2 Chronicles 32

Sennacherib Invades Judah

1After these acts of faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and entered Judah. He camped against the fortified cities and intended to break into them for himself. 2When Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come and that his face was set for war against Jerusalem, 3he took counsel with his officials and mighty men to stop the waters of the springs that were outside the city, and they helped him. 4Many people gathered, and they stopped all the springs and the stream that flowed through the land, saying, “Why should the kings of Assyria come and find much water?” 5He strengthened himself, rebuilt all the wall that was broken, raised towers upon it, and built another wall outside. He strengthened the Millo of the city of David and made weapons and shields in abundance. 6He appointed commanders of war over the people, gathered them to himself in the square at the city gate, and spoke to their heart, saying, 7“Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be dismayed before the king of Assyria and before all the multitude that is with him, for there are more with us than with him. 8With 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 leaned upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.

Sennacherib Taunts Jerusalem

9After this Sennacherib king of Assyria sent his servants to Jerusalem—while he and all his royal force were against Lachish—to Hezekiah king of Judah and to all Judah who were in Jerusalem, saying, 10“Thus says Sennacherib king of Assyria: On what are you trusting, that you remain under siege in Jerusalem? 11Is not Hezekiah misleading you, to give you over to die by famine and thirst, saying, ‘The LORD our God will rescue us from the hand of the king of Assyria’? 12Is not this Hezekiah the one who removed his high places and his altars and said to Judah and Jerusalem, ‘Before one altar you will bow down, and upon it you will burn incense’? 13Do you not know what I and my ancestors have done to all the peoples of the lands? Were the gods of the nations of those lands at all able to rescue their land from my hand? 14Who was there among all the gods of those nations that my ancestors devoted to destruction who could rescue his people from my hand, that your God should be able to rescue you from my hand? 15And now, do not let Hezekiah deceive you or mislead you like this, and do not trust him, for no god of any nation or kingdom could rescue his people from my hand or from the hand of my ancestors. How much less will your God rescue you from my hand!”

The Assyrians Blaspheme the LORD

16His servants spoke still more against the LORD God and against Hezekiah his servant. 17He also wrote letters to taunt the LORD, the God of Israel, and to speak against him, saying, “As the gods of the nations of the lands did not rescue their people from my hand, so the God of Hezekiah will not rescue his people from my hand.” 18They called with a loud voice in Judean to the people of Jerusalem who were upon the wall, to frighten and terrify them, so that they might capture the city. 19They spoke of the God of Jerusalem as of the gods of the peoples of the earth, the work of human hands.

The LORD Delivers Jerusalem

20Then King Hezekiah and Isaiah the prophet son of Amoz prayed concerning this and cried to the heavens. 21The LORD sent a messenger who cut off every mighty warrior, commander, and officer in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. When he entered the house of his god, some who came from his own body struck him down there with the sword. 22Thus the LORD saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib king of Assyria and from the hand of all others and gave them rest on every side. 23Many brought gifts to the LORD at Jerusalem and precious things to Hezekiah king of Judah, and he was lifted up in the eyes of all the nations after this.

Hezekiah’s Illness and Pride

24In those days Hezekiah became sick to the point of death. He prayed to the LORD, and he spoke to him and gave him a sign. 25Yet Hezekiah did not return according to the benefit done to him, for his heart became high. Therefore wrath came upon him and upon Judah and Jerusalem. 26Then Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah.

Hezekiah’s Wealth and Works

27Hezekiah had very great riches and honor. He made for himself treasuries for silver, gold, precious stones, spices, shields, and all kinds of desirable vessels; 28storehouses also for the produce of grain, new wine, and oil, stalls for every kind of livestock, and flocks in folds. 29He made cities for himself and acquired flocks and herds in abundance, for God had given him very many possessions. 30This Hezekiah stopped the upper outlet of the waters of Gihon and directed them downward to the west side of the city of David. Hezekiah prospered in all his work.

God Tests Hezekiah

31And so with the envoys of the officials of Babylon, who had been sent to him to inquire concerning the sign that had happened in the land, God left him to himself to test him, to know all that was in his heart.

Hezekiah Dies

32Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah and his steadfast deeds, look, they are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet son of Amoz, in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. 33Hezekiah lay down with his ancestors, and they buried him on the ascent to the tombs of the sons of David. All Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem honored him at his death. Manasseh his son became king in his place.