# 2 Chronicles 32 đ: God Delivers Jerusalem From Assyria
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> [!info] Table of Contents
> [[#đ Scripture Text (NET)]]
> [[#đ Verse-by-Verse Commentary]]
> [[#đ¤ Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]]
> [[#đ§ Chapter Summary]]
> [[#âď¸ Christ in This Chapter]]
> [[#đ Key Principles / đ Life Application]]
> [[#đŹ Discussion Questions]]
> [[#âď¸ Key Verses to Remember]]
> [[#đ Related Passages/Cross Reference]]
> [[#đ Devotional Reflection]]
> [[#đ Internal Notes]]
## đ Scripture Text (NET)
(The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005)
### Sennacherib Invades Judah
[[#Verse 01.]]Â After these faithful deeds were accomplished, King Sennacherib of Assyria invaded Judah. He besieged the fortified cities, intending to seize them.Â
[[#Verse 02.]]Â When Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had invaded and intended to attack Jerusalem,Â
[[#Verse 03.]] he consulted with his advisers and military officers about stopping up the springs outside the city, and they supported him.Â
[[#Verse 04.]] A large number of people gathered together and stopped up all the springs and the stream that flowed through the district. They reasoned, âWhy should the kings of Assyria come and find plenty of water?âÂ
[[#Verse 05.]] Hezekiah energetically rebuilt every broken wall. He erected towers and an outer wall and fortified the terrace of the City of David. He made many weapons and shields.
[[#Verse 06.]] He appointed military officers over the army and assembled them in the square at the city gate. He encouraged them, saying,Â
[[#Verse 07.]] âBe strong and brave! Donât be afraid and donât panic because of the king of Assyria and this huge army that is with him. We have with us one who is stronger than those who are with him.Â
[[#Verse 08.]] He has with him mere human strength, but the Lord our God is with us to help us and fight our battles!â The army was encouraged by the words of King Hezekiah of Judah.
[[#Verse 09.]] Afterward King Sennacherib of Assyria, while attacking Lachish with all his military might, sent his messengers to Jerusalem. The message was for King Hezekiah of Judah and all the people of Judah who were in Jerusalem. It read:
[[#Verse 10.]]Â âThis is what King Sennacherib of Assyria says: âWhy are you so confident that you remain in Jerusalem while it is under siege?
[[#Verse 11.]] Hezekiah says, âThe Lord our God will rescue us from the power of the king of Assyria.â But he is misleading you, and you will die of hunger and thirst!Â
[[#Verse 12.]] Hezekiah is the one who eliminated the Lordâs high places and altars and then told Judah and Jerusalem, âAt one altar you must worship and offer sacrifices.âÂ
[[#Verse 13.]] Are you not aware of what I and my predecessors have done to all the nations of the surrounding lands? Have the gods of the surrounding lands actually been able to rescue their lands from my power?Â
[[#Verse 14.]]Â Who among all the gods of these nations whom my predecessors annihilated was able to rescue his people from my power, that your God would be able to rescue you from my power?Â
[[#Verse 15.]] Now donât let Hezekiah deceive you or mislead you like this. Donât believe him, for no god of any nation or kingdom has been able to rescue his people from my power or the power of my predecessors. So how can your gods rescue you from my power?ââ
[[#Verse 16.]] Sennacheribâs servants further insulted the Lord God and his servant Hezekiah.Â
[[#Verse 17.]] He wrote letters mocking the Lord God of Israel and insulting him with these words: âThe gods of the surrounding nations could not rescue their people from my power. Neither can Hezekiahâs god rescue his people from my power.âÂ
[[#Verse 18.]]Â They called out loudly in the Judahite dialect to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, trying to scare and terrify them so they could seize the city.Â
[[#Verse 19.]]Â They talked about the God of Jerusalem as if he were one of the man-made gods of the nations of the earth.
[[#Verse 20.]]Â King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz prayed about this and cried out to heaven.Â
[[#Verse 21.]] The Lord sent a messenger and he wiped out all the soldiers, princes, and officers in the army of the king of Assyria. So Sennacherib returned home humiliated. When he entered the temple of his god, some of his own sons struck him down with the sword.Â
[[#Verse 22.]] The Lord delivered Hezekiah and the residents of Jerusalem from the power of King Sennacherib of Assyria and from all the other nations. He made them secure on every side.Â
[[#Verse 23.]] Many were bringing presents to the Lord in Jerusalem and precious gifts to King Hezekiah of Judah. From that time on he was respected by all the nations.
### Hezekiahâs Shortcomings and Accomplishments
[[#Verse 24.]] In those days Hezekiah was stricken with a terminal illness. He prayed to the Lord, who answered him and gave him a sign confirming that he would be healed.Â
[[#Verse 25.]]Â But Hezekiah was ungrateful; he had a proud attitude, provoking God to be angry at him, as well as Judah and Jerusalem.Â
[[#Verse 26.]] But then Hezekiah and the residents of Jerusalem humbled themselves and abandoned their pride, and the Lord was not angry with them for the rest of Hezekiahâs reign.
