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all the faithful deeds that King Hezekiah had carried out, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah. He laid siege to the fortified cities, thinking to conquer and seize them for himself. 2 When Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come and that he intended to fight against Jerusalem, 3 he consulted with his officials and his military personnel about blocking off the flow of water from the springs that were outside the city, and they helped him. 4 Many people came to assist, and they blocked off all the springs and the stream that flowed through the land, and they were saying, “Why should the kings of Assyria come and find plenty of water?” 5 Then Hezekiah strengthened his defences by rebuilding all of the sections of the city walls that had been broken down and erecting towers on it. He also built another wall outside of that, and repaired the supporting terraces of the City of David. He also made spears and shields in large numbers.
6 He appointed military commanders over the people and assembled the people together before him in the square at the city gate. Then he spoke encouragingly to them, saying, 7 “Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or dismayed before the king of Assyria and the vast hordes with him, for there are more with us than with him. 8 With him is only an arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God, to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people were encouraged by the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.
9 After this, when Sennacherib king of Assyria and his forces were besieging Lachish, he sent his servants to Jerusalem with a message for Hezekiah king of Judah and all the people of Judah who were there:
10 “This is what Sennacherib king of Assyria says: ‘On what are you trusting, that you remain in Jerusalem while it is under siege? 11 Is not Hezekiah misleading you to give yourselves over to death by famine and by thirst when he tells you, "The Lord our God will save us from the hand of the king of Assyria"? 12 Was it not Hezekiah himself who has removed this god’s high places and altars and said to Judah and Jerusalem, "You must worship before one altar, and you must burn incense on it"?
13 ‘Do you not know what I and my fathers have done to all the peoples of the other lands? Were the gods of the nations of those lands ever able to deliver their lands from my hand? 14 Who among all the gods of those nations that my fathers totally destroyed was able to deliver his people from my hand? How then can your god deliver you from my hand? 15 So do not let Hezekiah deceive you and mislead you like this. Do not believe him, for no god of any nation or kingdom has been able to deliver his people from my hand or the hand of my fathers. How much less will your gods deliver you from my hand!’ ”
16 His servants said still more against the Lord God and against His servant Hezekiah. 17 He also wrote letters to mock the Lord, the God of Israel, and to speak against Him, that said:
Just as the national gods of the other lands have not delivered their people from my hand, so the God of Hezekiah will not deliver his people from my hand!
18 Then they shouted out loudly in the Hebrew language to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, to frighten and discourage them in order that they might capture the city. 19 They spoke of the God of Jerusalem as if He were like the gods of the peoples of the world—the work of men’s hands.
20 King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz, prayed about this and cried out to heaven. 21 And the Lord sent an angel who annihilated all the fighting men, leaders, and commanders in the camp of the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria withdrew and returned in disgrace to his own nation. And when he went into the temple of his god, some of his own sons cut him down there with the sword.
22 So the Lord saved Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria and from the hand of all others, and gave them rest on every side. 23 Many brought gifts to Jerusalem for the Lord and valuable gifts for Hezekiah king of Judah, and he was exalted in the sight of all the nations after that.
24 In those days Hezekiah became sick and near death. He prayed to the Lord, and the Lord answered Hezekiah and gave him a miraculous sign. 25 But because his heart was proud, Hezekiah did not respond according to the kindness shown him. So wrath came upon him and upon Judah and Jerusalem. 26 Then Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the people of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the Lord did not come on them during the days of Hezekiah.
27 Hezekiah had abundant riches and honour; and he made himself treasuries for silver, gold, precious stones, spices, shields, and all kinds of valuable items. 28 He also made storehouses for the harvest of grain, wine, and oil; and stalls for all kinds of cattle, and pens for the flocks. 29 He built cities for himself, and acquired flocks and herds in abundance; for God had given him very great possessions.
30 It was Hezekiah who blocked up the upper outlet of the waters of the Upper Gihon and channeled the water down to the west side of the City of David. Hezekiah succeeded in everything he undertook. 31 But when envoys arrived from the rulers of Babylon to inquire about the miraculous sign that had occurred was done in the land, God left him to test him, so that He might know all that was in his heart.
32 Now the rest of the events of Hezekiah and his good deeds, indeed they are written in the vision of the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel. 33 Hezekiah slept with his fathers and was buried on the ascent to the tombs where David’s descendants are. All Judah and the people of Jerusalem honoured him at his death. And his son Manasseh succeeded him as king.