The Assyrian emperor took the Israelites to Assyria as prisoners… Samaria fell because the Israelites did not obey the Lord their God, but broke the covenant he had made with them…
As promised as part of the covenant (Deuteronomy 28:36-37). Such formulas no longer apply; the “because” is much more elusive…
In the third year of the siege Samaria fell; this was the sixth year of Hezekiah’s reign and the ninth year of Hoshea’s reign. …In the fourteenth year of the reign of King Hezekiah, Sennacherib, the emperor of Assyria, attacked the fortified cities of Judah and conquered them.
Eight years! That shows how exhausting sieges were back then for the invading armies.
Hezekiah sent a message to Sennacherib, who was in Lachish: “I have done wrong; please stop your attack, and I will pay whatever you demand.” The emperor’s answer was that Hezekiah should send him ten tons of silver and one ton of gold. …The Assyrian emperor sent a large army from Lachish to attack Hezekiah at Jerusalem…
Not the kind of debt that’s acquitted so easily…
The Assyrian emperor sent… his three highest officials. When they arrived at Jerusalem, they occupied the road where the cloth makers work by the ditch that brings water from the upper pool.
What marvelous details! This was clearly recorded by eye witnesses.
“Do you think that words can take the place of military skill and might? Who do you think will help you rebel against Assyria? You are expecting Egypt to help you, but that would be like using a reed as a walking stick—it would break and jab your hand. That is what the king of Egypt is like when anyone relies on him.”
The Assyrian official went on, “Or will you tell me that you are relying on the Lord your God? It was the Lord’s shrines and altars that Hezekiah destroyed, when he told the people of Judah and Jerusalem to worship only at the altar in Jerusalem… Do you think I have attacked your country and destroyed it without the Lord’s help? The Lord himself told me to attack it and destroy it.”
Truly from the very mouth of Satan. How to discern? We have to hold firm (Ephesians 6:11).
Then the official stood up and shouted in Hebrew, “Listen to what the emperor of Assyria is telling you! He warns you not to let Hezekiah deceive you. Hezekiah can’t save you. And don’t let him persuade you to rely on the Lord. Don’t think that the Lord will save you and that he will stop our Assyrian army from capturing your city.
Create a division between the leader and the people – an age-old ploy. In such situations, the result really doesn’t matter – we move forward for as long as we can (Hebrews 12:1-2).