2 Chronicles 32:1

THE INVASION OF JUDAH BY SENNACHERIB;

HEZEKIAH'S SICKNESS;

THE EMBASSY FROM BABYLON; CONCLUSION OF HEZEKIAH'S REIGN

See my commentary on Isaiah (pp. 329-361) for a discussion of Sennacherib's invasion and the other events mentioned in this chapter. Also, the same material has been discussed in our Commentary on Second Kings 18-20. There is no need whatever for any further discussion of the historical events of this chapter. Montgomery referred to these several accounts as "parallel and duplicates."[1] Rawlinson wrote that, "Isaiah wrote the history of Hezekiah for this chapter, from which the account in 2Kings is almost certainly taken."[2] Derek Kidner also agreed with this, noting that, "Except for Hezekiah's psalm (only in Isaiah) and for that prophet's omission of 2 Kings 18:14-16, much of the material in this part of Chronicles coincides almost word for word with Second Kings 18-20."[3]

HEZEKIAH PREPARES FOR THE INVASION

"After these things, and this faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came, and entered into Judah, and encamped against the fortified cities, and thought to win these for himself. And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib was come, and that he was purposed to fight against Jerusalem, he took counsel with his princes and his mighty men to stop the waters of the fountains which were without the city; and they helped him. So there was gathered much people together, and they stopped all the fountains, and the brook that flowed through the midst of the land, saying, Why should the kings of Assyria come, and find much water? And he took courage, and built up all the wall that was broken down, and raised it up to the towers, and the other wall without, and strengthened Millo in the city of David, and made weapons and shields in abundance. And he set captains of war over the people, and gathered them together to him in the broad place at the gate of the city, and spake comfortably to them, saying, Be strong and of good courage, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him; for there is a greater with us than with him: with him is an arm of flesh; but with us is Jehovah our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah."