See in Reader
1013 B
1013 B
Isaiah 37 General Notes
Structure and formatting
Some translations prefer to set apart extended quotations, prayers or songs. The ULB and many other English translations indent the lines of chapter 37:22-38, which is an extended quotation.
Special concepts in this chapter
Tearing clothes and putting on sackcloth
This was a sign of great distress. While it is often accompanies repentance, in this chapter it is intended to show the king's anger at the blasphemy of the Assyrians when they spoke against Yahweh. (See: rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/sign, rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/repent and rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/blasphemy)
Prayer
Hezekiah was different from the other kings because when he was threatened by Assyria, he went to Yahweh in prayer. He did not trust in his army or make an alliance with Egypt. (See: rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/trust)