In a few details this account differs from the one in 2 Kings 18-20 and Isaiah 36-37. It was after Hezekiah's acts of faithfulness that God tested his trust (v. 1). Many of Judah's other good kings had followed God faithfully only to abandon faith in him later in life as a result of pride (e.g., Solomon, Uzziah, et al.). In this respect Hezekiah failed too (v. 25).
Hezekiah's preparations for Sennacherib's siege did not indicate reliance on the flesh rather than on God, as his praying shows. They were simply wise defensive measures (vv. 1-8).
"It is no denial of one's trust in God if one makes certain precautionary preparations. Pray to God and keep your powder dry' is a wise response in the face of danger at any time."83
The real difference between the two armies was that while both had a measure of physical strength, Israel possessed an additional spiritual resource (v. 8). This is a difference between a Christian and a non-Christian too.
Sennacherib's fatal mistake was that he regarded Yahweh as only one of many idols (v. 19). This was his undoing. God not only granted a miraculous deliverance to Jerusalem because of Hezekiah's reliance on Him, but many nations brought gifts to the king and Yahweh (vv. 21-23).
