2 Chronicles 32:9

KJV

¶ After this did Sennacherib king of Assyria send his servants to Jerusalem, (but he [himself laid siege] against Lachish, and all his power with him,) unto Hezekiah king of Judah, and unto all Judah that [were] at Jerusalem, saying,

KJV (with Strong's)

After {H310} this did Sennacherib {H5576} king {H4428} of Assyria {H804} send {H7971} his servants {H5650} to Jerusalem {H3389},(but he himself laid siege against Lachish {H3923}, and all his power {H4475} with him,) unto Hezekiah {H3169} king {H4428} of Judah {H3063}, and unto all Judah {H3063} that were at Jerusalem {H3389}, saying {H559},

Complete Jewish Bible

After this, while Sancheriv and all his army were besieging Lakhish, he sent his envoys to Yerushalayim, to Hizkiyahu king of Y'hudah and to all Y'hudah who were there in Yerushalayim, with this message:

Berean Standard Bible

Later, as Sennacherib king of Assyria and all his forces besieged Lachish, he sent his servants to Jerusalem with a message for King Hezekiah of Judah and all the people of Judah who were in Jerusalem:

American Standard Version

After this did Sennacherib king of Assyria send his servants to Jerusalem (now he was before Lachish, and all his power with him), unto Hezekiah king of Judah, and unto all Judah that were at Jerusalem, saying,

