2 Chronicles 32:11

KJV

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?

KJV (with Strong's)

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}?

Complete Jewish Bible

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"?

Berean Standard Bible

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?’

American Standard Version

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?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
2 Chronicles 32:11 captures a critical moment of psychological warfare during the Assyrian siege of Jerusalem, where King Sennacherib's envoys, through a manipulative rhetorical question, attempt to undermine King Hezekiah's leadership and the people's faith. This verse portrays Sennacherib's strategy to sow doubt and fear by suggesting that Hezekiah's call to trust in the Lord for deliverance is a deceptive path leading inevitably to death by famine and thirst, thereby challenging the very foundation of Judah's hope and seeking to compel their surrender without further military engagement.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within the dramatic narrative of Sennacherib's invasion of Judah in 701 BCE, as recounted in [2 Chronicles 32](/2_chronicles/32 "2 Chronicles 32 - Sennacherib's Invasion and God's Deliverance"), with parallel accounts in [2 Kings 18-19](/2_kings/18 "2 Kings 18 - Hezekiah's Reign and Assyrian Invasion") and [Isaiah 36-37](/isaiah/36 "Isaiah 36 - Sennacherib's Invasion of Judah"). Following Hezekiah's diligent preparations for the siege—including strengthening the city's defenses, securing water sources, and encouraging his people to be strong and courageous, reminding them that "with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles" ([2 Chronicles 32:7-8](/2_chronicles/32-7-8 "2 Chronicles 32:7-8 - Hezekiah's Encouragement"))—Sennacherib escalates his assault from military might to psychological warfare. The message in verse 11 directly follows Sennacherib's initial boastful challenge in [2 Chronicles 32:10](/2_chronicles/32-10 "2 Chronicles 32:10 - Sennacherib's Arrogant Challenge"), where he questioned Yahweh's ability to deliver Jerusalem. This verse serves as a direct, insidious attempt to break the people's morale and trust, setting the stage for Hezekiah's fervent prayer and God's miraculous intervention.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The late 8th century BCE was dominated by the Neo-Assyrian Empire, an unparalleled military power renowned for its brutal conquests, forced deportations, and sophisticated psychological warfare. Sennacherib's campaign against Judah in 701 BCE was part of his broader effort to reassert control over rebellious vassal states in the Levant. He had already devastated numerous fortified cities of Judah, culminating in the siege of Jerusalem. Assyrian military doctrine often incorporated public taunts and propaganda, delivered in the local language by high-ranking officials (like the Rabshakeh), to demoralize the enemy and encourage surrender, thereby minimizing the cost and duration of prolonged sieges. The threat of "famine and thirst" was not a mere rhetorical flourish but a terrifying and common reality of ancient sieges, making Sennacherib's words particularly potent and designed to exploit the deepest, most primal fears of the besieged population.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully illustrates several crucial themes. Firstly, **Psychological Warfare** is prominently displayed, showcasing the enemy's deliberate strategy to undermine leadership and faith not solely through military might but through fear, deception, and manipulation. Sennacherib aims to sever the bond of trust between Hezekiah and his people, and more importantly, between the people and their God. Secondly, **Faith Under Fire** is starkly presented, as Hezekiah's unwavering trust in God's deliverance is directly challenged by the Assyrian king's taunts. The people are confronted with a stark choice: surrender to the seemingly invincible Assyrians or face a gruesome death by starvation and thirst, despite Hezekiah's assurances of divine aid. This tests the very foundation of their belief in Yahweh's power and faithfulness, a challenge echoed in parallel accounts like [Isaiah 36:13-15](/isaiah/36-13-15 "Isaiah 36:13-15 - The Rabshakeh's Speech"). Thirdly, the theme of **Divine Sovereignty vs. Human Power** is central. Sennacherib's immense military power and past conquests are contrasted with Hezekiah's reliance on the unseen, yet omnipotent, power of God. The Assyrian king's boast seeks to prove that no god, including the Lord of Israel, could deliver His people from his hand, setting up the dramatic demonstration of God's ultimate supremacy that follows in [2 Chronicles 32:21-23](/2_chronicles/32-21-23 "2 Chronicles 32:21-23 - God's Deliverance of Jerusalem").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **"persuade" (Hebrew, _çûwth'_):** This verb, from the root H5496, carries the primary meaning "to prick," which figuratively extends to "stimulate," and by implication, "to seduce" or "entice." In this context, Sennacherib employs it to suggest that Hezekiah is not genuinely encouraging faith but rather cunningly misleading or seducing the people into a dangerous and ultimately fatal course of action. It implies a manipulative intent, portraying Hezekiah's call to trust God as a deceptive delusion that will lead to their demise.
* **"die" (Hebrew, _mûwth'_):** This primitive root (H4191) signifies "to die" literally or figuratively, and causatively, "to kill." In the phrase "to die by famine and by thirst," it vividly describes the horrific and slow death that was a common and terrifying consequence of prolonged sieges in the ancient world. Sennacherib's explicit mention of these agonizing forms of death is designed to maximize fear and despair, making the alternative of surrender seem merciful by comparison. It is a direct assault on the most basic human needs for survival.
* **"deliver" (Hebrew, _nâtsal'_):** This primitive root (H5337) means "to snatch away," "rescue," or "save," whether in a good or bad sense. It is the core of Hezekiah's promise to the people and the very thing Sennacherib mocks. The Assyrian king's rhetorical question implies that Yahweh (H3068) is utterly incapable of performing this act of rescue, thereby challenging the very nature and power of Israel's God (H430) and His ability to save His people from the hand (H3709) of the king (H4428) of Assyria (H804).

