Sennacherib Invades Judah
Sennacherib invades Judah and aims at its fortified cities, and Hezekiah prepares Jerusalem by securing water, strengthening walls, and gathering weapons. The king meets the threat with deliberate, practical resolve.
A1fter all these acts of faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah. He laid siege to the fortified cities, intending to conquer them for himself. 2When Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come to make war against Jerusalem, 3he consulted with his leaders and mighty men about stopping up the waters of the springs outside the city, and they helped him carry it out. 4Many people assembled and stopped up all the springs and the stream that flowed through the land. “Why should the kings of Assyria come and find plenty of water?” they said. 5Then Hezekiah worked resolutely to rebuild all the broken sections of the wall and to raise up towers on it. He also built an outer wall and reinforced the supporting terraces of the City of David, and he produced an abundance of weapons and shields.
Hezekiah appoints commanders, gathers the people, and urges them not to fear. He sets the Assyrian army against the LORD’s presence, saying the enemy has only human strength while Judah has God to fight for it.
6Hezekiah appointed military commanders over the people and gathered the people in the square of the city gate. Then he encouraged them, saying, 7“Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged before the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater One with us than with him. 8With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles.”