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2 Chronicles 32
New English Translation

Sennacherib Invades Judah

32 After these faithful deeds were accomplished, King Sennacherib of Assyria invaded Judah. He besieged the fortified cities, intending to seize them.[a] 2 When Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had invaded and intended to attack Jerusalem,[b] 3 he consulted with his advisers and military officers about stopping up the springs[c] outside the city, and they supported him. 4 A large number of people gathered together and stopped up all the springs and the stream that flowed through the district.[d] They reasoned,[e] “Why should the kings of Assyria come and find plenty of water?” 5 Hezekiah[f] energetically rebuilt[g] every broken wall. He erected towers and an outer wall[h] and fortified the terrace of the City of David.[i] He made many weapons and shields.

6 He appointed military officers over the army[j] and assembled them in the square at the city gate. He encouraged them,[k] saying, 7 “Be strong and brave! Don’t be afraid and don’t panic[l] because of the king of Assyria and this huge army that is with him. We have with us one who is stronger than those who are with him.[m] 8 He has with him mere human strength,[n] but the Lord our God is with us to help us and fight our battles!” The army[o] was encouraged by the words of King Hezekiah of Judah.

9 Afterward King Sennacherib of Assyria, while attacking Lachish with all his military might, sent his messengers[p] to Jerusalem. The message was for King Hezekiah of Judah and all the people of[q] Judah who were in Jerusalem. It read: 10 “This is what King Sennacherib of Assyria says: ‘Why are you so confident that you remain in Jerusalem while it is under siege?[r] 11 Hezekiah says, “The Lord our God will rescue us from the power[s] of the king of Assyria.” But he is misleading you, and you will die of hunger and thirst![t] 12 Hezekiah is the one who eliminated[u] the Lord’s[v] high places and altars and then told Judah and Jerusalem, “At one altar you must worship and offer sacrifices.” 13 Are you not aware of what I and my predecessors[w] have done to all the nations of the surrounding lands? Have the gods of the surrounding lands actually been able to rescue their lands from my power?[x] 14 Who among all the gods of these nations whom my predecessors annihilated was able to rescue his people from my power, that your God would be able to rescue you from my power?[y] 15 Now don’t let Hezekiah deceive you or mislead you like this. Don’t believe him, for no god of any nation or kingdom has been able to rescue his people from my power or the power of my predecessors. So how[z] can your gods rescue[aa] you from my power?’”

16 Sennacherib’s[ab] servants further insulted[ac] the Lord God and his servant Hezekiah. 17 He wrote letters mocking the Lord God of Israel and insulting him with these words:[ad] “The gods of the surrounding nations could not rescue their people from my power. Neither can Hezekiah’s god rescue his people from my power.”[ae] 18 They called out loudly in the Judahite dialect to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, trying to scare and terrify them so they could seize the city. 19 They talked about the God of Jerusalem as if he were one of the man-made gods of the nations of the earth.

20 King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz prayed about this and cried out to heaven. 21 The Lord sent a messenger[af] and he wiped out all the soldiers, princes, and officers in the army of the king of Assyria. So Sennacherib[ag] returned home humiliated.[ah] When he entered the temple of his god, some of his own sons[ai] struck him down with the sword. 22 The Lord delivered Hezekiah and the residents of Jerusalem from the power of King Sennacherib of Assyria and from all the other nations.[aj] He made them secure on every side.[ak] 23 Many were bringing presents[al] to the Lord in Jerusalem and precious gifts to King Hezekiah of Judah. From that time on he was respected by[am] all the nations.

Hezekiah’s Shortcomings and Accomplishments

24 In those days Hezekiah was stricken with a terminal illness.[an] He prayed to the Lord, who answered him and gave him a sign confirming that he would be healed.[ao] 25 But Hezekiah was ungrateful; he had a proud attitude, provoking God to be angry at him, as well as Judah and Jerusalem.[ap] 26 But then Hezekiah and the residents of Jerusalem humbled themselves and abandoned their pride, and the Lord was not angry with them for the rest of Hezekiah’s reign.[aq]

27 Hezekiah was very wealthy and greatly respected. He made storehouses for his silver, gold, precious stones, spices, shields, and all his other valuable possessions. 28 He made storerooms for the harvest of grain, wine, and olive oil, and stalls for all his various kinds of livestock and his flocks.[ar] 29 He built royal cities[as] and owned a large number of sheep and cattle, for God gave him a huge amount of possessions.

