Isaiah 37

“And it came to pass, when king Hezekiah heard it, that he rent his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and…” This familiar narrative signal moves the clock forward. What follows is a new scene, consequence, or answer to an earlier tension.

“And he sent Eliakim, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests covered with…” Naming Amoz and Eliakim keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And they said unto him, Thus saith Hezekiah, This day is a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and of blasphemy: for the…” Naming Hezekiah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“It may be the LORD thy God will hear the words of Rabshakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master hath sent to reproach…” Naming Assyria keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“So the servants of king Hezekiah came to Isaiah.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And Isaiah said unto them, Thus shall ye say unto your master, Thus saith the LORD , Be not afraid of the words that…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Behold, I will send a blast upon him, and he shall hear a rumour, and return to his own land; and I will cause him to…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“So Rabshakeh returned, and found the king of Assyria warring against Libnah: for he had heard that he was departed…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And he heard say concerning Tirhakah king of Ethiopia, He is come forth to make war with thee. And when he heard it…” Naming Ethiopia and Hezekiah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Thus shall ye speak to Hezekiah king of Judah, saying, Let not thy God, in whom thou trustest, deceive thee, saying…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Behold, thou hast heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands by destroying them utterly; and shalt thou be…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Have the gods of the nations delivered them which my fathers have destroyed, as Gozan, and Haran, and Rezeph, and the…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Where is the king of Hamath, and the king of Arphad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it: and Hezekiah went up unto the house of…” Naming Hezekiah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Hezekiah prayed unto the LORD , saying,” Naming Hezekiah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, that dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the…” Naming Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Incline thine ear, O LORD , and hear; open thine eyes, O LORD , and see: and hear all the words of Sennacherib, which…” Naming Incline keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Of a truth, LORD , the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations, and their countries,” Naming Assyria keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And have cast their gods into the fire: for they were no gods, but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone: therefore…” The line’s distinctive content terms include gods, destroyed, fire. Its relationship to verses 18 and 20 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Now therefore, O LORD our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the…” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent unto Hezekiah, saying, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Whereas thou hast prayed to…” Naming Amoz and Assyria keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“This is the word which the LORD hath spoken concerning him; The virgin, the daughter of Zion, hath despised thee, and…” Naming Jerusalem and Zion keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Whom hast thou reproached and blasphemed? and against whom hast thou exalted thy voice, and lifted up thine eyes on…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“By thy servants hast thou reproached the Lord, and hast said, By the multitude of my chariots am I come up to the…” Naming Carmel and Lebanon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“I have digged, and drunk water; and with the sole of my feet have I dried up all the rivers of the besieged places.” The line’s distinctive content terms include besieged, digged, dried. Its relationship to verses 26 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Hast thou not heard long ago, how I have done it; and of ancient times, that I have formed it? now have I brought it…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Therefore their inhabitants were of small power, they were dismayed and confounded: they were as the grass of the…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“But I know thy abode, and thy going out, and thy coming in, and thy rage against me.” The line’s distinctive content terms include abode, coming, going. Its relationship to verses 27 and 29 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Because thy rage against me, and thy tumult, is come up into mine ears, therefore will I put my hook in thy nose, and…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And this shall be a sign unto thee, Ye shall eat this year such as groweth of itself; and the second year that which…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall again take root downward, and bear fruit upward:” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and they that escape out of mount Zion: the zeal of the LORD of hosts…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“By the way that he came, by the same shall he return, and shall not come into this city, saith the LORD .” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“For I will defend this city to save it for mine own sake, and for my servant David’s sake.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Then the angel of the LORD went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and fourscore and five…” The number hundred makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons…” This familiar narrative signal moves the clock forward. What follows is a new scene, consequence, or answer to an earlier tension.