Chronicles of the Past Dynasties_Chapter 32

After this devout act, King Sennacherib of Assyria invaded Judah, besieging all fortified cities in an attempt to break through the occupation.

When Hezekiah saw Sennacherib coming, he decided to attack Jerusalem,

Discuss with the leaders and warriors to block the spring outside the city. They all helped him.

So many people gathered together, blocking all the springs and flowing through the small rivers in the land, saying, Why did the king of Assyria come and receive a lot of water?

Hezekiah sought self-improvement and built all the demolished city walls, which were as high as the city towers. He built another city outside the city and strengthened Milo, who made many weapons and shields.

Set up military commanders to manage the people, gather them in the wide area of the city gate, and encourage them with words, saying,

Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or alarmed by the king of Assyria and his army. Because what is with us is greater than what is with them.

With them is the flesh arm, and with us is the Lord our God, who will help us and fight for us. The people relied on the words of King Hezekiah of Judah and were safe and fearless.

Afterwards, King Sennacherib of Assyria and all his army attacked Lachish, and sent his servants to Jerusalem to meet King Hezekiah of Judah and all the Jews in Jerusalem, saying,

King Sennacherib of Assyria said, “What do you trust in, that you are still under siege in Jerusalem?”?

Hezekiah said to you, “The Lord our God will save us from the hand of the king of Assyria.” Did this not tempt you to die of hunger and thirst?

Has Hezekiah not taken away the high places and altars of the Lord, and commanded Judah and Jerusalem to worship and burn incense on one altar?

Do you not know what I and my ancestors have done to the nations? How can the gods of the nations save their kingdom from my hands?

Who among those gods can save their people from my hands, the kingdom that my ancestors destroyed? Can your God save you from my hands?

So do not let Hezekiah deceive and tempt you like this, and do not believe him. For there is no god of any nation or nation who can save their people from my hands and the hands of my ancestors, let alone your god who cannot save you from my hands.

The servants of Sennacherib also spoke other words against the God of the Lord and his servant Hezekiah.

Sennacherib also wrote a letter to slander the Lord, the God of Israel, saying, Since the gods of the nations cannot deliver his people out of my hand, neither can the God of Hezekiah deliver his people out of my hand.

The servants of the king of Assyria shouted loudly in the language of Judah to the people of Jerusalem, to scare them and disturb them, in order to take the city.

They speak of the God of Jerusalem as they speak of the gods created by the hands of men in the world.

King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah, the son of Amoz, prayed and called out to heaven for this.

And the Lord sent an angel into the camp of the king of Assyria, and destroyed all the mighty warriors, rulers, and commanders. The king of Assyria returned to his own country with a shy face and entered the temple of his God, where his own son killed him with a sword.

In this way, the Lord saved Hezekiah and the residents of Jerusalem from the hands of King Sennacherib of Assyria, and from the hands of all their enemies, and gave them peace on all sides.

Many people came to Jerusalem to offer offerings to the Lord, and also to give treasures to King Hezekiah of Judah. Afterwards, Hezekiah was revered in the eyes of the nations.

At that time, Hezekiah was so sick that he was about to die. He prayed to the Lord, and the Lord answered him and gave him a sign.

But Hezekiah did not repay the Lord according to the kindness he had received. Because of his pride in his heart, wrath will come upon him, Judah, and Jerusalem.

But Hezekiah and the residents of Jerusalem felt proud in their hearts, and they both humbled themselves, so that the wrath of the Lord did not come upon them in Hezekiah’s days.

Hezekiah had great honor and wealth, built treasuries, and collected gold and silver, precious stones, spices, shields, and all kinds of treasures,

He also built warehouses to collect grain, new wine, and oil, and built sheds and fences for various types of livestock.

And he established cities, as well as many flocks and herds of cattle, because God gave him a wealth of wealth.

This Hezekiah also blocked the upper source of Gihon, flowing straight down to the west of the city of David. All that Hezekiah did prospered.

There was only one thing, and the king of Babylon sent messengers to Hezekiah to inquire about the wonders that had occurred in the land. God left him to test him, so that he could know what was going on in his heart.

The other acts of Hezekiah and his good deeds are written in the book of the prophecy of Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, and in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.

Hezekiah slept with his ancestors and was buried in the high tomb of the descendants of David. When he died, the Jews and the residents of Jerusalem respected him. His son Manasseh succeeded him as king.