Yeshaya Perek 37

Yeshaya Perek 37 -
Sefer Yeshaya is taught by Rabbi Albert Setton, Rabbi at Congregation Magen David of West Deal; Rabbi in Hillel Yeshiva.

Hizki’ya’s officers reported Ravshakeh’s message to the king, who likewise tore his clothes upon hearing the blasphemy. He sent for Yesha’ya, saying that the position of the nation is like that of a woman in hard labor. He asked Yesha’ya to pray to G-d for Jerusalem, as the other cities had already been captured. Yesha’ya replied that G-d says not to worry; He will cause Sanheriv to fall by the sword in his own land. Sanheriv was waging war in a place called Livna, when he received word that Cush (Ethiopia) was attacking Assyria. Sanheriv left temporarily to deal with theis threat, but he sent letters to Hizki’ya saying, “Don’t think I’m done with you. The gods of other nations didn’t save them and yours won’t save you!” Hizki’ya took the letters to the Temple and spread them out and prayed. He asked G-d to see the blasphemies that Sanheriv had written. “Yes,” Hizki’ya said, “Assyria has invaded the other lands and burned their idols, but they’re not really ‘gods.’ Please save us so that the world may see that You alone are G-d.” .” Yesha’ya sent word to Hizki’ya that G-d said the following: “The people of Jerusalem laugh at Sanheriv, who thinks he will conquer them. He has blasphemed and he sent Ravshakeh to blaspheme, thinking that he could conquer the Temple.” Yesha’ya then addresses the prophecy to the king of Assyria. “Don’t you, Sanheriv, know what G-d does? You’re not the strong one, G-d is...” Yesha’ya then gave Hizki’ya a sign: Even though the Assyrian army had destroyed the vegetation that Jerusalem relied upon for food, they would have enough to eat just from that which grew wild. The rest of the country may have been overrun, but those in Jerusalem, who remained true to G-d, will remain. Assyria will not enter, nor mount a siege against the city; G-d will protect it for His own sake and for the righteous King David. While the army of Assyria slept, a plague struck them. 185,000 died - only Sanheriv, his two sons, and Nebuchadnezzar survived. Sanheriv returned to the city of Ninveh. While he was serving his idol, two of his sons assassinated him. They ran away, leaving another son to reign in his place.

Summary provided by Rabbi Jack Abramowitz of the Orthodox Union 

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