1 After these things, and the establishment thereof,
Sennacherib king of Assyria came, and entered into Judah, and encamped against
the fenced cities, and thought to win them for himself.
2 And
when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib was come, and that he was purposed to fight
against Jerusalem,
3 He
took counsel with his princes and his mighty men to stop the waters of the
fountains which were without the city: and they did help
him.
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?
5 Also
he strengthened himself, and built up all the wall that was broken, and raised it up to
the towers, and another wall without, and repaired Millo in the
city of David, and made darts and shields in abundance.
6 And
he set captains of war over the people, and gathered them together to him in
the street of the gate of the city, and spake comfortably to them, saying,
7 Be
strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor
for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more
with us than with him:
8 With
him is an arm
of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God to help us, and to
fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah
king of Judah.
9 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,
10 Thus
saith Sennacherib king of Assyria, Whereon do ye trust, that ye abide in the
siege in Jerusalem?
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?
12 Hath
not the same Hezekiah taken away his high places and his altars, and commanded
Judah and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall worship before one altar, and burn
incense upon it?
13 Know
ye not what I and my fathers have done unto all the people of other lands?
were the gods of the nations of those lands any ways able to deliver their lands
out of mine hand?
14 Who was there among
all the gods of those nations that my fathers utterly destroyed, that could
deliver his people out of mine hand, that your God should be able to deliver
you out of mine hand?
15 Now
therefore let not Hezekiah deceive you, nor persuade you on this manner,
neither yet believe him: for no god of any nation or kingdom was able to
deliver his people out of mine hand, and out of the hand of my fathers: how
much less shall your God deliver you out of mine hand?
16 And
his servants spake yet more against the LORD God, and against his
servant Hezekiah.
17 He
wrote also letters to rail on the LORD God of Israel, and to speak against him,
saying, As the gods of the nations of other lands have not delivered their people
out of mine hand, so shall not the God of Hezekiah deliver his people out of
mine hand.
18 Then
they cried with a loud voice in the Jews' speech unto the people of Jerusalem
that were on
the wall, to affright them, and to trouble them; that they might take the city.
19 And
they spake against the God of Jerusalem, as against the gods of the people of
the earth, which were the
work of the hands of man.
20 And
for this cause Hezekiah
the king, and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz, prayed and cried to heaven.
21 And
the LORD sent an angel, which cut off all the mighty men of valour, and the
leaders and captains in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with
shame of face to his own land. And when he was come into the house of his god,
they that came forth of his own bowels slew him there with the sword.
22 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 other, and guided them on every side.
23 And
many brought gifts unto the LORD to Jerusalem, and presents to Hezekiah king of
Judah: so that he was magnified in the sight of all nations from thenceforth.
24 In
those days Hezekiah was sick to the death, and prayed unto the LORD: and he
spake unto him, and he gave him a sign.
25 But
Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done unto
him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon
Judah and Jerusalem.
26 Notwithstanding
Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he
and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD came not upon
them in the days of Hezekiah.
27 And
Hezekiah had exceeding much riches and honour: and he made himself treasuries
for silver, and for gold, and for precious stones, and for spices, and for
shields, and for all manner of pleasant jewels;
28 Storehouses
also for the increase of corn, and wine, and oil; and stalls for all manner of
beasts, and cotes for flocks.
29 Moreover
he provided him cities, and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance: for
God had given him substance very much.
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.
31 Howbeit
in the business of the
ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to enquire 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.
32 Now
the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and his goodness, behold, they are written
in the vision of Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, and in
the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
33 And
Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the chiefest of the
sepulchres of the sons of David: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem
did him honour at his death. And Manasseh his son reigned in his stead.