30 Hezekiah dammed up the source of the waters of the Upper Gihon and directed them down to the west side of the City of David.[at] Hezekiah succeeded in all that he did. 31 So when the envoys arrived from the Babylonian officials to visit him and inquire about the sign that occurred in the land,[au] God left him alone to test him, in order to know his true motives.[av]

32 The rest of the events of Hezekiah’s reign, including his faithful deeds, are recorded in the vision of the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz, included in the Scroll of the Kings of Judah and Israel.[aw] 33 Hezekiah passed away[ax] and was buried on the ascent of the tombs of the descendants of David. All the people of Judah and the residents of Jerusalem buried him with great honor.[ay] His son Manasseh replaced him as king.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 32:1 tn Heb “and he said to break into them for himself.”
  2. 2 Chronicles 32:2 tn Heb “and his face was for war against Jerusalem.”
  3. 2 Chronicles 32:3 tn Heb “the waters of the springs.”
  4. 2 Chronicles 32:4 tn Heb “and they closed up all the springs and the stream that flows in the midst of the land.” Here אָרֶץ (ʾarets, “land”) does not refer to the entire land, but to a smaller region like a district.
  5. 2 Chronicles 32:4 tn Heb “land, saying.”
  6. 2 Chronicles 32:5 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Hezekiah) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  7. 2 Chronicles 32:5 tn Heb “strengthened himself and built.”
  8. 2 Chronicles 32:5 tn Heb “and outside the wall another one.”
  9. 2 Chronicles 32:5 sn The phrase the City of David refers here to the fortress of Zion in Jerusalem, not to Bethlehem. See 2 Sam 5:7.
  10. 2 Chronicles 32:6 tn Heb “and he placed officers of war over the people.”
  11. 2 Chronicles 32:6 tn Heb “he spoke to their heart[s].”
  12. 2 Chronicles 32:7 tn Or perhaps, “and don’t be discouraged.”
  13. 2 Chronicles 32:7 tn Heb “for with us [is] a greater [one] than with him.”
  14. 2 Chronicles 32:8 tn Heb “With him is an arm of flesh.”
  15. 2 Chronicles 32:8 tn Or “people.”
  16. 2 Chronicles 32:9 tn Heb “servants.”
  17. 2 Chronicles 32:9 tn Heb “all Judah.” The words “the people of” are supplied in the translation for clarity. The Hebrew text uses the name “Judah” here by metonymy for the people of Judah.
  18. 2 Chronicles 32:10 tn Heb “On what are you trusting that [you] are living during the siege in Jerusalem.”
  19. 2 Chronicles 32:11 tn Heb “hand.”
  20. 2 Chronicles 32:11 tn Heb “Is not Hezekiah misleading you to give you over to die by hunger and thirst, saying, ‘The Lord our God will rescue us from the hand of the king of Assyria’?’
  21. 2 Chronicles 32:12 tn Heb “Did not he, Hezekiah, eliminate…?” This rhetorical question presupposes a positive reply (“yes, he did”) and so has been translated here as a positive statement.
  22. 2 Chronicles 32:12 tn Heb “his”; the referent (the Lord) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  23. 2 Chronicles 32:13 tn Heb “fathers” (also in vv. 14, 15), but in this context the term does not necessarily refer to Sennacherib’s ancestors, but to his predecessors on the Assyrian throne.
