4.
Building a defense against the invasion of the Assyrians
32:1-23
2 Chron. 32
:1
32:1
After these things and this faithfulness,
aSennacherib the king of Assyria came and entered Judah. And he encamped against the fortified cities and intended to break into them for himself.
2 Chron. 32
:2
32:2
And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come and that his face
was set to fight against Jerusalem,
2 Chron. 32
:3
32:3
He took counsel with his officers and mighty men to stop the water of the fountains that were outside the city, and they helped him.
2 Chron. 32
:4
32:4
So many people gathered together and stopped all the fountains and the brook that flowed through the land, saying, Why should the kings of Assyria come and find an abundance of water?
2 Chron. 32
:5
32:5
And he took courage and built up all the
awall that was broken down and
1erected towers on it and
built another wall outside; and he strengthened the Millo in the city of David and made weapons and shields in abundance.
2 Chron. 32
:6
32:6
And he set battle captains over the people and gathered them to himself in the square at the gate of the city. And he encouraged them, saying,
2 Chron. 32
:7
32:7
Be strong and be bold; do not be afraid or dismayed because of the king of Assyria or because of all the multitude that is with him, for there is Someone
agreater with us than with him:
2 Chron. 32
:8
32:8
With him is an arm of
aflesh, but
bwith us is Jehovah our God to help us and to fight our battles. And the people relied on the words of Hezekiah the king of Judah.
2 Chron. 32
:9
32:9
After this
aSennacherib the king of Assyria sent his servants to Jerusalem—now he was before Lachish and all his forces were with him—to Hezekiah the king of Judah and to all Judah who were in Jerusalem, saying,
2 Chron. 32
:10
32:10
aThus says Sennacherib the king of Assyria, In what are you trusting, that you remain in a siege in Jerusalem?
2 Chron. 32
:11
32:11
Is not Hezekiah trying to persuade you to give yourselves up to die by famine and by thirst, saying, Jehovah our God will deliver us from the hand of the king of Assyria?
2 Chron. 32
:12
32:12
aWas it not the same Hezekiah who took away His high places and His altars and who commanded Judah and Jerusalem, saying, Before one altar you shall worship, and upon it shall you burn incense?
2 Chron. 32
:13
32:13
Do you not know what I and my fathers have done to all the peoples of the lands?
aWere the gods of the nations of the lands at all able to deliver their land out of my hand?
2 Chron. 32
:14
32:14
Who was there among all the gods of those nations that my fathers destroyed who could deliver his people out of my hand, that your God would be able to deliver you out of my hand?
2 Chron. 32
:15
32:15
Now therefore do not let Hezekiah deceive you, nor persuade you in this way, and do not believe him; for there is no god of any nation or kingdom who was able to deliver his people out of my hand and out of the hand of my fathers. How much less will your God deliver you out of my hand!
2 Chron. 32
:16
32:16
And his servants said still more against Jehovah God and against Hezekiah His servant.
2 Chron. 32
:17
32:17
And he wrote letters to cast contempt on Jehovah the God of Israel and to speak against Him, saying, Like the gods of the nations of the lands that did not deliver their people out of my hand, so the God of Hezekiah will not deliver His people out of my hand.
2 Chron. 32
:18
32:18
aAnd they cried out in a loud voice in the Jews’ language against the people of Jerusalem who were upon the wall in order to frighten them and terrify them, so that they might take the city.
2 Chron. 32
:19
32:19
And they spoke against the God of Jerusalem as
they had against the gods of the peoples of the land, the work of men’s hands.
2 Chron. 32
:20
32:20
But Hezekiah the king and Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz,
aprayed about this, and they cried out to heaven.
2 Chron. 32
:21
32:21
aAnd Jehovah sent an angel, who annihilated all the mighty men of valor and the leaders and the captains in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he entered the house of his god, some of those who had come forth from his bowels felled him there with the sword.
2 Chron. 32
:22
32:22
Thus Jehovah saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem out of the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria and out of the hand of everyone, and He
1protected them on all sides.
2 Chron. 32
:23
32:23
And many brought gifts to Jehovah at Jerusalem and precious things to Hezekiah the king of Judah, so that he was exalted in the sight of all the nations thereafter.
5.
His illness and recovery
32:24-26
2 Chron. 32
:24
32:24
aIn those days Hezekiah became mortally ill, and he prayed to Jehovah. And He spoke to him and gave him a sign.
2 Chron. 32
:25
32:25
But Hezekiah did not respond according to the benefit he had received, for his heart was
aproud; therefore wrath came upon him and upon Judah and Jerusalem.
2 Chron. 32
:26
32:26
But Hezekiah
ahumbled himself for the pride of his heart, he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of Jehovah did not come again upon them in the days of Hezekiah.
6.
His prosperity and end
32:27-33
2 Chron. 32
:27
32:27
Now Hezekiah had very much wealth and honor, and he made for himself treasuries for silver and gold and precious stones and for spices and shields and all kinds of valuable goods,
2 Chron. 32
:28
32:28
As well as storehouses for produce of grain and new wine and fresh oil, and stalls for all kinds of cattle, and flocks in sheepfolds.
2 Chron. 32
:29
32:29
And he built cities and acquired many flocks and herds, for God had given him very many possessions.
2 Chron. 32
:30
32:30
And it was this Hezekiah who stopped the upper spring of the water of Gihon and directed it down to the west side of the city of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all his works.
2 Chron. 32
:31
32:31
So also in the matter of the
1aenvoys of the princes of Babylon, who had been sent to him to inquire about the wonders that had happened in the land, God forsook him
only to
btest him and know all that was in his heart.
2 Chron. 32
:32
32:32
And the rest of the acts of Hezekiah and his deeds of faithfulness are there written in the vision of
aIsaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, in the book of the
bkings of Judah and Israel.
N.
The reign of Manasseh
32:33—33:20
2 Chron. 32
:33
32:33
aAnd Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the upper part of the tombs of David’s sons; and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem honored him when he died. And Manasseh his son reigned in his place.
