2 Chronicles 32 - Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

Sennacherib’s Invasion

32 After Hezekiah’s faithful deeds, King Sennacherib of Assyria came and entered Judah. He laid siege to the fortified cities and intended[a] to break into them.(A) 2 Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come and that he planned[b] war on Jerusalem, 3 so he consulted with his officials and his warriors about stopping up the water of the springs that were outside the city, and they helped him. 4 Many people gathered and stopped up all the springs(B) and the stream that flowed through the land;(C) they said, “Why should the kings of Assyria come and find abundant water?” 5 Then Hezekiah strengthened his position by rebuilding the entire broken-down wall(D) and heightening the towers and the other outside wall.(E) He repaired the supporting terraces(F) of the city of David, and made an abundance of weapons and shields.

6 He set military commanders over the people and gathered the people in the square of the city gate. Then he encouraged them,[c](G) saying, 7 “Be strong and courageous!(H) Don’t be afraid or discouraged before the king of Assyria or before the large army that is with him, for there are more with us than with him.(I) 8 He has only human strength,[d] but we have the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.”(J) So the people relied on the words of King Hezekiah of Judah.

Sennacherib’s Servant’s Speech

9 After this,(K) while King Sennacherib of Assyria with all his armed forces besieged[e] Lachish, he sent his servants to Jerusalem against King Hezekiah of Judah and against all those of Judah who were in Jerusalem, saying, 10 “This is what King Sennacherib of Assyria says: ‘What are you relying on that you remain in Jerusalem under siege? 11 Isn’t Hezekiah misleading you to give you over to death by famine and thirst when he says, “The Lord our God will keep us from the grasp of the king of Assyria”? 12 Didn’t Hezekiah himself remove his high places and his altars(L) and say to Judah and Jerusalem, “You must worship before one altar, and you must burn incense on it”?

13 “‘Don’t you know(M) what I and my predecessors have done to all the peoples of the lands? Have any of the national gods of the lands been able to rescue their land from my power? 14 Who among all the gods of these nations that my predecessors completely destroyed was able to rescue his people from my power, that your God should be able to deliver you from my power?(N) 15 So now,(O) don’t let Hezekiah deceive you, and don’t let him mislead you like this. Don’t believe him, for no god of any nation or kingdom has been able to rescue his people from my power or the power of my predecessors. How much less will your God rescue you from my power!’”

16 His servants said more against the Lord God and against his servant Hezekiah. 17 He also wrote letters to mock the Lord, the God of Israel, saying against him:

Just like the national gods of the lands that did not rescue their people from my power, so Hezekiah’s God will not rescue his people from my power.(P)

18 Then they called out loudly in Hebrew[f] to the people of Jerusalem, who were on the wall, to frighten and discourage them in order that he might capture the city. 19 They spoke against the God of Jerusalem like they had spoken against the gods of the peoples of the earth, which were made by human hands.

Deliverance from Sennacherib

20 King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz prayed about this and cried out to heaven,(Q) 21 and the Lord sent an angel who annihilated every valiant warrior, leader, and commander in the camp of the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria returned in disgrace to his land. He went to the temple of his god, and there some of his own children struck him down with the sword.(R)

22 So the Lord saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the power of King Sennacherib of Assyria and from the power of all others. He gave them rest[g](S) on every side. 23 Many were bringing an offering to the Lord to Jerusalem and valuable gifts to King Hezekiah of Judah, and he was exalted in the eyes of all the nations after that.(T)

Hezekiah’s Illness and Pride

24 In those days Hezekiah became sick to the point of death, so he prayed to the Lord, who spoke to him and gave him a miraculous sign.(U) 25 However, because his heart was proud,(V) Hezekiah didn’t respond according to the benefit that had come to him. So there was wrath on him, Judah, and Jerusalem.(W) 26 Then Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart—he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem—so the Lord’s wrath didn’t come(X) on them during Hezekiah’s lifetime.(Y)

Hezekiah’s Wealth and Works

27 Hezekiah had abundant riches and glory, and he made himself treasuries for silver, gold, precious stones, spices, shields, and every desirable item. 28 He made warehouses for the harvest of grain, new wine, and fresh oil, and stalls for all kinds of cattle, and pens for flocks. 29 He made cities for himself, and he acquired vast numbers of flocks and herds, for God gave him abundant possessions.

30 This same Hezekiah blocked the upper outlet of the water from the Gihon Spring(Z) and channeled it smoothly downward and westward to the city of David.(AA) Hezekiah succeeded in everything he did. 31 When the ambassadors of Babylon’s rulers(AB) were sent[h] to him to inquire about the miraculous sign(AC) that happened in the land, God left him to test him and discover what was in his heart.(AD)

Hezekiah’s Death

32 As for the rest of the events(AE) of Hezekiah’s reign and his deeds of faithful love, note that they are written in the Visions of the Prophet Isaiah son of Amoz,(AF) and in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.(AG) 33 Hezekiah rested with his ancestors and was buried on the ascent to the tombs of David’s descendants. All Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem paid him honor at his death. His son Manasseh became king in his place.

