1
After these things, and the establishment thereof, Sennacheribking of Assyriacame, and entered into Judah, and encamped against the fencedcities, and thought to win them for himself.
4
So there was gatheredmuchpeopletogether, who stopped all the fountains, and the brook that ran through the midst of the land,saying, Why should the kings of Assyriacome, and findmuchwater?
5
Also he strengthened himself, and built up all the wall that was broken, and raised it up to the towers, and anotherwallwithout, and repairedMillo in the city of David, and madedarts and shields in abundance.
6
And he setcaptains of war over the people, and gathered them together to him in the street of the gate of the city, and spakecomfortably to them, saying,
7
Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayedfor the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him:
8
With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the peoplerested themselves upon the words of Hezekiahking of Judah.
9
After this did Sennacheribking of Assyriasend his servants to Jerusalem, (but he himself laid siege against Lachish, and all his power with him,) unto Hezekiahking of Judah, and unto all Judah that were at Jerusalem,saying,
11
Doth not Hezekiahpersuade you to give over yourselves to die by famine and by thirst,saying, The LORD our God shall deliver us out of the hand of the king of Assyria?
12
Hath not the same Hezekiah taken away his high places and his altars, and commandedJudah and Jerusalem,saying, Ye shall worshipbeforeonealtar, and burn incense upon it?
13
Know ye not what I and my fathers have done unto all the people of other lands? were the gods of the nations of those lands any waysable to deliver their lands out of mine hand?
14
Who was there among all the gods of those nations that my fathers utterly destroyed, that coulddeliver his people out of mine hand, that your God should be able to deliver you out of mine hand?
15
Now therefore let notHezekiahdeceive you, nor persuade you on this manner, neither yet believe him: for no god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people out of mine hand, and out of the hand of my fathers: how much less shall your Goddeliver you out of mine hand?
17
He wrote also letters to rail on the LORDGod of Israel, and to speak against him, saying, As the gods of the nations of other lands have not delivered their people out of mine hand, so shall not the God of Hezekiahdeliver his people out of mine hand.
18
Then they cried with a loudvoice in the Jews' speech unto the people of Jerusalem that were on the wall, to affright them, and to trouble them; that they might take the city.
21
And the LORDsent an angel, which cut off all the mighty men of valour, and the leaders and captains in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he was come into the house of his god, they that came forth of his own bowelsslew him there with the sword.
22
Thus the LORDsavedHezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and from the hand of all other, and guided them on every side.
23
And manybroughtgifts unto the LORD to Jerusalem, and presents to Hezekiahking of Judah: so that he was magnified in the sight of all nations from thenceforth.
25
But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem.
26
Notwithstanding Hezekiahhumbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORDcame not upon them in the days of Hezekiah.
27
And Hezekiah had exceedingmuchriches and honour: and he made himself treasuries for silver, and for gold, and for preciousstones, and for spices, and for shields, and for all manner of pleasantjewels;
30
This same Hezekiah also stopped the upperwatercourseofGihon, and brought it straightdown to the west side of the city of David. And Hezekiahprospered in all his works.
31
Howbeit in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to enquire of the wonder that was done in the land,Godleft him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart.
32
Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and his goodness, behold, they are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, and in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
33
And Hezekiahslept with his fathers, and they buried him in the chiefest of the sepulchres of the sons of David: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did himhonour at his death. And Manasseh his sonreigned in his stead.