2 Chronicles 32:20-33

Hezekiah's Prayer Is Answered

20 But King Hezekiah and Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, prayed about this and cried out to heaven.

21 And the LORD sent an angel who destroyed every mighty warrior, commander and officer in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned in shame * to his own land. And when he had entered the temple of his god, some of his own children * killed him there with the sword.

22 So the LORD ¹saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria and from the hand of all others, and guided them on every side.

23 And ²many were bringing gifts to the LORD at Jerusalem and choice presents to Hezekiah king of Judah, so that ³he was exalted in the sight of all nations thereafter * *.

24 ⁴In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill; and he prayed to the LORD, and the LORD spoke to him and gave him a sign.

25 But Hezekiah gave no return for the benefit he received, ⁵because his heart was proud; ⁶therefore wrath came on him and on Judah and Jerusalem.

26 However, ⁷Hezekiah humbled the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD did not come on them in the days of Hezekiah.

27 Now Hezekiah had immense riches and honor; and he made for himself treasuries for silver, gold, precious stones, spices, shields and all kinds of valuable articles,

28 storehouses also for the produce of grain, wine and oil, pens for all kinds of cattle and sheepfolds for the flocks.

29 He made cities for himself and acquired flocks and herds in abundance, for ⁸God had given him very great wealth.

30 It was Hezekiah who ⁹stopped the upper outlet of the waters of ¹⁰Gihon and directed them to the west side of the city of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all that he did.

31 Even in the matter of ¹¹the envoys of the rulers of Babylon, who sent to him to inquire of ¹²the wonder that had happened in the land, God left him alone only ¹³to test him, that He might know all that was in his heart.

32 Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah and his deeds of devotion, behold, they are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.

33 So Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the upper section of the tombs of the sons of David; and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem ¹⁴honored him at his death. And his son Manasseh became king in his place.

2 Chronicles 32:20-33 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. Isaiah 31:5
• 2. 2 Samuel 8:10
• 3. 2 Chronicles 1:1
• 4. 2 Kings 20:1-11; Isaiah 38:1-8
• 5. 2 Chronicles 26:16; 2 Chronicles 32:31
• 6. 2 Chronicles 24:18
• 7. Jeremiah 26:18, 19
• 8. 1 Chronicles 29:12
• 9. 2 Kings 20:20
• 10. 1 Kings 1:33
• 11. 2 Kings 20:12; Isaiah 39:1
• 12. 2 Chronicles 32:24; Isaiah 38:7, 8
• 13. Deuteronomy 8:16
• 14. Psalms 112:6; Proverbs 10:7

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "in shame of face"
• [b]. Another reading is "gave them rest"
• [c]. Lit "sick to the point of death"
• [d]. Lit "He"
• [e]. Lit "to him"
• [f]. Lit "high"
• [g]. Lit "humbled himself in"
• [h]. So ancient versions; Heb "flocks for the sheepfolds"
• [i]. Lit "possessions, property"
• [j]. Or "ascent to"