Footnotes

  1. 32:1 Lit said to himself
  2. 32:2 Lit that his face was for
  3. 32:6 Lit he spoke to their hearts
  4. 32:8 Lit With him an arm of flesh
  5. 32:9 Lit with his dominion was against
  6. 32:18 Lit Judahite
  7. 32:22 Lit He led them; Ps 23:2
  8. 32:31 LXX, Tg, Vg; MT reads of Babylon sent

Cross references

  1. 32:1 : 2Kg 18:13; Is 36:1
  2. 32:4 : 2Kg 20:20
  3. 32:4 : 2Ch 32:30
  4. 32:5 : 2Ch 25:23
  5. 32:5 : 2Kg 25:4
  6. 32:5 : 2Sm 5:9; 1Kg 9:15
  7. 32:6 : 2Ch 30:22
  8. 32:7 : Dt 31:6; Jos 1:6–9; 10:25; 1Ch 22:13; Ps 31:24
  9. 32:7 : 2Kg 6:16; 1Jn 4:4
  10. 32:8 : 2Ch 20:17; Is 31:3; Jr 17:5
  11. 32:9–12 : 2Kg 18:17–22; Is 36:2–7
  12. 32:12 : 2Ch 31:1
  13. 32:13–14 : 2Kg 18:33–35; Is 36:18–20
  14. 32:14 : Is 10:9–11
  15. 32:15–18 : 2Kg 18:28–30; Is 36:13–15
  16. 32:17 : 2Ch 32:14
  17. 32:20 : 2Kg 19:15; Is 37:15–16
  18. 32:21 : 2Kg 19:35–37; Is 37:36–38
  19. 32:22 : Ps 23:2
  20. 32:23 : 2Sm 8:10; 2Ch 9:23–24
  21. 32:24 : 2Kg 20:1–3,8–11; Is 38:1–3,7–8
  22. 32:25 : 2Ch 26:16; 32:31
  23. 32:25 : 2Ch 24:18
  24. 32:26 : Jr 26:18–19
  25. 32:26 : 2Kg 20:18–19; Is 39:7–8
  26. 32:30 : 1Kg 1:33
  27. 32:30 : 2Kg 20:20
  28. 32:31 : 2Kg 20:12; Is 39:1
  29. 32:31 : 2Ch 32:24
  30. 32:31 : Dt 8:2; 13:3
  31. 32:32–33 : 2Kg 20:20–21
  32. 32:32 : Is 36:1–39:8
  33. 32:32 : 2Kg 18:9–20:19

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2 Chronicles 32 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

32 After these things and this truth, come hath Sennacherib king of Asshur, yea, he cometh in to Judah, and encampeth against the cities of the bulwarks, and saith to rend them unto himself. 2 And Hezekiah seeth that Sennacherib hath come, and his face [is] to the battle against Jerusalem, 3 and he ...
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2 Chronicles 32 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

32 After which things and such truth (After these things and such loyalty, or such faithfulness), Sennacherib, the king of Assyrians, came and entered into Judah; and he besieged (the) strong cities, and would take those. 2 And when Hezekiah had heard this thing, that is, that Sennacherib had come, ...
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2 Chronicles 32 - World English Bible (WEB)

32 After these things and this faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came, entered into Judah, and encamped against the fortified cities, and intended to win them for himself. 2 When Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come, and that he was planning to fight against Jerusalem, 3 he took counsel ...
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2 Chronicles 32 - The Voice (VOICE)

Typically, kings’ good and faithful works before God are rewarded with peace and prosperity. But not Hezekiah’s. His devotion to God is tested with an invasion by the most powerful army in the world—the Assyrian Empire, led by Sennacherib. Sennacherib is not just another bully coming to take the tem...
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2 Chronicles 32 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Assyrian’s Failed Seige of Jerusalem32 After these acts of faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah. He encamped against the fortified cities, intending to break into them for himself. 2 When Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come and intended to wage war against Jerusalem, ...
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2 Chronicles 32 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Sennacherib’s Invasion32 After 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. 2 And when Hezeki′ah saw that Sennach′erib had come and intended to fight against Jerusalem, 3...
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2 Chronicles 32 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Sennacherib’s Invasion32 After these things and these acts of faithfulness, King Sennacherib of Assyria came and invaded Judah and encamped against the fortified cities, thinking to win them for himself.(A)2 When Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come and intended to fight against Jerusalem, 3 he pl...
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2 Chronicles 32 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Assyria Invades Judah32 After Hezekiah had faithfully carried out this work, King Sennacherib of Assyria invaded Judah. He laid siege to the fortified towns, giving orders for his army to break through their walls. 2 When Hezekiah realized that Sennacherib also intended to attack Jerusalem, 3 he con...
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2 Chronicles 32 - New Life Version (NLV)

Sennacherib Speaks against the Lord32 After these faithful acts, King Sennacherib of Assyria came to fight against Judah. His army gathered around the strong cities. He thought he would take them for himself. 2 When Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come to fight against Jerusalem, 3 he planned wi...
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2 Chronicles 32 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Sennacherib Boasts Against the Lord(A)32 After (B)these deeds of faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and entered Judah; he encamped against the fortified cities, thinking to win them over to himself. 2 And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come, and that his purpose was to make war ...
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2 Chronicles 32 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Sennacherib threatens Jerusalem32 After all that Hezekiah had so faithfully done, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah. He laid siege to the fortified cities, thinking to conquer them for himself. 2 When Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come and that he intended to wage war against J...
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2 Chronicles 32 - New International Version (NIV)

Sennacherib Threatens Jerusalem(A)(B)32 After all that Hezekiah had so faithfully done, Sennacherib(C) king of Assyria came and invaded Judah. He laid siege to the fortified cities, thinking to conquer them for himself. 2 When Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come and that he intended to wage war a...
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2 Chronicles 32 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

Sennacherib Warns Jerusalem32 Hezekiah had been completely faithful to the Lord. However, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and marched into Judah. Sennacherib surrounded the cities that had high walls around them. He got ready to attack them. He thought he could win the battle over them. He thought ...
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2 Chronicles 32 - New English Translation (NET)

Sennacherib Invades Judah32 After these faithful deeds were accomplished, King Sennacherib of Assyria invaded Judah. He besieged the fortified cities, intending to seize them.[a] 2 When Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had invaded and intended to attack Jerusalem,[b] 3 he consulted with his advisers ...
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