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Second Chronicles 32:9 marks a critical juncture in the narrative of King Hezekiah's reign, immediately following his diligent preparations for Jerusalem's defense against the impending Assyrian invasion. This verse details the strategic maneuver by Sennacherib, the formidable king of Assyria, who, while personally engaged in the siege of the crucial city of Lachish, dispatched his envoys to Jerusalem. Their mission was to deliver a demoralizing message to King Hezekiah and the entire populace of Judah, initiating a calculated psychological assault designed to break their will before any direct military engagement, thereby setting the stage for a profound test of faith and the ultimate demonstration of divine intervention.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse functions as a pivotal narrative transition within 2 Chronicles 32. It directly follows Hezekiah's comprehensive and faithful preparations for the Assyrian threat, which included strengthening Jerusalem's fortifications, securing its water supply, and, most significantly, spiritually fortifying his people with words of unwavering faith, reminding them that "there is a greater power with us than with him" ([2 Chronicles 32:7](/2_chronicles/32-7 "2 Chronicles 32:7 - Hezekiah's Encouragement and Trust in God")). Verse 9 then shifts the narrative focus to the aggressor, Sennacherib, detailing his immediate actions and the commencement of his psychological warfare. It precisely sets the stage for the verbose and taunting message delivered by Sennacherib's servants in the subsequent verses ([2 Chronicles 32:10-19](/2_chronicles/32-10-19 "2 Chronicles 32:10-19 - Sennacherib's Taunting Message to Jerusalem")), a message that Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah powerfully counter with fervent prayer and prophetic assurance, ultimately culminating in God's miraculous and decisive deliverance.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The late 8th century BCE was unequivocally dominated by the Neo-Assyrian Empire, a ruthless military superpower renowned for its brutal conquest strategies, forced deportations, and sophisticated psychological tactics. Sennacherib's campaign against Judah in 701 BCE was a significant part of his broader effort to suppress widespread revolts across the Levant, reasserting Assyrian hegemony. Lachish, explicitly mentioned as Sennacherib's current operational base, was a heavily fortified and strategically vital city located in the Shephelah region, southwest of Jerusalem. Its eventual fall, vividly depicted in monumental Assyrian reliefs found at Nineveh, served as a stark and terrifying demonstration of Sennacherib's overwhelming military might and a dire warning to other defiant cities. Culturally, it was a common and effective practice for powerful ancient empires to employ psychological warfare—sending intimidating messages, boasting of their past conquests, and demanding unconditional surrender—prior to committing to a full-scale siege. This tactic aimed to break the enemy's will and induce capitulation without incurring the costly casualties and resource expenditure of a direct military assault. This historical backdrop underscores the immense and existential pressure faced by Hezekiah and Judah, who stood against the most formidable military force of their era.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully introduces and reinforces several critical themes that permeate the entire chapter and the broader historical narrative of Judah. Firstly, it unmistakably underscores the **Imminent Threat** and the overwhelming power of human adversaries, vividly portraying the vastness of Sennacherib's "power" poised menacingly against Jerusalem. Secondly, it highlights the theme of **Psychological Warfare**, as Sennacherib's calculated dispatch of servants to deliver a message, rather than immediately launching a direct military assault, clearly demonstrates an attempt to demoralize the inhabitants and induce surrender through fear and intimidation, a common and effective tactic in ancient warfare. Finally, and most profoundly, the verse meticulously sets the stage for a profound **Test of Divine Faith**. Despite Hezekiah's extensive and diligent human preparations, the odds against Jerusalem were seemingly insurmountable, forcing the king and his people to confront the stark reality that their ultimate hope and deliverance lay not in their formidable fortifications or their limited military strength, but solely in the faithfulness and omnipotence of God. This theme culminates dramatically in the miraculous divine intervention described later in the chapter, where God utterly defeats the Assyrian army ([2 Chronicles 32:21-22](/2_chronicles/32-21-22 "2 Chronicles 32:21-22 - God's Miraculous Deliverance of Jerusalem")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **After (Hebrew, _ʼachar'_):** This seemingly simple temporal adverb (H310) acts as a crucial narrative connector, immediately linking Sennacherib's aggressive maneuver to Hezekiah's preceding actions of fortifying Jerusalem and spiritually preparing his people ([2 Chronicles 32:1-8](/2_chronicles/32-1-8 "2 Chronicles 32:1-8 - Hezekiah's Preparations for War")). It signifies a direct consequence or calculated response to Hezekiah's defiance and Judah's renewed trust in God, emphasizing that the Assyrian threat was not an isolated event but a direct challenge to their faith and sovereignty.
* **Lachish (Hebrew, _Lâkîysh'_):** The mention of Lachish (H3923) is profoundly significant. This city was a major fortified stronghold in Judah, second only to Jerusalem in strategic importance and defensive capability. Its capture by Sennacherib, a monumental military achievement vividly documented in Assyrian reliefs at Nineveh, underscored the overwhelming might of the Assyrian war machine. By stating that Sennacherib was besieging Lachish "with all his power," the text not only specifies his physical location but also dramatically amplifies the psychological pressure on Jerusalem, signaling the near-certainty of Lachish's fall and the impending doom for Judah's capital.
* **Power (Hebrew, _memshâlâh'_):** This term (H4475), translated as "power" in the phrase "all his power," denotes rule, dominion, or government. Here, it emphasizes the overwhelming and concentrated military might of Sennacherib's empire. It refers to his entire army, his full military resources, and his complete strategic focus. The implication is that Jerusalem was not facing a mere raiding party but the full, devastating force of the Neo-Assyrian Empire, making the human odds against Judah appear utterly insurmountable and thereby highlighting the immense magnitude of faith required of Hezekiah and his people.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"After this did Sennacherib king of Assyria send his servants to Jerusalem,"**: This opening clause establishes the primary action and identifies the formidable instigator. "After this" precisely links the event to Hezekiah's diligent preparations, indicating Sennacherib's strategic and calculated response. The "sending of servants" (or envoys/messengers) signifies the deliberate initiation of a campaign of diplomatic and psychological warfare, rather than an immediate military assault, aiming to demoralize the city's inhabitants and leadership before any direct physical confrontation.
* **"(but he [himself laid siege] against Lachish, and all his power with him,)"**: This crucial parenthetical statement provides vital immediate context. It clarifies that Sennacherib was not personally at Jerusalem but was actively engaged in the siege of Lachish, a major Judahite stronghold. The phrase "all his power with him" powerfully underscores the vastness and concentrated nature of the Assyrian military force, emphasizing that the full, devastating might of the empire was already deep within Judahite territory and actively conquering its key strongholds, sending an unmistakable message of impending doom and futility of resistance to Jerusalem.
* **"unto Hezekiah king of Judah, and unto all Judah that [were] at Jerusalem, saying,"**: This final clause precisely specifies the intended recipients of Sennacherib's intimidating message: King Hezekiah, as the reigning monarch and the leader responsible for Judah's defense, and "all Judah that were at Jerusalem," encompassing the entire populace gathered within the city walls. This comprehensive address indicates that the message was meticulously designed to undermine both the leadership's resolve and the morale of the common people, meticulously preparing them for the full force of Sennacherib's taunts and demands that follow in the subsequent verses.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several significant literary devices to enhance its dramatic impact and convey its underlying message. **Parenthesis** is prominently used with the clause "(but he [himself laid siege] against Lachish, and all his power with him,)", which provides crucial explanatory information about Sennacherib's immediate location and the overwhelming scale of his force. This interruption of the main narrative flow offers vital context, creating a sense of **Dramatic Irony**, as the reader is made acutely aware of Sennacherib's overwhelming power and strategic positioning, thereby intensifying the tension for the audience who anticipates the divine outcome, while the characters within the narrative face an unknown and terrifying future. Furthermore, the calculated act of sending messengers with a verbal challenge and demand for surrender, rather than an immediate military attack, is a classic form of **Psychological Warfare**, meticulously designed to instill fear, sow discord, and weaken resolve before a physical confrontation. The phrase "all his power" also functions as a form of **Hyperbole**, emphasizing the immense, almost unimaginable, scale of the Assyrian army, thereby highlighting the seemingly impossible odds faced by Jerusalem and setting the stage for God's miraculous and unparalleled intervention.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
2 Chronicles 32:9 serves as a stark and powerful reminder of the pervasive reality of spiritual warfare and the testing of faith that believers often face. Just as Sennacherib, a formidable earthly power, sought to intimidate and conquer Judah through overwhelming force and psychological tactics, so too do spiritual adversaries seek to overwhelm believers with fear, doubt, and seemingly insurmountable odds. The verse vividly highlights the profound contrast between finite human might ("all his power") and infinite divine sovereignty. Even after Hezekiah's diligent and extensive human preparations, the threat remained overwhelmingly disproportionate, forcing an absolute reliance on God alone. This narrative powerfully illustrates that God often allows His people to confront situations where human strength is demonstrably insufficient, precisely to demonstrate His unique, incomparable power and unwavering faithfulness. It underscores the profound theological truth that true security, ultimate deliverance, and enduring peace are found not in fortifications, military prowess, or human ingenuity, but solely in God's protective hand and His immutable covenant promises, which transcend and overcome any earthly threat.

