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II Kings 19

מלכים ב׳ פרק י״ט

Section: נביאים · נביאים ראשונים | Book: II Kings | Chapter: 19 of 25 | Day: 141 of 742

Date: July 2, 2026


קלאוד על הנ״ך

Chapter 19 is the climax of the Hezekiah narrative and one of the great deliverance accounts of Tanakh: the moment when the seemingly invincible Assyrian war machine, having swallowed the Northern Kingdom and laid waste the fortified towns of Judah, is broken at the very gates of Jerusalem — not by Judean arms but by the hand of God. The chapter opens where chapter 18 left off, with the Rabshakeh’s blasphemous ultimatum still ringing in the air. Hezekiah responds not with military counsel but with the gestures of a penitent: he rends his clothes, dons sackcloth, and goes up to the House of the Lord (verse 1), sending his ministers and the senior priests, likewise in sackcloth, to the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz. Their message captures the desperation in a vivid image — “the babes have reached the birthstool, but the strength to give birth is lacking” (verse 3) — and pleads that God may take note of the Rabshakeh’s mockery of “the living God” (verse 4).

Isaiah’s first oracle (verses 6-7) is brief and confident: Hezekiah should not fear the Assyrian’s words, for God will place a spirit in Sennacherib, he will hear a rumor and return to his own land, and there fall by the sword. The narrative then tracks the unfolding of that prophecy. The Rabshakeh, learning that Sennacherib had moved on from Lachish to Libnah, rejoins his master; and when word arrives that Tirhakah of Cush is advancing, Sennacherib — unable to leave Jerusalem unsubdued behind him — sends a second, written threat (verses 9-13). This letter renews the taunt that no nation’s gods could save it from Assyria, listing the fallen peoples of Gozan, Haran, Hamath, Arpad, and Sepharvaim.

The spiritual center of the chapter is Hezekiah’s prayer (verses 14-19). He takes the letter, goes up to the Temple, and literally spreads it out before God — a striking gesture that lays the blasphemy itself before the One it insults. His prayer is a model of theological clarity: he addresses God as “Enthroned on the Cherubim,” the sole God of all the kingdoms of the earth and Maker of heaven and earth; he concedes that Assyria has indeed destroyed the nations and burned their gods — but those were “not gods, the handiwork of mere mortals, wood and stone” (verse 18); and he asks for deliverance not merely for Judah’s survival but “that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You alone, O Lord, are God” (verse 19). The crisis is reframed: this is not a contest between Judah and Assyria but between the living God and the idols, and the divine name is at stake.

Isaiah’s answering prophecy (verses 20-34) is among the most magnificent poetic oracles in Kings. It opens with Fair Maiden Zion tossing her head in scorn at the retreating tyrant, then turns to indict Sennacherib’s hubris: he had boasted of climbing the highest mountains and cutting down Lebanon’s cedars, of drying up the streams of Egypt with the soles of his feet — yet all his conquests were merely the working out of a plan God had designed “long ago” (verse 25). Assyria was only the rod of divine purpose, and now that the rod has grown arrogant, God declares, “I will place My hook in your nose and My bit between your jaws, and make you go back by the road by which you came” (verse 28). To Hezekiah the oracle gives a sign of agricultural restoration and a promise that a remnant will take root again from Jerusalem (verses 29-31), sealed by the assurance that Sennacherib “shall not enter this city… I will protect and save this city for My sake, and for the sake of My servant David” (verses 32-34). The chapter ends with the swift, terrible fulfillment: that very night an angel of God strikes down 185,000 in the Assyrian camp (verse 35); Sennacherib breaks camp and retreats to Nineveh; and there, as he worships in the temple of his god Nisroch, he is assassinated by his own sons — every clause of Isaiah’s first oracle fulfilled to the letter.


פרק י״ט · Chapter 19

פסוק א׳ · Verse 1

Hebrew:

וַיְהִ֗י כִּשְׁמֹ֙עַ֙ הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ חִזְקִיָּ֔הוּ וַיִּקְרַ֖ע אֶת־בְּגָדָ֑יו וַיִּתְכַּ֣ס בַּשָּׂ֔ק וַיָּבֹ֖א בֵּ֥ית יְהֹוָֽה׃

English:

When King Hezekiah heard this, he rent his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the House of GOD.

On hearing the Rabshakeh's report, Hezekiah tears his clothes, dons sackcloth, and goes up to the House of the Lord. Radak explains that the king turned at once to humility and prayer in the Temple, the proper response of a faithful king to blasphemy and threat.

פסוק ב׳ · Verse 2

Hebrew:

וַ֠יִּשְׁלַ֠ח אֶת־אֶלְיָקִ֨ים אֲשֶׁר־עַל־הַבַּ֜יִת וְשֶׁבְנָ֣א הַסֹּפֵ֗ר וְאֵת֙ זִקְנֵ֣י הַכֹּהֲנִ֔ים מִתְכַּסִּ֖ים בַּשַּׂקִּ֑ים אֶל־יְשַׁעְיָ֥הוּ הַנָּבִ֖יא בֶּן־אָמֽוֹץ׃

English:

He also sent Eliakim, who was in charge of the palace, Shebna the scribe, and the senior priests, covered with sackcloth, to the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz.


פסוק ג׳ · Verse 3

Hebrew:

וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ אֵלָ֗יו כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר חִזְקִיָּ֔הוּ יוֹם־צָרָ֧�� וְתוֹכֵחָ֛ה וּנְאָצָ֖ה הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֑ה כִּ֣י בָ֤אוּ בָנִים֙ עַד־מַשְׁבֵּ֔ר וְכֹ֥חַ אַ֖יִן לְלֵדָֽה׃

English:

They said to him, “Thus 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.aThe babes have reached the birthstool, but the strength to give birth is lacking I.e., the situation is desperate and we are at a loss.

Hezekiah's ministers convey his message to Isaiah: this is a day of distress, chastisement, and disgrace — 'the babes have reached the birthstool, but the strength to give birth is lacking.' Rashi, Metzudat David, and Radak explain the vivid metaphor of a labor that cannot be completed, expressing a crisis at its breaking point with no strength left to see it through.
Commentaries (2)
רש״יRashi
וְתוֹכֵחָה. שֶׁהָרְשָׁעִים מִתְוַכְּחִין וּמַרְאִין פָּנִים לְדִבְרֵיהֶם, לֵאמֹר לָנוּ הַכֹּחַ וְהַגְּבוּרָה. בָנִים. יִשְׂרָאֵל. עַד מַשְׁבֵּר. עַד צָרָה הַדּוֹמָה לְאִשָּׁה יוֹשֶׁבֶת עַל מַשְׁבֵּר וְאֵין בָּהּ כֹּחַ לֵילֵד.
[And] debate. That the wicked are debating1Alternatively, ותוכחה means "disgrace.—Targum Or "reproof."—Radak and showing evidence to [support] their words, claiming, "We have the power and the strength."2Alternatively the phrase refers to God and means, "may He rebuke for the words, etc." Children. Yisroel. As far as the birthstool. As far as a distress similar to a woman sitting on the birthstool, but not having strength to give birth.
מצודת דודMetzudat David
ותוכחה. האויב מתווכח להשתבח בהצלחתו, ואומר ידי רמה: ונאצה. מנאץ את ה׳ בדברי חרוף: כי באו בנים. דימה בני הדור לאשה הכורעת ללדת בנים, ויושבת על המשבר, ואין בה כח להוליד הבנים:
The enemy is praising his success, saying his hand is better than mine. Blaspheming God with words of disgrace. An analogy for the generation, like a woman kneeling to give birth to a child on the birthing stone, and she doesn't have the strength to give birth.

