2 Chronicles 32:1-23

2 Chronicles 32:1-23

[1] After  these things,  and the establishment  thereof, Sennacherib  king  of Assyria  came,  into Judah,  and encamped  against the fenced  cities,  and thought  to win  [2] 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  [4] 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  [8] With him is an arm  of flesh;  our God  to help  us, and to fight  our battles.  And the people  rested  themselves upon the words  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  king  of 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] 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] taken away  his high places  and his altars,  and commanded  Judah  and Jerusalem,  saying,  Ye shall worship  before  one  altar,  and burn incense  [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  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,  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  [17] He wrote  also letters  to rail  on the LORD  God  of Israel,  and to speak  As the gods  of the nations  of other lands  have not delivered  their people  out of mine hand,  so shall not the God  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] 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  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  king  of Judah:  so that he was magnified  in the sight  of all nations  from thenceforth. 

What does 2 Chronicles 32:1-23 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

In a few details this account differs from the one in2Kings18-20 and Isaiah 36-37. It was after Hezekiah"s acts of faithfulness that God tested his trust ( 2 Chronicles 32:1). Many of Judah"s other good kings had followed God faithfully, only to abandon faith in Him later in life as a result of pride (e.g, Song of Solomon , Uzziah, et al.). In this respect, Hezekiah failed too ( 2 Chronicles 32:25).
Hezekiah"s preparations for Sennacherib"s siege did not indicate reliance on the flesh rather than on God, as his praying shows. They were simply wise defensive measures ( 2 Chronicles 32:1-8).
"It is no denial of one"s trust in God if one makes certain precautionary preparations. "Pray to God and keep your powder dry" is a wise response in the face of danger at any time." [1]
The real difference between the two armies was that while both had a measure of physical strength, Israel possessed an additional spiritual resource ( 2 Chronicles 32:8). This is a difference between a Christian and a non-Christian too.
Sennacherib"s fatal mistake was that he regarded Yahweh as only one of many idols ( 2 Chronicles 32:19). This was his undoing. God not only granted a miraculous deliverance to Jerusalem because of Hezekiah"s reliance on Him, but many nations brought gifts to the king and to Yahweh ( 2 Chronicles 32:21-23).