Isaiah 36:19

36:19 Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim? Indeed, did any gods rescue Samaria from my power?

Isaiah 48:4

48:4 I did this because I know how stubborn you are.

Your neck muscles are like iron

and your forehead like bronze.

Isaiah 48:7-8

48:7 Now they come into being, not in the past;

before today you did not hear about them,

so you could not say,

‘Yes, I know about them.’

48:8 You did not hear,

you do not know,

you were not told beforehand.

For I know that you are very deceitful;

you were labeled 10  a rebel from birth.

Isaiah 50:6

50:6 I offered my back to those who attacked, 11 

my jaws to those who tore out my beard;

I did not hide my face

from insults and spitting.

Isaiah 65:2

65:2 I spread out my hands all day long

to my rebellious people,

who lived in a way that is morally unacceptable,

and who did what they desired. 12 


tn The rhetorical questions in v. 34a suggest the answer, “Nowhere, they seem to have disappeared in the face of Assyria’s might.”

map For location see Map2-B1; Map4-D3; Map5-E2; Map6-A4; Map7-C1.

tn Heb “that they rescued Samaria from my hand?” But this gives the impression that the gods of Sepharvaim were responsible for protecting Samaria, which is obviously not the case. The implied subject of the plural verb “rescued” must be the generic “gods of the nations/lands” (vv. 18, 20).

tn The words “I did this” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons. In the Hebrew text v. 4 is subordinated to v. 3.

sn The image is that of a person who has tensed the muscles of the face and neck as a sign of resolute refusal.

tn Heb “are created” (so KJV, NASB, NIV, NRSV); NLT “They are brand new.”

tn Heb “look”; KJV, NASB “Behold.”

tn Heb “beforehand your ear did not open.”

tn Heb “deceiving, you deceive.” The infinitive absolute precedes the finite verb for emphasis.

10 tn Or “called” (KJV, NAB, NASB, NIV, NRSV).

11 tn Or perhaps, “who beat [me].”

12 tn Heb “who walked [in] the way that is not good, after their thoughts.”