2 Chronicles 32:1-8

Sennacherib Invades Judah

1 After all these acts of faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah. He laid siege to the fortified cities, intending to conquer them for himself. ¹

2 When Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come to make war against Jerusalem,

3 he consulted with his leaders and mighty men about stopping up the waters of the springs outside the city, and they helped him carry it out.

4 Many people assembled and stopped up all the springs and the stream that flowed through the land. “Why should the kings ^[a] of Assyria come and find plenty of water?” they said.

5 Then Hezekiah worked resolutely to rebuild all the broken sections of the wall and to raise up towers on it. He also built an outer wall and reinforced the supporting terraces ^[b] of the City of David, and he produced an abundance of weapons and shields.

6 Hezekiah appointed military commanders over the people and gathered the people in the square of the city gate. Then he encouraged them, saying,

7 “Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged before the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater One with us than with him.

8 With him is only the arm of flesh, ^[c] but with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles.” So the people were strengthened by the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.

2 Chronicles 32:1-8 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 2 CHRONICLES 32

This chapter relates Sennacherib's invasion of the land of Judah, the preparations Hezekiah made to resist him, and the encouragement he gave his people to trust in the Lord, 2Ch 32:1-8 the messages and letters Sennacherib sent to Hezekiah and his subjects, full of arrogance and blasphemy, to solicit them to deliver up Jerusalem to him, 2Ch 32:9-19 the destruction of his army by an angel, and the deliverance of the Jews at the prayers of Hezekiah and Isaiah, 2Ch 32:20-23 the sin Hezekiah fell into after this, and his recovery from a fit of illness; but, upon his humiliation for it, wrath was averted, 2Ch 32:24-26 and the chapter is concluded with an account of his honours, riches, and exploits, and of his death and burial, 2Ch 32:27-33.

Cross References

• 1. (2 Kings 18:13–16; Psalms 46:1–11)

Footnotes

• [a] Hebrew; LXX and Syriac king
• [b] Hebrew the Millo
• [c] Or He has only the strength of his own flesh