פסוק ד׳ · Verse 4

Hebrew:

אוּלַ֡י יִשְׁמַע֩ יְהֹוָ֨ה אֱלֹהֶ֜יךָ אֵ֣ת ׀ כׇּל־דִּבְרֵ֣י רַבְשָׁקֵ֗ה אֲשֶׁר֩ שְׁלָח֨וֹ מֶֽלֶךְ־אַשּׁ֤וּר ׀ אֲדֹנָיו֙ לְחָרֵף֙ אֱלֹהִ֣ים חַ֔י וְהוֹכִ֙יחַ֙ בַּדְּבָרִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר שָׁמַ֖ע יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ וְנָשָׂ֣אתָ תְפִלָּ֔ה בְּעַ֥ד הַשְּׁאֵרִ֖ית הַנִּמְצָאָֽה׃

English:

Perhaps the ETERNAL your God will take note of all the words of the Rabshakeh, whom his master the king of Assyria has sent to blaspheme the living God, and will mete out judgment for the words that the ETERNAL your God has heard—if you will offer up prayer for the surviving remnant.”

Hezekiah hopes God will take note of the Rabshakeh's words, sent by his master to blaspheme the living God, and asks Isaiah to pray for the surviving remnant. Rashi, Metzudat David, and Radak explain that the appeal rests on the blasphemy itself — that God will act to vindicate His own name against the mockery.
Commentaries (2)
רש״יRashi
וְהוֹכִיחַ. אישפרובי"ר בְּלַעַ"ז (לְהַבְהִיר), הֶרְאָה פָּנִים לִדְבָרָיו, שֶׁהִצְלִיחַ בְּכָל אֲשֶׁר הָלַךְ.
And he brought proof with the words. Aprover, in O.F., He showed evidence to [support] his statement,3Below, v. 9. [namely,] that he prospered wherever he went.
מצודת דודMetzudat David
אולי ישמע ה׳. הלואי יתן לב לשמוע: והוכיח. התווכח בדברים כאשר שמע ה׳: ונשאת. כאומר, לזה שאלתי מעמך שתשא תפלה לה׳: השארית הנמצאה. שארית ישראל הנמצאה בירושלים, כי כבר כבש כל ערי הבצרות שביהודה:
The name of God that listens to pleas. argues things which god hears as if to say, "for this I asked of your nation to recite a prayer to God The rest of Jews that remained in Jerusalem, because they had already conquered every type of city in Judah.

פסוק ה׳ · Verse 5

Hebrew:

וַיָּבֹ֗אוּ עַבְדֵ֛י הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ חִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ אֶֽל־יְשַׁעְיָֽהוּ׃

English:

When King Hezekiah’s ministers came to Isaiah,


פסוק ו׳ · Verse 6

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לָהֶם֙ יְשַֽׁעְיָ֔הוּ כֹּ֥ה תֹאמְר֖וּן אֶל־אֲדֹנֵיכֶ֑ם כֹּ֣ה ׀ אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֗ה אַל־תִּירָא֙ מִפְּנֵ֤י הַדְּבָרִים֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר שָׁמַ֔עְתָּ אֲשֶׁ֧ר גִּדְּפ֛וּ נַעֲרֵ֥י מֶלֶךְ־אַשּׁ֖וּר אֹתִֽי׃

English:

Isaiah said to them, “Tell your master as follows: Thus said GOD: Do not be frightened by the words of blasphemy against Me that you have heard from the minions of the king of Assyria.

Isaiah answers with God's word: do not fear the blasphemous words of the Assyrian king's minions. Radak explains that the prophet's reassurance addresses precisely the fear the Rabshakeh's taunts were meant to instill, dismissing them as the empty words of mere servants.

פסוק ז׳ · Verse 7

Hebrew:

הִנְנִ֨י נֹתֵ֥ן בּוֹ֙ ר֔וּחַ וְשָׁמַ֥ע שְׁמוּעָ֖ה ו��שָׁ֣ב לְאַרְצ֑וֹ וְהִפַּלְתִּ֥יו בַּחֶ֖רֶב בְּאַרְצֽוֹ׃

English:

I will deludebdelude Lit. “put a spirit in.” him; he will hear a rumor and return to his land, and I will make him fall by the sword in his land.”

God will put a spirit in Sennacherib so that he hears a rumor and returns to his land, where he will fall by the sword. Rashi, Metzudat David, and Radak explain this first prophecy, which the rest of the chapter will fulfill point by point — the rumor (Tirhakah), the retreat, and the assassination.
Commentaries (2)
רש״יRashi
וְשָׁמַע שְׁמוּעָה. וְיַעֲלֶה מֵעֲלֵיכֶם וְשָׁב לְאַרְצוֹ, וְלֹא מֵחֲמַת הַשְּׁמוּעָה, אֶלָּא לְאַחַר זְמַן יָשׁוּב לְאַרְצוֹ בְּבשֶׁת פָּנִים, וְהִפַּלְתִּיו שָׁם בֶּחָרֶב, וּמַה הִיא הַשְּׁמוּעָה, וַיִּשְׁמַע אֶל תִּרְהָקָה, שָׁמַע שֶׁיָּצָא תִּרְהָקָה לְהִלָּחֵם עִמּוֹ, וְעָלָה מֵעַל יְרוּשָׁלַיִם וְהָלַךְ לְכוּשׁ, וְנִלְחַם עִם תִּרְהָקָה וּפוּט וּמִצְרַיִם שֶׁעִמּוֹ, וְנִצְּחָם וְנָטַל חֶמְדַּת אוֹצְרוֹתֵיהֶם, וּבָא לִירוּשָׁלַיִם וְנָפַל שָׁם, הוּא שֶׁאָמַר: יְגִיעַ מִצְרַיִם וּסְחַר כּוּשׁ וְגוֹ' עָלַיִךְ יַעֲבֹרוּ וְגוֹ'.
And he will hear a rumor. And he will withdraw from you and return to his land. He will not [return] because of the rumor, but after a while he will return to his land in disgrace, and I will cause him to fall there by the sword. Now what was the rumor? "And he heard about Tirhaikoh."4Yeshayohu 45:14. He heard that Tirhaikoh had gone out to wage war against him, so, he left Yerusholayim and went to Cush, and waged war with Tirhaikoh, and Egypt, who were with him. He defeated him and took their most coveted treasures, and came to Yerusholayim, where he fell. In reference to this, Yeshayohu stated, "The toil of Egypt and the merchandise of Cush, etc., will become yours, etc."5See commentary above, 18:34.
מצודת דודMetzudat David
נותן בו רוח. אעיר רצונו ללכת מפה כאשר ישמע שמועה, היא שמועת תרהקה מלך כוש: ושב לארצו. סוף הדבר יהיה שישוב לארצו בפחי נפש, ובארצו אפיל אותו בחרב:
I will awaken his desire to leave from here, he will hear a rumor that the King of Ethiopia was moving out toward war against Assyria.

