Isaiah 36:1

It came to pass. This chapter marks the beginning of a new section of the book of Isaiah. Chapters 36-39 are principally historical rather than prophetic in nature, dealing with Sennacherib’s invasions, Hezekiah’s illness, and the visit of Merodachbaladan’s envoys. These chapters are parallel to, and in large measure identical with, 2 Kings 18:13-20:19, to which, in general, reference should be made for comment.

The fourteenth year. See on 2 Kings 18:13. Sennacherib became king of Assyria in 705 B.C. and made his first campaign against the cities of Judah in 701. In his own account of this campaign, in which he claims the capture of 46 walled cities of Judah, he lists among his reasons for making the expedition: (1) the fact that Hezekiah had refused to submit to the Assyrian yoke; (2) that he had called upon Egypt and Ethiopia for help; and (3) that he had assisted the Philistines of Ekron in their uprising against Assyria, and had imprisoned their king Padi, who had been loyal to Assyria.