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Doth not Hezekiah persuade you":** This clause functions as a rhetorical question, artfully crafted to elicit an obvious "yes" in the minds of the listeners. Sennacherib's envoys are not genuinely seeking information but rather planting a potent seed of doubt, subtly suggesting that Hezekiah's leadership is not only misguided but actively malicious, leading them astray through cunning manipulation.
* **"to give over yourselves to die by famine and by thirst":** This clause presents the grim and seemingly inevitable consequence of following Hezekiah's counsel. It frames trusting God as an act of self-destruction, a voluntary surrender to a horrific and agonizing death. The Assyrians are attempting to reframe Hezekiah's call to faith as a death sentence, starkly contrasting it with the perceived "life" and relief that surrender to Assyria would supposedly offer.
* **"saying, The LORD our God shall deliver us out of the hand of the king of Assyria?":** This is the direct quote of Hezekiah's message, presented by Sennacherib's envoys with palpable derision and contempt. It highlights the direct challenge to Yahweh's power and faithfulness. Sennacherib's implication is that Hezekiah's promise of divine deliverance is a hollow, empty boast, completely out of touch with the overwhelming reality of Assyrian military might and their track record of conquering other nations' gods.

#### Literary Devices
The verse effectively employs several literary devices to achieve its persuasive and manipulative purpose. The most prominent is the **Rhetorical Question**, "Doth not Hezekiah persuade you...?", which is not designed to solicit an answer but to implant a specific, negative idea—that Hezekiah is deceitful and leading them to ruin—directly into the minds of the listeners. This device is a cornerstone of **Psychological Warfare**, aiming to demoralize and divide the besieged population by undermining their trust in their leader and their God. There is also a strong element of **Irony**, as Sennacherib's boastful dismissal of Yahweh's power will ultimately be proven false by God's miraculous deliverance, turning the Assyrian king's taunts back on himself. The verse also relies on **Contrast**, setting the Assyrian king's overwhelming human power and cynical pragmatism against Hezekiah's reliance on divine power and spiritual faith. The stark imagery of "famine and thirst" serves as a powerful form of **Pathos**, appealing directly to the basic human instinct for survival and fear of suffering to sway the people towards surrender.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse profoundly underscores the perennial spiritual battle between faith and fear, divine promise and human threat. It highlights how the enemy, whether spiritual or physical, often seeks to undermine our trust in God by presenting dire circumstances and questioning God's ability or willingness to deliver. Sennacherib's taunt is a direct challenge to God's covenant faithfulness and His absolute sovereignty over all nations and their rulers. The dramatic narrative that follows in [2 Chronicles 32](/2_chronicles/32 "2 Chronicles 32 - God's Deliverance of Jerusalem") powerfully demonstrates that God is indeed able to deliver His people, not by human strength or military might, but by His own miraculous power, thereby vindicating His name and proving His supremacy over all earthly kings and their gods. This divine intervention serves as a powerful reminder that God's promises are trustworthy, even when circumstances seem overwhelmingly bleak and human logic dictates otherwise, encouraging believers to place their confidence in Him alone.