פסוק ח׳ · Verse 8

Hebrew:

וַיָּ֙שׇׁב֙ רַבְשָׁקֵ֔ה וַיִּמְצָא֙ אֶת־מֶ֣לֶךְ אַשּׁ֔וּר נִלְחָ֖ם עַל־לִבְנָ֑ה כִּ֣י שָׁמַ֔ע כִּ֥י נָסַ֖ע מִלָּכִֽישׁ׃

English:

The Rabshakeh, meanwhile, heard that [the king] had left Lachish; he turned back and found the king of Assyria attacking Libnah.


פסוק ט׳ · Verse 9

Hebrew:

וַיִּשְׁמַ֗ע אֶל־תִּרְהָ֤קָה מֶֽלֶךְ־כּוּשׁ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר הִנֵּ֥ה יָצָ֖א לְהִלָּחֵ֣ם אִתָּ֑ךְ וַיָּ֙שׇׁב֙ וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח מַלְאָכִ֔ים אֶל־חִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ לֵאמֹֽר׃

English:

But [the king of Assyria] learned that King Tirhakah of Cush had come out to fight him; so he again sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying,

Hearing that Tirhakah of Cush had come out to fight him, the Assyrian king again sends messengers to Hezekiah. Rashi and Metzudat David explain that this is the 'rumor' Isaiah foretold; unable to leave Jerusalem unconquered at his back, Sennacherib sends a renewed threat rather than withdrawing.
Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
וַיָּשָׁב וַיִּשְׁלַח מַלְאָכִים. לְהוֹדִיעַ שֶׁאֵינוֹ שָׁב לְאַרְצוֹ, אֶלָּא לְהִלָּחֵם עִם כּוּשׁ, וְלַחֲזֹר כָּאן.
He again sent messengers. To notify him that he was not returning to his land, rather he was waging war with Cush, and then to return here.

פסוק י׳ · Verse 10

Hebrew:

כֹּ֣ה תֹאמְר֗וּן אֶל־חִזְקִיָּ֤הוּ מֶֽלֶךְ־יְהוּדָה֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר אַל־יַשִּׁאֲךָ֣ אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר אַתָּ֛ה בֹּטֵ֥חַ בּ֖וֹ לֵאמֹ֑ר לֹ֤א תִנָּתֵן֙ יְר֣וּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם בְּיַ֖ד מֶ֥לֶךְ אַשּֽׁוּר׃

English:

“Tell this to King Hezekiah of Judah: Do not let your God, on whom you are relying, mislead you into thinking that Jerusalem will not be delivered into the hands of the king of Assyria.


פסוק י״א · Verse 11

Hebrew:

הִנֵּ֣ה ׀ אַתָּ֣ה שָׁמַ֗עְתָּ אֵת֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר עָשׂ֜וּ מַלְכֵ֥י אַשּׁ֛וּר לְכׇל־הָאֲרָצ֖וֹת לְהַחֲרִימָ֑ם וְאַתָּ֖ה תִּנָּצֵֽל׃

English:

You yourself have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all the lands, how they have annihilated them; and can you escape?

The letter taunts that Hezekiah has heard how the kings of Assyria annihilated all lands — how then can he escape? Metzudat David explains the renewed psychological pressure, citing Assyria's unbroken record of conquest to argue that resistance is hopeless.

פסוק י״ב · Verse 12

Hebrew:

הַהִצִּ֨ילוּ אֹתָ֜ם אֱלֹהֵ֤י הַגּוֹיִם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר שִׁחֲת֣וּ אֲבוֹתַ֔י אֶת־גּוֹזָ֖ן וְאֶת־חָרָ֑ן וְרֶ֥צֶף וּבְנֵי־עֶ֖דֶן אֲשֶׁ֥ר בִּתְלַאשָּֽׂר׃

English:

Were the nations that my predecessorscpredecessors Lit. “fathers.” destroyed—Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and the Beth-edenites in Telassar—saved by their gods?

It lists nations destroyed by Sennacherib's predecessors — Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and Beth-eden in Telassar — whose gods did not save them. Rashi and Metzudat David identify these conquered peoples, the argument being that no deity has ever withstood Assyria.
Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
עֶדֶן. שֵׁם מְדִינָה.
Eden. The name of a province.

פסוק י״ג · Verse 13

Hebrew:

אַיּ֤וֹ מֶֽלֶךְ־חֲמָת֙ וּמֶ֣לֶךְ אַרְפָּ֔ד וּמֶ֖לֶךְ לָעִ֣יר סְפַרְוָ֑יִם הֵנַ֖ע וְעִוָּֽה׃

English:

Where is the king of Hamath? And the king of Arpad? And the kings of Lair, Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah?”

The letter asks where the kings of Hamath, Arpad, Lair, Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah now are. Rashi, Metzudat David, and Radak identify these defeated kingdoms, driving home the boast that Assyria has toppled every king who opposed it.
Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
הֵנַע וְעִוָּה. אוֹתָן מֶלֶךְ אַשּׁוּר.
He exiled and twisted. The king of Ashur exiled and twisted them.6Alternatively, this refers to Eretz Yisroel.—Radak

פסוק י״ד · Verse 14

Hebrew:

וַיִּקַּ֨ח חִזְקִיָּ֧הוּ אֶת־הַסְּפָרִ֛ים מִיַּ֥ד הַמַּלְאָכִ֖ים וַיִּקְרָאֵ֑ם וַיַּ֙עַל֙ בֵּ֣ית יְהֹוָ֔ה וַיִּפְרְשֵׂ֥הוּ חִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ לִפְנֵ֥י יְהֹוָֽה׃ {פ}

English:

Hezekiah took the letter from the messengers and read it. Hezekiah then went up to the House of GOD and spread it out before GOD.

Hezekiah takes the letter, reads it, goes up to the House of the Lord, and spreads it out before God. Metzudat David and Radak explain the striking gesture: the king lays the blasphemous letter itself before God, in effect placing the offense before the One it insults and inviting Him to answer it.

פסוק ט״ו · Verse 15

Hebrew:

וַיִּתְפַּלֵּ֨ל חִזְקִיָּ֜הוּ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָה֮ וַיֹּאמַר֒ יְהֹוָ֞ה אֱלֹהֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ יֹשֵׁ֣ב הַכְּרֻבִ֔ים אַתָּה־ה֤וּא הָאֱלֹהִים֙ לְבַדְּךָ֔ לְכֹ֖ל מַמְלְכ֣וֹת הָאָ֑רֶץ אַתָּ֣ה עָשִׂ֔יתָ אֶת־הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם וְאֶת־הָאָֽרֶץ׃

English:

And Hezekiah prayed to the ETERNAL and said, “O GOD of Hosts, Enthroned on the Cherubim! You alone are God of all the kingdoms of the earth. You made the heavens and the earth.

Hezekiah prays, addressing God as Enthroned on the Cherubim, the sole God of all the kingdoms of the earth and Maker of heaven and earth. Metzudat David explains that the king opens by affirming God's absolute and universal sovereignty, the very claim the Rabshakeh had denied.

