2 Chronicles 32 :: Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Sennacherib Invades Judah

(2Ki 18:13—19:34; Isa 36:1–22 )

2Ch 32:1After these things and these acts of faithfulness Sennach'erib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah and encamped against the fortified cities, thinking to win them for himself.

2Ch 32:2

2Ch 32:2And when Hezeki'ah saw that Sennach'erib had come and intended to fight against Jerusalem,

2Ch 32:3

2Ch 32:3he planned with his officers and his mighty men to stop the water of the springs that were outside the city; and they helped him.

2Ch 32:4

2Ch 32:4A great many people were gathered, and they stopped all the springs and the brook that flowed through the land, saying, "Why should the kings of Assyria come and find much water?"

2Ch 32:5

2Ch 32:5He set to work resolutely and built up all the wall that was broken down, and raised towers upon it, and outside it he built another wall; and he strengthened the Millo in the city of David. He also made weapons and shields in abundance.

2Ch 32:6

2Ch 32:6And he set combat commanders over the people, and gathered them together to him in the square at the gate of the city and spoke encouragingly to them, saying,

2Ch 32:7

2Ch 32:7"Be strong and of good courage. Do not be afraid or dismayed before the king of Assyria and all the horde that is with him; for there is one greater with us than with him.

2Ch 32:8

2Ch 32:8With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God, to help us and to fight our battles." And the people took confidence from the words of Hezeki'ah king of Judah.

Sennacherib Undermines Hezekiah

2Ch 32:9

2Ch 32:9After this Sennach'erib king of Assyria, who was besieging Lachish with all his forces, sent his servants to Jerusalem to Hezeki'ah king of Judah and to all the people of Judah that were in Jerusalem, saying,

2Ch 32:10

2Ch 32:10"Thus says Sennach'erib king of Assyria, 'On what are you relying, that you stand siege in Jerusalem?

2Ch 32:11

2Ch 32:11Is not Hezeki'ah misleading you, that he may give you over to die by famine and by thirst, when he tells you, "The LORD our God will deliver us from the hand of the king of Assyria"?

2Ch 32:12

2Ch 32:12Has not this same Hezeki'ah taken away his high places and his altars and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, "Before one altar you shall worship, and upon it you shall burn your sacrifices"?

2Ch 32:13

2Ch 32:13Do you not know what I and my fathers have done to all the peoples of other lands? Were the gods of the nations of those lands at all able to deliver their lands out of my hand?

2Ch 32:14

2Ch 32:14Who among all the gods of those nations which my fathers utterly destroyed was able to deliver his people from my hand, that your God should be able to deliver you from my hand?

2Ch 32:15

2Ch 32:15Now therefore do not let Hezeki'ah deceive you or mislead you in this fashion, and do not believe him, for no god of any nation or kingdom has been able to deliver his people from my hand or from the hand of my fathers. How much less will your God deliver you out of my hand!'"

2Ch 32:16

2Ch 32:16And his servants said still more against the Lord GOD and against his servant Hezeki'ah.

2Ch 32:17

2Ch 32:17And he wrote letters to cast contempt on the LORD the God of Israel and to speak against him, saying, "Like the gods of the nations of the lands who have not delivered their people from my hands, so the God of Hezeki'ah will not deliver his people from my hand."

2Ch 32:18

2Ch 32:18And they shouted it with a loud voice in the language of Judah to the people of Jerusalem who were upon the wall, to frighten and terrify them, in order that they might take the city.

2Ch 32:19

2Ch 32:19And they spoke of the God of Jerusalem as they spoke of the gods of the peoples of the earth, which are the work of men's hands.

Hezekiah's Prayer Is Answered

(2Ki 19:35–37 )

2Ch 32:20

2Ch 32:20Then Hezeki'ah the king and Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, prayed because of this and cried to heaven.

2Ch 32:21

2Ch 32:21And the LORD sent an angel, who cut off all the mighty warriors and commanders and officers in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he came into the house of his god, some of his own sons struck him down there with the sword.

2Ch 32:22

2Ch 32:22So the LORD saved Hezeki'ah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennach'erib king of Assyria and from the hand of all his enemies; and he gave them rest on every side.

2Ch 32:23

2Ch 32:23And many brought gifts to the LORD to Jerusalem and precious things to Hezeki'ah king of Judah, so that he was exalted in the sight of all nations from that time onward.

(2Ki 20:1–11; Isa 38:1–8 )

2Ch 32:24

2Ch 32:24In those days Hezeki'ah became sick and was at the point of death, and he prayed to the LORD; and he answered him and gave him a sign.

2Ch 32:25

2Ch 32:25But Hezeki'ah did not make return according to the benefit done to him, for his heart was proud. Therefore wrath came upon him and Judah and Jerusalem.

2Ch 32:26

2Ch 32:26But Hezeki'ah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD did not come upon them in the days of Hezeki'ah.

(2Ki 20:12–21; Isa 39:1–8 )

2Ch 32:27

2Ch 32:27And Hezeki'ah had very great riches and honor; and he made for himself treasuries for silver, for gold, for precious stones, for spices, for shields, and for all kinds of costly vessels;

2Ch 32:28

2Ch 32:28storehouses also for the yield of grain, wine, and oil; and stalls for all kinds of cattle, and sheepfolds.

2Ch 32:29

2Ch 32:29He likewise provided cities for himself, and flocks and herds in abundance; for God had given him very great possessions.

2Ch 32:30

2Ch 32:30This same Hezeki'ah closed the upper outlet of the waters of Gihon and directed them down to the west side of the city of David. And Hezeki'ah prospered in all his works.

2Ch 32:31

2Ch 32:31And so in the matter of the envoys of the princes of Babylon, who had been sent to him to inquire about the sign that had been done in the land, God left him to himself, in order to try him and to know all that was in his heart.

2Ch 32:32

2Ch 32:32Now the rest of the acts of Hezeki'ah, and his good deeds, 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.

2Ch 32:33

2Ch 32:33And Hezeki'ah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the ascent of the tombs of the sons of David; and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honor at his death. And Manas'seh his son reigned in his stead.

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Source: Transcribed from: The Holy Bible: Revised Standard Version containing the Old and New Testaments, translated from the original tongues: being the version set forth A.D. 1611, revised A.D. 1881-1885 and A.D. 1901: compared with the most ancient authorities and revised A.D. 1946-52. — 2nd ed. of New Testament A.D. 1971. There should be enough in the rest of the description to identify the text.

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Pericope

2 Chronicles Chapter 32 — Additional Translations: