1 After everything Hezekiah had done so faithfully, King Sennacherib of Assyria came to invade Judah. He set up camp to attack the fortified cities. He intended to conquer them himself.

2 Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come to wage war against Jerusalem,

3 He and his officers and military staff made plans to stop the water from flowing out of the springs outside the city. They helped him do it.

4 A large crowd gathered as they stopped all the springs and the brook that flowed through the land. They said: Why should the kings of Assyria find plenty of water?

5 Hezekiah worked hard. He rebuilt all the broken sections of the wall. He built the towers taller and built another wall outside the city wall. He strengthened the Millo in the City of David, and made plenty of weapons and shields.

6 He appointed military commanders over the troops and gathered the commanders in the square by the city gate. He spoke these words of encouragement:

7 Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened or terrified by the king of Assyria or the crowd with him. Someone greater is on our side.

8 Jehovah our God fights on our side. The Assyrians must rely on human power alone. These words encouraged the army of Judah.

9 Sennacherib and his troops were camped at the town of Lachish. He sent a message to Hezekiah and the people in Jerusalem. It said:

10 »I am King Sennacherib of Assyria. I have Jerusalem surrounded. Do you think you can survive my attack?

11 »Hezekiah your king is telling you that Jehovah your God will save you from me. But he is lying! You will die of hunger and thirst.«

12 »‘Did Hezekiah not tear down all except one of Jehovah’s altars and places of worship? And did he not tell you people of Jerusalem and Judah to worship at that one place?

13 »‘You have heard what my ancestors and I have done to other nations. Were the gods of those nations able to defend their land against us?

14 »‘None of those gods kept their people safe from the kings of Assyria. Do you really think your God can do any better?

15 »‘Do not be fooled by Hezekiah! No god of any nation has been able to stand up to Assyria. Believe me, your God cannot keep you safe!’«

16 Sennacherib’s officers said more against Jehovah God and his servant Hezekiah.

17 Sennacherib wrote letters cursing Jehovah the God of Israel. These letters said: The gods of the nations in other countries could not rescue their people from me. Hezekiah’s God cannot rescue his people from me.

18 Sennacherib’s officers shouted loudly in the Judean language to the troops who were on the wall of Jerusalem. They tried to frighten and terrify the troops so that they could capture the city.

19 They spoke against the God of Jerusalem as if he were one of the gods of the peoples of the earth, the work of the hands of man.

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

21 Jehovah sent an angel who exterminated all the soldiers, officials, and commanders in the Assyrian king’s camp. Sennacherib was humiliated and returned to his own country. When he went into the temple of his god, some of his own sons killed him with a sword.

22 So Jehovah saved Hezekiah and the people living in Jerusalem from King Sennacherib of Assyria and from everyone else. Jehovah gave them peace with all their neighbors.

23 Many people still went to Jerusalem to bring gifts to Jehovah and expensive presents to King Hezekiah of Judah. From that point in history he was considered important by all the nations.

24 Hezekiah became sick and was about to die. He prayed to Jehovah, who answered him and gave him a miraculous sign.

25 But Hezekiah was conceited. So he did not repay Jehovah for his kindness. Jehovah became angry with him, with Judah, and with Jerusalem.

26 Hezekiah and the people living in Jerusalem humbled themselves when they realized they had become conceited. Thus Jehovah did not vent his anger on them during Hezekiah’s time.

27 Hezekiah became richer and was highly honored. He prepared storehouses for himself to hold silver, gold, precious stones, spices, shields, and all kinds of valuables.

28 He built storehouses for the produce of grain and wine and oil; and buildings for all sorts of beasts and flocks.

29 He made towns for himself. He gathered much property in flocks and herds: for God had given him great wealth.

30 It was Hezekiah who had the higher spring of the water of Gihon stopped, and the water taken down on the west side of the town of David. Hezekiah did well in everything he tried.

31 When the leaders of Babylon sent ambassadors to ask him about the miraculous sign that had happened in the land, God left him. God did this to test him, to find out everything that was in Hezekiah’s heart.

32 Everything else about Hezekiah, including his devotion to God, is written in the vision of the prophet Isaiah, son of Amoz, and in the records of the kings of Judah and Israel.

33 Hezekiah slept in death with his ancestors. He was buried in the upper tombs of David’s descendants. When Hezekiah died, all of Judah and the people in Jerusalem honored him. His son Manasseh succeeded him as king.