* [2 Kings 18:13-19:37](/2_kings/18-13-19-37 "2 Kings 18:13-19:37 - Sennacherib's Invasion and Jerusalem's Deliverance")
* [Isaiah 36:1-37:38](/isaiah/36-1-37-38 "Isaiah 36:1-37:38 - Isaiah's Prophecy and Jerusalem's Deliverance")
* [Psalm 46:1-3](/psalm/46-1-3 "Psalm 46:1-3 - God is Our Refuge and Strength")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
This verse introduces a moment of profound and existential crisis, where the overwhelming power of an enemy is brought to bear, not just physically, but with a calculated psychological assault. For believers today, 2 Chronicles 32:9 speaks directly to those moments in life when, despite our best efforts, diligent preparations, and faithful obedience, we find ourselves facing our own "Sennacheribs"—overwhelming challenges, seemingly insurmountable problems, or intimidating adversaries that threaten to crush our spirit, erode our faith, and steal our peace. These could manifest as devastating financial crises, debilitating health battles, complex relational conflicts, or intense spiritual attacks. Just as Sennacherib sought to demoralize Hezekiah and Judah from his strategic position at Lachish, our spiritual adversaries often employ insidious psychological tactics, whispering doubts into our minds, magnifying our fears, and attempting to convince us that our defenses are futile and our God is insufficient or absent. This verse calls us to recognize the sobering reality of the threat, but more importantly, to remember that the true battle is often for our hearts and minds, for our trust and our hope. It profoundly prompts us to look beyond the immediate, visible power of the enemy and to anchor our unwavering hope in the unseen, yet infinitely greater, power of God, who is eternally capable of delivering us from any "Lachish" and protecting our "Jerusalem."

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "Lachish" is currently under siege in your life, causing you to feel overwhelmed, intimidated, or despairing?**
* **How do you tend to respond when faced with seemingly insurmountable odds—do you primarily rely on your own preparations and resources, or are you quick to turn to God in complete dependence?**
* **In what specific ways might spiritual adversaries be employing "psychological warfare" against your faith today, attempting to demoralize you or sow seeds of doubt?**
* **How does remembering God's past faithfulness, both as recorded in Scripture and as experienced in your own life, strengthen your resolve and enable you to face present threats with courage and hope?**

### FAQ

**Why was Sennacherib at Lachish and not directly at Jerusalem when he sent his servants?**

Answer: Sennacherib's presence at Lachish, a major fortified city southwest of Jerusalem, was a highly strategic military decision. By besieging Lachish with "all his power," he was demonstrating his overwhelming military might and the futility of resistance to the other cities of Judah, including Jerusalem. Lachish was a vital stronghold, and its inevitable fall would send a clear and terrifying message across the region. Sending servants from Lachish to Jerusalem served as a potent form of psychological warfare; it allowed Sennacherib to demand surrender and demoralize the inhabitants without immediately committing his entire army to a potentially costly and prolonged siege of Jerusalem, which was exceptionally well-defended due to Hezekiah's recent and extensive preparations ([2 Chronicles 32:5-6](/2_chronicles/32-5-6 "2 Chronicles 32:5-6 - Hezekiah's Fortifications and Water Supply")).

