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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] When Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had invaded and intended to attack Jerusalem,[b] he consulted with his advisers and military officers about stopping up the springs[c] outside the city, and they supported him. 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?” 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.

He appointed military officers over the army[j] and assembled them in the square at the city gate. He encouraged them,[k] saying, “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] 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.

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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.”

Sennacherib’s Invasion

32 After these things and these acts of faithfulness, King Sennacherib of Assyria came and invaded Judah and encamped against the fortified cities, thinking to win them for himself.(A) When Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come and intended to fight against Jerusalem, he planned with his officers and his warriors to stop the flow of the springs that were outside the city, and they helped him. A great many people were gathered, and they stopped all the springs and the wadi that flowed through the land, saying, “Why should the Assyrian kings come and find water in abundance?”(B) Hezekiah[a] strengthened himself and built up the entire wall that was broken down and raised towers on it,[b] and outside it he built another wall; he also strengthened the Millo in the city of David and made weapons and shields in abundance.(C) He appointed combat commanders over the people and gathered them together to him in the square at the gate of the city and spoke encouragingly to them, saying,(D) “Be strong and of good courage. Do not be afraid or dismayed before the king of Assyria and all the horde that is with him, for there is one greater with us than with him.(E) With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God, to help us and to fight our battles.” The people were encouraged by the words of King Hezekiah of Judah.(F)

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Footnotes

  1. 32.5 Heb He
  2. 32.5 Vg: Heb and raised on the towers