2 Chronicles 32

1 After all these acts of faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah. He laid siege to the fortified cities, intending to conquer them for himself.

2 When Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come to make war against Jerusalem,

3 he consulted with his leaders and mighty men about stopping up the waters of the springs outside the city, and they helped him carry it out.

4 Many people assembled and stopped up all the springs and the stream that flowed through the land. “Why should the kings of Assyria come and find plenty of water?” they said.

5 Then Hezekiah worked resolutely to rebuild all the broken sections of the wall and to raise up towers on it. He also built an outer wall and reinforced the supporting terraces of the City of David, and he produced an abundance of weapons and shields.

6 Hezekiah appointed military commanders over the people and gathered the people in the square of the city gate. Then he encouraged them, saying,

7 “Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged before the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater One with us than with him.

8 With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles.” So the people were strengthened by the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.

9 Later, as Sennacherib king of Assyria and all his forces besieged Lachish, he sent his servants to Jerusalem with a message for King Hezekiah of Judah and all the people of Judah who were in Jerusalem:

10 “This is what Sennacherib king of Assyria says: What is the basis of your confidence, that you remain in Jerusalem under siege?

11 Is not Hezekiah misleading you to give you over to death by famine and thirst when he says, ‘The LORD our God will deliver us from the hand of the king of Assyria?’

12 Did not Hezekiah himself remove His high places and His altars and say to Judah and Jerusalem, ‘You must worship before one altar, and on it you shall burn sacrifices’?

13 Do you not know what I and my fathers have done to all the peoples of the lands? Have the gods of these nations ever been able to deliver their land from my hand?

14 Who among all the gods of these nations that my fathers devoted to destruction has been able to deliver his people from my hand? How then can your God deliver you from my hand?

15 So now, do not let Hezekiah deceive you, and do not let him mislead you like this. Do not believe him, for no god of any nation or kingdom has been able to deliver his people from my hand or from the hand of my fathers. How much less will your God deliver you from my hand!”

16 And the servants of Sennacherib spoke further against the LORD God and against His servant Hezekiah.

17 He also wrote letters mocking the LORD, the God of Israel, and saying against Him: “Just as the gods of the nations did not deliver their people from my hand, so the God of Hezekiah will not deliver His people from my hand.”

18 Then the Assyrians called out loudly in Hebrew to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, to frighten and terrify them in order to capture the city.

19 They spoke against the God of Jerusalem as they had spoken against the gods of the peoples of the earth—the work of human hands.

20 In response, King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz cried out to heaven in prayer,

21 and the LORD sent an angel who annihilated every mighty man of valor and every leader and commander in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he withdrew to his own land in disgrace. And when he entered the temple of his god, some of his own sons struck him down with the sword.

22 So the LORD saved Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem from the hands of King Sennacherib of Assyria and all others, and He gave them rest on every side.

23 Many brought offerings to Jerusalem for the LORD and valuable gifts for Hezekiah king of Judah, and from then on he was exalted in the eyes of all nations.

24 In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill. So he prayed to the LORD, who spoke to him and gave him a sign.

25 But because his heart was proud, Hezekiah did not repay the favor shown to him. Therefore wrath came upon him and upon Judah and Jerusalem.

26 Then Hezekiah humbled the pride of his heart—he and the people of Jerusalem—so that the wrath of the LORD did not come upon them during the days of Hezekiah.

27 Hezekiah had very great riches and honor, and he made treasuries for his silver, gold, precious stones, spices, shields, and all kinds of valuable articles.

28 He also made storehouses for the harvest of grain and new wine and oil, stalls for all kinds of livestock, and pens for the flocks.

29 He made cities for himself, and he acquired herds of sheep and cattle in abundance, for God gave him very great wealth.

30 It was Hezekiah who blocked the upper outlet of the Spring of Gihon and channeled it down to the west side of the City of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all that he did.

31 And so when ambassadors of the rulers of Babylon were sent to him to inquire about the wonder that had happened in the land, God left him alone to test him, that He might know all that was in Hezekiah’s heart.

32 As for the rest of the acts of Hezekiah and his deeds of loving devotion, they are indeed written in the vision of the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.

33 And Hezekiah rested with his fathers and was buried in the upper tombs of David’s descendants. All Judah and the people of Jerusalem paid him honor at his death. And his son Manasseh reigned in his place.