**What was the purpose of sending servants with a message instead of launching an immediate attack?**

Answer: The primary purpose of sending messengers with a taunting and intimidating message (as vividly detailed in [2 Chronicles 32:10-19](/2_chronicles/32-10-19 "2 Chronicles 32:10-19 - Sennacherib's Taunts Against Jerusalem")) was psychological warfare. Sennacherib aimed to break the morale of King Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem, convincing them that resistance was futile, their God was powerless to save them, and surrender was their only viable option. This calculated tactic was designed to achieve victory without the heavy casualties, extensive resource expenditure, and potential delays of a direct assault, hoping to induce fear and prompt a capitulation before a full-scale siege was even necessary.

**How does this verse set the stage for the theme of divine deliverance in 2 Chronicles 32?**

Answer: 2 Chronicles 32:9 vividly portrays the overwhelming human threat facing Jerusalem, emphasizing Sennacherib's "all his power" and his strategic, conquering position at Lachish. This extreme human disadvantage and the seemingly insurmountable odds are precisely what magnify God's subsequent miraculous intervention. By highlighting the apparent hopelessness of the situation from a human perspective, the verse sets a dramatic and desperate backdrop against which God's ultimate and decisive deliverance of Jerusalem ([2 Chronicles 32:21-22](/2_chronicles/32-21-22 "2 Chronicles 32:21-22 - God's Miraculous Destruction of the Assyrian Army")) shines even brighter, powerfully underscoring the overarching theme that true salvation and victory come not by human strength, military might, or strategic genius, but solely by the sovereign power and unwavering faithfulness of the Lord.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The historical account of Sennacherib's overwhelming power and his calculated psychological assault on Jerusalem in 2 Chronicles 32:9 finds profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the New Testament. Sennacherib, with "all his power," represents the formidable spiritual enemies that humanity faces: the dominion of sin, the sting of death, and the deceptive power of the devil. Just as Sennacherib sought to conquer Jerusalem through intimidation and overwhelming force, these spiritual adversaries seek to enslave and destroy humanity, whispering lies and magnifying fear. However, the ultimate King, Jesus Christ, faced these enemies not by fortifying earthly walls or engaging in conventional warfare, but by entering into the very domain of death itself. Through His sacrificial crucifixion and glorious resurrection, Christ decisively disarmed the principalities and powers, triumphing over them by the cross ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Christ's Triumph Over Powers and Authorities")). He is the true and perfect Deliverer who, unlike Hezekiah who relied on God's intervention, is God Himself, actively conquering the spiritual "Lachish" of sin and death. He delivers His people from the fear of death and the power of the devil, setting captives free ([Hebrews 2:14-15](/hebrews/2-14-15 "Hebrews 2:14-15 - Christ's Victory Over Death and the Devil")). Therefore, when believers today face seemingly insurmountable "Sennacheribs" in their lives, they are called to remember that the decisive victory has already been secured by the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")), and that in Christ, we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us ([Romans 8:37-39](/romans/8-37-39 "Romans 8:37-39 - More Than Conquerors Through Christ")).

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

2 Kings 18:17

¶ And the king of Assyria sent Tartan and Rabsaris and Rabshakeh from Lachish to king Hezekiah with a great host against Jerusalem. And they went up and came to Jerusalem. And when they were come up, they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which [is] in the highway of the fuller's field.

Joshua 10:31

And Joshua passed from Libnah, and all Israel with him, unto Lachish, and encamped against it, and fought against it:

Joshua 15:39

Lachish, and Bozkath, and Eglon,

Micah 1:13

O thou inhabitant of Lachish, bind the chariot to the swift beast: she [is] the beginning of the sin to the daughter of Zion: for the transgressions of Israel were found in thee.

Joshua 12:11

The king of Jarmuth, one; the king of Lachish, one;

Isaiah 37:8

¶ So Rabshakeh returned, and found the king of Assyria warring against Libnah: for he had heard that he was departed from Lachish.

Isaiah 36:2

And the king of Assyria sent Rabshakeh from Lachish to Jerusalem unto king Hezekiah with a great army. And he stood by the conduit of the upper pool in the highway of the fuller's field.