פסוק ט״ז · Verse 16

Hebrew:

הַטֵּ֨ה יְהֹוָ֤ה ׀ אׇזְנְךָ֙ וּֽשְׁמָ֔ע פְּקַ֧ח יְהֹוָ֛ה עֵינֶ֖יךָ וּרְאֵ֑ה וּשְׁמַ֗ע אֵ֚ת דִּבְרֵ֣י סַנְחֵרִ֔יב אֲשֶׁ֣ר ��ְׁלָח֔וֹ לְחָרֵ֖ף אֱלֹהִ֥ים חָֽי׃

English:

O ETERNAL One, incline Your ear and hear; open Your eyes and see. Hear the words that Sennacherib has sent to blaspheme the living God!

He asks God to incline His ear and open His eyes to hear the words Sennacherib has sent to blaspheme the living God. Metzudat David and Radak explain the plea that God attend to the blasphemy directly, the heart of Hezekiah's appeal.
Commentaries (1)
מצודת דודMetzudat David
אשר שלחו. את המלאך המביא הספרים:
That were sent: The messages that were brought by the messenger.

פסוק י״ז · Verse 17

Hebrew:

אׇמְנָ֖ם יְהֹוָ֑ה הֶחֱרִ֜יבוּ מַלְכֵ֥י אַשּׁ֛וּר אֶת־הַגּוֹיִ֖ם וְאֶת־אַרְצָֽם׃

English:

True, O ETERNAL One, the kings of Assyria have annihilated the nations and their lands,

Hezekiah concedes the truth in Assyria's boast: the kings of Assyria have indeed annihilated the nations and their lands. Rashi and Metzudat David explain that the king grants the historical fact precisely in order to draw the crucial distinction in the next verse.
Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
אָמְנָם. אֱמֶת הוּא שֶׁהֶחֱרִיבוּ מַלְכֵי אַשּׁוּר אֶת הָעַמִּים, וְנָתְנוּ אֶת אֱלֹהֵיהֶם בָּאֵשׁ.
Indeed. It is true that the kings of Ashur destroyed the peoples and put their deities in fire.

פסוק י״ח · Verse 18

Hebrew:

וְנָתְנ֥וּ אֶת־אֱלֹהֵיהֶ֖ם בָּאֵ֑שׁ כִּי֩ לֹ֨א אֱלֹהִ֜ים הֵ֗מָּה כִּ֣י אִם־מַעֲשֵׂ֧ה יְדֵי־אָדָ֛ם עֵ֥ץ וָאֶ֖בֶן וַֽיְאַבְּדֽוּם׃

English:

and have committed their gods to the flames and have destroyed them; for they are not gods, but the handiwork of mere mortals, wood and stone.

But those nations' gods were committed to the flames and destroyed because they were no gods at all — only the handiwork of mortals, wood and stone. Metzudat David explains the decisive theological point: Assyria's victories over idols prove nothing about the living God, who cannot be burned like wood and stone.

פסוק י״ט · Verse 19

Hebrew:

וְעַתָּה֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵ֔ינוּ הוֹשִׁיעֵ֥נוּ נָ֖א מִיָּד֑וֹ וְיֵֽדְעוּ֙ כׇּל־מַמְלְכ֣וֹת הָאָ֔רֶץ כִּ֥י אַתָּ֛ה יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהִ֖ים לְבַדֶּֽךָ׃ {ס}        

English:

But now, O ETERNAL One our God, deliver us from his hands, and let all the kingdoms of the earth know that You alone, O ETERNAL One, are God.”


פסוק כ׳ · Verse 20

Hebrew:

וַיִּשְׁלַח֙ יְשַׁעְיָ֣הוּ בֶן־אָמ֔וֹץ אֶל־חִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ לֵאמֹ֑ר כֹּֽה־אָמַ֤ר יְהֹוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֲשֶׁ֨ר הִתְפַּלַּ֧לְתָּ אֵלַ֛י אֶל־סַנְחֵרִ֥ב מֶלֶךְ־אַשּׁ֖וּר שָׁמָֽעְתִּי׃

English:

Then Isaiah son of Amoz sent this message to Hezekiah: “Thus said the ETERNAL, the God of Israel: I have heard the prayer you have offered to Me concerning King Sennacherib of Assyria.

Isaiah sends word that God has heard Hezekiah's prayer concerning Sennacherib. Metzudat David and Radak explain that the prophet's response confirms the prayer was accepted, introducing the great poetic oracle of doom against Assyria that follows.

פסוק כ״א · Verse 21

Hebrew:

זֶ֣ה הַדָּבָ֔ר אֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה עָלָ֑יו בָּזָ֨ה לְךָ֜ לָעֲגָ֣ה לְךָ֗ בְּתוּלַת֙ בַּת־צִיּ֔וֹן אַחֲרֶ֙יךָ֙ רֹ֣אשׁ הֵנִ֔יעָה בַּ֖ת יְרוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃

English:

This is the word that GOD has spoken concerning him:“Fair Maiden Zion despises you,She mocks at you;Fair Jerusalem shakesHer head at you.

The oracle opens: Fair Maiden Zion despises and mocks the Assyrian, Fair Jerusalem shakes her head at him. Metzudat David and Radak explain the personification of Zion scorning the would-be conqueror, a reversal of the contempt the Rabshakeh had heaped on the city.

פסוק כ״ב · Verse 22

Hebrew:

אֶת־מִ֤י חֵרַ֙פְתָּ֙ וְגִדַּ֔פְתָּ וְעַל־מִ֖י הֲרִימ֣וֹתָ קּ֑וֹל וַתִּשָּׂ֥א מָר֛וֹם עֵינֶ֖יךָ עַל־קְד֥וֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

English:

Whom have you blasphemed and reviled?Against whom made loud your voiceAnd haughtily raised your eyes?Against the Holy One of Israel!

Whom has Sennacherib blasphemed and reviled, against whom raised his voice and his eyes? Against the Holy One of Israel. Metzudat David and Radak explain that the oracle names the true target of the king's arrogance — not a local deity but the Holy One of Israel Himself.

פסוק כ״ג · Verse 23

Hebrew:

בְּיַ֣ד מַלְאָכֶ֘יךָ֮ חֵרַ֣פְתָּ ׀ אֲדֹנָי֒ וַתֹּ֗אמֶר (ברכב) [בְּרֹ֥ב] רִכְבִּ֛י אֲנִ֥י עָלִ֛יתִי מְר֥וֹם הָרִ֖ים יַרְכְּתֵ֣י לְבָנ֑וֹן וְאֶכְרֹ֞ת קוֹמַ֤ת אֲרָזָיו֙ מִבְח֣וֹר בְּרֹשָׁ֔יו וְאָב֙וֹאָה֙ מְל֣וֹן קִצֹּ֔ה יַ֖עַר כַּרְמִלּֽוֹ׃

English:

Through your envoys you have blasphemed my Sovereign.Because you thought,‘Thanks to my vast chariotry,It is I who have climbed the highest mountains,To the remotest parts of the Lebanon,And have cut down its loftiest cedars,Its choicest cypresses,And have reached its remotest lodge,dremotest lodge Cf. Isa. 37.24 “highest peak.” Its densest forest.eIts densest forest Lit. “Its farmland forest”; exact meaning of Heb. uncertain.

