Journal Through the Bible: Week 62 Thursday and Friday

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II Kings chapter 19 and
Isaiah chapter 37

The chapters are almost identical. There is an extra "Behold" in II Kings 19:9 that is not in Isaiah 37:9. Then the verse enumeration changes slightly beginning in verse 15 of both chapters. In II Kings 19 verse 15 is a combination of verses 15 and 16 from Isaiah 37. Since verse enumeration is a man-made invention, it does nothing to the integrity of the text. There are also a few word changes. In Isaiah the words "O LORD of hosts," is added to verse 16. All other differences are the result of synonym usage by the translators.

Does God issue any commands?

• God commanded that Assyria acknowledge that the other nations they had conquered were given into their hands because God had sent the Assyrians on an errand to execute His judgment. (See Nahum!)

Does God make any promises?

• (verses 6 and 7 of both chapters) God told King Hezekiah through Isaiah not to fear the Assyrians capturing Jerusalem because the captain, Rabshakeh, would hear a rumor from his own country and would return there and die.
• (19:30; 37:31) The remnant that escaped in Judah would take root and bear fruit.
• (19:32; 37:33) The king of Assyria would not even mount an attack against Jerusalem.

Do these chapters teach anything about Jesus?

• God the creator, the Holy One of Israel, that the Assyrians were mocking is Jesus.

Do these chapters teach anything about yet-future events?

• We have been told the outcome of future wars a long time before the events. Hezekiah was told the outcome of the wars of his time and these prophecies came true. We have every confidence that what we are told about future warfare shall also come to pass.