2 Chronicles 32
Sennacherib Invades Judah
32:1 After these faithful deeds were accomplished, King Sennacherib of Assyria invaded Judah. He besieged the fortified cities, intending to seize them.1 32:2 When Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had invaded and intended to attack Jerusalem,2 32:3 he consulted with his advisers and military officers about stopping up the springs3 outside the city, and they supported him. 32:4 A large number of people gathered together and stopped up all the springs and the stream that flowed through the district.4 They reasoned,5 “Why should the kings of Assyria come and find plenty of water?” 32:5 Hezekiah6 energetically rebuilt7 every broken wall. He erected towers and an outer wall,8 and fortified the terrace of the City of David.9 He made many weapons and shields.
32:6 He appointed military officers over the army10 and assembled them in the square at the city gate. He encouraged them,11 saying,
32:7 “Be strong and brave! Don’t be afraid and don’t panic12 because of the king of Assyria and this huge army that is with him! We have with us one who is stronger than those who are with him.13
32:8 He has with him mere human strength,14 but the
32:9 Afterward King Sennacherib of Assyria, while attacking Lachish with all his military might, sent his messengers16 to Jerusalem. The message was for King Hezekiah of Judah and all the people of17 Judah who were in Jerusalem. It read:
32:10 “This is what King Sennacherib of Assyria says: ‘Why are you so confident that you remain in Jerusalem while it is under siege?18
32:11 Hezekiah says, “The
32:16 Sennacherib’s28 servants further insulted29 the
32:20 King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz prayed about this and cried out to heaven.
32:21 The
Hezekiah’s Shortcomings and Accomplishments
32:24 In those days Hezekiah was stricken with a terminal illness.40 He prayed to the
32:27 Hezekiah was very wealthy and greatly respected. He made storehouses for his silver, gold, precious stones, spices, and all his other valuable possessions.44 32:28 He made storerooms for the harvest of grain, wine, and olive oil, and stalls for all his various kinds of livestock and his flocks.45 32:29 He built royal cities46 and owned a large number of sheep and cattle, for God gave him a huge amount of possessions.
32:30 Hezekiah dammed up the source of the waters of the Upper Gihon and directed them down to the west side of the City of David.47 Hezekiah succeeded in all that he did. 32:31 So when the envoys arrived from the Babylonian officials to visit him and inquire about the sign that occurred in the land,48 God left him alone to test him, in order to know his true motives.49
32:32 The rest of the events of Hezekiah’s reign, including his faithful deeds, are recorded in the vision of the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz, included in the Scroll of the Kings of Judah and Israel.50 32:33 Hezekiah passed away51 and was buried on the ascent of the tombs of the descendants of David. All the people of Judah and the residents of Jerusalem buried him with great honor.52 His son Manasseh replaced him as king.