Through his envoys Sennacherib boasted of climbing the highest mountains and Lebanon's remotest heights, cutting down its loftiest cedars and cypresses. Rashi, Metzudat David, and Radak explain the imagery of his conquests, the felled cedars and scaled peaks figuring his sweep through the lands he subdued.
Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
מְרוֹם הָרִים. הַר הַבַּיִת. יַרְכְּתֵי לְבָנוֹן. בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ, שֶׁמַּלְבִּין עֲוֹנוֹת. וְאֶכְרֹת קוֹמַת אֲרָזָיו. לֹא אָשׁוּב עַד שֶׁאַחְרִיבֶנּוּ. קִצֹּה. סוֹפוֹ. יַעַר כַּרְמִלּוֹ. מְלִיאַת אַרְצוֹ וְיוֹפִי הֲדָרוֹ.
The highest mountains. [This refers to] the Temple Mount.7The sacrifices that are offered in the Beis Hamikdosh atoned for the sins and "whitened" them. The verse in Yeshayohu 1:18 states, "If your sins will be like scarlet, they will become as white [=ילבינו] as snow." See Maseches Gittin 56b and Rashi there. To the end of the Levanon. [This refers to] the Beis Hamikdosh which whitens [=מלבן] sins.8Alternatively "its tallest cedar [trees]" refers to the great leaders and nobles among the Bnei Yisroel.—Radak See Rashi in Bamidbar 13:20. And I will cut down its tallest cedar [trees]. I will not return until I have destroyed it.9"Its remotest lodge," refers to the Beis Hamikdosh which is the lodging place of the Shechinah.—Radak Remotest. Its end.10I.e., his army is so vast that they drink up all the water available, he therefore had to dig and search for other water sources.—Radak Its fruitful forest. The fullness of its land and the beauty of its splendor.

פסוק כ״ד · Verse 24

Hebrew:

אֲנִ֣י קַ֔רְתִּי וְשָׁתִ֖יתִי מַ֣יִם זָרִ֑ים וְאַחְרִב֙ בְּכַף־פְּעָמַ֔י כֹּ֖ל יְאֹרֵ֥י מָצֽוֹר׃

English:

It is I who have drawnfdrawn Or “dug”; meaning of Heb. uncertain. and drunk the waters of strangers;I have dried up with the soles of my feetAll the streams of Egypt.’

He boasted of digging and drinking foreign waters and drying up the streams of Egypt with the soles of his feet. Rashi, Metzudat David, and Radak explain the hyperbole of total domination — that his armies were so vast they consumed the waters of every land and trampled Egypt's rivers dry.
Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
אֲנִי קַרְתִּי וְשָׁתִיתִי מַיִם זָרִים. כְּלוֹמַר הִתְחַלְתִּי בְּכָל מַעֲשֶׂה וְגָמַרְתִּי, כְּזֶה הַכּוֹרֶה בּוֹר וּמוֹצֵא מַיִם זָרִים וְשׁוֹתֶה. מַיִם נוֹבְעִים קוֹרֵא זָרִים, לְפִי שֶׁעַד הֵנָּה לֹא הִכִּירוּ בָּהֶם. וְאַחֲרִב בְּכַף פְּעָמַי. אִם צַרְתִּי עַל עִיר הַבּוֹטַחַת בְּנַהֲרוֹתֶיהָ, הֵבֵאתִי עָלֶיהָ גְּיָסוֹת רַבּוֹת שֶׁהוֹבִישׁוּ יְאוֹרֶיהָ בִּשְׁתִיָּתָם וּשְׁתִיַּת בְּהֶמְתָּם וּמִרְמַס רַגְלֵיהֶם. וְאַחֲרִב. לְשׁוֹן הֹוֶה, כֵּן דַּרְכִּי תָמִיד.
I dug and drank strange water. I.e., I started all my deeds and completed [them], as one who digs a hole and finds flowing water and drinks it. Flowing water he calls "זרים [=strange]," because until now no one knew of them. And I dry up with the soles of my feet. If I besiege a city that depends upon its rivers, I bring many troops upon it who dry up its rivers with their drinking and the drinking of their cattle11His soldiers were so numerous that as they crossed a river they carried away so much water on their feet that the river bed was left dry by the time they all crossed it. See Maseches Sanhedrin 95b. and by the treading of their feet.12Yeshayohu 10:5. And I dry up. This is in the present tense [because] this is always my way.

פסוק כ״ה · Verse 25

Hebrew:

הֲלֹֽא־שָׁמַ֤עְתָּ לְמֵֽרָחוֹק֙ אֹתָ֣הּ עָשִׂ֔יתִי לְמִ֥ימֵי קֶ֖דֶם וִיצַרְתִּ֑יהָ עַתָּ֣ה הֲבֵיאתִ֔יהָ וּתְה��֗י לַהְשׁ֛וֹת גַּלִּ֥ים נִצִּ֖ים עָרִ֥ים בְּצֻרֽוֹת׃

English:

Have you not heard? Of oldI planned that very thing,I designed it long ago,And now have fulfilled it.And it has come to pass,Laying waste fortified townsIn desolate heaps.

God answers: had Sennacherib not heard that this very thing was planned of old? God designed it long ago and now fulfilled it, that Assyria should lay fortified towns in ruins. Rashi, Metzudat David, and Radak explain the crux of the oracle — Assyria's conquests were merely the execution of God's ancient plan, not the king's own power.
Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
הֲלֹא שָׁמַעְתָּ לְמֵרָחוֹק. לָמָּה תִתְפָּאֵר וְתִתְגַּדֵּל בָּזֹאת, לֹא שֶׁלְּךָ הִיא, כִּי שָׁמַעְתָּ לְמֵרָחוֹק עַל יְדֵי הַנְּבִיאִים שֶׁגָּזַרְתִּי עַל הָעַמִּים לַהֲבִיאֲךָ עֲלֵיהֶם, כְּעִנְיַן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: הוֹי אַשּׁוּר שֵׁבֶט אַפִּי. לְמִימֵי קֶדֶם. מִשֶּׁנִּבְרָא הָעוֹלָם, עָלְתָה בְּמַחֲשָׁבָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: כִּי עָרוּךְ מֵאֶתְמוּל תָּפְתֶּה גַּם הִיא לַמֶּלֶךְ הוּכָן, זֶה סַנְחֵרִיב שֶׁנִּשְׂרַף בְּאֵשׁ גֵּיהִנֹּם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: נְאֻם ה' אֲשֶׁר אוּר לוֹ בְּצִיּוֹן. עַתָּה הֲבֵיאתִיהָ. וְזֶה הַכֹּחַ שֶׁבְּיָדְךָ. וּתְהִי. בִּיאָתָהּ שֶל גְּזֵרָתִי, לְהִשָּׁאוֹת עָרִים בְּצוּרוֹת, לִהְיוֹת לְגַלִּים נִצִּים, לְגַלֵּי אֲדָמָה שֶׁצּוֹמְחִין בָּהֶן יְרָקוֹת, שֶׁאַתָּה מַחֲרִיבָן בִּגְזֵרָתִי. לַהְשׁוֹת. לְשׁוֹן שְׁאִיָּה גַּלְמוּדָה.
Have you not heard from afar. Why do you glorify and aggrandize yourself with this? This is not yours, for you have heard from afar through the prophets, that I decreed upon the nations to bring you upon them, as the matter that is stated, "Ho, Ashur, the staff of My wrath."13Yeshayohu 30:33. In days of yore. Since the world was created, it entered My thought, as it is stated, "For [Gehinnom] is arranged from days of yore; that too was prepared for the king."14Yeshayohu 31:9. This refers to Sancheiriv, who was burned in the fire of Gehinnom, as it is stated, "The word of Adonoy, Who has fire in Tzion."15קצרי יד is an expression meaning "lack of power," as in Bamidbar 11:23, "Is the power of AD limited [= תקצר' ה היד]." Now I have brought it about. And this is the power that is in your hand. And it shall be. The coming of My decree shall be to make desolate fortified cities into blossoming hills, into piles of earth upon which vegetables grow, for you destroy them because of My decree. To make desolate. An expression of desolation, forsaken.

