Isaiah presents conflicting imagery about Assyria’s invasion. A few possible explanations for this are provided throughout the video. Which explanation do you find most persuasive? Why?
Why do you think Isaiah was interwoven into a historical narrative he took no actual part in? What does Isaiah, or someone else, gain from doing this?
Isaiah is slotted into the wider history by weaving him into the books of Kings. What does this tell us about how history was understood in Isaiah’s context? How does that differ (or not differ) from how we think about and use history?
In chapter 37, Isaiah says that the Lord would intervene to cause Sennacherib to return home. What does this tell us about how God’s providence is understood in Isaiah?
Applying the Text:
What can we take away from the multiple re-tellings of Assyria’s invasion? What kinds of storytelling are being used to express similar ideas? How do we see this practice today?
Ultimately, this section of Isaiah seeks to glorify Israel as a good state protected by God. What do we think about this claim? How would this have been understood versus how it is understood today?