  24. 2 Chronicles 32:13 tn Heb “hand.”
  25. 2 Chronicles 32:14 tn Heb “hand.”
  26. 2 Chronicles 32:15 tn Heb “how much less.”
  27. 2 Chronicles 32:15 tn The verb is plural, suggesting that the preceding אֱלֹהֵיכֶם (ʾelohekhem) be translated “your gods,” rather than “your God.”
  28. 2 Chronicles 32:16 tn Heb “his”; the referent (Sennacherib) has been specified in the translation for clarity and for stylistic reasons.
  29. 2 Chronicles 32:16 tn Heb “spoke against.”
  30. 2 Chronicles 32:17 tn Heb “and speaking against him, saying.”
  31. 2 Chronicles 32:17 tn Heb “Like the gods of the nations of the lands who did not rescue their people from my hand, so the god of Hezekiah will not rescue his people from my hand.”
  32. 2 Chronicles 32:21 tn Or “an angel.”
  33. 2 Chronicles 32:21 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Sennacherib) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  34. 2 Chronicles 32:21 tn Heb “and he returned with shame of face to his land.”
  35. 2 Chronicles 32:21 tn Heb “and some from those who went out from him, from his inward parts.”
  36. 2 Chronicles 32:22 tn Heb “and from the hand of all.”
  37. 2 Chronicles 32:22 tc The Hebrew text reads literally, “and he led him from all around.” However, the present translation prefers the Septuagint and Vulgate reading, which suggests an original text of וַיָּנַח לָהֶם מִסָּבִיב (vayyanakh lahem missaviv, “and he gave rest to them from all around”). See 2 Chr 15:15 and 20:30.
  38. 2 Chronicles 32:23 tn Or perhaps, “offerings.”
  39. 2 Chronicles 32:23 tn Heb “lifted up in the eyes of.”
  40. 2 Chronicles 32:24 tn Heb “was sick to the point of dying.”
  41. 2 Chronicles 32:24 tn Heb “and he spoke to him and a sign he gave to him.”
  42. 2 Chronicles 32:25 tn Heb “but not according to the benefit [given] to him did Hezekiah repay, for his heart was high, and there was anger against him and against Judah and Jerusalem.”
  43. 2 Chronicles 32:26 tn Heb “and Hezekiah humbled himself in the height of his heart, he and the residents of Jerusalem, and the anger of the Lord did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah.”
  44. 2 Chronicles 32:28 tn Heb “and stalls for all beasts and beasts, and flocks for the stalls.” The repetition of בְּהֵמָה (behemah, “beast”) here indicates various kinds of livestock.
  45. 2 Chronicles 32:29 tn Heb “and cities he made for himself.”
  46. 2 Chronicles 32:30 sn The phrase the City of David refers here to the fortress of Zion in Jerusalem, not to Bethlehem. See 2 Sam 5:7.
  47. 2 Chronicles 32:31 tn Heb “and when the envoys of the officials of Babylon, who sent to him to inquire concerning the sign which was in the land, [arrived].”
  48. 2 Chronicles 32:31 tn Heb “to know all [that was] in his heart.”
  49. 2 Chronicles 32:32 tn Heb “and the rest of the deeds of Hezekiah and his faithful acts, behold, they are written in the vision of Isaiah son of Amoz the prophet upon the scroll of the kings of Judah and Israel.”
  50. 2 Chronicles 32:33 tn Heb “lay down with his fathers.”
  51. 2 Chronicles 32:33 tn Heb “and honor they did to him in his death, all Judah and the residents of Jerusalem.”
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2 Chronicles 32
Legacy Standard Bible

