2 Chronicles 32

33 verses

TL;DR

Hezekiah fortified Jerusalem and prayed for God's protection, and the Lord miraculously delivered the city from the Assyrian king Sennacherib’s siege.

Summary

Hezekiah reacted to Sennacherib’s arrival by sealing the city’s water sources, strengthening walls, and rallying his people with a message of faith in God’s power over the Assyrian army. The Assyrian king threatened Jerusalem, mocking the king’s reliance on the Lord, and sent envoys to proclaim his confidence in the king’s own strength. In response, Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah prayed, and an angelic intervention struck down many Assyrian commanders, causing the army to retreat. Following the victory, Jerusalem was honored, Hezekiah suffered a serious illness but received a divine sign, and he humbled himself, which spared further wrath. The chapter concludes with a record of Hezekiah’s wealth, his infrastructural projects such as redirecting the Gihon watercourse, and the eventual succession of his son Manasseh.

Outline

Hezekiah’s preparations and exhortation to his people
Sennacherib’s challenge and threat to Jerusalem
Divine intervention, deliverance, and Hezekiah’s subsequent humility and legacy

Themes

faith and reliance on God versus pridedivine protection and deliverancemilitary defense and civic preparationpride, humility, and divine judgment

Keywords

HezekiahSennacheribJerusalemAssyrian siegeangelfaithpridehumilitywatercourseGihonwallsprotectiondeliverance

People

HezekiahSennacheribIsaiahManasseh

Places

JerusalemLachishGihonDavid’s city

Things

fountains, watercourse, walls, arm of flesh, angelic messenger, gifts, treasury of silver and goldmilitary captains, leaders, swords

Key Verses

2 Chronicles 32:21: Shows divine angelic intervention that cuts down Assyrian leaders.
2 Chronicles 32:9: Details Sennacherib’s threat to Jerusalem and his rhetorical attack on Hezekiah’s faith.
2 Chronicles 32:22: Narrates the Lord’s saving of Hezekiah and Jerusalem from the Assyrian king.
2 Chronicles 32:24-26: Illustrates Hezekiah’s illness, humility, and the resulting avoidance of divine wrath.
2 Chronicles 32:30: Describes Hezekiah’s redirection of the Gihon watercourse and his civic prosperity.

Questions

How does Hezekiah’s leadership blend military strategy with spiritual faith?
What does the chapter suggest about the relationship between human pride and divine judgment?
In what ways does the redirection of the Gihon watercourse reflect Hezekiah’s vision for Jerusalem’s future?
How is the theme of divine protection manifested in the narrative?
What lessons might modern readers draw from Hezekiah’s response to his illness and his subsequent humility?

Sentiment

mixed
The narrative oscillates between confidence in divine protection and warnings against pride, resulting in a balanced, reflective tone.