Bible Commentaries

In the presence of the undoubted peril, Hezekiah in penitence turned to his old and trusted friend, the prophet Isaiah, and charged him to pray for that remnant of God's people which still remained. He thereupon uttered a prophecy concerning the deliverance which was to come, and thus revealed the fine scorn of a man who lived in communion with God for all such empty boasting as that of Sennacherib. God has need of a very small thing to work His will. Said Isaiah, "He shall hear a rumour." As a matter of fact, this was what actually happened, and because of the rumor Sennacherib withdrew. The very next verse declares it. When Rab-shakeh returned, he found that Sennacherib had heard certain things, which had diverted his attention from Israel to other quarters.

Nevertheless, he returned to the charge, and a letter was sent to Hezekiah. This he spread before the Lord in prayer. Isaiah's answer to Hezekiah, on the warrant of God, was lofty in thought and word. He declared that the chosen people laughed at the challenge of the blasphemer. Moreover, he claimed that the victories of which Sennacherib had boasted were the acts of God against whom he was now setting himself, Said Jehovah, "I know thy sitting down, and thy going out and thy coming in, and thy raging against Me." He declared that judgment was to fall upon the Assyrians, and that God's own people were to be delivered. Following the utterance, the swift judgment of God passed over the army; the great Sennacherib escaped to Nineveh only to be slain in the house of his god.