Isaiah 36 -Strangely enough, it seems our country uses this same policy dealing with other nations.

Isaiah 36
We seem to "change channels" in the book of Isaiah at this point. Chapters 1-35 are the first major sections in this book of Isaiah. That section spoke of the government of Elohim and His judgment. The next section is an historic interlude (chapters 36-39) dealing with certain events during the life of Hezekiah.

This section is very significant for several reasons:
1. There is a divine rescue of Elohim's people performed by Elohim Himself.
2. This section transfers the world power from Assyria to Babylon.
3. This section of Scripture is recorded three times in Elohim's Word (Isaiah 36-39, 2 Kings 18-19, 2 Chron. 29-30).

The records are not identical, but they are very similar. Some scholars think Isaiah is the author of all three. He is probably the author of the record in 2 Kings 18-19.
4. There are three great miracles recorded in this section:
A. Elohim delivers His people by sending the angel of death. He kills 185,000 Assyrian soldiers in one night.
B. The sun retreats ten degrees on the sundial of Ahaz (Isaiah 38:1-5).
C. Elohim heals Hezekiah and extends his life 15 years (Isaiah 37: 14-20).
In this chapter, Sannecherib, King of Assyria, had arrived at Jerusalem after sweeping victories in every nation and city in his path. He and his armies meet outside the walls of Jerusalem fully expecting them to surrender. However, Hezekiah is not surrendering. Sannecherib probably suspects they have some kind of secret weapon. Assyria is going to send in their spokesman to ridicule any form of assistance they think may appear.
Isa 36:1
Now it came about in the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah and seized them.

Hezekiah reigned over Judah and was a very good king.

(2 Chron. 29:1-2).

Like everyone else, he was not without his faults. He attempted to ward off the invasion by Sannecherib by bribing him with the precious metals in the temple.

(2 Kings 18:13-16).

However, this did not help at all. You cannot buy friends. Sannecherib is now at the gates of the city and he is banging on the doors. He has conquered and defeated all the other cities in Judah and only has the capital city left to defeat. It seems pretty hopeless for Jerusalem. Strangely enough, it seems that our country uses this same policy in dealing with other nations. We think we can use economics to persuade others to follow our wishes. Sometimes it seems to work, but do these types of things work with what are now Muslim nations? Hezekiah finds out that these things do not work with pre-Muslim nations.