Passage Resources Hebrew/Greek Your Content
Previous Next
Add parallel Print Page Options Listen to 2 Chronicles 32
Close NASB

2 Chronicles 32
New American Standard Bible

Sennacherib Invades Judah

32 After these [a]acts of faithfulness (A)Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah and besieged the fortified cities, and [b]intended to break into them for himself. 2 Now when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come and that [c]he intended to wage war against Jerusalem, 3 he decided with his officers and his warriors to cut off the supply of water from the springs which were outside the city, and they helped him. 4 So many people assembled (B)and stopped up all the springs and (C)the stream which flowed [d]through the region, saying, “Why should the kings of Assyria come and find abundant water?” 5 And he resolutely set to work and (D)rebuilt all of the wall that had been broken down and [e]erected towers on it, and built (E)another outside wall and strengthened the [f](F)Millo in the city of David, and made weapons and shields in great numbers. 6 He appointed military officers over the people and gathered them to him in the public square at the city gate, and (G)spoke [g]encouragingly to them, saying, 7 “(H)Be strong and courageous, do not fear or be dismayed because of the king of Assyria nor because of all the horde that is with him; (I)for the One with us is greater than the one with him. 8 With him is only (J)an arm of flesh, but (K)with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people relied on the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.

Sennacherib Undermines Hezekiah

9 After this (L)Sennacherib king of Assyria sent his servants to Jerusalem while he was [h]besieging Lachish with all his forces with him, against Hezekiah king of Judah and against all of Judah who were in Jerusalem, saying, 10 “This is what Sennacherib king of Assyria says: ‘On what are you trusting that you are staying in Jerusalem under siege? 11 Is Hezekiah not misleading you to give yourselves over to die by hunger and by thirst, saying, “The Lord our God will save us from the [i]hand of the king of Assyria”? 12 (M)Is it not the same Hezekiah who removed His high places and His altars, and said to Judah and [j]Jerusalem, “You shall worship before one altar, and on it you shall [k]burn incense”? 13 Do you not know what I and my fathers have done to all the peoples of the lands? (N)Were the gods of the nations of those lands at all able to save their land from my hand? 14 (O)Who was there among all the gods of those nations which my fathers utterly destroyed who could save his people from my hand, that your God would be able to save you from my hand? 15 Now then, do not let Hezekiah deceive you or mislead you like this, and do not believe him, for (P)no god of any nation or kingdom was able to save his people from my hand or from the hand of my fathers. How much less will your God save you from my hand?’”

16 His servants spoke further against the Lord God and against His servant Hezekiah. 17 He also wrote letters to insult the Lord God of Israel, and to speak against Him, saying, “(Q)As the gods of the nations of the lands [l]have not saved their people from my hand, so the God of Hezekiah will not save His people from my hand.” 18 (R)They called this out with a loud voice in the language of Judah to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, to frighten and terrify them, so that they might take the city. 19 They spoke [m]of the God of Jerusalem as they did against (S)the gods of the peoples of the earth, the work of human hands.

Hezekiah’s Prayer Is Answered

20 But King Hezekiah and Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, prayed about this and called out to heaven for help. 21 And the Lord sent an angel who destroyed every warrior, commander, and officer in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned [n]in shame to his own land. And when he had entered the temple of his god, some of his own sons killed him there with the sword. 22 So the Lord (T)saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria and from the hand of all others, and [o]guided them on every side. 23 And (U)many were bringing gifts to the Lord at Jerusalem and valuable presents to Hezekiah king of Judah; so thereafter (V)he rose in the sight of all nations.

24 (W)In those days Hezekiah became [p]mortally ill; and he prayed to the Lord, and [q]the Lord spoke to him and gave him a sign. 25 But Hezekiah did nothing in return for the benefit [r]he received, (X)because his heart was [s]proud; (Y)therefore wrath came upon him and upon Judah and Jerusalem. 26 However, (Z)Hezekiah [t]humbled the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the Lord did not come on them in the days of Hezekiah.

27 Now Hezekiah had immense riches and honor; and he made for himself treasuries for silver, gold, precious stones, spices, shields, and all kinds of valuable articles, 28 also storehouses for the produce of grain, wine, and oil; stalls for all kinds of cattle, and [u]sheepfolds for the flocks. 29 He made cities for himself and acquired flocks and herds in abundance, because (AA)God had given him very great [v]wealth. 30 It was Hezekiah who (AB)stopped the upper outlet of the waters of (AC)Gihon and directed them to the west side of the city of David. And Hezekiah was successful in everything that he did. 31 Even in the matter of (AD)the messengers of the rulers of Babylon, who were sent to him to inquire about (AE)the wonder that had happened in the land; God left him alone only (AF)to test him, so that He might know everything that was in his heart.

