2 Chronicles 32

2 Chronicles 32:1

32:1-8 Having carried the northern tribes into captivity (2 Kgs. 17), the Assyrians were now threatening to do the same to Judah. Hezekiah, who had earlier paid tribute to Sennacherib (2Ki_18:13-16), was hard-pressed by the Assyrians to surrender his kingdom as well. When Sennacherib invaded Judah, Hezekiah responded by cutting off the water supply outside the city, rebuilding and repairing the wall of Jerusalem, providing weapons and officers, and encouraging the people to look to Jehovah instead of fearing the army of the Assyrians. G. Campbell Morgan writes: It would seem to be a strange answer of God to the faithfulness of His servant that a strong foe should at this moment invade the kingdom. The story needs more details than are found in this record. They may be found in 2Ki_18:7-16. From that passage we find that Hezekiah had flung off the yoke of the king of Assyria which his father Ahaz had consented to wear. Then Sennacherib had invaded Judah; and in a moment of weakness Hezekiah had paid him a heavy tribute, and again yielded to his rule in order to buy him off. The result was not what he desired, for Sennacherib now demanded an unconditional surrender.

In this hour of crisis, resulting from his own vacillation, his faith and courage were renewed. He took immediate action to embarrass the foe by stopping the supply of water, by strengthening the fortifications, by mobilizing his army, and finally by assuring the people: “There is a Greater with us than with him.” 32:9-19 While besieging Lachish, the king of Assyria taunted Hezekiah and the people, implying that Jehovah was no more powerful than the other gods he had already conquered, and suggesting that the wise thing to do was to stop listening to Hezekiah and to surrender. Verse 12 shows that even the Assyrians had heard about Hezekiah’s reforms. But Sennacherib had not counted on two things: the loyalty of the people to King Hezekiah and the power of Jehovah. 32:20-23 After Sennacherib derided the Lord, Hezekiah and . . . Isaiah devoted themselves to prayer, and the LORD sent an angel who cut down the Assyrian army. Sennacherib returned home in humiliation and was later murdered by his own sons in the temple of his god. 32:24-26 Hezekiah’s illness and recovery probably took place before the siege of Sennacherib. In his sickness he called on the LORD and was promised an extension of life, confirmed by a sign in which the sun seemed to go backward. When he failed to respond properly to this mercy, the Lord was angry with him, but because he humbled himself the punishment did not come upon Judah until after his death. 32:27-30 Special mention is made of his riches and honor, and of the tunnel he built to bring water from a spring in the Kidron Valley to a reservoir inside Jerusalem. (See 2Ki_20:20 for more details on this water tunnel.) 32:31 Ambassadors came from Babylon, intrigued by the celestial wonder that God had given Hezekiah. They would be especially interested in this since they worshiped the sun and stars. The king foolishly showed them his treasures, arousing their desire to possess them, a desire that was soon to be fulfilled. 32:32, 33 The rest of the acts of Hezekiah . . . are written . . . in Isaiah. When Hezekiah died, he was buried with full honors. Manasseh his son reigned in his place.