2 Chronicles 32 - International Standard Version (ISV)

Sennacherib Invades Judah(A)

32 After all of these acts of faithfulness occurred, King Sennacherib of Assyria came, invaded Judah, and laid siege to the fortified cities, thinking to conquer them for himself. 2 As soon as Hezekiah learned that Sennacherib had arrived and had determined to attack Jerusalem, 3 he developed a plan with his commanders and his elite forces to cut off the water supply from the springs that were outside the city, and they helped him to carry it out. 4 Many people gathered together and plugged up all the springs, along with the stream that flowed through the region. They were thinking to themselves, “Why should the Assyrian kings invade and discover an abundant water supply?”

5 Hezekiah took courage and rebuilt all of the walls that had been broken down. Then he erected watch towers on them, and added another external wall. He fortified the terrace ramparts[a] in the City of David and prepared a large number of weapons and shields. 6 He appointed military officers to take charge of the people, who gathered them together in the square near the city gate and spoke to them encouragingly, 7 “Be strong and courageous.[b] Don’t be afraid or disheartened because of the king of Assyria or because of the army that accompanies him, because the one who is with us is greater than the one with him. 8 He only has the strength of his own flesh, but the Lord our God is with us to help us and to fight our battles.” So the people were encouraged from what King Hezekiah of Judah told them.

Sennacherib Blasphemes God(B)

9 After this, King Sennacherib of Assyria sent his messengers to Jerusalem while he was in the middle of a vigorous attack on Lachish. They delivered this message to King Hezekiah of Judah and to all the people of Judah who had gathered in Jerusalem:

10 “This is what King Sennacherib of Assyria says: ‘What are you leaning on that makes you stay behind while Jerusalem comes under siege? 11 Isn’t Hezekiah lying to you so he can hand you over to die by famine and thirst? After all, he’s telling you “The Lord our God will deliver us from the king of Assyria’s control.”[c] 12 Isn’t this the very same Hezekiah who removed this god’s high places and altars? Isn’t this the same Hezekiah who[d] issued this order to Judah and Jerusalem: “You are to worship in front of only one altar and burn your sacrifices only on it.”? 13 Don’t you know what my predecessors[e] have done to all the other people in other lands? Were the gods of the people who lived in those lands able to deliver their countries out of my control?[f] 14 What god, out of all the gods of those nations that my predecessors[g] utterly destroyed, has been able to deliver his people from my control[h] or from the control[i] of my predecessors?[j] 15 Now therefore, don’t let Hezekiah lie to you or mislead you like this. Don’t believe him, because no god of any nation has been able to deliver his people from my control[k] or from the control[l] of my predecessors. So how much less will your God deliver you from me?’”[m]

16 King Sennacherib’s[n] spokesmen said even worse things against the Lord God and against his servant Hezekiah.

17 Sennacherib[o] also wrote letters like this that insulted and slandered the Lord God of Israel: “Just as the gods of the nations in other[p] lands haven’t delivered their people from my control,[q] so also the god of Hezekiah won’t deliver his people from me!”[r] 18 His spokesmen[s] shouted these things out with loud voices in the language of Judah to frighten and terrify the people of Jerusalem who were stationed on the city walls, to make it easier to conquer the city. 19 In doing so,[t] they spoke about the God of Jerusalem as if he were like the gods of the nations of the earth that are made by the hands of human beings.

Sennacherib is Defeated and Killed(C)

20 Meanwhile, King Hezekiah and Amoz’s son Isaiah the prophet were praying about this and crying out to heaven. 21 So the Lord sent an angel, who eliminated all of the elite forces, commanders, and officers within the encampment of the king of Assyria. As a result, he retreated to his own country, deeply ashamed and humiliated. When he visited the temple of his god, some of his sons killed him right there with swords. 22 That’s how the Lord delivered Hezekiah, as well as those who lived in Jerusalem, from Assyria’s King Sennacherib and all his forces, and provided for all of their needs.[u] 23 Many brought gifts to the Lord in Jerusalem and brought presents to King Hezekiah of Judah. As a result, he was exalted in the opinion of all nations thereafter.

