God's Word through Multiple Voices: Sennacherib's Invasion of Judah...Continued from page 3

Some Reflections on the Narrators' Perspectives

Closer analysis of the Assyrian accounts reveals a pattern in Sennacherib's treatment of rebellious kings:

1. They are deposed (and sometimes humiliated). 
2. They are replaced. 
3. Tribute is imposed.

Both the biblical and Assyrian accounts agree that Jerusalem, the capital of the rebellious vassals, is not taken, nor is Hezekiah deposed. Hezekiah pays tribute to Assyria, but it is not delivered personally. The tribute is dispatched by a messenger after Sennacherib's return to Nineveh. These inconsistencies suggest there is something Sennacherib is not telling us.**

While Hezekiah and the people of Judah were in some measure faithful to the Lord, they also trusted in their own resources, much to the detriment of their faith in Lord. They suffered severe consequences as a result, but in the end, the Lord proved Himself faithful by delivering his holy city from human rage.

Studying the Bible is an adventure, which means it is exciting, but it also means it takes courage. When we defer to the Bible, we deliberately allow it to lead and guide us on a journey we may never have anticipated.

Notes:

In God's Word through Multiple Voices, Part 2 of 3

-The Greek historian, Herodotus, presents us with a third-party account

-Both Isaiah, whose city of Jerusalem is delivered, and Micah, whose hometown in the countryside is not, present two prophetic perspectives.

*An in-depth commentary on 2 Kgs 18-19 or Isa 36-37 should refer the reader to the Assyrian records of Sennacherib's campaign against the rebellious vassals in his western empire. English translations of these records can be found in The Context of Scripture and Ancient Near Eastern Texts Relating to the Old Testament.

**What Sennacherib is not telling us will be discussed in part two of this article.

Article courtesy of Bible Study Magazine published by Logos Bible Software. Each issue of Bible Study Magazine provides tools and methods for Bible study as well as insights from people like John Piper, Kay Arthur, Mark Driscoll, Randy Alcorn, John MacArthur, Barry Black, and more. More information is available at http://www.biblestudymagazine.com. Originally published in print: Copyright Bible Study Magazine (Nov-Dec 2008): pgs. 27-30. 

Publication date: April 21, 2010