* [Isaiah 36:16-18](/isaiah/36-16-18 "Isaiah 36:16-18 - The Rabshakeh's Taunts Against Jerusalem")
* [Psalm 20:7](/psalms/20-7 "Psalm 20:7 - Trust in the Name of the Lord")
* [Psalm 115:3](/psalms/115-3 "Psalm 115:3 - Our God is in the heavens")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
In our own lives, we frequently encounter "Sennacheribs"—voices, circumstances, or spiritual attacks that attempt to sow seeds of doubt, fear, and despair, challenging our trust in God's promises and His ability to deliver. These voices might manifest as overwhelming financial difficulties, debilitating health crises, painful relational breakdowns, or even the subtle whispers of our own anxieties and insecurities. Just as Sennacherib tried to reframe Hezekiah's call to faith as a path to destruction, so too does the enemy attempt to distort the truth of God's Word, making obedience seem foolish or dangerously naive. This verse calls us to cultivate spiritual discernment, enabling us to recognize and resist these manipulative voices. It compels us to remember God's proven faithfulness throughout history, to anchor ourselves in His unchanging character, and to hold fast to His promises, even when immediate circumstances seem overwhelmingly dire and human strength is utterly insufficient. Our ultimate deliverance comes not from capitulating to fear or human reasoning but from steadfastly trusting in the Lord, who remains our unfailing refuge and strength in every time of trouble.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "voices" or circumstances in your life currently attempt to undermine your trust in God's provision or promises, similar to Sennacherib's taunts against Hezekiah?**
* **How can you actively discern between genuine wisdom and manipulative fear-mongering, especially when your faith is challenged by external pressures or internal doubts?**
* **In what specific ways does Hezekiah's courageous response to Sennacherib (as seen in the broader narrative of [2 Chronicles 32](/2_chronicles/32 "2 Chronicles 32 - Hezekiah's Faith and God's Deliverance")) encourage your own perseverance in faith when faced with seemingly overwhelming odds?**

### FAQ
**What was Sennacherib's primary goal with this message?**

Answer:Sennacherib's primary goal with this message was to achieve Jerusalem's surrender without further costly and time-consuming military engagement. By employing psychological warfare, he aimed to demoralize the city's inhabitants, break their will to resist, and undermine their trust in both King Hezekiah and their God, Yahweh. He sought to create internal dissent and fear, making the prospect of continued resistance seem futile and leading them to believe that Hezekiah's call to faith was a deceptive path to death by starvation and thirst. His strategy was to avoid a full-scale assault on a well-fortified city, preferring to achieve victory through the power of his words, as seen in the broader context of [2 Chronicles 32](/2_chronicles/32 "2 Chronicles 32 - Sennacherib's Invasion and God's Deliverance").

**How did Hezekiah and the people respond to this psychological attack?**

Answer:Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem responded to this psychological attack with remarkable steadfastness, largely due to Hezekiah's leadership and unwavering faith. While the people were undoubtedly terrified, the text indicates that they "did not answer him a word" ([2 Kings 18:36](/2_kings/18-36 "2 Kings 18:36 - The People's Silence")), following Hezekiah's command not to engage with the taunts. Hezekiah himself, upon hearing the message, tore his clothes and went into the house of the Lord, sending for the prophet Isaiah. Together, Hezekiah and Isaiah prayed fervently to the Lord, laying the matter before Him ([2 Chronicles 32:20](/2_chronicles/32-20 "2 Chronicles 32:20 - Hezekiah and Isaiah Pray")). Their response was not one of panic or surrender, but of deep trust in God's ability to deliver, demonstrating that true faith stands firm even when faced with overwhelming threats and manipulative rhetoric.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The miraculous deliverance of Jerusalem from Sennacherib's siege, despite the enemy's taunts and the terrifying threat of "famine and thirst," powerfully foreshadows the ultimate and complete deliverance wrought by Jesus Christ. Sennacherib's arrogant boasts and his attempts to accuse and demoralize the people of God find their ultimate parallel in the deceptive strategies of Satan, "the accuser of our brothers" ([Revelation 12:10](/revelation/12-10 "Revelation 12:10 - The Accuser Cast Down")), who relentlessly seeks to undermine our faith and lead us to spiritual despair and death. Just as God miraculously intervened to defeat the Assyrian army with a single angel ([2 Kings 19:35](/2_kings/19-35 "2 Kings 19:35 - The Angel of the Lord Strikes the Assyrians")), so too did God intervene decisively in human history through the person of Jesus Christ to secure a far greater victory. Christ, as the true King and ultimate Deliverer, did not merely save His people from a physical siege but from the spiritual bondage of sin, death, and the devil. His triumph on the cross disarmed the spiritual powers that held humanity captive ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Triumph over Principalities and Powers")), and His resurrection sealed the victory over death itself ([1 Corinthians 15:54-57](/1_corinthians/15-54-57 "1 Corinthians 15:54-57 - Victory over Death and the Grave")). Moreover, the "famine and thirst" threatened by Sennacherib find their spiritual answer in Christ, who declared Himself the "Bread of Life" ([John 6:35](/john/6-35 "John 6:35 - Jesus, the Bread of Life")) and offered "living water" that quenches all spiritual thirst ([John 4:14](/john/4-14 "John 4:14 - Jesus, the Living Water")), providing eternal sustenance and true satisfaction for all who trust in Him.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

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.