1 ¶ After these things, and the establishment thereof, Sennacherib king of Assyria came, and entered into Judah, and encamped against the fenced cities, and thought to win them for himself.

2 And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib was come, and that he was purposed to fight against Jerusalem,

3 He took counsel with his princes and his mighty men to stop the waters of the fountains which [were] without the city: and they did help him.

4 So there was gathered much people together, who stopped all the fountains, and the brook that ran through the midst of the land, saying, Why should the kings of Assyria come, and find much water?

5 Also he strengthened himself, and built up all the wall that was broken, and raised [it] up to the towers, and another wall without, and repaired Millo [in] the city of David, and made darts and shields in abundance.

6 And he set captains of war over the people, and gathered them together to him in the street of the gate of the city, and spake comfortably to them, saying,

7 Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that [is] with him: for [there be] more with us than with him:

8 With him [is] an arm of flesh; but with us [is] the LORD our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.

9 ¶ After this did Sennacherib king of Assyria send his servants to Jerusalem, (but he [himself laid siege] against Lachish, and all his power with him,) unto Hezekiah king of Judah, and unto all Judah that [were] at Jerusalem, saying,

10 Thus saith Sennacherib king of Assyria, Whereon do ye trust, that ye abide in the siege in Jerusalem?

11 Doth not Hezekiah persuade you to give over yourselves to die by famine and by thirst, saying, The LORD our God shall deliver us out of the hand of the king of Assyria?

12 Hath not the same Hezekiah taken away his high places and his altars, and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall worship before one altar, and burn incense upon it?

13 Know ye not what I and my fathers have done unto all the people of [other] lands? were the gods of the nations of those lands any ways able to deliver their lands out of mine hand?

14 Who [was there] among all the gods of those nations that my fathers utterly destroyed, that could deliver his people out of mine hand, that your God should be able to deliver you out of mine hand?

15 Now therefore let not Hezekiah deceive you, nor persuade you on this manner, neither yet believe him: for no god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people out of mine hand, and out of the hand of my fathers: how much less shall your God deliver you out of mine hand?

16 And his servants spake yet [more] against the LORD God, and against his servant Hezekiah.

17 He wrote also letters to rail on the LORD God of Israel, and to speak against him, saying, As the gods of the nations of [other] lands have not delivered their people out of mine hand, so shall not the God of Hezekiah deliver his people out of mine hand.

18 Then they cried with a loud voice in the Jews' speech unto the people of Jerusalem that [were] on the wall, to affright them, and to trouble them; that they might take the city.

19 And they spake against the God of Jerusalem, as against the gods of the people of the earth, [which were] the work of the hands of man.

20 And for this [cause] Hezekiah the king, and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz, prayed and cried to heaven.

21 And the LORD sent an angel, which cut off all the mighty men of valour, and the leaders and captains in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he was come into the house of his god, they that came forth of his own bowels slew him there with the sword.

22 Thus the LORD saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and from the hand of all [other], and guided them on every side.

23 And many brought gifts unto the LORD to Jerusalem, and presents to Hezekiah king of Judah: so that he was magnified in the sight of all nations from thenceforth.

24 ¶ In those days Hezekiah was sick to the death, and prayed unto the LORD: and he spake unto him, and he gave him a sign.

25 But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit [done] unto him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem.

26 Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, [both] he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah.

27 And Hezekiah had exceeding much riches and honour: and he made himself treasuries for silver, and for gold, and for precious stones, and for spices, and for shields, and for all manner of pleasant jewels;

28 Storehouses also for the increase of corn, and wine, and oil; and stalls for all manner of beasts, and cotes for flocks.

29 Moreover he provided him cities, and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance: for God had given him substance very much.

30 This same Hezekiah also stopped the upper watercourse of Gihon, and brought it straight down to the west side of the city of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all his works.

31 Howbeit in [the business of] the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to enquire of the wonder that was [done] in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all [that was] in his heart.

32 Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and his goodness, behold, they [are] written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, [and] in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.

33 And Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the chiefest of the sepulchres of the sons of David: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honour at his death. And Manasseh his son reigned in his stead.

1 After these tales, and after these faithfulness, came Sanherib king of Assyria, and went into Judah, and encamped before the strong cities, and purposed to take them.

