2 Chronicles 32

1After these events and the faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came, entered Judah, encamped against the fortified cities, and planned to capture them for himself.

2Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come and set his face for battle against Jerusalem.

3He consulted with his captains and his champions to stop the waters of the springs that were outside the city, and they helped him.

4Many people gathered and stopped up all the springs and the brook surging through the middle of the land, saying, "Why should the kings of Assyria come and find abundant water?"

5He strengthened himself, rebuilt all the broken-down wall, raised it up to the towers, built another wall outside, fortified the Millo in the city of David, and made javelins and shields in abundance.

6He appointed army captains over the people, gathered them to him in the plaza at the city gate, and spoke to their hearts, saying,

7Be strong and take courage; do not be afraid or dismayed before the king of Assyria or before all the multitude that is with him, for more are with us than with him.

8With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is Yahweh our God to help us and fight our battles. The people relied on the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.

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

10Thus says Sennacherib, king of Assyria: On what do you rely while remaining under siege in Jerusalem?

11Doesn't Hezekiah persuade you to surrender yourselves to die by famine and thirst, saying, "Yahweh our God will deliver us from the hand of the king of Assyria"?

12Hasn't Hezekiah himself removed his high places and his altars, and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, "Worship before one altar, and burn incense upon it"?

13Don't you know what I and my fathers have done to all the peoples of the lands? Were the gods of the nations of the lands able to rescue their land from my hand?

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

15Now do not let Hezekiah deceive you, nor persuade you like this, nor believe him; for no god of any nation or kingdom could deliver its people from my hand or from the hand of my fathers—surely your God will not deliver you from my hand.

16His servants spoke again against Yahweh God and against his servant Hezekiah.

17He wrote letters to defy Yahweh, God of Israel, and to speak against him, saying, "As the gods of the nations of the lands, which did not deliver their people from my hand, so the God of Hezekiah will not deliver his people from my hand."

18They called out in a loud voice in the Jewish language to the people of Jerusalem on the wall, to terrify them and dismay them, so they might capture the city.

19They spoke against the God of Jerusalem as against the gods of earth's peoples, the work of human hands.

20Hezekiah the king and Isaiah the prophet son of Amoz prayed concerning this and cried to the heavens.

21Yahweh sent an angel who destroyed all the mighty warriors, leaders, and captains in the camp of the king of Assyria. He returned to his land with shame upon his face. When he entered the house of his god, those who came forth from his bowels struck him down there with the sword.

22Yahweh delivered Hezekiah and those dwelling in Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib, king of Assyria, and from the hand of all, and led them on every side.

23Many brought gifts to Yahweh at Jerusalem and presents to Hezekiah king of Judah, so he was exalted before all the nations from then on.

24In those days Hezekiah grew deathly ill and prayed to Yahweh, who spoke to him and gave him a sign.

25But Hezekiah failed to repay according to the favor shown him, for his heart grew proud; so wrath came upon him, upon Judah and Jerusalem.

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

27Hezekiah had vast riches and honor, and he made treasuries for himself for silver, gold, precious stones, spices, shields, and all desirable vessels.

28storehouses for the yield of grain, wine, and oil; stalls for all kinds of beasts and cattle, and folds for flocks.

29He provided cities for himself and livestock in abundance—flocks and herds—because God had given him very great possessions.

30Hezekiah himself closed the outlet of the waters of upper Gihon and directed them straight down westward to the city of David. Hezekiah prospered in all his works.

31However, when the ambassadors of Babylon's princes were sent to him to inquire about the wonder that had occurred in the land, God forsook him to test him and know everything in his heart.

32The remaining affairs of Hezekiah and his kindnesses are indeed recorded in the vision of Isaiah son of Amoz the prophet, in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.

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