32 Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah and his deeds of devotion, 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 So Hezekiah [w]lay down with his fathers, and they buried him in the [x]upper section of the tombs of the sons of David; and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem (AG)honored him at his death. And his son Manasseh became king in his place.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 32:1 Lit things and this faithfulness
  2. 2 Chronicles 32:1 Lit said
  3. 2 Chronicles 32:2 Lit he set his face for war
  4. 2 Chronicles 32:4 Lit in the midst of
  5. 2 Chronicles 32:5 Lit raised on the towers
  6. 2 Chronicles 32:5 I.e., terraced structure
  7. 2 Chronicles 32:6 Lit upon their hearts
  8. 2 Chronicles 32:9 Lit against
  9. 2 Chronicles 32:11 Lit palm
  10. 2 Chronicles 32:12 Lit Jerusalem, saying,
  11. 2 Chronicles 32:12 Lit offer up in smoke
  12. 2 Chronicles 32:17 Lit who have
  13. 2 Chronicles 32:19 Lit to
  14. 2 Chronicles 32:21 Lit in shame of face
  15. 2 Chronicles 32:22 Another reading is gave them rest
  16. 2 Chronicles 32:24 Lit sick to the point of death
  17. 2 Chronicles 32:24 Lit He
  18. 2 Chronicles 32:25 Lit to Him
  19. 2 Chronicles 32:25 Lit high
  20. 2 Chronicles 32:26 Lit humbled himself in
  21. 2 Chronicles 32:28 As in ancient versions; MT herds for the stables
  22. 2 Chronicles 32:29 Lit possessions; or property
  23. 2 Chronicles 32:33 I.e., died
  24. 2 Chronicles 32:33 Or ascent to
Close ISV

2 Chronicles 32
International Standard Version

Sennacherib Invades Judah(A)

32 After all of these acts of faithfulness occurred, King Sennacherib of Assyria came, invaded Judah, and laid siege to the fortified cities, thinking to conquer them for himself. 2 As soon as Hezekiah learned that Sennacherib had arrived and had determined to attack Jerusalem, 3 he developed a plan with his commanders and his elite forces to cut off the water supply from the springs that were outside the city, and they helped him to carry it out. 4 Many people gathered together and plugged up all the springs, along with the stream that flowed through the region. They were thinking to themselves, “Why should the Assyrian kings invade and discover an abundant water supply?”

5 Hezekiah took courage and rebuilt all of the walls that had been broken down. Then he erected watch towers on them, and added another external wall. He fortified the terrace ramparts[a] in the City of David and prepared a large number of weapons and shields. 6 He appointed military officers to take charge of the people, who gathered them together in the square near the city gate and spoke to them encouragingly, 7 “Be strong and courageous.[b] Don’t be afraid or disheartened because of the king of Assyria or because of the army that accompanies him, because the one who is with us is greater than the one with him. 8 He only has the strength of his own flesh, but the Lord our God is with us to help us and to fight our battles.” So the people were encouraged from what King Hezekiah of Judah told them.

Sennacherib Blasphemes God(B)

9 After this, King Sennacherib of Assyria sent his messengers to Jerusalem while he was in the middle of a vigorous attack on Lachish. They delivered this message to King Hezekiah of Judah and to all the people of Judah who had gathered in Jerusalem:

10 “This is what King Sennacherib of Assyria says: ‘What are you leaning on that makes you stay behind while Jerusalem comes under siege? 11 Isn’t Hezekiah lying to you so he can hand you over to die by famine and thirst? After all, he’s telling you “The Lord our God will deliver us from the king of Assyria’s control.”[c] 12 Isn’t this the very same Hezekiah who removed this god’s high places and altars? Isn’t this the same Hezekiah who[d] issued this order to Judah and Jerusalem: “You are to worship in front of only one altar and burn your sacrifices only on it.”? 13 Don’t you know what my predecessors[e] have done to all the other people in other lands? Were the gods of the people who lived in those lands able to deliver their countries out of my control?[f] 14 What god, out of all the gods of those nations that my predecessors[g] utterly destroyed, has been able to deliver his people from my control[h] or from the control[i] of my predecessors?[j] 15 Now therefore, don’t let Hezekiah lie to you or mislead you like this. Don’t believe him, because no god of any nation has been able to deliver his people from my control[k] or from the control[l] of my predecessors. So how much less will your God deliver you from me?’”[m]

16 King Sennacherib’s[n] spokesmen said even worse things against the Lord God and against his servant Hezekiah.

17 Sennacherib[o] also wrote letters like this that insulted and slandered the Lord God of Israel: “Just as the gods of the nations in other[p] lands haven’t delivered their people from my control,[q] so also the god of Hezekiah won’t deliver his people from me!”[r] 18 His spokesmen[s] shouted these things out with loud voices in the language of Judah to frighten and terrify the people of Jerusalem who were stationed on the city walls, to make it easier to conquer the city. 19 In doing so,[t] they spoke about the God of Jerusalem as if he were like the gods of the nations of the earth that are made by the hands of human beings.