פסוק כ״ו · Verse 26

Hebrew:

וְיֹֽשְׁבֵיהֶן֙ קִצְרֵי־יָ֔ד חַ֖תּוּ וַיֵּבֹ֑שׁוּ הָי֞וּ עֵ֤שֶׂב שָׂדֶה֙ וִ֣ירַק דֶּ֔שֶׁא חֲצִ֣יר גַּגּ֔וֹת וּשְׁדֵפָ֖ה לִפְנֵ֥י קָמָֽה׃

English:

Their inhabitants are helpless,Dismayed and shamed.They were but grass of the fieldAnd green herbage,Grass of the roofs that is blastedBefore the standing grain.gstanding grain Emendation yields “east wind”; see note at Isa. 37.27.

Their inhabitants were helpless, dismayed and shamed, like grass of the field and rooftop herbage blasted before it matures. Rashi, Metzudat David, and Radak explain the image of the conquered peoples as short-lived grass, weak before Assyria only because God had so ordained.
Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
וְישְׁבֵיהֶן קִצְרֵי יָד. הֵם, שֶׁאֲנִי הִתַּשְׁתִּי אֶת כֹּחָן לְפָנֶיךָ, וְאֵין הַגְּבוּרָה שֶׁלְּךָ, אֵין אַתָּה גִּבּוֹר, אֲבָל הֵם חַלָּשִׁים. חֲצִיר גַּגּוֹת. הַמְמַהֵר לִיבַשׁ. וּשְׁדֵפָה לִפְנֵי קָמָה. כַּשִּׁבֳּלִים הַשְּׁדוּפוֹת, בְּטֶרֶם יִתְקַשּׁוּ לָבֹא לִידֵי קָמָה.
Their inhabitants were short of strength. Those whom I weakened before you,16I.e., it is a Divine gift for which Sancheiriv could claim no credit. and the might is not yours.17The nations that Sancheiriv conquered had already been condemned to punishment and destruction. You are not mighty, rather they are weak.18In Tehilim 129:6 the verse states" … like the grass on rooftops which even before it is plucked, withers." Like grass of the rooftops. Which dries quickly.19Alternatively, grass is unable to move and defend itself from being cut.—Ralbag And wind blast before [becoming] standing grain. Like blasted stalks of grain, before they hardened to become standing grain.

פסוק כ״ז · Verse 27

Hebrew:

וְשִׁבְתְּךָ֛ וְצֵאתְךָ֥ וּבֹאֲךָ֖ יָדָ֑עְתִּי וְאֵ֖ת הִֽתְרַגֶּזְךָ֥ אֵלָֽי׃

English:

I know your stayingsAnd your goings and comings,And how you have raged against Me.

God declares that He knows Sennacherib's sitting, his goings and comings, and his raging against Him. Rashi, Metzudat David, and Radak explain that God's intimate knowledge of the king's every movement exposes the emptiness of his boasting before the One who governs all.
Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
וְשִׁבְתְּךָ וְצֵאתְךָ וּבֹאֲךָ. תִּרְגֵּם יוֹנָתָן: וּמִיתְבָךְ בְּעֵצָה וּמִפְקָךְ לְאַגָּחָא קְרָבָא וּמֵיתָךְ לְאַרְעָא דְיִשְׂרָאֵל גָּלֵי קֳדָמַי, מֵאִתִּי נִהְיְתָה. וְאֵת הִתְרַגֶּזְךָ אֵלָי. וְאֶת אֲשֶׁר סוֹפְךָ לְהִתְגָּאוֹת וּלְהִתְעוֹרֵר אֵלַי בְּרֹגֶז וְרַעַשׁ, אשטרימי"ה בְּלַעַ"ז (הִתְרַגְזוּת, הִתְרַגְשׁוּת).
Your sitting and your going out and your coming in. [Targum] Yonoson rendered, "And your sitting in counsel, and your going out to wage war, and your coming to the land of Yisroel, is revealed to Me;" it emanated from Me. And your raging against Me. And that ultimately you will become arrogant and aroused against Me with anger and tumult, estorimir, in O.F..

פסוק כ״ח · Verse 28

Hebrew:

יַ֚עַן הִתְרַגֶּזְךָ֣ אֵלַ֔י וְשַׁאֲנַנְךָ֖ עָלָ֣ה בְאׇזְנָ֑י וְשַׂמְתִּ֨י חַחִ֜י בְּאַפֶּ֗ךָ וּמִתְגִּי֙ בִּשְׂפָתֶ֔יךָ וַהֲשִׁ֣בֹתִ֔יךָ בַּדֶּ֖רֶךְ אֲשֶׁר־בָּ֥אתָ בָּֽהּ׃

English:

Because you have raged against Me,And your tumult has reached My ears,I will place My hook in your noseAnd My bit between your jaws;And I will make you go back by the roadBy which you came.

Because of his rage and tumult against God, God will put a hook in his nose and a bit in his jaws and turn him back by the road he came. Rashi, Metzudat David, and Radak explain the image of leading a beast by hook and bridle — Assyria, for all its power, will be turned back as helplessly as a led animal.
Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
וְשַׁאֲנַנְךָ. כְּמוֹ וּשְׁאוֹנְךָ. חַחִי. כְּמִין שִׁיר הוּא, שֶׁמּוֹשְׁכִין בּוֹ בְּהֵמָה שֶׁעֲסָקֶיהָ רָעִים, כְּמוֹ שֶׁשָּׁנִינוּ: כָּל בַּעֲלֵי הַשִּׁיר יוֹצְאִין בְּשִׁיר. וּמִתְגִּי. תִּרְגֵּם יוֹנָתָן: זְמָם, וְהוּא שֶל בַּרְזֶל, וְתוֹחֲבִין אוֹתוֹ בִּנְחִירֵי הַנָּאקָה וְנִמְשֶׁכֶת בּוֹ, לְפִי שֶׁעֲסָקֶיהָ רָעִים, וְהוּא שֶׁשָּׁנִינוּ: וְּנָאקָה בַּחֲטָם.
And your tumult. [Means] the same as ושאונך [=your tumult].20Alternatively, "your tranquility," i.e., their rage was on account of their tranquility.—Radak My ring. A kind of ring by which they pull an animal whose behavior is bad,21Alternatively, חח is a fish hook which pierces the fish when it is pulled out of the water.—Radak as we learned, "And all animals that are usually pulled with a ring may go out [on Shabbos] with a ring."22Maseches Shabbos 51b. And my bit. [Targum] Yonoson rendered זמם, which is made of iron, and which is inserted into the nostrils of a female camel,23Alternatively, מתג is the bit placed in the animal's mouth by which to lead it.—Radak and she is pulled with it, because her behavior is bad. This is what we learned, "And the female camel [may go out on Shabbos] with a nose ring."24Maseches Shabbos 51b.

