What was happening when Sennacherib came against Judah?

Sennacherib was the powerful king of Assyria, and his empire had already defeated many nations. Hezekiah, king of Judah, had recently led the people to turn back to God and had strengthened the kingdom. Right after these good changes, Sennacherib invaded Judah, captured the fortified towns, and then turned toward Jerusalem. This shows that trouble can come even when things are going well and people are seeking God. The situation looked hopeless from a human view, with a huge army outside and a smaller nation inside the walls trusting God to help them.

Why did Hezekiah stop the water and build up the walls?

Hezekiah knew Assyria was coming, so he acted with wisdom. He stopped the water sources outside Jerusalem so the enemy army would not find plenty of water during a long siege. He also repaired broken parts of the wall, added towers, built another wall, and made shields and weapons. This shows that trusting God does not mean doing nothing. Hezekiah prayed and believed, but he also used every wise and practical means to protect the city and care for his people.

What does the phrase with us is the Lord our God teach us?

When Hezekiah said, “With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God,” he was reminding the people that Assyria’s strength was only human. Their king had many soldiers, but they were still just people. Judah, though weaker on paper, had God on their side to help them and fight their battles. This teaches that God’s presence outweighs any human power. In hard times, believers can remember that their help is not limited to what they see, because God himself is with them.

Why did Sennacherib mock God and Hezekiah’s reforms?

Sennacherib tried to break the people’s courage. He pointed out that other nations’ gods had not saved them from Assyria, and he treated the God of Jerusalem like one more powerless idol. He also twisted Hezekiah’s removal of high places and extra altars, making it sound like Hezekiah had angered God, when in fact he had restored true worship at one altar. His goal was to scare the people, make them doubt God, and turn them against their king. This shows how unbelief and pride often attack faith with lies and half-truths.

How did God deliver Jerusalem from the Assyrian army?

When the threat was greatest and the Assyrians were mocking God, Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah prayed and cried out to heaven. God answered in a way no one could have planned. He sent an angel who struck down the mighty warriors, leaders, and captains in the Assyrian camp. Sennacherib went home in shame, and later was killed in the house of his own god. God saved Hezekiah and Jerusalem and guided them on every side. The story shows that God can step in at the right time and deal with enemies in his own way.

What does this passage teach about prayer in times of crisis?

Hezekiah did not face the crisis alone. When fear and mocking words surrounded the city, he joined with Isaiah to pray and cry out to heaven. Their prayer was not a last resort after everything else failed, but part of their main response. They prepared, encouraged the people, and then laid the matter before God. God answered by sending an angel to defeat the Assyrian forces. This teaches that in deep trouble, believers should turn to God together in prayer, trusting that he hears and is able to act in ways beyond human strength.

Why did Hezekiah’s heart become proud after God helped him?

After such a clear deliverance and many blessings, Hezekiah became very rich and honored. Instead of fully returning thanks in a humble way, his heart was lifted up. The passage says he did not repay God according to the benefit he had received. Pride often slips in after success, when people forget that every good gift and victory comes from God. Because of this pride there was wrath on Hezekiah and on Judah and Jerusalem, showing that God cares about the heart, not only about outward success or past faithfulness.

How did Hezekiah’s humility affect God’s wrath?

When Hezekiah realized the pride in his heart, he humbled himself. The people in Jerusalem also humbled themselves. They did not defend their pride or make excuses, but bowed before God. Because of this, the passage says the wrath of the Lord did not come on them in the days of Hezekiah. God still took pride seriously, but he responded with mercy when they turned back to him. This shows that while God opposes pride, he is ready to hold back judgment when people truly humble themselves and confess their sin.

What does God leaving Hezekiah to test him mean?

When the princes of Babylon sent messengers to ask about the wonder done in the land, God “left” Hezekiah in that matter to test him and show what was in his heart. This does not mean God abandoned him completely, but that God allowed Hezekiah to face this situation without special help so his inner motives would be revealed. In that moment, pride and a desire to show off his riches came out. The verse reminds us that God sometimes allows tests so that what is really in us is brought to light, calling us back to humility.

How can this passage guide believers facing strong opposition today?

This passage shows a pattern: prepare wisely, encourage one another with trust in God, expect mocking or fear, and then seek God earnestly in prayer. Hezekiah did what he could, but rested his final hope on God’s help, not on walls or weapons. God answered in his time and way. At the same time, the story warns that even after help and blessing, pride can grow. So when believers face pressure, they are called to lean on God, pray together, act wisely, and later remember to stay humble and thankful.

2Chr.32.1

2 Chronicles 32:1

KJV

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.

Sennacherib Invades Judah

1 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.

2 And when Hezekiah 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 him.

4 So 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?

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 with us than with him:

8 With 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.

Sennacherib Threatens Jerusalem

9 ¶ After 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,

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

11 Doth 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?

12 Hath 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?

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 able 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, and out of the 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 Hezekiah.

17 He 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.

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.

Jerusalem Delivered from the Assyrians

20 And for this cause Hezekiah 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 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.

23 And 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.

Hezekiah’s Illness and Recovery

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

25 But 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.

26 Notwithstanding 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.

27 ¶ And 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;

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

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

30 This 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.

31 ¶ Howbeit 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.

Hezekiah’s Death

32 Now 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.

33 ¶ And 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.

Cross References

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