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Yahweh promised that the Assyrian king would “not shoot an arrow there, come before it with a shield, or cast up a siege ramp” against Jerusalem, declaring He would defend the city for the honor of His name and His covenant with David. In one decisive night the angel of the LORD struck down 185,000 soldiers, driving Sennacherib back to Nineveh—where his own sons assassinated him—demonstrating that the Most High directs history and humbles every proud empire.

God responds to Hezekiah’s petition through Isaiah the son of Amoz.

King Hezekiah humbly unfolded Sennacherib’s threatening letter in the temple, turning Assyria’s blasphemy into a prayer that exalted the LORD as the sole Creator and ruler of every kingdom. He pleaded for deliverance not merely for Judah’s survival but so the entire world would recognize that Yahweh alone is the living God.

Learning that Sennacherib had shifted from Lachish to Libnah and faced the approach of Tirhakah of Cush, the Assyrian envoy hurried back to Jerusalem and delivered a second, more desperate missive to Hezekiah. In it the emperor flaunted the ashes of conquered nations and taunted Judah’s king not to trust in Yahweh—thereby turning impending military conflict into a showdown between the living God and the counterfeit deities toppled by Assyria’s pride.

King Hezekiah sends a delegation to Isaiah the prophet for advice and to seek the Lord’s direction of how to withstand Assyria’s superior forces.

Zechariah predicts a day when the survivors among the nations will go to Jerusalem yearly to celebrate the Feast of Booths and worship the LORD. Anyone who refuses to comply will experience drought. Jerusalem will become a holy city.

The LORD will strike Jerusalem’s enemies with a plague that will rot out their feet and tongues and kill their animals. Panic will confuse them, prompting them to attack one another. Meanwhile, the Judeans will join the residents of Jerusalem in collecting the spoils of the enemy.

Zechariah foresees a day when everyone will worship and honor the LORD as the only true God. Jerusalem will be secure, and its inhabitants will enjoy their lives freely.

Zechariah predicts a day when the Gentile nations will invade Jerusalem and carry half of her residents off into exile. Afterward, God will intervene with His angelic army to deliver her and defeat the nations. Jerusalem will become a source of life-giving waters.

The LORD describes the death of His anointed leader, resulting in the scattering of His covenant people. This prophecy was fulfilled by Jesus (Matthew 26:31). Two—thirds of the nation will be cut off but the remaining third will experience spiritual renewal and live in perfect communion with God.

The LORD promises to purify the Judeans. This cleansing entails removing idols and false prophets from the land. The people will devote themselves to God so wholeheartedly that even a false prophet’s parents would be willing to execute him. False prophets will apply their craft to avoid detection, asserting they are not prophets at all.

The Lord declares His intention to save Jerusalem without a battle. The Assyrians suffer a great slaughter at the hand of the angel of the Lord.

God responds to Hezekiah’s petition through Isaiah the son of Amoz

After receiving a letter meant to induce fear in the hearts of its readers, Hezekiah takes the letter and his supplication to Yahweh at the temple.

Now, well into the Assyrian siege of Jerusalem, we will see God begin to orchestrate events that will accomplish His will.

King Hezekiah sends a delegation to Isaiah the prophet for advice and to seek the Lord’s direction during this seemingly hopeless turn of events.

All of the Jewish people, its rulers and priests and commoners, will mourn for God, whom they pierced. They will mourn so profoundly as though they had lost their firstborn son. Because of this mourning, God will pour His favor on all of Israel. This is a clear allusion to the future event of Israel one day recognizing Jesus as their Messiah and repenting for rejecting Him. It seems that in doing so, then Jesus will return and deliver Israel, and rule as her King and God.

The LORD promises to defeat the adversaries of Judah and protect the weakest Israelites first. He will give every Israelite strength, so that they will be like fire burning in overwhelming force against their enemies. Even the poorest and weakest Israelite will fight with the strength of King David, and as an army they will fight with the power of God and His angel. The hostile forces who have gathered against Jerusalem will be destroyed that day. This prophecy likely looks to the End Times, when Jesus will save His people from their enemies.

There will be a siege against Jerusalem in the future. The world will attack Judah, but the Lord God will guard Judah. He will cause blindness and confusion upon those who attack His people. This likely looks to a siege in the End Times, where Jesus will save His people from their enemies.

The LORD instructs Zechariah to act as a foolish leader who cares nothing for his people to illustrate the wicked behavior of a future leader He will install. He then pronounces judgment on that leader for his evil deeds of exploiting the people he was assigned to serve.