Sennacherib is Defeated and Killed(C)

20 Meanwhile, King Hezekiah and Amoz’s son Isaiah the prophet were praying about this and crying out to heaven. 21 So the Lord sent an angel, who eliminated all of the elite forces, commanders, and officers within the encampment of the king of Assyria. As a result, he retreated to his own country, deeply ashamed and humiliated. When he visited the temple of his god, some of his sons killed him right there with swords. 22 That’s how the Lord delivered Hezekiah, as well as those who lived in Jerusalem, from Assyria’s King Sennacherib and all his forces, and provided for all of their needs.[u] 23 Many brought gifts to the Lord in Jerusalem and brought presents to King Hezekiah of Judah. As a result, he was exalted in the opinion of all nations thereafter.

Hezekiah’s Illness and Recovery(D)

24 During this time Hezekiah became critically ill, and he prayed to the Lord. The Lord spoke to him and gave him a sign.[v] 25 But Hezekiah’s response wasn’t commensurate with what had been done for him because he was arrogant in heart, so wrath came upon him, upon Judah, and upon Jerusalem. 26 But Hezekiah humbled himself while he was arrogant in heart, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem joined him in this. As a result, the Lord’s wrath did not come upon them during Hezekiah’s lifetime.

Hezekiah’s Wealth and Accomplishments(E)

27 Hezekiah received immense wealth and honor. He built treasuries for himself to store silver, gold, precious stones, spices, shields, and all sorts of valuable items, 28 along with storage facilities for grain, wine, oil, stalls for all sorts of cattle, and sheepfolds for his flocks. 29 He also built cities for himself and stored up flocks and herds in abundance, because God had given him great riches. 30 Hezekiah stopped up the upper outlet of the Gihon springs and diverted them down to the western side of the City of David. He prospered in everything he did.

Hezekiah’s Heart is Tested by God

31 Later on, envoys came from the princes of Babylon to inquire about the miracle that had happened in the land.[w] God left Hezekiah[x] to himself, so that he might make known[y] what was really in Hezekiah’s[z] heart. 32 Now the rest of Hezekiah’s accomplishments and his faithful deeds are recorded in the vision of Amoz’s son Isaiah the prophet, and in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel. 33 Hezekiah died, as had his fathers, and they buried him in the upper part of the tombs of the descendants of David. All of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem honored him at his death. But his son Manasseh reigned in his place.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 32:5 Lit. the Millo, fortified areas of ancient Jerusalem with terraces and retaining walls
  2. 2 Chronicles 32:7 Cf. Josh 1:7
  3. 2 Chronicles 32:11 Lit. hand
  4. 2 Chronicles 32:12 Lit. altars and
  5. 2 Chronicles 32:13 Lit. fathers
  6. 2 Chronicles 32:13 Lit. hand
  7. 2 Chronicles 32:14 Lit. fathers
  8. 2 Chronicles 32:14 Lit. hand
  9. 2 Chronicles 32:14 Lit. hand
  10. 2 Chronicles 32:14 Lit. fathers
  11. 2 Chronicles 32:15 Lit. hand
  12. 2 Chronicles 32:15 Lit. hand
  13. 2 Chronicles 32:15 Lit. from my hand
  14. 2 Chronicles 32:16 Lit. His
  15. 2 Chronicles 32:17 Lit. He
  16. 2 Chronicles 32:17 Lit. the
  17. 2 Chronicles 32:17 Lit. hand
  18. 2 Chronicles 32:17 Lit. from my hand
  19. 2 Chronicles 32:18 Lit. They
  20. 2 Chronicles 32:19 The Heb. lacks In doing so
  21. 2 Chronicles 32:22 Or and guided them on every side
  22. 2 Chronicles 32:24 Cf. Isa 38:7-8
  23. 2 Chronicles 32:31 I.e. the miracle recorded in Isa 38:7-8 and alluded to in v. 24
  24. 2 Chronicles 32:31 Lit. him
  25. 2 Chronicles 32:31 Or know
  26. 2 Chronicles 32:31 Lit. his
Next
2 Chronicles 31
2 Chronicles 33
Next
dropdown
New American Standard Bible (NASB)

New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.

New American Standard Bible is made available by The Lockman Foundation
International Standard Version (ISV)

Copyright © 1995-2014 by ISV Foundation. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. Used by permission of Davidson Press, LLC.

ISV Bible