פסוק כ״ט · Verse 29

Hebrew:

וְזֶה־לְּךָ֣ הָא֔וֹת אָכ֤וֹל הַשָּׁנָה֙ סָפִ֔יחַ וּבַשָּׁנָ֥ה הַשֵּׁנִ֖ית סָחִ֑ישׁ וּבַשָּׁנָ֣ה הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֗ית זִרְע֧וּ וְקִצְר֛וּ וְנִטְע֥וּ כְרָמִ֖ים וְאִכְל֥וּ פִרְיָֽם׃

English:

“And this is the sign for you:hyou I.e., Hezekiah. 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.

The sign given to Hezekiah: this year and the next they will eat what grows of itself, and in the third year sow, reap, and plant vineyards. Rashi, Metzudat David, and Radak explain the agricultural sign of restoration after the disruption of war, a tangible pledge that normal life will return to the land.
Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
וְזֶה לְּךָ הָאוֹת. לְחִזְקִיָּהוּ אָמַר הַנָּבִיא, וְזֶה שֶׁאָמַרְתִּי לְךָ סַנְחֵרִיב יִפֹּל כָּאן, יְהִי לָךְ לְאוֹת אַף לַיָּמִים הַבָּאִים שֶׁאַתֶּם יְרֵאִים לָמוּת בָּרָעָב, לְפִי שֶׁסַּנְחֵרִיב הֶחֱרִיב אֶת הָאָרֶץ וְגָדַע אֶת הָאִילָנוֹת. אָכוֹל הַשָּׁנָה סָפִיחַ. בַּשָּׁנָה הַזֹּאת יִצְמְחוּ לָכֶם צְמָחִים, וְתִתְפַּרְנְסוּ מֵהֶם. סָחִישׁ. גְּדוּעֵי אִילָנוֹת שֶׁיִּצְמְחוּ, וּכְשֶׁתִּרְאֶה דְּבָרַי קַיָּם בְּמַפָּלַת הָאוֹכְלֻסִין, יִהְיֶה לְךָ לְאוֹת שֶׁאַף הַבְטָחָה זוֹ תִּתְקַיֵּם.
And this shall be the sign for you. The prophet said to Chizkiyohu, "And this prophecy which I said to you that Sancheiriv will fall here, will be a sign for you25Alternatively, the sign for the fulfillment of the prophecy is that Sancheiriv will return to his land, mentioned in v. 7 above. The fulfillment of this prophecy serves as a sign that the remainder of the prophecy will likewise be fulfilled.—Radak also for the approaching days, for you are afraid of dying from hunger, because Sancheiriv destroyed the land and chopped down the trees." This year you will eat what grows by itself. This year plants will grow for you, and you will be sustained by them. What grows from the tree stumps. The chopped off trees that will sprout, and when you see My word fulfilled concerning the fall of the armies, it will be a sign for you that this promise, too, will be fulfilled.

פסוק ל׳ · Verse 30

Hebrew:

וְיָ֨סְפָ֜ה פְּלֵיטַ֧ת בֵּית־יְהוּדָ֛ה הַנִּשְׁאָרָ֖ה שֹׁ֣רֶשׁ לְמָ֑טָּה וְעָשָׂ֥ה פְרִ֖י לְמָ��עְלָה׃

English:

And the survivors of the House of Judah that have escaped shall regenerate its stock below and produce boughs above.

The surviving remnant of the House of Judah will take root below and bear fruit above. Metzudat David and Radak explain the image of renewed growth — the survivors will regenerate like a plant putting down roots and sending up boughs, ensuring the nation's continuity.

פסוק ל״א · Verse 31

Hebrew:

כִּ֤י מִירוּשָׁלַ֙͏ִם֙ תֵּצֵ֣א שְׁאֵרִ֔ית וּפְלֵיטָ֖ה מֵהַ֣ר צִיּ֑וֹן קִנְאַ֛ת יְהֹוָ֥ה [צְבָא֖וֹת] תַּעֲשֶׂה־זֹּֽאת׃ {ס}        

English:

For a remnant shall come forth from Jerusalem,Survivors from Mount Zion.The zeal of GOD of HostsShall bring this to pass.

For a remnant will go forth from Jerusalem and survivors from Mount Zion; the zeal of the Lord of Hosts will accomplish this. Rashi, Metzudat David, and Radak explain that the deliverance and survival of the remnant flow from God's protective zeal for His city, not from any merit of arms.
Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
קִנְאַת ה' צְבָאוֹת. שֶׁיְּקַנֵּא לִכְבוֹדוֹ וְלִשְׁמוֹ, וְלֹא שֶׁיֵּשׁ זְכוּת בְּיֶדְכֶם, כִּי הַרְבֵּה הִרְשִׁיעַ אָחָז אָבִיךָ.
The zeal of Adonoy of Hosts. That He will be zealous for His honor and for His Name, not that you have any merit,26For even the merit of the Patriarchs had been used up, according to Rashi in Yeshayohu 37:32. for Achaz your father committed many wicked deeds.

פסוק ל״ב · Verse 32

Hebrew:

לָכֵ֗ן כֹּֽה־אָמַ֤ר יְהֹוָה֙ אֶל־מֶ֣לֶךְ אַשּׁ֔וּר לֹ֤א יָבֹא֙ אֶל־הָעִ֣יר הַזֹּ֔את וְלֹא־יוֹרֶ֥ה שָׁ֖ם חֵ֑ץ וְלֹא־יְקַדְּמֶ֣נָּה מָגֵ֔ן וְלֹא־יִשְׁפֹּ֥ךְ עָלֶ֖יהָ סֹלְלָֽה׃

English:

Assuredly, thus said GOD concerning the king of Assyria:He shall not enter this city:He shall not shoot an arrow at it,Or advance upon it with a shield,Or pile up a siege mound against it.

