After these things
, and the establishment
thereof, Sennacherib
king
of Assyria
came
, and entered
into Judah
, and encamped
against the fenced
cities
, and thought
to win
them 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 did help
him.
So there was gathered much
people
together
, who stopped
all the fountains
, and the brook
that ran
through the midst
of the land
, saying
, Why should the kings
of Assyria
come
, and find
much
water
?
Also he strengthened himself, and built up
all the wall
that was broken
, and raised it up
to the towers
, and another
wall
without
, and repaired
Millo
in the city
of David
, and made
darts
and shields
in abundance
.
And he set captains
of war
over the people
, and gathered them together
to him in the street
of the gate
of the city
, and spake
comfortably
to them, saying
,
Be strong and courageous
, be not afraid
nor dismayed
for
the king
of Assyria
, nor for all the multitude
that is with him: for there be more
with us than with him:
With him is an arm of flesh
; but with us is the LORD
our God
to help
us, and to fight
our battles
. And the people
rested
themselves upon the words
of Hezekiah
king
of Judah
.
After this did Sennacherib
king
of Assyria
send
his servants
to Jerusalem
, (but he himself laid siege against Lachish
, and all his power
with him,) unto Hezekiah
king
of Judah
, and unto all Judah
that were at Jerusalem
, saying
,
Thus saith Sennacherib
king
of Assyria
, Whereon do ye trust
, that ye abide
in the siege
in Jerusalem
?
Doth not Hezekiah persuade
you to give
over yourselves to die
by famine
and by thirst
, saying
, The LORD
our God
shall deliver
us out of the hand
of the king
of Assyria
?
Hath not the same Hezekiah taken away
his high places
and his altars
, and commanded
Judah
and Jerusalem
, saying
, Ye shall worship
before
one
altar
, and burn incense
upon it?
Know ye not what I and my fathers
have done
unto all the people
of other lands
? were the gods
of the nations
of those lands
any ways
able
to deliver
their lands
out of mine hand
?
Who was there among all the gods of those nations
that my fathers
utterly destroyed
, that could
deliver
his people
out of mine hand
, that your God
should be able
to deliver
you out of mine hand
?
Now therefore let not Hezekiah
deceive
you, nor persuade
you on this manner, neither yet believe
him: for no god
of any nation
or kingdom
was able
to deliver
his people
out of mine hand
, and out of the hand
of my fathers
: how much less shall your God
deliver
you out of mine hand
?
And his servants spake
yet more against the LORD
God
, and against his servant
Hezekiah
.
He wrote also letters
to rail
on the LORD
God
of Israel
, and to speak
against him, saying
, As the gods
of the nations
of other lands
have not delivered
their people
out of mine hand
, so shall not the God
of Hezekiah
deliver
his people
out of mine hand
.
Then they cried with a loud
voice
in the Jews' speech
unto the people
of Jerusalem
that were on the wall
, to affright
them, and to trouble
them; that they might take
the city
.
And they spake against
the God
of Jerusalem
, as against the gods
of the people
of the earth
, which were the work
of the hands
of man
.
And for this cause Hezekiah the king
, and the prophet
Isaiah
the son
of Amoz
, prayed
and cried
to heaven
.
And the LORD sent
an angel
, which cut off
all the mighty men
of valour
, and the leaders
and captains
in the camp
of the king
of Assyria
. So he returned
with shame
of face
to his own land
. And when he was come
into the house
of his god
, they that came forth
of his own bowels
slew
him there with the sword
.
Thus the LORD saved
Hezekiah
and the inhabitants
of Jerusalem
from the hand
of Sennacherib
the king
of Assyria
, and from the hand
of all other , and guided
them on every side
.
And many brought
gifts
unto the LORD
to Jerusalem
, and presents
to Hezekiah
king
of Judah
: so that he was magnified
in the sight
of all nations
from thenceforth
.
In those days Hezekiah
was sick
to the death
, and prayed
unto the LORD
: and he spake
unto him, and he gave
him a sign
.
But Hezekiah rendered not again
according to the benefit
done unto him; for his heart
was lifted up
: therefore there was wrath
upon him, and upon Judah
and Jerusalem
.
Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled
himself for the pride
of his heart
, both he and the inhabitants
of Jerusalem
, so that the wrath
of the LORD
came
not upon them in the days
of Hezekiah
.
And Hezekiah had exceeding
much
riches
and honour
: and he made
himself treasuries
for silver
, and for gold
, and for precious
stones
, and for spices
, and for shields
, and for all manner of pleasant
jewels
;
Storehouses also for the increase
of corn
, and wine
, and oil
; and stalls
for all manner of beasts
, and cotes
for flocks
.
Moreover he provided him cities
, and possessions
of flocks
and herds
in abundance
: for God
had given
him substance
very
much
.
This same Hezekiah also stopped
the upper
watercourse
of Gihon
, and brought it straight
down
to the west side
of the city
of David
. And Hezekiah
prospered
in all his works
.
Howbeit in the business of the ambassadors
of the princes
of Babylon
, who sent
unto him to enquire
of the wonder
that was done in the land
, God
left
him, to try
him, that he might know
all that was in his heart
.
Now the rest of the acts
of Hezekiah
, and his goodness
, behold, they are written
in the vision
of Isaiah
the prophet
, the son
of Amoz
, and in the book
of the kings
of Judah
and Israel
.
And Hezekiah slept
with his fathers
, and they buried
him in the chiefest
of the sepulchres
of the sons
of David
: and all Judah
and the inhabitants
of Jerusalem
did him
honour
at his death
. And Manasseh
his son
reigned
in his stead.