Isaiah 36:10

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, and destroy it.

And am I now come up {H5927} without {H1107} the LORD {H3068} against this land {H776} to destroy {H7843} it? the LORD {H3068} said {H559} unto me, Go up {H5927} against this land {H776}, and destroy {H7843} it.

Do you think I have come up to this land to destroy it without ADONAI's approval? ADONAI said to me, 'Go up against this land and destroy it!'"'"

So now, was it apart from the LORD that I have come up against this land to destroy it? The LORD Himself said to me, β€˜Go up against this land and destroy it.’”

And am I now come up without Jehovah against this land to destroy it? Jehovah said unto me, Go up against this land, and destroy it.

Commentary

Context of Isaiah 36:10

Isaiah 36:10 is spoken by the Rabshakeh, the field commander of the Assyrian King Sennacherib, during the siege of Jerusalem in the days of King Hezekiah. This chapter, along with the following ones, recounts a pivotal moment in Judah's history when the powerful Assyrian Empire threatened to annihilate the kingdom. The Rabshakeh's speech was a psychological tactic, aimed at demoralizing the people of Jerusalem and convincing them to surrender without a fight. He had already boasted about Assyria's conquests of other nations and their gods. Here, he escalates his blasphemy by claiming that the very God of Israel, the LORD (Yahweh), had sanctioned their invasion. This statement was designed to sow doubt and despair among the besieged Jews, undermining their faith in Hezekiah and their divine protector. For more on Hezekiah's response to this crisis, see Isaiah 37:1.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Blasphemy and Deception: The Rabshakeh's claim that the LORD commanded him is a blatant lie and an act of profound blasphemy. He attempts to use Judah's God against them, twisting divine truth for his own manipulative purposes. This highlights the enemy's tactic of deception to weaken faith.
  • Spiritual Warfare: Beyond the physical siege, this passage illustrates a spiritual battle. The Assyrian's words are an attack on Judah's trust in God, aiming to sever their spiritual reliance. It underscores that conflicts often have a spiritual dimension, challenging belief and loyalty.
  • God's Sovereignty vs. Human Presumption: While God sometimes uses nations as instruments of judgment (e.g., Isaiah 10:5), the Rabshakeh's assertion is a self-serving fabrication, not a divine commission. The true sovereignty of God is ultimately demonstrated in the miraculous deliverance of Jerusalem, which utterly refutes the Rabshakeh's false claim. This event is famously recorded in Isaiah 37:36.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew phrase translated "without the LORD" is bil'adei Yahweh (Χ‘ΦΌΦ΄ΧœΦ°Χ’Φ²Χ“Φ΅Χ™ Χ™Φ°Χ”Χ•ΦΈΧ”), emphasizing "apart from" or "independent of" Yahweh. The Rabshakeh poses a rhetorical question, then immediately answers it with a bold, false assertion: "the LORD said unto me, Go up against this land, and destroy it." This direct attribution of a command from Yahweh, the God of Israel, to an idolatrous foreign king's commander, is a profound act of religious audacity and psychological warfare.

Practical Application

This verse offers several timeless lessons for believers today:

  • Discernment is Crucial: We must be vigilant in discerning the source of messages that claim divine authority, especially if they contradict God's revealed character or His Word. Not every claim of "God told me" is true.
  • Recognize Spiritual Deception: Just as the Rabshakeh sought to deceive Judah, spiritual adversaries today use lies and half-truths to undermine faith, sow doubt, and encourage surrender. The Bible warns us about the father of lies.
  • Trust in God's True Word: In times of crisis or when confronted with discouraging narratives, our anchor must be God's consistent character and His unchanging promises, not the intimidating words of adversaries.
  • God's Ultimate Control: Even when it seems the enemy has divine backing or overwhelming power, God remains sovereign. He can turn the tables and deliver His people in unexpected ways, demonstrating that His plans prevail over human presumption.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated β€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 2 Kings 18:25

    Am I now come up without the LORD against this place to destroy it? The LORD said to me, Go up against this land, and destroy it.

  • 1 Kings 13:18

    He said unto him, I [am] a prophet also as thou [art]; and an angel spake unto me by the word of the LORD, saying, Bring him back with thee into thine house, that he may eat bread and drink water. [But] he lied unto him.

  • Isaiah 10:5

    ΒΆ O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation.

  • Isaiah 10:7

    Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so; but [it is] in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few.

  • 2 Chronicles 35:21

    But he sent ambassadors to him, saying, What have I to do with thee, thou king of Judah? [I come] not against thee this day, but against the house wherewith I have war: for God commanded me to make haste: forbear thee from [meddling with] God, who [is] with me, that he destroy thee not.

  • Amos 3:6

    Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done [it]?

  • Isaiah 37:28

    But I know thy abode, and thy going out, and thy coming in, and thy rage against me.
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