CLARITY EDITION · OLD TESTAMENT
2 Chronicles 32
Chapter 32 of 36
Chapter Overview
What happens in 2 Chronicles 32
The powerful Assyrian king Sennacherib invades Judah. Hezekiah prepares the defenses and encourages the people to trust in God. Sennacherib mocks God, but Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah pray. God sends an angel who destroys the Assyrian army in a single night.
Scripture
2 Chronicles 32
Sennacherib Invades; Hezekiah Prepares
Study note
After Hezekiah's faithful service, King Sennacherib of Assyria — the most powerful ruler in the world — invaded Judah. Hezekiah acted quickly: he blocked the water sources outside the city, repaired the walls, built a second outer wall, made weapons and shields, and appointed military commanders. He encouraged the people with powerful words: 'Be strong and courageous! There is more with us than with him. He only has human strength, but we have the Lord our God to help us and fight our battles.'
1 After all the faithful things Hezekiah had done, King Sennacherib of Assyria invaded Judah. He set up his army camps around the walled cities, planning to break through and capture them. After these things, and the establishment thereof, Sennacherib king of Assyria came, and entered into Judah, and encamped against the fenced cities, and thought to win them for himself.
2 When Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come and was getting ready to attack Jerusalem, And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib was come, and that he was purposed to fight against Jerusalem,
3 he talked with his officials and military leaders about blocking up the water sources outside the city. They agreed to help. He took counsel with his princes and his mighty men to stop the waters of the fountains which were without the city: and they did help him.
4 A large group of people gathered together and blocked all the springs and the stream that ran through the area. They said, "Why should the kings of Assyria come here and find plenty of water?" So there was gathered much people together, who stopped all the fountains, and the brook that ran through the midst of the land, saying, Why should the kings of Assyria come, and find much water?
5 Hezekiah worked hard to get ready. He rebuilt every broken section of the city wall and raised towers above it. He built a second outer wall, strengthened the terraces of the City of David, and had large numbers of weapons and shields made. Also he strengthened himself, and built up all the wall that was broken, and raised it up to the towers, and another wall without, and repaired Millo in the city of David, and made darts and shields in abundance.
6 He put military commanders in charge of the people and gathered everyone in the open area by the city gate. He encouraged them by saying, And he set captains of war over the people, and gathered them together to him in the street of the gate of the city, and spake comfortably to them, saying,
7 "Be strong and brave! Don't be afraid of the king of Assyria and his huge army. The power on our side is much greater than what he has." Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him:
8 "He has nothing but human strength, but we have the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles." The people felt encouraged by the words of King Hezekiah of Judah. With 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 rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.
Sennacherib's Insults
Study note
From his camp at Lachish, Sennacherib sent messengers to Jerusalem to undermine the people's faith. They shouted in Hebrew so everyone on the walls could hear: 'No god of any nation has been able to save their people from me. What makes you think your God can?' They spoke about the God of Jerusalem as if he were just another man-made idol.
9 King Sennacherib of Assyria was at Lachish with his army. He sent men to Jerusalem with a note for King Hezekiah and all Judah's people. After this did Sennacherib king of Assyria send his servants to Jerusalem, (but he himself laid siege against Lachish, and all his power with him,) unto Hezekiah king of Judah, and unto all Judah that were at Jerusalem, saying,
10 The note said, "Sennacherib, Assyria's king, says this. What makes you think you can hold out in Jerusalem during a siege?" Thus saith Sennacherib king of Assyria, Whereon do ye trust, that ye abide in the siege in Jerusalem?
11 "Hezekiah is misleading you. He is going to let you die of hunger and thirst by telling you, 'The Lord our God will save us from the king of Assyria.'" Doth not Hezekiah persuade you to give over yourselves to die by famine and by thirst, saying, The LORD our God shall deliver us out of the hand of the king of Assyria?
12 "Was it not Hezekiah himself who removed God's hilltop worship places and altars? He told Judah and Jerusalem, 'You must worship at one altar only and burn incense there.'" Hath not the same Hezekiah taken away his high places and his altars, and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall worship before one altar, and burn incense upon it?
13 "Do you not realize what I and my ancestors have done to all the peoples of other lands? Were the gods of those nations ever able to save their land from me?" Know ye not what I and my fathers have done unto all the people of other lands? were the gods of the nations of those lands any ways able to deliver their lands out of mine hand?
14 "Which of the gods of those nations that my ancestors destroyed was able to rescue his people from me? What makes you think your God can rescue you?" Who was there among all the gods of those nations that my fathers utterly destroyed, that could deliver his people out of mine hand, that your God should be able to deliver you out of mine hand?
15 "Do not let Hezekiah trick you or mislead you like this. Do not believe him. No god of any nation or kingdom has been able to save his people from me or from my ancestors. Your God certainly cannot save you from me either!" Now therefore let not Hezekiah deceive you, nor persuade you on this manner, neither yet believe him: for no god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people out of mine hand, and out of the hand of my fathers: how much less shall your God deliver you out of mine hand?
16 Sennacherib's men said even more hurtful things against the Lord God and his servant Hezekiah. And his servants spake yet more against the LORD God, and against his servant Hezekiah.