[[#Verse 27.]]Â Hezekiah was very wealthy and greatly respected. He made storehouses for his silver, gold, precious stones, spices, shields, and all his other valuable possessions.Â
[[#Verse 28.]]Â He made storerooms for the harvest of grain, wine, and olive oil, and stalls for all his various kinds of livestock and his flocks.Â
[[#Verse 29.]] He built royal cities and owned a large number of sheep and cattle, for God gave him a huge amount of possessions.
[[#Verse 30.]] Hezekiah dammed up the source of the waters of the Upper Gihon and directed them down to the west side of the City of David. Hezekiah succeeded in all that he did.Â
[[#Verse 31.]] So when the envoys arrived from the Babylonian officials to visit him and inquire about the sign that occurred in the land, God left him alone to test him, in order to know his true motives.
[[#Verse 32.]]Â The rest of the events of Hezekiahâs reign, including his faithful deeds, are recorded in the vision of the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz, included in the Scroll of the Kings of Judah and Israel.
[[#Verse 33.]] Hezekiah passed away and was buried on the ascent of the tombs of the descendants of David. All the people of Judah and the residents of Jerusalem buried him with great honor. His son Manasseh replaced him as king.
## đ Verse-by-Verse Commentary
###### Overall.
###### Verse 01.
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###### Verse 03.
###### Verse 04.
###### Verse 05.
###### Verse 06.
###### Verse 07.
###### Verse 08.
###### Verse 09.
###### Verse 10.
###### Verse 11.
###### Verse 12.
###### Verse 13.
###### Verse 14.
###### Verse 15.
###### Verse 16.
###### Verse 17.
###### Verse 18.
###### Verse 19.
###### Verse 20.
###### Verse 21.
###### Verse 22.
###### Verse 23.
###### Verse 24.
###### Verse 25.
###### Verse 26.
###### Verse 27.
###### Verse 28.
###### Verse 29.
###### Verse 30.
###### Verse 31.
###### Verse 32.
###### Verse 33.
## đ¤ Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights
1. Sennacherib's invasion of Judah took place in 701 BC.
2. Hezekiah's Tunnel carried water from the Gihon Spring to the west side of the City of David (32:30). It runs about 1,750 feet through solid rock.
3. The Siloam Inscription, discovered in the tunnel in 1880, describes two crews digging from opposite ends and meeting in the middle.
4. Sennacherib's own records claim he shut Hezekiah up in Jerusalem "like a bird in a cage," but they never claim he captured the city.
5. Stone reliefs of the siege of Lachish (32:9) decorated Sennacherib's palace in Nineveh and are now in the British Museum.
6. Archaeologists in Jerusalem have uncovered the "Broad Wall," a massive wall widely linked to Hezekiah's building in 32:5.
7. Many jar handles stamped "belonging to the king" (lmlk) are associated with Hezekiah's preparations for the Assyrian invasion.
8. Sennacherib was later killed by his own sons in the temple of his god (32:21; 2 Kings 19:37).
9. The envoys from Babylon (32:31) were sent by Merodach-Baladan (Isaiah 39:1).
10. Isaiah 36-39 and 2 Kings 18-20 give fuller accounts of these events.
## đ§ Chapter Summary
> [!note] đą Still growing. This section is on its way.
## âď¸ Christ in This Chapter
Christ is "God with us" (Matthew 1:23). Hezekiah told the people that the One with them was greater than the one with Assyria (32:7-8), and the One who is in us is greater than the one in the world (1 John 4:4).
## đ Key Principles / đ Life Application
> [!note] đą Still growing. This section is on its way.
## đŹ Discussion Questions
1. Hezekiah prepared wisely and also trusted God (32:3-8). How do planning and faith work together?
2. Sennacherib's officials mocked God and tried to shake the people's trust (32:10-19). What voices try to shake your trust in God?
3. After God answered his prayer, Hezekiah became proud (32:25). Why is pride such a danger after a great victory?
## âď¸ Key Verses to Remember
- đ verses 7-8: There is One with us greater than the one with them. They have only human strength, but the Lord our God is with us.
- đ verses 20-21: Hezekiah and Isaiah pray, and the Lord sends an angel to destroy the Assyrian army.
- đ verse 31: God left Hezekiah to test him and to know what was in his heart.
## đ Related Passages/Cross Reference
- đ [[2 Kings 18#Verse 13.|2 Kings 18:13-19:37]] - The fuller account of Sennacherib's invasion.
- đ [[Isaiah 37#Verse 14.|Isaiah 37:14-20]] - Hezekiah's prayer for deliverance.
- đ [[2 Kings 06#Verse 16.|2 Kings 6:16]] - Those with us are more than those with them.
- đ [[Romans 08#Verse 31.|Romans 8:31]] - If God is for us, who can be against us?
- đ [[1 John 04#Verse 04.|1 John 4:4]] - The One in you is greater than the one in the world.
## đ Devotional Reflection
đ SOAP: [[2 Chronicles 32 - SOAP|Our Job: Courage]]
## đ Internal Notes