Therefore God declares concerning the Assyrian king: he shall not enter this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor raise a shield against it, nor build a siege mound. Rashi and Radak explain the categorical promise that Jerusalem will be spared even the opening moves of a siege.
Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
וְלֹא יְקַדְּמֶנָּה. לֹא יֵעָרֵךְ לְפָנֶיהָ מָגֵן. סֹלְלָה. צִבּוּר אֲדָמָה לְהַגְבִּיהַּ תֵּל לַעֲמֹד עָלָיו לְהִלָּחֵם עַל הָעִיר, וְעַל שֵׁם שֶׁהוּא כּוֹבְשׁוֹ וְחוֹבְטוֹ בְּעֵצִים וּמַקָּבוֹת כְּדֵי שֶׁיְּהֵא נָדוֹשׁ וְכָבוּשׁ בְּחֹזֶק, קוֹרֵהוּ סוֹלְלָה, לְשׁוֹן: סֹלּוּ סֹלּוּ הַמְסִלָּה.
He will not advance upon it. He will not set a shield before it.27The first soldiers attacking a city were the shield bearers.—Radak A ramp. A heap of earth to raise a mount upon which to stand to wage war against the city, and because one presses it down and beats it with sticks and sledge hammers, so that it becomes trodden and pressed down with strength, it is called סוללה, an expression of, "Beat down [=סולו], beat down [=סולו] the highway."28Yeshayohu 62:10. See also II Shmuel 20:15.

פסוק ל״ג · Verse 33

Hebrew:

בַּדֶּ֥רֶךְ אֲשֶׁר־יָבֹ֖א בָּ֣הּ יָשׁ֑וּב וְאֶל־הָעִ֥יר הַזֹּ֛את לֹ֥א יָבֹ֖א נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃

English:

He shall go backBy the way he came;He shall not enter this city—declares GOD.


פסוק ל״ד · Verse 34

Hebrew:

וְגַנּוֹתִ֛י אֶל־הָעִ֥יר הַזֹּ֖את לְהוֹשִׁיעָ֑הּ לְמַֽעֲנִ֔י וּלְמַ֖עַן דָּוִ֥ד עַבְדִּֽי׃

English:

I will protect and save this city for My sake,And for the sake of My servant David.”

God will protect and save this city for His own sake and for the sake of His servant David. Metzudat David explains the twofold ground of the deliverance — God's own name and His covenant with David — the same motives Hezekiah had invoked in his prayer.

פסוק ל״ה · Verse 35

Hebrew:

וַיְהִי֮ בַּלַּ֣יְלָה הַהוּא֒ וַיֵּצֵ֣א ׀ מַלְאַ֣ךְ יְהֹוָ֗ה וַיַּךְ֙ בְּמַחֲנֵ֣ה אַשּׁ֔וּר מֵאָ֛ה שְׁמוֹנִ֥ים וַחֲמִשָּׁ֖ה אָ֑לֶף וַיַּשְׁכִּ֣ימוּ בַבֹּ֔קֶר וְהִנֵּ֥ה כֻלָּ֖ם פְּגָרִ֥ים מֵתִֽים׃

English:

That night an angel of GOD went out and struck down one hundred and eighty-five thousand in the Assyrian camp, and the following morning they were all dead corpses.

That night an angel of God strikes down 185,000 in the Assyrian camp, all found dead by morning. Rashi, Metzudat David, and Radak describe the sudden miraculous deliverance, the destruction of the army in a single night without any Judean military action.
Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
וַיְהִי בַּלַּיְלָה הַהוּא. כְּשֶׁשָּׁב סַנְחֵרִיב מֵעַל כּוּשׁ, וּבָא עַד נֹב שֶׁהָיְתָה סְמוּכָה לִירוּשָׁלַיִם. מֵאָה שְׁמוֹנִים וַחֲמִשָּׁה אָלֶף. כֻּלָּם רָאשֵׁי גְּיָסוֹת.
And it was that night. When Sancheiriv returned from [battling] with Cush, and he came as far as Nov, which was near Yerusholayim.29Although his astrologers told him that he would be successful in conquering Yerusholayim if he were to attack it on that very day, Sancheiriv in his arrogance decided to camp overnight in Nov and wait for the following day. This ultimately led to his downfall. See Maseches Sanhedrin 95a. Dovid who was Chizkiyohu's ancestor, incurred guilt by causing the deaths of the kohanim of Nov, and it was therefore decreed that his descendants would be liable for punishment for many years. This was the last day of the decree, as stated in Yeshayohu 10:32, "Yet today he will stand in Nov." One hundred eighty-five thousand. All of them were heads of companies.30Sancheiriv's camp was enormous. Each of these 185,000 officers was in charge of 2,000 men. See Rashi above, in 18:24.

פסוק ל״ו · Verse 36

Hebrew:

וַיִּסַּ֣ע וַיֵּ֔לֶךְ וַיָּ֖שׇׁב סַנְחֵרִ֣יב מֶלֶךְ־אַשּׁ֑וּר וַיֵּ֖שֶׁב בְּנִֽינְוֵֽה׃

English:

So King Sennacherib of Assyria broke camp and retreated, and stayed in Nineveh.

Sennacherib breaks camp, retreats, and remains in Nineveh. Rashi, Metzudat David, and Radak note the fulfillment of Isaiah's word that the king would return to his own land, his campaign against Jerusalem utterly broken.
Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
וַיֵּשֶׁב בְּנִינְוֵה. הִיא רֹאשׁ לְאֶרֶץ אַשּׁוּר.
And dwelt in Nineveh. It was the capital of Ashur.

פסוק ל״ז · Verse 37

Hebrew:

וַיְהִי֩ ה֨וּא מִֽשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֜ה בֵּ֣ית ׀ נִסְרֹ֣ךְ אֱלֹהָ֗יו וְֽאַדְרַמֶּ֨לֶךְ וְשַׂרְאֶ֤צֶר [בָּנָיו֙] הִכֻּ֣הוּ בַחֶ֔רֶב וְהֵ֥מָּה נִמְלְט֖וּ אֶ֣רֶץ אֲרָרָ֑ט וַיִּמְלֹ֛ךְ אֵסַר־חַדֹּ֥ן בְּנ֖וֹ תַּחְתָּֽיו׃ {פ}

English:

While he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch, his sons Adrammelech and Sarezer struck him down with the sword. They fled to the land of Ararat, and his son Esarhaddon succeeded him as king.

As Sennacherib worships in the temple of his god Nisroch, his sons Adrammelech and Sarezer kill him with the sword and flee, and Esarhaddon succeeds him. Rashi, Metzudat David, and Radak note the final fulfillment of the prophecy that he would fall by the sword in his own land, struck down even as he worshiped his powerless idol.
Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
בֵּית נִסְרֹךְ אֱלֹהָיו. נֶסֶר מִתֵּבָתוֹ שֶׁל נֹחַ. הִכֻּהוּ בַחֶרֶב. שָׁמְעוּ אוֹתוֹ שֶׁאָמַר לְשָׁחְטָן לְפָנָיו אִם יַצִּילוּהוּ, שֶׁלֹּא יַהַרְגוּהוּ שָׂרֵי הַמַּלְכוּת שֶׁמֵּתוּ בְנֵיהֶם עַל יָדוֹ.
In the temple of Nisroch his god. A board from Noach's ark.31נסרת is a contraction of נסר מתיבתו של נח. 32Sancheiriv believed it was the deity which saved Noach from the Flood, so it will save him also. See Maseches Sanhedrin 96a. Slew him with a sword. They heard him that he said he would slaughter them33Sancheiriv asked his wise men what was the merit that the Bnei Yisroel had that God fights their battles. They replied that their forefather Avrohom brought his son for a burnt offering. So he decided that he too will offer his two sons. When his sons heard this, they killed him.—Radak before him if they would spare him, so that they would not kill him---the princes of the kingdom, whose sons perished on account of him.

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