17 Sennacherib also wrote letters mocking the Lord, the God of Israel. He wrote, "Just as the gods of other nations could not save their people from me, the God of Hezekiah will not save his people from me either." He wrote also letters to rail on the LORD God of Israel, and to speak against him, saying, As the gods of the nations of other lands have not delivered their people out of mine hand, so shall not the God of Hezekiah deliver his people out of mine hand.
18 Then the Assyrian officials shouted in the Hebrew language to the people of Jerusalem standing on the wall. They tried to scare them and make them panic so they could capture the city. Then they cried with a loud voice in the Jews' speech unto the people of Jerusalem that were on the wall, to affright them, and to trouble them; that they might take the city.
19 They talked about the God of Jerusalem like he was just another idol made by human hands. They treated him no differently than the gods of other nations. And they spake against the God of Jerusalem, as against the gods of the people of the earth, which were the work of the hands of man.
God Destroys the Assyrian Army
Study note
King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah prayed and cried out to heaven. The Lord sent an angel who destroyed all the mighty warriors, commanders, and officers in the Assyrian camp. Sennacherib returned home in disgrace, and his own sons murdered him in the temple of his god. After this, many nations brought gifts to the Lord and to Hezekiah, and his reputation soared.
20 King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz cried out to heaven in prayer about this. And for this cause Hezekiah the king, and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz, prayed and cried to heaven.
21 The Lord sent an angel who wiped out all the mighty warriors, commanders, and officers in the Assyrian army camp. So Sennacherib went home in total shame. When he entered the temple of his own god, some of his own sons killed him there with a sword. And the LORD sent an angel, which cut off all the mighty men of valour, and the leaders and captains in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he was come into the house of his god, they that came forth of his own bowels slew him there with the sword.
22 In this way, the Lord rescued Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem from King Sennacherib of Assyria and from all other enemies. He gave them peace all around. Thus the LORD saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and from the hand of all other, and guided them on every side.
23 Many people brought gifts to the Lord in Jerusalem and expensive presents to King Hezekiah. From that time on, all the nations held him in high respect. And many brought gifts unto the LORD to Jerusalem, and presents to Hezekiah king of Judah: so that he was magnified in the sight of all nations from thenceforth.
Hezekiah's Later Years and Death
Study note
Hezekiah became seriously ill and prayed to the Lord, who healed him and gave him a miraculous sign. But Hezekiah's heart became proud, and God's wrath threatened Judah. When he humbled himself, the wrath was delayed. Hezekiah accumulated enormous wealth. When envoys from Babylon came to inquire about the miraculous sign, God left him to test him and see what was in his heart. Hezekiah died and was buried in the most honored place among the royal tombs. His son Manasseh became king after him.
24 Around that time, Hezekiah became very sick and was close to death. He prayed to the Lord, and God answered him with a miraculous sign. In those days Hezekiah was sick to the death, and prayed unto the LORD: and he spake unto him, and he gave him a sign.
25 But Hezekiah became proud and did not respond the right way to the kindness God had shown him. So God's anger threatened him and all of Judah and Jerusalem. But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem.
26 Then Hezekiah humbled himself and turned from his pride, and so did the people of Jerusalem. So the Lord's anger did not fall on them while Hezekiah was alive. Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah.
27 Hezekiah became enormously wealthy and honored. He built storage rooms for silver, gold, precious stones, spices, shields, and all kinds of valuable items. And Hezekiah had exceeding much riches and honour: and he made himself treasuries for silver, and for gold, and for precious stones, and for spices, and for shields, and for all manner of pleasant jewels;
28 He also built buildings to store grain, wine, and olive oil. He made stalls for all kinds of cattle and pens for sheep. Storehouses also for the increase of corn, and wine, and oil; and stalls for all manner of beasts, and cotes for flocks.
29 He built up many cities and acquired large flocks and herds, because God had given him tremendous wealth. Moreover he provided him cities, and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance: for God had given him substance very much.
30 It was Hezekiah who blocked the upper outlet of the Gihon spring and sent the water flowing down to the west side of the City of David. Hezekiah succeeded in everything he did. This same Hezekiah also stopped the upper watercourse of Gihon, and brought it straight down to the west side of the city of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all his works.
31 But then Babylon's officials came. They asked about the sign that had happened in the land. God stepped back from Hezekiah. He did this to test him and see what was in his heart. Howbeit in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to inquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart.
32 Everything else about Hezekiah's rule and his acts of devotion are written down. They are in the vision of the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz and in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and his goodness, behold, they are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, and in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
33 When Hezekiah died, he was buried in the upper area of the royal tombs of David's descendants. Everyone in Judah and Jerusalem honored him at his death. His son Manasseh became the next king. And Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the chiefest of the sepulchres of the sons of David: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honour at his death. And Manasseh his son reigned in his stead.
Key Themes
Themes in 2 Chronicles 32
Trusting God when powerful enemies threatenEncouragement in the face of intimidationGod defends His people against blasphemersHumility after divine deliverance
Prophetic Connections
How this chapter points to Christ
2 Chronicles 32:7-8 1 John 4:4
Hezekiah's encouragement that God's presence is greater than any enemy resonates with John's assurance: 'Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.'
Apply This Today
Living 2 Chronicles 32
Hezekiah told the people, 'With Him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and fight our battles.' When you face threatening situations, remember that the power behind you is infinitely greater than the power against you.
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