Hezekiah’s Illness and Recovery(D)

24 During this time Hezekiah became critically ill, and he prayed to the Lord. The Lord spoke to him and gave him a sign.[v] 25 But Hezekiah’s response wasn’t commensurate with what had been done for him because he was arrogant in heart, so wrath came upon him, upon Judah, and upon Jerusalem. 26 But Hezekiah humbled himself while he was arrogant in heart, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem joined him in this. As a result, the Lord’s wrath did not come upon them during Hezekiah’s lifetime.

Hezekiah’s Wealth and Accomplishments(E)

27 Hezekiah received immense wealth and honor. He built treasuries for himself to store silver, gold, precious stones, spices, shields, and all sorts of valuable items, 28 along with storage facilities for grain, wine, oil, stalls for all sorts of cattle, and sheepfolds for his flocks. 29 He also built cities for himself and stored up flocks and herds in abundance, because God had given him great riches. 30 Hezekiah stopped up the upper outlet of the Gihon springs and diverted them down to the western side of the City of David. He prospered in everything he did.

Hezekiah’s Heart is Tested by God

31 Later on, envoys came from the princes of Babylon to inquire about the miracle that had happened in the land.[w] God left Hezekiah[x] to himself, so that he might make known[y] what was really in Hezekiah’s[z] heart. 32 Now the rest of Hezekiah’s accomplishments and his faithful deeds are recorded in the vision of Amoz’s son Isaiah the prophet, and in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel. 33 Hezekiah died, as had his fathers, and they buried him in the upper part of the tombs of the descendants of David. All of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem honored him at his death. But his son Manasseh reigned in his place.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 32:5 Lit. the Millo, fortified areas of ancient Jerusalem with terraces and retaining walls
  2. 2 Chronicles 32:7 Cf. Josh 1:7
  3. 2 Chronicles 32:11 Lit. hand
  4. 2 Chronicles 32:12 Lit. altars and
  5. 2 Chronicles 32:13 Lit. fathers
  6. 2 Chronicles 32:13 Lit. hand
  7. 2 Chronicles 32:14 Lit. fathers
  8. 2 Chronicles 32:14 Lit. hand
  9. 2 Chronicles 32:14 Lit. hand
  10. 2 Chronicles 32:14 Lit. fathers
  11. 2 Chronicles 32:15 Lit. hand
  12. 2 Chronicles 32:15 Lit. hand
  13. 2 Chronicles 32:15 Lit. from my hand
  14. 2 Chronicles 32:16 Lit. His
  15. 2 Chronicles 32:17 Lit. He
  16. 2 Chronicles 32:17 Lit. the
  17. 2 Chronicles 32:17 Lit. hand
  18. 2 Chronicles 32:17 Lit. from my hand
  19. 2 Chronicles 32:18 Lit. They
  20. 2 Chronicles 32:19 The Heb. lacks In doing so
  21. 2 Chronicles 32:22 Or and guided them on every side
  22. 2 Chronicles 32:24 Cf. Isa 38:7-8
  23. 2 Chronicles 32:31 I.e. the miracle recorded in Isa 38:7-8 and alluded to in v. 24
  24. 2 Chronicles 32:31 Lit. him
  25. 2 Chronicles 32:31 Or know
  26. 2 Chronicles 32:31 Lit. his

Cross references

  1. 2 Chronicles 32:1 : 2 Kings 18:13-19:34; Isaiah 36:2-22
  2. 2 Chronicles 32:9 : 2 Kings 18:17-37
  3. 2 Chronicles 32:20 : 2 Kings 19:35-37
  4. 2 Chronicles 32:24 : 2 Kings 20:1-11; Isaiah 38:1-8
  5. 2 Chronicles 32:27 : 2 Kings 20:12-21; Isaiah 39:1-8

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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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