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2 Chronicles 32
Common English Bible

Sennacherib’s invasion

32 After these things and these faithful acts, Assyria’s King Sennacherib invaded Judah and attacked its fortified cities, intending to capture them. 2 When Hezekiah realized that Sennacherib also planned on fighting Jerusalem, 3 he consulted with his officials and soldiers about stopping up the springs outside the city, and they supported him. 4 A large force gathered to stop up all the springs and the streams that flowed through the land. “Why should the kings of Assyria come and find plenty of water?” they asked. 5 Hezekiah vigorously rebuilt all the broken sections of the wall, erected towers, constructed another wall outside the first, reinforced the terrace of David’s City, and made a large supply of weapons and shields. 6 He appointed military officers over the troops, assembled them in the square of the city gate, and spoke these words of encouragement: 7 “Be brave and be strong! Don’t let the king of Assyria and all those warriors he brings with him scare you or cause you dismay, because our forces are greater than his.[a] 8 All he has is human strength, but we have the Lord our God, who will help us fight our battles!”

The troops trusted Judah’s King Hezekiah.

9 After this Assyria’s King Sennacherib, who was attacking Lachish with all his forces, sent his servants to Jerusalem with the following message for Judah’s King Hezekiah and all the people of Judah who were in Jerusalem:

10 This is what Assyria’s King Sennacherib says: What makes you so confident that you stay put in Jerusalem while it is being attacked? 11 Obviously, Hezekiah has fooled you into surrendering yourselves to death by hunger and thirst when he says, “The Lord our God will rescue us from Assyria’s king.” 12 Isn’t this the same Hezekiah who got rid of his shrines and altars, and then demanded of Judah and Jerusalem, “You must worship and burn incense before only one altar”? 13 Don’t you know what I and my predecessors have done to the people of other nations? Were any of the gods of these other nations able to rescue their lands from my power? 14 Which one of any of the gods of these nations that my predecessors destroyed was able to rescue them from my power? So why should your god be able to rescue you from my power? 15 Don’t let Hezekiah seduce you like fools. Don’t believe him! No god of any other nation or kingdom has been able to rescue their people from me or from my predecessors. No, your gods won’t rescue you from my power.

16 The Assyrian king’s servants continued to make fun of the Lord God and his servant Hezekiah. 17 He wrote other letters insulting the Lord God of Israel, defying him by saying, “Just as the gods of the nations in other countries couldn’t rescue their people from my power, Hezekiah’s god won’t be able to rescue his people from my power.” 18 Then they shouted loudly in Hebrew[b] at the people of Jerusalem gathered on the wall, in an attempt to frighten and demoralize them, in order to capture the city. 19 They spoke about the God of Jerusalem as though he were the work of human hands, like the gods of the other peoples of the earth. 20 King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah, Amoz’s son, prayed about this, crying out to heaven. 21 Then the Lord sent a messenger who destroyed every warrior, leader, and officer in the camp of the Assyrian king. When Sennacherib went home in disgrace, he entered the temple of his god, and his own sons killed him with a sword. 22 This is how the Lord rescued Hezekiah and the citizens of Jerusalem from the power of Assyria’s King Sennacherib, and all others, giving them rest[c] on all sides. 23 Many people brought offerings to the Lord in Jerusalem and costly gifts to Judah’s King Hezekiah, who was highly regarded by all the nations from then on.

Hezekiah’s illness

24 Around that same time, Hezekiah became deathly ill and prayed to the Lord, who answered him with a miraculous sign. 25 But Hezekiah was too proud to respond appropriately to the kindness he had received, and he, along with Judah and Jerusalem, experienced anger. 26 However, Hezekiah and the citizens of Jerusalem humbled themselves in their pride, and so they didn’t experience the Lord’s anger for the rest of Hezekiah’s reign.

27 Hezekiah became very wealthy and greatly respected. He made storehouses for his silver, gold, precious stones, spices, shields, and other valuables. 28 He made barns to store the harvest of grain, wine, and olive oil; stalls for all kinds of cattle; and pens for flocks. 29 He acquired towns for himself and many flocks and herds because God had given him great wealth. 30 Hezekiah was the one who blocked the upper outlet of the waters of the Gihon Spring, channeling them down to the west side of David’s City. Hezekiah succeeded in all that he did, 31 even in the matter of the ambassadors sent from Babylonian officials to find out about the miraculous sign that occurred in the land, when God had abandoned him in order to test him and to discover what was in his heart.

32 The rest of Hezekiah’s deeds, including his faithfulness, are written in the vision of the prophet Isaiah, Amoz’s son, in the records of Israel’s and Judah’s kings. 33 Hezekiah lay down with his ancestors and was buried in the upper area of the tombs of David’s sons. All Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem honored him at his death. His son Manasseh succeeded him as king.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 32:7 Or there is greater power with us than with him
  2. 2 Chronicles 32:18 Or the language of Judah
  3. 2 Chronicles 32:22 LXX; MT he led them
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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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