2 Chronicles 32:11

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?

Doth not Hezekiah {H3169} persuade {H5496} you to give {H5414} over yourselves to die {H4191} by famine {H7458} and by thirst {H6772}, saying {H559}, The LORD {H3068} our God {H430} shall deliver {H5337} us out of the hand {H3709} of the king {H4428} of Assyria {H804}?

Hasn't Hizkiyahu deluded you? Isn't he condemning you to death by starvation and thirst when he says, "ADONAI our God will save us from the king of Ashur"?

Is not Hezekiah misleading you to give you over to death by famine and thirst when he says, ‘The LORD our God will deliver us from the hand of the king of Assyria?’

Doth not Hezekiah persuade you, to give you over to die by famine and by thirst, saying, Jehovah our God will deliver us out of the hand of the king of Assyria?

2 Chronicles 32:11 captures a pivotal moment during the Assyrian siege of Jerusalem, revealing the psychological warfare employed by King Sennacherib against King Hezekiah and the people of Judah.

Context

This verse is part of the defiant message sent by Sennacherib, the powerful king of Assyria, to the besieged citizens of Jerusalem. Having already conquered many fortified cities of Judah, Sennacherib aimed to break the morale of Jerusalem's inhabitants and their trust in King Hezekiah and, more importantly, in the Lord God. Hezekiah had earlier taken steps to prepare for the siege and had encouraged his people to be strong and courageous, for the Lord was with them. Sennacherib's words here, delivered by his commanders, were designed to sow doubt and fear, painting Hezekiah's call to faith as a path to death by starvation and thirst.

Key Themes

  • Psychological Warfare: The Assyrian tactic was not just military might but also a war of words, aiming to demoralize the defenders. This passage highlights the enemy's strategy to undermine leadership and faith through fear and manipulation.
  • Faith Under Fire: Hezekiah's unwavering trust in God's deliverance was directly challenged. The Assyrians presented a stark choice: surrender to them or face a gruesome death by famine and thirst under Hezekiah's leadership, despite his assurances of divine aid. This tests the very foundation of belief.
  • Divine Sovereignty vs. Human Power: Sennacherib's immense military power and past conquests are contrasted with Hezekiah's reliance on the unseen power of God. The Assyrian king sought to prove that no god, including the Lord of Israel, could deliver His people from his hand, a boast detailed in 2 Chronicles 32:10.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "persuade you to give over yourselves to die" emphasizes the manipulative nature of the Assyrian message. It frames Hezekiah's encouragement to trust in God as a deceptive ploy leading to self-destruction, rather than a path to salvation. The Assyrians mock the idea that "The LORD our God shall deliver us," viewing it as a hollow promise.

Significance and Application

This verse serves as a powerful reminder of how opposition often seeks to undermine faith through fear and doubt. Just as Sennacherib tried to sever the people's trust in God, believers today often face challenges that tempt them to question God's promises and His ability to deliver. The narrative that follows in 2 Chronicles 32:21 strikingly demonstrates God's ultimate power to deliver His people, even when circumstances seem dire and human strength is insufficient. It encourages us to hold fast to God's word, even when faced with overwhelming odds and discouraging voices, remembering that God is our refuge and strength.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Psalms 71:11

    Saying, God hath forsaken him: persecute and take him; for [there is] none to deliver [him].

  • Psalms 3:2

    Many [there be] which say of my soul, [There is] no help for him in God. Selah.

  • Isaiah 36:18

    [Beware] lest Hezekiah persuade you, saying, The LORD will deliver us. Hath any of the gods of the nations delivered his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria?

  • 2 Kings 18:27

    But Rabshakeh said unto them, Hath my master sent me to thy master, and to thee, to speak these words? [hath he] not [sent me] to the men which sit on the wall, that they may eat their own dung, and drink their own piss with you?

  • 2 Kings 19:10

    Thus shall ye speak to Hezekiah king of Judah, saying, Let not thy God in whom thou trustest deceive thee, saying, Jerusalem shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria.

  • 2 Kings 18:30

    Neither let Hezekiah make you trust in the LORD, saying, The LORD will surely deliver us, and this city shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria.

  • Psalms 22:8

    He trusted on the LORD [that] he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.

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