2 And it came to pass, when Hezekiah saw that Sanherib was come, and that his face was set to fight against Jerusalem,

3 And he took counsel with his princes and his mighty men to cover the waters of the wells that were without the city: and they helped him.

4 And a great multitude gathered themselves together, and covered all the wells and running waters in the midst of the land, and said: That the kings of Assyria find not much water when they come.

5 And he was confident, and built all the walls that were broken down, and made towers upon them, and built another wall without, and fortified Millo in the city of David, and made many weapons and shields.

6 And he set the captains to battle among the people, and gathered them unto him into the broad street of the gate of the city, and spake heartily unto them, saying:

7 Be of good cheer, fear not, nor be dismayed before the king of Assyria, nor before all the multitude that are with him: for there is a greater with us than with him.

8 With him is an arm of flesh: but with us is the LORD our God, to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people trusted in the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.

9 After these things Sanherib king of Assyria sent his servants to Jerusalem, (for he was before Lachish, and all his dominions with him,) to Hezekiah king of Judah, and to all Judah that was at Jerusalem, saying:

10 Thus saith Sanherib king of Assyria, Wherefore dwell ye in Jerusalem that are besieged?

11 And Hezekiah hath spoken unto you to give you to death, and to hunger, and to thirst, saying, The LORD our God will deliver us out of the hand of the king of Assyria.

12 Is not he Hezekiah, which put away his high places and his altars, and said unto Judah and Jerusalem, Before one altar shall ye worship, and burn incense thereon?

13 Know ye not what I and my fathers have done unto all the peoples of the countries? Have the gods of the nations of the countries delivered their countries out of my hand?

14 Who is there among all the gods of these nations, which my fathers destroyed, that should deliver his people out of mine hand, that your God should deliver you out of mine hand?

15 Let not Hezekiah therefore set you up, neither let him persuade you, nor believe him. For if no god of all nations and kingdoms hath delivered his people out of mine hand, nor out of the hand of my fathers; neither will your gods deliver you out of mine hand.

16 And his servants spake yet more against the LORD God, and against his servant Hezekiah.

17 And he wrote letters of scorn unto the LORD God of Israel, and spake of him, saying, As the gods of the heathen of the countries have not delivered their people out of mine hand, so shall not the God of Hezekiah deliver his people out of mine hand.

18 And they cried with a loud voice in the Jews' language unto the people that were at Jerusalem, which were upon the wall, to make them afraid, and to affright them, that they might gain the city;

19 And they spake against the God of Jerusalem, as against the gods of the nations of the earth, which were the work of men's hands.

20 And Hezekiah the king, and Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz, prayed against it, and cried unto heaven.

21 And the LORD sent an angel, which destroyed all the mighty men of the host, and the princes, and the rulers of the camp of the king of Assyria; and he returned with shame into his own land. And when he was entered into the house of his God, they that were of his own body slew him there with the sword. 22, So the LORD delivered Hezekiah and Jerusalem out of the hand of Sanherib king of Assyria, and out of the hand of all the rest, and kept them from all around,

23 And many brought gifts unto the LORD to Jerusalem, and jewels unto Hezekiah king of Judah. And afterward he was exalted in the sight of all the nations.

24 And at that time Hezekiah was sick unto death; and he besought the LORD. And he spake unto him, and gave him a miracle.

25 But Hezekiah forgave not as it was given him: for his heart was lifted up. Therefore wrath came upon him, and upon Judah, and upon Jerusalem.

26 But Hezekiah humbled himself, because his heart was lifted up, he and they of Jerusalem: therefore the wrath of the LORD came not upon them, because Hezekiah lived.

27 And Hezekiah had very great riches and honour, and made him treasures of silver, and gold, and precious stones, and spices, and shields, and all manner of precious vessels.

28 And granaries for the corn, and for the must, and for the oil, and stalls for all manner of cattle, and sheds for the sheep.

29 And they built him cities, and had flocks and herds in abundance: for God gave him very great goods.

30 He is the Hezekiah that covered the high spring of water in Gihon, and led it down from the west to the city of David: for Hezekiah was blessed in all his works.

31 And when the messages of the princes of Babylon were sent unto him, to inquire after the miracle that was done in the land, God left him to try him, that all things that were in his heart might be known.

32 And the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and his mercy, behold, they are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.

33 And Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him over the graves of the children of David. And all Judah and they that were at Jerusalem did him honour in his death. And Manasseh his son reigned in his stead.