2 Chronicles 32:4

4 he gathered together a full great multitude of men, and they stopped (up) all the wells, and the river, that flowed in the midst of the land; and said, Lest the kings of Assyrians come, and find (an) abundance of waters (here).

2 Chronicles 32:4 Meaning and Commentary

2 Chronicles 32:4

So there was gathered much people together
At the instance of Hezekiah, his nobles and officers:

who stopped all the fountains;
perhaps by laying planks over them, and earth upon them, so that it could not be discerned there were any fountains there:

and the brook that ran through the midst of the land;
which, according to Kimchi, was Gihon, ( 2 Chronicles 32:30 ) , which was near Jerusalem; the stream of this very probably they turned into channels under ground, whereby it was brought into the city into reservoirs there provided, that that might have a supply during the siege, while the enemy was distressed for want of it:

saying, why should the kings of Assyria come and find much water?
by which means they would be able to carry on the siege to a great length, when otherwise they would be obliged to raise it quickly: mention is made of kings of Assyria, though there was but one, with whom there might be petty kings, or tributary ones; and, besides, as he boasted, his princes were altogether kings, ( Isaiah 10:8 ) .

2 Chronicles 32:4 In-Context

2 And when Hezekiah had heard this thing, that is, that Sennacherib had come, and that all the fierceness of his battle was turned against Jerusalem,

3 he took counsel with [the] princes and with (the) most strong men, that they should stop the heads of wells, which were without the city; and when the sentence of all men deemed this profitable, (he took counsel with the leaders and the most strong men, who said that they should stop up, or close up, the heads of the wells, which were outside the city; and when the judgement of all the men judged this profitable,)

4 he gathered together a full great multitude of men, and they stopped (up) all the wells, and the river, that flowed in the midst of the land; and said, Lest the kings of Assyrians come, and find (an) abundance of waters (here).

5 Also Hezekiah did wittingly, and he builded all the wall that was destroyed, and he builded towers on the wall, and another wall withoutforth. And he repaired Millo in the city of David; and made armour of all kind, and shields. (And Hezekiah did knowingly, or with intent, and he rebuilt all the wall that was destroyed, and he built towers on the wall, and another wall outside it. And he repaired the Millo in the City of David; and he made all kinds of arms, or weapons, and shields.)

6 And he ordained princes of warriors in the host; and he called together all (the) men in(to) the street of the gate of the city, and spake to the heart(s) of them, and said,