2 Chronicles 32

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.

1After Hezekiah did all these faithful things, trouble came. Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, brought his army into Judah. He attacked the cities with strong walls. He planned to take them for himself.

2And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib was come, and that he was purposed to fight against Jerusalem,

2Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come. He saw that Sennacherib meant to attack Jerusalem.

3He 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.

3So Hezekiah talked with his leaders and his best soldiers. They planned to block up the springs of water outside the city. The leaders helped him do it.

4So 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?

4Many people came together and blocked all the springs. They also blocked the stream that ran through the land. They said, "Why should the kings of Assyria come and find plenty of water?"

5Also 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.

5Hezekiah worked hard to make the city strong. He fixed every broken part of the wall. He built towers on it and another wall outside it. He also fixed the terraces that held up the City of David. And he made many weapons and shields.

Note"Millo" was the name of the built-up terraces that held up the slope of the City of David.

6And 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,

6He chose army leaders to be over the people. He gathered everyone in the open square by the city gate. Then he spoke kind, strong words to them. He said,

7Be 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:

7"Be strong and brave. Do not be afraid of the king of Assyria. Do not be afraid of the huge army with him. The One who is with us is greater than the one with him.

8With 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.

8The king of Assyria only has men to help him. But the LORD our God is with us. He will help us and fight our battles." The people felt strong again because of what King Hezekiah said.

9After 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,

9Later, Sennacherib was attacking a city called Lachish with his whole army. From there he sent his servants to Jerusalem. They carried a message for King Hezekiah and for all the people of Judah in the city. The message said:

10Thus saith Sennacherib king of Assyria, Whereon do ye trust, that ye abide in the siege in Jerusalem?

10"This is what Sennacherib, king of Assyria, says. My army has you shut inside Jerusalem. So why do you still feel safe?

11Doth 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?

11Hezekiah is fooling you. He says, 'The LORD our God will save us from the king of Assyria.' But he is only leaving you to die from hunger and thirst.

12Hath 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?

12Wasn't it Hezekiah who took away your God's worship places and altars? He told Judah and Jerusalem to worship at only one altar and burn offerings there.

NoteThe Assyrian king means the extra worship places Hezekiah had torn down. Hezekiah had told everyone to worship at the temple in Jerusalem instead.

13Know 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?

13Don't you know what my fathers and I have done to other lands? Not one of their gods could save their land from me.

14Who 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?

14My fathers wiped out those nations. Not one of their gods could save its people from me. So how could your God save you from me?

15Now 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?

15So do not let Hezekiah fool you. Do not let him talk you into this. Do not believe him. No god of any nation has ever saved its people from me or from my fathers. Your God will surely not save you from me!"

16And his servants spake yet more against the LORD God, and against his servant Hezekiah.

16Sennacherib's servants said even more against the LORD God. They also said more against his servant Hezekiah.

17He 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.

17Sennacherib also wrote letters that made fun of the LORD, the God of Israel. In them he said, "The gods of other nations did not save their people from me. In the same way, Hezekiah's God will not save his people from me."

18Then 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.

18Then the Assyrians shouted loudly in the Hebrew language. They called out to the people of Jerusalem standing on the wall. They wanted to scare them, so the city would be easy to take.

NoteThe KJV says "the Jews' speech." It means they shouted in Hebrew, the language the people of Jerusalem spoke, so everyone would understand.

19And 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.

19They talked about the God of Jerusalem the same way they talked about other gods. But those other gods were only things people had made with their hands.

20And for this cause Hezekiah the king, and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz, prayed and cried to heaven.

20Because of this, King Hezekiah prayed. So did the prophet Isaiah, the son of Amoz. A prophet is someone who tells people what God says. They both cried out to heaven.

21And 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.

21The LORD sent an angel to the camp of the king of Assyria. The angel killed all the strong soldiers, the leaders, and the officers. So Sennacherib went back to his own land in shame. Later he went into the temple of his god. There some of his own sons killed him with a sword.

22Thus 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.

22So the LORD saved Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem. He saved them from Sennacherib, king of Assyria, and from all their other enemies. He gave them peace on every side.

23And 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.

23Many people brought gifts to Jerusalem for the LORD. They also brought fine gifts to King Hezekiah of Judah. From that time on, all the nations looked up to him.

24In those days Hezekiah was sick to the death, and prayed unto the LORD: and he spake unto him, and he gave him a sign.

24Around that time Hezekiah became so sick that he almost died. He prayed to the LORD. God answered him and gave him a sign.

25But 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.

25But Hezekiah's heart grew proud. He did not thank God the way he should have for this kindness. So God was angry with him, and with Judah and Jerusalem.

26Notwithstanding 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.

26Then Hezekiah was sorry for his pride and turned from it. The people of Jerusalem did the same. So the LORD's anger did not fall on them while Hezekiah lived.

27And 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;

27Hezekiah had very great riches and honor. He built storerooms for his silver, gold, and jewels. He also stored spices, shields, and other costly things.

28Storehouses also for the increase of corn, and wine, and oil; and stalls for all manner of beasts, and cotes for flocks.

28He built places to store grain, new wine, and olive oil. He built stalls for all kinds of animals. He also built pens for his sheep and goats.

29Moreover he provided him cities, and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance: for God had given him substance very much.

29He built towns for himself. He gathered many sheep and cattle. God had given him a great deal of wealth.

30This 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.

30Hezekiah was the one who blocked the upper opening of the Gihon spring. He sent the water down to the west side of the City of David. Everything Hezekiah did went well.

31Howbeit 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.

31Leaders in Babylon sent messengers to Hezekiah. They came to ask about the wonderful thing that had happened in the land. God stepped back and let Hezekiah choose on his own. This was a test, to show what was really in Hezekiah's heart.

32Now 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.

32The other things Hezekiah did, and his faithful love, are written down. You can read them in the vision of the prophet Isaiah, son of Amoz. They are also in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.

33And 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.

33Then Hezekiah died and was buried with his family. They laid him in the upper tombs where David's family was buried. All Judah and all Jerusalem honored him when he died. Then his son Manasseh became king in his place.