2 Chronicles 32:2-8

2 When Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come and that he intended to wage war against Jerusalem,

3 he consulted with his officials and military staff about blocking off the water from the springs outside the city, and they helped him.

4 They gathered a large group of people who blocked all the springs and the stream that flowed through the land. “Why should the kings^[a] of Assyria come and find plenty of water?” they said.

5 Then he worked hard repairing all the broken sections of the wall and building towers on it. He built another wall outside that one and reinforced the terraces^[b] of the City of David. He also made large numbers of weapons and shields.

6 He appointed military officers over the people and assembled them before him in the square at the city gate and encouraged them with these words:

7 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him.

8 With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people gained confidence from what Hezekiah the king of Judah said.

2 Chronicles 32:2-8 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 2 CHRONICLES 32

This chapter relates Sennacherib's invasion of the land of Judah, the preparations Hezekiah made to resist him, and the encouragement he gave his people to trust in the Lord, 2Ch 32:1-8 the messages and letters Sennacherib sent to Hezekiah and his subjects, full of arrogance and blasphemy, to solicit them to deliver up Jerusalem to him, 2Ch 32:9-19 the destruction of his army by an angel, and the deliverance of the Jews at the prayers of Hezekiah and Isaiah, 2Ch 32:20-23 the sin Hezekiah fell into after this, and his recovery from a fit of illness; but, upon his humiliation for it, wrath was averted, 2Ch 32:24-26 and the chapter is concluded with an account of his honours, riches, and exploits, and of his death and burial, 2Ch 32:27-33.

Cross References

• 1. Isaiah 22:7; Jeremiah 1:15
• 2. S 2 Kings 18:17; 2 Kings 20:20; Isaiah 22:9,11; Nahum 3:14
• 3. 2 Chronicles 25:23; Isaiah 22:10
• 4. 1 Kings 9:24; S 1 Chronicles 11:8
• 5. Isaiah 22:8
• 6. S Deuteronomy 31:6; 1 Chronicles 22:13
• 7. 2 Chronicles 20:15
• 8. S Numbers 14:9; 2 Kings 6:16
• 9. Job 40:9; Isaiah 52:10; Jeremiah 17:5; Jeremiah 32:21
• 10. S Deuteronomy 3:22; S 1 Samuel 17:45; 2 Chronicles 13:12
• 11. S 1 Chronicles 5:22; 2 Chronicles 20:17; Psalms 20:7; Isaiah 28:6

Footnotes

• [a]. Hebrew; Septuagint and Syriac "king"
• [b]. Or "the Millo"