2 Chronicles 32

1After these things and this faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and entered Judah, and he encamped against the fortified cities and intended to break into them for himself.

2When Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come and that his purpose was to make war against Jerusalem,

3And he consulted with his officials and his mighty men about stopping up the waters of the springs that were outside the city, and they helped him.

4So many people gathered together, and they stopped up all the springs and the stream that flowed through the land, saying, “Why should the kings of Assyria come and find abundant water?”

5And he strengthened himself, and built up all the wall that was broken down, and raised it up to the towers, and outside he built another wall, and he strengthened the Millo of the city of David, and made weapons and shields in abundance.

6And he appointed military commanders over the people, gathered them to himself in the square at the city gate, and spoke to their hearts, saying,

7Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be dismayed before the king of Assyria or 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 Yahweh our God, to help us and to fight our battles. And the people relied on the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.

9After this, Sennacherib king of Assyria sent his servants to Jerusalem—while he was before Lachish with all his dominion with him—against Hezekiah king of Judah and against all Judah who were in Jerusalem, saying,

10Thus 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 by thirst, saying, ‘Yahweh our God will deliver us from the hand of the king of Assyria’?”

12Was it not Hezekiah himself who removed his high places and his altars, and said to Judah and Jerusalem, saying, ‘Before one altar you shall bow down, and on it you shall burn incense’?”

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

14Who among all the gods of these nations that my fathers devoted to destruction was able to deliver his people from my hand, that your God should be able to deliver you from my hand?

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

16And his servants spoke further against Yahweh God and against his servant Hezekiah.

17He also wrote letters to mock Yahweh, the God of Israel, and to speak against him, saying, “Just as the gods of the nations of the lands have not delivered their people from my hand, so the God of Hezekiah will not deliver his people from my hand.”

18And they called out loudly in Judean to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, to frighten them and to terrify them, so that they might capture the city.

19And they spoke against the God of Jerusalem as against the gods of the peoples of the earth, the work of human hands.

20Then Hezekiah the king and Isaiah son of Amoz, the prophet, prayed because of this and cried out to heaven.

21And the LORD sent an angel, who wiped out every mighty warrior, commander, and officer in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned to his own land with shame on his face. And when he entered the house of his god, some of those who came from his own body struck him down there with the sword.

22So Yahweh saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib king of Assyria and from the hand of all others, and he guided them on every side.

23And many were bringing an offering to Yahweh in Jerusalem, and choice gifts to Hezekiah king of Judah, and after this he was exalted in the sight of all the nations.

24In those days Hezekiah became sick to the point of death, and he prayed to Yahweh, and he answered him and gave him a sign.

25But Hezekiah did not repay according to the benefit done to him, because his heart was proud; therefore wrath came upon him and upon Judah and Jerusalem.

26But Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so the wrath of Yahweh did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah.

27And Hezekiah had very great wealth and honor, and he made storehouses for silver and gold, precious stones, spices, shields, and every desirable article.

28storehouses for the produce of grain, new wine, and oil, and stalls for all kinds of animals, and folds for the flocks.

29He also made cities for himself, and acquired flocks and herds in abundance, for God had given him very great wealth.

30It was Hezekiah who stopped up the upper outlet of the waters of Gihon and directed them down to the west side of the city of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all his work.

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

32The rest of the acts of Hezekiah and his faithful deeds—behold, they are written in the vision of Isaiah son of Amoz, the prophet, in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.

33And Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the upper part of the tombs of the sons of David. And all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem honored him at his death, and Manasseh his son reigned in his place.