Sennacherib Invades Judah

(2 Kings 18:13–16, Psalm 46:1–11)

After all these acts of faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah. He laid siege to the fortified cities, intending to conquer them for himself.

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When Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come to make war against Jerusalem, 3 he consulted with his leaders and mighty men about stopping up the waters of the springs outside the city, and they helped him carry it out. 4 Many people assembled and stopped up all the springs and the stream that flowed through the land.“Why should the kings[fn] of Assyria come and find plenty of water?” they said.

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Then Hezekiah worked resolutely to rebuild all the broken sections of the wall and to raise up towers [on it]. [He also built] an outer wall and reinforced the supporting terraces[fn] of the City of David, and he produced an abundance of weapons and shields.

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Hezekiah appointed military commanders over the people and gathered the people in the square of the city gate. Then he encouraged them, saying, 7 “Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged before the king of Assyria [and] the vast army with him, for there is a greater [One] with us than with him. 8 With him [is only] the arm of flesh,[fn] but with us [is] the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles.”

So the people were strengthened by the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.

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