2 Chronicles 32:1-8

Sennacherib Invades Judah

32:1 After these faithful deeds were accomplished, King Sennacherib of Assyria invaded Judah. He besieged the fortified cities, intending to seize them. ¹  32:2 When Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had invaded and intended to attack Jerusalem, ²  32:3 he consulted with his advisers and military officers about stopping up the springs ³  outside the city, and they supported him. 32:4 A large number of people gathered together and stopped up all the springs and the stream that flowed through the district. ⁴  They reasoned, ⁵  “Why should the kings of Assyria come and find plenty of water?” 32:5 Hezekiah ⁶  energetically rebuilt ⁷  every broken wall. He erected towers and an outer wall, ⁸  and fortified the terrace of the City of David. ⁹  He made many weapons and shields.

32:6 He appointed military officers over the army ¹⁰  and assembled them in the square at the city gate. He encouraged them, ¹¹  saying, 32:7 “Be strong and brave! Don’t be afraid and don’t panic ¹²  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. ¹³  32:8 He has with him mere human strength, ¹⁴  but the Lord our God is with us to help us and fight our battles!” The army ¹⁵  was encouraged by the words of King Hezekiah of Judah.

[32:1]  ¹ tn Heb “and he said to break into them for himself.”

[32:2]  ² tn Heb “and his face was for war against Jerusalem.”

[32:3]  ³ tn Heb “the waters of the springs.”

[32:4]  ⁴ tn Heb “and they closed up all the springs and the stream that flows in the midst of the land.” Here אָרֶץ (’arets, “land”) does not refer to the entire land, but to a smaller region like a district.

[32:4]  ⁵ tn Heb “land, saying.”

[32:5]  ⁶ tn Heb “he”; the referent (Hezekiah) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[32:5]  ⁷ tn Heb “strengthened himself and built.”

[32:5]  ⁸ tn Heb “and outside the wall another one.”

[32:5]  ⁹ sn The phrase the City of David refers here to the fortress of Zion in Jerusalem, not to Bethlehem. See 2 Sam 5:7.

[32:6]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “and he placed officers of war over the people.”

[32:6]  ¹¹ tn Heb “he spoke to their heart[s].”

[32:7]  ¹² tn Or perhaps, “and don’t be discouraged.”

[32:7]  ¹³ tn Heb “for with us [is] a greater [one] than with him.”

[32:8]  ¹⁴ tn Heb “With him is an arm of flesh.”

[32:8]  ¹⁵ tn Or “people.”