Isaiah 36

“Now it came to pass in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah, that Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the…” Naming Assyria and Hezekiah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the king of Assyria sent Rabshakeh from Lachish to Jerusalem unto king Hezekiah with a great army. And he stood by…” Naming Assyria and Hezekiah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then came forth unto him Eliakim, Hilkiah’s son, which was over the house, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah, Asaph’s…” Naming Asaph and Eliakim keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Rabshakeh said unto them, Say ye now to Hezekiah, Thus saith the great king, the king of Assyria, What confidence…” 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.

“I say, sayest thou, (but they are but vain words) I have counsel and strength for war: now on whom dost thou trust…” 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.

“Lo, thou trustest in the staff of this broken reed, on Egypt; whereon if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and…” Naming Egypt and Pharaoh keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“But if thou say to me, We trust in the LORD our God: is it not he, whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah hath…” 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.

“Now therefore give pledges, I pray thee, to my master the king of Assyria, and I will give thee two thousand horses…” The number two makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“How then wilt thou turn away the face of one captain of the least of my master’s servants, and put thy trust on Egypt…” 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 am I now come up without the LORD against this land to destroy it? the LORD said unto me, Go up against this land…” 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.

“Then said Eliakim and Shebna and Joah unto Rabshakeh, Speak, I pray thee, unto thy servants in the Syrian language…” Naming Eliakim and Jews keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“But Rabshakeh said, Hath my master sent me to thy master and to thee to speak these words? hath he not sent me to 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.

“Then Rabshakeh stood, and cried with a loud voice in the Jews’ language, and said, Hear ye the words of the great…” Naming Assyria and Hear keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Thus saith the king, Let not Hezekiah deceive you: for he shall not be able to deliver you.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Neither let Hezekiah make you trust in the LORD , saying, The LORD will surely deliver us: this city shall not be…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Hearken not to Hezekiah: for thus saith the king of Assyria, Make an agreement with me by a present, and come out to…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of corn and wine, a land of bread and vineyards.” Naming Until keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Beware lest Hezekiah persuade you, saying, The LORD will deliver us. Hath any of the gods of the nations delivered his…” 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 are the gods of Hamath and Arphad? where are the gods of Sepharvaim? and have they delivered Samaria out of my…” 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.

“Who are they among all the gods of these lands, that have delivered their land out of my hand, that the LORD should…” 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.

“But they held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king’s commandment was, saying, Answer him not.” Naming Answer keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then came Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah, that was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah, the son of Asaph…” Naming Asaph and Eliakim keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.