Isaiah 37:38Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Neither familial ties nor the affection a child feels for their parent can ensure safety; rather, they may find themselves dragged down into destruction by those from whom they expected protection in perilous times.

While the external details of the historical account have been conveyed, it seems fitting to explore its deeper significance for spiritual encouragement. The holy city, Zion or Jerusalem, serves as the archetype of the Church of Christ, the true Zion. This entity is perpetually besieged by the adversaries of truth, namely those who propagate blasphemous heresies. These foes do not act alone; they often receive support from earthly powers, as influenced by spiritual Sennacheribs, denoting Satan, who orchestrates the actions of those under his dominion to enact his malevolent schemes against it.

When these adversaries arrive, they engage in disputes with the guardians of truth, often bringing dishonor to God's glory, though there may be no response forthcoming from the faithful. Indeed, those under attack might choose silence. The blessed Paul instructs, “Do not be silent, nor for any need” (2 Tim. 2:14), and admonishes further, “A man that is an heretic after the first and second admonition reject; knowing that he that is such is subverted” (Tit. 3:10-11). For those who have wholly surrendered to deceit and falsehood, the edification from those who typically benefit the listeners may prove futile. It is written, “He that turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination” (Proverbs 28:9, Sir 25:12).

Thus, when the adversaries of truth make promises of honor and peace, akin to the treacherous Rapsak, or issue threats of conflict and violence, it becomes imperative to turn to God and trust solely in His supreme aid. His almighty right hand is sufficient for the salvation of those who pursue righteousness, while it will also bring ruin upon those who defy it. With a power beyond expression, He will cause them to flee, thus safeguarding Zion, pure and holy, that is, the Church, for the gates of hell will not overcome her. (Matthew 16:18)

When it mentions “and rose up in the morning,” this can pertain to either the Israelites or the remaining troops, although the Book of Kings indicates that when the king himself awoke at dawn, he beheld the lifeless bodies (4 Kings 19:35). Similarly, Pharaoh endured through the ten plagues in Egypt, only to meet his end most recently, a fate also meant for Sennacherib. Upon his return to Nineveh, the principal city of his realm, he worshipped in the temple of Nesrach, his deity, as if he had triumphed over his foes, entering his idol’s sanctuary in a show of victory and gratitude. Yet, the one who scorned the true God met his demise in the very temple of a false idol, not by the sword, which was a common fate, but at the hand of his own sons. After they fled to the land of Ararat, known as Armenia, Asaraddon succeeded his father; Scripture notes that he resettled the people to Samaria, ensuring that the land would remain cultivated. Ararat, a fertile plain in Armenia, benefits from the irrigation of the Arax River and is located at the base of Mount Taurus. Thus, the ark that preserved Noah and his kin after the flood was not merely brought to the mountainous region of Armenia labeled Ararat, but to the towering heights of Taurus, which rise above the plains of Ararat (Genesis 8:4).