OET-RV 2 CHR Chapter 32

32 After all those acts of faithfulness, the Assyrian King Sennacherib (Heb. Sanheriv) invaded Yehudah. He besieged the fortified cities and prepared to capture them for himself. 2 When King Hizkiyah saw the Sennacherib had entered the country and clearly intended to attack Yerushalem, 3 he consulted with his officials and army leaders about blocking up the springs outside the city, and they helped him. 4 Many people gathered and blocked the springs from feeding the stream that flowed through the area, saying, “Why should the Assyrian kings come and find plenty of water?” 5 Then he strengthened his fortifications, repairing broken sections of the wall, and built towers and an outer wall. He strengthened the supporting wall on the east side of ‘The City of David’. He also manufactured many weapons and shields, 6 and he appointed army commanders and assembled them at the plaza by the city gate, and encouraged them with these words, 7 “Be strong and be courageous. Don’t be scared or discouraged because of the Assyrian king, or by his massive army, because we have someone on our side who’s more powerful than him. 8 They can only rely on human strength, but we have our god Yahweh to help us and fight our battles for us.” So the people took strength from King Hizkiyah’s encouragement.

9 Later, when Assyrian King Sennacherib with his army was surrounding Lakish city, he sent some servants to Yerushalem to Yehudah’s King Hizkiyah and all the residents, saying, 10 “I Sennacherib, the king of Assyria am asking what you’re all trusting in as you’re remaining there in Yerushalem while it’s besieged? 11 Hizkiyah tells you, ‘Our god Yahweh will rescue us from the Assyrian king,’ but he’s misleading you and you’ll all die of hunger and thirst! 12 Wasn’t it Hizkiyah who removed his hilltop shrines and his altars, and told the people of Yerushalem and all Yehudah, telling you all to only bow down at one altar and offer sacrifices on it. 13 Don’t you people know what my ancestors and I have done to the peoples from other countries? Were any of their gods able to save them from me? 14 Which one out of the gods of those nations which my ancestors destroyed shows a precedent that your god can rescue anyone from me? 15 So don’t let Hizkiyah deceive you or mislead you like this. Don’t believe him because no god of any nation or kingdom has been able to save his people from my ancestors or from me. So your god certainly won’t be able to protect you from my army.

16 Then Sennacherib’s servants said even more against the god Yahweh, and against his servant Hizkiyah, 17 plus he wrote letters insulting Yisrael’s god Yahweh and speaking against him, writing, “Just like the gods of the other nations couldn’t save their people from me, so too Hizkiyah’s god won’t be able to protect his people from my strength.” 18 Then the Assyrians shouted loud threats in Hebrew to the people of Yerushalem who were on the wall to try to frighten and terrify them so they could capture the city—19 telling them Yerushalem’s god was just another god made by people and just as useless as the gods of other countries.

20 Then King Hizkiyah and Yeshayah (son of the prophet Amots) called out to the heavens requesting God’s help, 21 and Yahweh sent a messenger who destroyed the powerful warriors, and the leaders and chiefs in the Assyrian army, and then their king had to return home in shame. When he went into the temple of his god, some of his sons ran him through with a sword.

22 So that’s how Yahweh saved Hizkiyah and Yerushalem’s inhabitants from the Assyrian King Sennacherib, and from the power of other nations, and he gave them peace on all sides. 23 Many people came to Yerushalem to bring offerings for Yahweh and valuable gifts for Yehudah’s King Hizkiyah, and after all that, he was highly respected by the other nations.

24 Some time afterwards, King Hizkiyah became very sick and was expected to die, but he prayed to Yahweh and Yahweh answered him with a miracle. 25 However, Hizkiyah was very proud and didn’t thank Yahweh, so his anger fell on Yerushalem and Yehudah. 26 Then Hezekiah and Yerushalem’s inhabitants humbled themselves, and so Yahweh’s anger didn’t affect them during Hizkiyah’s lifetime.

27 King Hizkiyah had become vert wealthy, and he was highly respected. He established treasuries for gold and silver, for gemstones and spices, and for shields and other valuable things, 28 as well as storehouses for grain, wine, and olive oil, and stalls for all kinds of livestock and his flocks. 29 He built cities for himself, and acquired large numbers of sheep and goats, and also cattle, because God had made him very prosperous.

30 Hizkiyah blocked off the upper outlet at the Gihon spring and directed the water down the western side of ‘The City of David’. All his projects were successful, 31 and so when the Babylonian leaders sent messengers to ask about the miracle that had been done in the country, God left him alone to test him and see what he really believed.

32 The record of all the other things done by Hizkiyah while he was king, including his loyal commitment, was written on the scroll ‘The kings of Yehudah and Yisrael’. 33 Then Hizkiyah died and was buried in the upper tombs with David’s other descendants, and everyone in Yerushalem and across Yehudah honoured him. Then his son Menashsheh replaced him as king.