2 Chronicles 32:1-18 ▼

1 After that these deedes were faythfully done, Sennacherib king of the Assyrians came, and entred into Iuda, & compassed the strong cities, and thought to winne them for him selfe.

2 And so when Hezekia sawe that Sennacherib was come, and that he was purposed to fight against Hierusalem,

3 He toke counsell with his lordes and men of might, to stop the water of the fountaynes without the citie: And they dyd helpe him.

4 For there gathered many of the people together, and stopt all the welles, and the broke that ran through the middes of the land, saying: Why shall the kinges of the Assyrians come and finde much water?

5 And Hezekia went to lustyly, and buylt vp the wall where it was broken, and made ordinaunce vpon the towres, and to the other wall without, and repaired Millo in the citie of Dauid, and made many dartes and shieldes.

6 And he set captaynes of warre ouer the people, and gathered them together to him in the large streete of the gate of the citie, and spake gentylly to them, saying:

7 Plucke vp your heartes and be strong: be not afrayde nor discouraged for the king of the Assyrians, & for all the multitude that he hath with hym: for there be mo with vs then with hym.

8 With him is an arme of flesh: but with vs is the Lord our God for to helpe vs, and to fight our battayles. And the people toke a courage through the wordes of Hezekia king of Iuda.

9 After this did Sennacherib king of the Assyrians send of his seruauntes to Hierusalem (but he him selfe remayned beside Lachis, hauing all his power with him) vnto Hezekia king of Iuda, and vnto all Iuda that were at Hierusalem, saying,

10 Thus saith Sennacherib king of the Assyrians: wherin do ye trust O ye that dwell in Hierusalem which is besieged?

11 Doth not Hezekia entice you to geue ouer your selues vnto death, hunger, and thirst, saying: The Lord our God shall ryd vs out of the hand of the king of the Assyrians?

12 Hath not the same Hezekia put downe his hye places and his aulters, & commaunded Iuda and Hierusalem, saying, Ye shall worship before one aulter, and burne incense vpon the same?

13 Knowe ye not what I and my fathers haue done vnto the people of all landes? Were the gods of the people of other landes, able or mightie to saue their landes out of my hande?

14 Which of all the gods of those nations that my fathers destroyed, could deliuer his people out of my hande? And shall your God be able to deliuer you out of my hande?

15 Wherfore nowe let not Hezekia deceaue you, nor persuade you of this fassion, nor yet beleue him: For as no god among all nations and kingdomes, was able to rid his people out of my hand and out of the hand of my fathers: Howe much lesse shall your gods be able to kepe you out of my hande?

16 And yet mo thinges did his seruauntes speake against the Lorde God, and against his seruaunt Hezekia.

17 And Sennacherib also wrote a letter to rayle on the Lord God of Israel, and spake against him, saying: As the gods of the nations of other landes haue not ben able to deliuer their people out of my hande: euen so shal not the God of Hezekia deliuer his people out of my hande.

18 And they cried with a loude voyce in the Iewes speach vnto the people of Hierusalem that were on the wall, to feare them, and to make them faynt hearted, and that they might so take the citie.