Sennacherib Invades Judah

32 After these [a]acts of faithfulness (A)Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah and encamped against the fortified cities, and [b]thought to break into them for himself. 2 Then Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come and that he had set his face to make war on Jerusalem, 3 and he took counsel with his commanders and his warriors to stop up the supply of water from the springs which were outside the city, and they helped him. 4 So many people gathered (B)and stopped up all the springs and (C)the stream which flowed in the midst of the land, saying, “Why should the kings of Assyria come and find abundant water?” 5 And he strengthened himself and (D)rebuilt all the wall that had been broken down and [c]erected towers on it, and built (E)another outside wall and strengthened the [d](F)Millo in the city of David, and made weapons and shields in great number. 6 He also put military commanders over the people and gathered them to him in the square at the city gate, and (G)spoke to their hearts, saying, 7 “(H)Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be dismayed because of the king of Assyria nor because of all the multitude 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 Yahweh our God to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people were sustained by the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.

Sennacherib Reproaches Yahweh

9 After this (L)Sennacherib king of Assyria sent his servants to Jerusalem while he was [e]besieging Lachish with all his forces with him, against Hezekiah king of Judah and against all Judah who were at Jerusalem, saying, 10 “Thus says Sennacherib king of Assyria, ‘On what are you trusting that you are remaining in Jerusalem under siege? 11 Is not Hezekiah inciting you to give yourselves over to die by hunger and by thirst, saying, “Yahweh our God will deliver us from the [f]hand of the king of Assyria”? 12 (M)Has not the same Hezekiah taken away His high places and His altars, and said to Judah and [g]Jerusalem, “You shall worship before one altar, and on it you shall offer offerings up in smoke”? 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 the lands able at all to deliver their land from my hand? 14 (O)Who was there among all the gods of these nations which my fathers devoted to destruction, who could deliver his people from my hand, that your God should be able to deliver you from my hand? 15 So now, do not let Hezekiah deceive you or incite you like this, and do not believe him, for (P)no god of any nation or kingdom was 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 His servants spoke further against Yahweh God and against His servant Hezekiah. 17 He also wrote letters to [h]reproach Yahweh, the God of Israel, and to speak against Him, saying, “(Q)As the gods of the nations of the lands [i]have not delivered their people from my hand, so the God of Hezekiah will not deliver His people from my hand.” 18 (R)And they called this out with a loud voice in the language of Judah to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, to instill fear and terrify them, so that they might capture the city. 19 And they spoke [j]of the God of Jerusalem as of (S)the gods of the peoples of the earth, the work of men’s hands.

Yahweh Wipes Out the Men of Assyria

20 But King Hezekiah and Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, prayed about this and cried out to heaven. 21 And Yahweh sent an angel who wiped out every mighty man of valor, ruler, and commander in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned [k]in shame to his own land. And he entered the house of his god, and some of [l]his own children caused him to fall there by the sword. 22 So Yahweh (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 He [m]guided them on every side. 23 And (U)many were bringing presents to Yahweh at Jerusalem and precious things to Hezekiah king of Judah, so that (V)he was lifted up in the sight of all nations thereafter.

24 (W)In those days Hezekiah became sick to the point of death; and he prayed to Yahweh, and [n]Yahweh spoke to him and gave him a miraculous sign. 25 But Hezekiah gave no return for the benefit [o]he received, (X)because his heart was [p]proud; (Y)therefore wrath came on him and on Judah and Jerusalem. 26 However, (Z)Hezekiah [q]humbled the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of Yahweh did not come on them in the days of Hezekiah.

27 Now Hezekiah had abundant riches and honor; and he made for himself treasuries for silver, gold, precious stones, spices, shields, and all kinds of desirable articles, 28 storehouses also for the produce of grain, wine, and oil, stalls for all kinds of cattle, and [r]sheepfolds for the flocks. 29 He also made cities for himself and acquired flocks and herds in abundance, for (AA)God had given him exceedingly abundant [s]wealth. 30 And 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 succeeded in all that he did. 31 Even in the matter of (AD)the envoys of the rulers of Babylon, who sent to him to inquire of (AE)the miraculous sign that had happened in the land, God left him alone only (AF)to test him, that He might know all that was in his heart.

32 Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah and his deeds of lovingkindness, 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 slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the [t]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 Manasseh his son became king in his place.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 32:1 Lit things and this truth
  2. 2 Chronicles 32:1 Lit said
  3. 2 Chronicles 32:5 Lit raised on the towers
  4. 2 Chronicles 32:5 Citadel
  5. 2 Chronicles 32:9 Lit against
  6. 2 Chronicles 32:11 Lit palm
  7. 2 Chronicles 32:12 Lit Jerusalem, saying,
  8. 2 Chronicles 32:17 Or defy, cf. 1 Sam 17:26
  9. 2 Chronicles 32:17 Lit who have
  10. 2 Chronicles 32:19 Lit to
  11. 2 Chronicles 32:21 Lit in shame of face
  12. 2 Chronicles 32:21 Lit those who come from his loins
  13. 2 Chronicles 32:22 Or gave them rest
  14. 2 Chronicles 32:24 Lit He
  15. 2 Chronicles 32:25 Lit to him
  16. 2 Chronicles 32:25 Lit high
  17. 2 Chronicles 32:26 Lit humbled himself in
  18. 2 Chronicles 32:28 As in ancient versions; Heb flocks for the sheepfolds
  19. 2 Chronicles 32:29 Lit possessions
  20. 2 Chronicles 32:33 Or ascent to
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