| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | NET Bible |
| 1[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 1After these faithful deeds were accomplished, King Sennacherib of Assyria invaded Judah. He besieged the fortified cities, intending to seize them. |
| 2[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 2When Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had invaded and intended to attack Jerusalem, |
| 3[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 3he consulted with his advisers and military officers about stopping up the springs outside the city, and they supported him. |
| 4[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 4A large number of people gathered together and stopped up all the springs and the stream that flowed through the district. They reasoned, "Why should the kings of Assyria come and find plenty of water?" |
| 5[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 5Hezekiah energetically rebuilt every broken wall. He erected towers and an outer wall, and fortified the terrace of the City of David. He made many weapons and shields. |
| 6[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 6He appointed military officers over the army and assembled them in the square at the city gate. He encouraged them, saying, |
| 7[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 7"Be strong and brave! Don't be afraid and don't panic because of the king of Assyria and this huge army that is with him! We have with us one who is stronger than those who are with him. |
| 8[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 8He has with him mere human strength, but the LORD our God is with us to help us and fight our battles!" The army was encouraged by the words of King Hezekiah of Judah. |
| 9[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 9Afterward King Sennacherib of Assyria, while attacking Lachish with all his military might, sent his messengers to Jerusalem. The message was for King Hezekiah of Judah and all the people of Judah who were in Jerusalem. It read: |
| 10[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 10"This is what King Sennacherib of Assyria says: 'Why are you so confident that you remain in Jerusalem while it is under siege? |
| 11[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 11Hezekiah says, "The LORD our God will rescue us from the power of the king of Assyria." But he is misleading you and you will die of hunger and thirst! |
| 12[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 12Hezekiah is the one who eliminated the LORD's high places and altars and then told Judah and Jerusalem, "At one altar you must worship and offer sacrifices." |
| 13[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 13Are you not aware of what I and my predecessors have done to all the nations of the surrounding lands? Have the gods of the surrounding lands actually been able to rescue their lands from my power? |
| 14[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 14Who among all the gods of these nations whom my predecessors annihilated was able to rescue his people from my power? |
| 15[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 15Now don't let Hezekiah deceive you or mislead you like this. Don't believe him, for no god of any nation or kingdom has been able to rescue his people from my power or the power of my predecessors. So how can your gods rescue you from my power?'" |
| 16[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 16Sennacherib's servants further insulted the LORD God and his servant Hezekiah. |
| 17[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 17He wrote letters mocking the LORD God of Israel and insulting him with these words: "The gods of the surrounding nations could not rescue their people from my power. Neither can Hezekiah's god rescue his people from my power." |
| 18[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 18They called out loudly in the Judahite dialect to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, trying to scare and terrify them so they could seize the city. |
| 19[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 19They talked about the God of Jerusalem as if he were one of the man-made gods of the nations of the earth. |
| 20[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 20King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz prayed about this and cried out to heaven. |
| 21[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 21The LORD sent a messenger and he wiped out all the soldiers, princes, and officers in the army of the king of Assyria. So Sennacherib returned home humiliated. When he entered the temple of his god, some of his own sons struck him down with the sword. |
| 22[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 22The LORD delivered Hezekiah and the residents of Jerusalem from the power of King Sennacherib of Assyria and from all the other nations. He made them secure on every side. |
| 23[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 23Many were bringing presents to the LORD in Jerusalem and precious gifts to King Hezekiah of Judah. From that time on he was respected by all the nations. |
| 24[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 24In those days Hezekiah was stricken with a terminal illness. He prayed to the LORD, who answered him and gave him a sign confirming that he would be healed. |
| 25[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 25But Hezekiah was ungrateful; he had a proud attitude, provoking God to be angry at him, as well as Judah and Jerusalem. |
| 26[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 26But then Hezekiah and the residents of Jerusalem humbled themselves and abandoned their pride, and the LORD was not angry with them for the rest of Hezekiah's reign. |
| 27[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 27Hezekiah was very wealthy and greatly respected. He made storehouses for his silver, gold, precious stones, spices, and all his other valuable possessions. |
| 28[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 28He made storerooms for the harvest of grain, wine, and olive oil, and stalls for all his various kinds of livestock and his flocks. |
| 29[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 29He built royal cities and owned a large number of sheep and cattle, for God gave him a huge amount of possessions. |
| 30[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 30Hezekiah dammed up the source of the waters of the Upper Gihon and directed them down to the west side of the City of David. Hezekiah succeeded in all that he did. |
| 31[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 31So when the envoys arrived from the Babylonian officials to visit him and inquire about the sign that occurred in the land, God left him alone to test him, in order to know his true motives. |
| 32[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 32The rest of the events of Hezekiah's reign, including his faithful deeds, are recorded in the vision of the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz, included in the Scroll of the Kings of Judah and Israel. |
| 33[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 33Hezekiah passed away and was buried on the ascent of the tombs of the descendants of David. All the people of Judah and the residents of Jerusalem buried him with great honor. His son Manasseh replaced him as king. |
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