Useful Bible Studies > 2 Kings Commentary > chapter 19

The sign of the next three years

2 Kings 19:29-31

God’s message continued with a declaration of the good things that God would do for Judah and Jerusalem. The king of Assyria had already caused great damage to Judah by means of his army’s attack. Judah was in a very weak state, and the king of Assyria had promised to return soon. When he did, he intended to destroy Jerusalem completely (19:9-13).

However, God declared that Assyria’s army would not return. He even gave Jerusalem’s people a sign, or evidence, that the war against Assyria had ended. They should count the years after Assyria’s army left their land. Although Assyria’s army and the war had caused great damage, God would provide for them in those years.

The first year was the present year, the year in which Isaiah declared this message to Hezekiah. In this year, Assyria’s army had taken possession of cities across Judah (18:13). So this year, it had not been possible for the farmers to sow their crops. However, some grain plants had grown from plants that the farmers could not harvest in the previous year. So, God would use that grain to provide for the people.

However, the damage was so great that the farmers would be unable to sow seed in the second year. Many farmers had died in the war. In their desperate situation, people had killed for meat many of the strong farm animals that pulled ploughs. Still, God would provide for his people, and the enemy would not return.

In the third year, the people would become confident that their nation had recovered from the war. So, they would sow seed and they would plant fruit bushes. God would provide a good harvest – and the people would know that God was making Judah and Jerusalem strong again. Those who remained alive after the war, would become a strong nation.

Next part: Assyria's king will be unable to attack Jerusalem (2 Kings 19:32-34)

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