each story, and are these stories meant to be parallel or sequential?<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>","post_main_content_image":{"id":86314,"alt":"","title":"Points to ponder","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","width":1000,"height":1000,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-768x768.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","large-width":1000,"large-height":1000,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","1536x1536-width":1000,"1536x1536-height":1000,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","2048x2048-width":1000,"2048x2048-height":1000,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","post_full_size-width":1000,"post_full_size-height":1000,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-420x420.jpg","home_baner-width":420,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"Isaiah 37","tile_main_caption":"Points to Ponder","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Insights and questions for personal reflection and group discussion","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":86314,"alt":"","title":"Points to ponder","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","width":1000,"height":1000,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-768x768.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","large-width":1000,"large-height":1000,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","1536x1536-width":1000,"1536x1536-height":1000,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","2048x2048-width":1000,"2048x2048-height":1000,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","post_full_size-width":1000,"post_full_size-height":1000,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-420x420.jpg","home_baner-width":420,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Isaiah","chapter":"37","chapter_main_number":"371","date":"20270131","wall_id":"371"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false}],"hide_acf":true,"home_image":false,"home_posts":false,"home_posts_title":"","posts_home":[],"static_cube_title":"","static_cube_brief":"","static_cube_color":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wall\/66526"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wall"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/wall"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=66526"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}