Sennacherib Threates Jerusalem
1
After all that Hezekiah had so faithfully done, Sennacherib king of Assyria came
and invaded Judah. He laid siege to te fortified cities, thinking to conquer them
for himself.
2
When Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come and that he intended to make war
on Jerusalem,
3
he consulted with his officials and military staff about blocking off the water
from the springs outside the city, and they helped him.
4
A large force of men assembled, and they blocked all the springs and streams
that flowed through the land. "Why should the kings of Assyria came
and find plenty of water?" they said.
5
Then he worked hard repairing all the broken sections of the wall and building
towers on it. He built another wall outside that one and reinforced the supporting
terraces of the City of David. He also made large numbers of weapons and shields.
6
He appointed military officers over the people and assembled them before him
in the square at the city gate and encouraged them with these these words:
7
"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afaraid or discouraged because of the king
of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than
with him.
8
With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the of LORD our God to help us
to fight our battled." And the people gained confidence from what Hezekiah
the king of Judah said.
9
Later, when Sennacherib king of Assyria and all his forces were laying siege to Lachish,
he sent his officers to Jerusalem with this message for Hezekiah king of Judah
and for all the people of Judah who were there:
10
"This is what Sennacherib king of Assyria says:
On what are you basing your confidence, that you remain in Jerusalem under siege?
11
When Hezekiah says, 'The LORD our God will save us from the hand of the king of
Assyria,' he is misleading you, to let you die of hunger and thirst.
12
Did not Hezekiah himself remove this god's high places and altars, saying to Judah
and Jerusalem, 'You must worship before one altar and burn sacrifices on it"?
13
"Do you not know what I and my fathers have donento all the peoples of
the other lands? Were the gods of those nations ever able to deliver their
land from my hand?
14
Who of all the gods of these nations that my fathers destroyed has been able
to save his people from me? How then can your god deliver you from my hand?
15
Now do not let Hezekiah deceive you and mislead you like this.
Do not believe him, for no god of any nation or kingdom has been able to deliver
his people from my hand or the hand of my fathers. How much less will your god
deliver you from my hand!"
16
Sennacherib's officers spoke further against the LORD God
and against his servant Hezekiah.
17
The king also wrote letters insulting the LORD, the God of Israel.
and saying this against him: "Juat as the gods of the peoples of the other lands
did not rescue their people from my hand, so the god of Hezekiah will not
rescue his people from my hand."
18
Then they called out in Hebrew to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall,
to terrify them and make them afraid in order to capture the city.
19
They spoke about the God of Jerusalem as they did about
the gods of the other peoples of the world - the work of men's hands.
20
King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz cried out in prayer
to heaven about this.
21
And the LORD sent an angel, who annihilated all the fighting men and the leaders
and officers in the camp of the Assyrian king. So he withdrew to his own land
in disgrace. And when he went into the temple of his god, some of his sons cut
him down with the sword.
22
So the LORD saved Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem from the hand
of Sennacherib king of Assyria and from the hand of all others.
He took care of them on every side.
23
Many brought offerings to Jerusalem for the LORD and valuable gifts for
Hezekiah king of Judah. From then on he was highly regarded by all the nations.
Hezekiah's Pride, Success and Death
24
In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death.
He prayed to the LORD, who answered him and gave him a miraculous sign.
25
But Hezekiah's heart was proud and he did not respond to the kindness
shown him; therefore the LORD's wrath was on him and on Judah
and Jerusalem.
26
Then Hezekiah repented of the pride of his heart, as did the people of
Jerusalem; therefore the LORD's wrath did not come upon them
during the days of Hezekiah.
27
Hezekiah had very great riches and honor, and he made treasuries
for his silver and gold and for his precious stones, spices, shields
and all kinds of valuables.
28
He also made buildings to store the harvest of grain, new wine and oil;
and he made stalls for various kinds of cattle, and pens for the flocks.
29
He built villages and acquired great numbers of flocks and herds,
for God had given him very great riches.
30
It was Hezekiah who blocked the upper outlet of the Gihon spring
and channeled the water down to the west side of the City of David.
He succeeded in everything he undertook.
31
But when envoys were sent by the rulers of Babylon to ask him about
the miraculous sign that had occurred in the land, God left him to test him
and to know everything that was in his heart.
32
The other events of Hezakiah's reign and his acts devotion are written
in the vision of the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz in the book of the kings
of Judahand Israel.
33
Hezekiah rested with his fathers and was buried on the hill where the tombs
of David's descendants are. All Judah and the people of Jerusalem honored
him when he died. And Manasseh his son succeeded him as king.
