2 Chronicles 32:4

So there was gathered much people together, who stopped all the fountains, and the brook that ran through the midst of the land, saying, Why should the kings of Assyria come, and find much water?

So there was gathered {H6908} much {H7227} people {H5971} together {H6908}, who stopped {H5640} all the fountains {H4599}, and the brook {H5158} that ran {H7857} through the midst {H8432} of the land {H776}, saying {H559}, Why should the kings {H4428} of Assyria {H804} come {H935}, and find {H4672} much {H7227} water {H4325}?

a large crowd was gathered to block all the springs and the stream flowing through the countryside. They reasoned, "Why should the kings of Ashur come and find an ample supply of water?"

Many people assembled and stopped up all the springs and the stream that flowed through the land. “Why should the kings of Assyria come and find plenty of water?” they said.

So there was gathered much people together, and they stopped all the fountains, and the brook that flowed through the midst of the land, saying, Why should the kings of Assyria come, and find much water?

2 Chronicles 32:4 details a crucial defensive measure taken by King Hezekiah and the people of Judah in anticipation of the Assyrian invasion led by Sennacherib. This verse describes their strategic decision to cut off water supplies to the invading army, a vital tactic in ancient warfare.

Historical and Cultural Context

This verse is set against the backdrop of King Hezekiah's reign in Judah, particularly after his extensive religious reforms, which are believed to have provoked the wrath of Assyria, the dominant superpower of the time. As Sennacherib, King of Assyria, began his invasion of Judah, capturing fortified cities, Hezekiah recognized the imminent threat to Jerusalem. Water was the lifeblood of any ancient city, and conversely, its absence was the greatest weakness for besieging armies. By stopping up all the fountains and the brook (likely referring to the Gihon Spring and its overflow, which fed the Kidron Valley), Hezekiah aimed to deprive the vast Assyrian forces of essential water, thereby weakening their siege capabilities and protecting Jerusalem's own supply.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Prudent Preparation: Hezekiah's actions demonstrate wise and proactive leadership. He didn't passively wait but took practical steps to defend his kingdom, understanding the vital role of resources like water in warfare.
  • Strategic Defense: The act of "stopping all the fountains" was a brilliant military tactic. It aimed to make the land uninhabitable for the enemy forces, forcing them to either retreat or suffer severe dehydration, a common cause of defeat for large armies.
  • Unified Effort: The phrase "much people together" highlights the community's collective effort and cooperation under Hezekiah's direction, showcasing a unified response to a national crisis.
  • Resourcefulness: Faced with a superior military power, Judah resorted to ingenious methods to counteract the Assyrian advantage, demonstrating their adaptability and determination.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "stopped all the fountains" uses the Hebrew verb sāṯam (סָתַם), meaning "to stop up," "to close," or "to block." This term conveys a decisive and thorough action, indicating that the water sources were completely sealed or diverted to prevent access. The "brook that ran through the midst of the land" likely refers to the natural flow from the Gihon Spring, which Hezekiah famously diverted into the Siloam Tunnel to secure Jerusalem's water supply within the city walls during the siege (as mentioned in 2 Kings 20:20 and 2 Chronicles 32:30).

Practical Application

This verse offers valuable lessons for believers today. While we are called to trust in God's ultimate deliverance, as Hezekiah himself exhorted his people in 2 Chronicles 32:7-8, it also underscores the importance of human diligence, wisdom, and preparation. We are to use the wisdom and resources God provides to address challenges and threats. This involves strategic planning, taking proactive measures, and working together in unity. It's a reminder that faith does not negate the need for practical effort, but rather empowers and guides it.

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.

  • 2 Chronicles 32:30

    This same Hezekiah also stopped the upper watercourse of Gihon, and brought it straight down to the west side of the city of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all his works.

  • 2 Kings 20:20

    And the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and all his might, and how he made a pool, and a conduit, and brought water into the city, [are] they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

  • Isaiah 10:8

    For he saith, [Are] not my princes altogether kings?

  • 1 Kings 3:9

    Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?

  • 2 Kings 18:9

    ¶ And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Hezekiah, which [was] the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, [that] Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria, and besieged it.

  • 2 Kings 19:17

    Of a truth, LORD, the kings of Assyria have destroyed the nations and their lands,

  • 1 Kings 3:16

    ¶ Then came there two women, [that were] harlots, unto the king, and stood before him.

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