ישעיהו, פרק מ״ח, פסוק ג׳

A strong rebuke is directed at the people's lack of faith, using history and the exact fulfillment of prophecy as proof of God's absolute control over the world. God reminds the nation how ancient events were clearly announced and then brought to reality.

The primary approach among commentators is that these past events specifically refer to the downfall of Sennacherib and the Assyrian army [רד״ק, מצודת דוד, שד״ל]. The plural language used to describe these events and their announcements reflects the fact that the prophet delivered warnings about Sennacherib's defeat on multiple occasions [רד״ק]. A broader historical perspective expands this concept to include the redemption from Egypt alongside the salvation of King Hezekiah from the Assyrian threat [רש״י].

Regarding how these prophecies were delivered and ultimately realized, two main perspectives emerge. The primary approach among commentators is that God announced His decrees well in advance [רש״י, רד״ק, מצודת דוד, אבן עזרא, שטיינזלץ]. Through His prophets, God provided early notification of what was to come. Following these advance warnings, the actual execution of the decree happened with sudden and rapid force, exactly as it occurred when the Assyrian soldiers fell dead in a single night. The precise fulfillment of these past prophecies was meant to prove to those with weak faith that they must trust in God and observe His commandments.

In contrast, a different perspective presents an alternative timeline for these ancient miracles [מלבי״ם]. According to this approach, God did not warn the prophet or the people in advance. Instead, the revelation of the secret to the prophet, the announcement to the nation, and the physical occurrence of the miracle all happened simultaneously. The moment the decree was issued by God, it was instantly heard and immediately executed, leaving no gap in time between the divine announcement and the sudden action.