After Sennacherib king of Assyria invaded Judah, King Hezekiah prepared Jerusalem's defenses and encouraged his people to trust in the Lord. Sennacherib's messengers blasphemed God, but Hezekiah and Isaiah prayed, and an angel of the Lord miraculously destroyed the Assyrian army, saving Jerusalem. Though Hezekiah later succumbed to pride after recovering from illness, he humbled himself, and God blessed him with great riches and honor.
After these things, and this faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came, and entered into Judah, and encamped against the fortified cities, and thought to win them for himself.
So many people gathered together, and they stopped all the springs, and the brook that flowed through the midst of the land, saying, “Why should the kings of Assyria come, and find much water?”
He took courage, and built up all the wall that was broken down, and raised it up to the towers, and the other wall outside, and strengthened Millo in the city of David, and made weapons and shields in abundance.
He set captains of war over the people, and gathered them together to him in the broad place at the gate of the city, and spoke comfortably to them, saying,
“Be strong and courageous, don’t be afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude who is with him; for there is a greater with us than with him.
With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God to help us, and to fight our battles.” The people rested themselves on the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.
After this, Sennacherib king of Assyria sent his servants to Jerusalem, (now he was before Lachish, and all his power with him), to Hezekiah king of Judah, and to all Judah who were at Jerusalem, saying,
Doesn’t Hezekiah persuade you, to give you over to die by famine and by thirst, saying, ‘The LORD our God will deliver us out of the hand of the king of Assyria?’
Hasn’t the same Hezekiah taken away his high places and his altars, and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, saying, ‘You shall worship before one altar, and on it you shall burn incense?’
Don’t you know what I and my fathers have done to all the peoples of the lands? Were the gods of the nations of the lands in any way able to deliver their land out of my hand?
Who was there among all the gods of those nations which my fathers utterly destroyed, that could deliver his people out of my hand, that your God should be able to deliver you out of my hand?
Now therefore don’t let Hezekiah deceive you, nor persuade you in this way, neither believe him; for no god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people out of my hand, and out of the hand of my fathers. How much less will your God deliver you out of my hand?”
He also wrote letters insulting the LORD, the God of Israel, and to speak against him, saying, “As the gods of the nations of the lands, which have not delivered their people out of my hand, so shall the God of Hezekiah not deliver his people out of my hand.”
They cried with a loud voice in the Jews’ language to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, to frighten them, and to trouble them; that they might take the city.
The LORD sent an angel, who cut off all the mighty men of valor, and the leaders and captains, in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. When he had come into the house of his god, those who came out of his own bowels killed him there with the sword.
Thus the LORD saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and from the hand of all others, and guided them on every side.
Many brought gifts to the LORD to Jerusalem, and precious things to Hezekiah king of Judah; so that he was exalted in the sight of all nations from thenceforth.
But Hezekiah didn’t render again according to the benefit done to him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore there was wrath on him, and on Judah and Jerusalem.
Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD didn’t come on them in the days of Hezekiah.
Hezekiah had exceeding much riches and honor: and he provided him treasuries for silver, and for gold, and for precious stones, and for spices, and for shields, and for all kinds of goodly vessels;
This same Hezekiah also stopped the upper spring of the waters of Gihon, and brought them straight down on the west side of the city of David. Hezekiah prospered in all his works.
However concerning the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent to him to inquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart.
Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and his good deeds, behold, they are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz, in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the ascent of the tombs of the sons of David: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honor at his death. Manasseh his son reigned in his place.
Study Notes for 2 Chronicles 32
Verse 1
This invasion (701 BC) is a pivotal historical event, marking Assyria's attempt to subjugate all remaining western vassals, including Judah. The Chronicler emphasizes that this occurred 'after these things' (Hezekiah’s reforms), setting the stage for a test of faith.
Verse 3
Hezekiah’s tactical decision to block the external water sources (the Gihon springs) was a crucial defensive measure, depriving the massive Assyrian army of water while securing Jerusalem’s internal supply via the tunnel (v. 30).
Verse 5
Hezekiah demonstrates disciplined preparation alongside spiritual faith. The extensive fortification efforts, including repairing the Millo (a deep defensive structure in the City of David), show he was not relying on divine intervention alone.
Verse 7
Hezekiah’s address serves to rally the people by pointing their trust away from human strength. The phrase 'be strong and courageous' mirrors language used when God calls leaders (e.g., Joshua 1:9).
Verse 8
The contrast between the 'arm of flesh' (human, temporary power) and the LORD God emphasizes the theological theme of reliance on divine power versus military might. The people’s positive response indicates their trust in the king and God.
Verse 9
Sennacherib used psychological warfare, sending officials (the Rabshakeh, per 2 Kings 18) to undermine the morale of the besieged citizens of Jerusalem through loud, scornful messages.
Verse 12
The Assyrians ironically use Hezekiah’s faithful religious reform (removing high places and centralizing worship) as evidence that he has angered his own God, completely misinterpreting the nature of Yahweh's unique covenant.
Verse 17
The use of letters and public speeches demonstrates a sophisticated propaganda campaign intended to spread terror and disloyalty. The core blasphemy is treating the God of Israel as merely another defeated local deity.
Verse 20
This climactic moment emphasizes the power of intercessory prayer, uniting the king (political leader) and the prophet Isaiah (spiritual authority) in a common appeal to heaven in the face of impossible odds.
Verse 21
The miraculous destruction of the Assyrian army highlights decisive divine intervention. Sennacherib’s subsequent murder by his own sons in the temple of his god fulfilled prophetic judgment and confirmed Yahweh's superiority.
Verse 22
The Chronicler stresses that salvation came directly from the LORD, resulting not only in military security but also in international recognition of God's power (v. 23).
Verse 24
This section shifts focus to Hezekiah's personal piety and subsequent moral failure. The illness narrative (detailed in 2 Kings 20) resulted in God granting him an extension of life.
Verse 25
Hezekiah’s failure to render thanks properly led to pride ('his heart was lifted up'), a common failing of successful monarchs in the biblical narrative. This pride temporarily brought divine wrath upon the kingdom.
Verse 26
Hezekiah's humility and the corporate humbling of the people demonstrate the Chronicler's recurring theme: repentance is the key to mitigating divine judgment during the lifetime of a righteous king.
Verse 27
Following his repentance and previous faithfulness, Hezekiah received immense material blessings, which the Chronicler attributes directly to God's generosity.
Verse 30
This verse refers to the construction of Hezekiah's Tunnel, a remarkable hydraulic engineering feat that diverted the Gihon spring water safely inside the city walls, ensuring Jerusalem’s survival during sieges.
Verse 31
The visit from the Babylonian ambassadors (c. 700 BC) was a crucial divine test. God temporarily withdrew his support ('left him, to try him') to expose the king’s pride and his inclination to rely on political alliances rather than full trust in Yahweh.
Verse 33
The exceptional honor shown at his burial reflects Hezekiah's status as one of Judah's most righteous kings, whose reign was defined by religious reform and miraculous deliverance.
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