Isaiah 36:16Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Do not heed Hezekiah; this is the decree of the king of Assyria: if you desire to be blessed, come to me and partake of your own grapes and figs, and drink from your own streams, until I arrive and transfer you to a land similar to yours, a land abundant in wheat, wine, bread, and grapes.” He directed his words towards those stationed in the fortifications and to the defenders who were preparing to resist the invaders, consistently referring to the Assyrian as a great king, diminishing the faith in God, and branding Hezekiah as a deceiver for suggesting reliance on the Lord, claiming that with divine assistance, there is no need to fear human assaults. He then promises those who capitulate that they will inhabit their lands for a time (for this is implied in the phrase, ‘until I come and take you away’) and tend to their fields. He seeks to eradicate the dread of captivity, masking the severity of the impending disaster with deceptive assurances, adding, ‘until I come and take you away to a land like your own.’ He compares the land of Assyria to that of Judah, implying, ‘Even if you depart from Judea and join us, you will still find a semblance of your homeland here; for the realms of the Persians and Assyrians are plentiful in wheat, wine, bread, and grapes.'

In other words, he encourages them to honor the king of Assyria, commend him, and recognize him as their sovereign so that they might receive favors; and until I return from Egypt, or come back following the conquest of Lovnah, remain in your city and make use of what you possess. Afterward, I will return and establish you in a land akin to yours, a land filled with wheat, wine, and olives. He does not specify the exact territory because he could not find a land that truly equaled the Promised Land, yet he assures them of one similar. For each person holds a connection to the place of their birth. Some speculate that he is referring to the land of the Midians, which shared similarities with the Jewish land both in location and in its yield.