ישעיהו, פרק כ״ט, פסוק ג׳

A calculated, step-by-step military siege against Jerusalem unfolds with terrifying precision. Although the physical threat comes from the Assyrian army led by Sennacherib, God speaks as the direct author of the assault. By taking credit for the impending destruction, God emphasizes that the enemy operates solely through His will and command [רד״ק, מצודת דוד]. The vivid, graphic description of the attack is designed to arouse deep fear and distress among the city's residents, making it feel as though the enemy is already standing at the walls [שד״ל].

The first stage of the campaign begins with the arrival and entrenchment of the enemy forces around the city [מצודת ציון, מלבי״ם]. The primary approach among commentators is that the army forms a complete, circular blockade, leaving absolutely no gap free of soldiers. Alternatively, this formation is understood as a tight line of troops surrounding the area [רש״י, ביאור שטיינזלץ], or as a sudden, unexpected strike that catches the city off guard [אבן עזרא].

Following the initial deployment, the campaign escalates into an active siege, bringing intense pressure and crushing confinement upon the trapped inhabitants [מצודת ציון]. The tactics used during this phase are understood in several ways. Many explain that the attackers erect tall wooden towers near the city to hurl stones and shoot arrows over the walls [רד״ק, מצודת דוד, מצודת ציון, אבן עזרא]. Others view this as the establishment of fortified military camps and combat positions [רש״י, ביאור שטיינזלץ], or the deployment of mighty warriors leading the charge to destroy the city [מלבי״ם]. Another perspective suggests this highlights the sheer stubbornness of the siege, with the enemy army standing firmly in place, refusing to move until Jerusalem surrenders [שד״ל].

The final stage of the escalation involves the construction of specialized siege walls and engineering machines. These structures are designed to actively smash through the defenses and capture the city by force, rather than waiting for the residents to slowly starve [מלבי״ם, שד״ל, ביאור שטיינזלץ, מצודת דוד].

Despite these terrifying and meticulous preparations, the historical reality ended quite differently. The Assyrians readied their wooden towers and siege weapons with the full intention of launching their assault the next morning. However, they never actually completed the siege or fired a single arrow at Jerusalem, as their plans were abruptly ruined when God's angel struck their camp that very night [רד״ק].