Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

After these things, King Sennacherib of Assyria came into Judah. He encamped against the fortified cities, intent on capturing them for himself.

When King Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come and was determined to attack Jerusalem, he consulted with his leaders and warriors about stopping the water sources outside the city. He took counsel with his leaders and mighty warriors to divert the waters of the springs that lay outside the city, and they assisted him. A large crowd gathered to stop all the fountains and the brook flowing through the land, saying, "Why should the kings of Assyria come and find abundant water?" This action was meant to deprive Sennacherib's army of a vital resource.

King Hezekiah strengthened himself and built up all the wall that was broken, raising it to the towers, and constructing another wall outside. He also repaired Millo in the city of David and made darts and shields in abundance. To boost the morale of his people, he gathered them together in the city square and spoke reassuringly to them, saying, "Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid or dismayed by the king of Assyria or his vast army." He reminded them that there were more people with him than with Sennacherib. "With him is an arm of flesh," he said, "but with us is the Lord our God to help us and fight our battles."

The people rested themselves on the words of King Hezekiah, but soon after, Sennacherib king of Assyria sent his servants to Jerusalem while he himself laid siege against Lachish. His message to King Hezekiah was meant to intimidate him: "Does not Hezekiah persuade you to surrender to death by famine and thirst, saying that the Lord our God will deliver us from the king of Assyria?" Sennacherib's taunt continued: "Thus says Sennacherib, king of Assyria, 'On what do you rely, that you remain in Jerusalem under siege?'" Hezekiah had removed his high places and altars, commanding Judah and Jerusalem to worship before one altar alone.

Sennacherib boasted about his past conquests: "Know you not what I and my fathers have done to all the people of other lands? No god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people out of our hand." He questioned whether anyone thought their God, whom they now worshiped exclusively, could deliver them from his. His servants spoke even more against the Lord God and against His servant Hezekiah.

Sennacherib wrote letters insulting the Lord God of Israel, speaking against him by saying that just as the gods of other nations had not delivered their people from his hand, so the God of Hezekiah would not deliver His people from his. The Assyrian army cried out in the Jewish language to the people on the wall, trying to intimidate and alarm them. They spoke against the God of Jerusalem, comparing him to idols made by human hands that people on earth worship.

In response, King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz prayed and cried to heaven for deliverance. The Lord sent an angel who struck down all the mighty warriors and leaders in the Assyrian king's camp, so Sennacherib returned to his own land in shame. When he entered the temple of his god, those who emerged from his own bowels killed him there with the sword.

Thus, the Lord saved King Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria and from all others who sought to harm them. God guided them on every side, providing for their safety and protection. Many brought gifts to the Lord in Jerusalem and presented precious offerings to King Hezekiah.

In those days, King Hezekiah was terminally ill, and he prayed to the Lord; the Lord spoke to him and gave him a sign. However, when Hezekiah failed to reciprocate with gratitude and humility, despite the great benefit he had received, God's wrath came upon him and upon Judah and Jerusalem.

But King Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. Despite this setback, Hezekiah was a man of remarkable faith and prosperity. He had exceedingly great riches and honor, and he made treasuries to store silver, gold, precious stones, spices, shields, and all manner of valuable jewels.

Storehouses were also built to store the increase of grain, wine, and oil, along with stalls for all manner of beasts and enclosures for flocks. God had given him very much substance, so King Hezekiah provided cities and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance. This same Hezekiah also stopped the upper watercourse of Gihon and brought it straight down to the west side of the city of David, where he prospered in all his works.

In the matter of the ambassadors from Babylon who had come to inquire about the remarkable events occurring in the land, God withdrew His presence from King Hezekiah, testing him to discern all that was in his heart. The rest of King Hezekiah's acts and his good deeds are recorded in the vision of Isaiah the prophet, son of Amoz, and in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.

King Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the chiefest of the sepulchers of the sons of David. All Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem honored him at his death, and Manasseh his son reigned in his stead.