Biblical Timeline

Through Isaiah, God promises that Sennacherib will not enter Jerusalem but will return the way he came. That night, the angel of the LORD strikes down 185,000 in the Assyrian camp. Sennacherib withdraws to Nineveh, and later his sons assassinate him in the temple of his god. Jerusalem is spared, and many bring offerings to the LORD and gifts to Hezekiah.

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2 Kings 19:20–19:37

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2 Kings 19:20 Then Isaiah son of Amoz sent a message to Hezekiah saying, 'This is what the Lord God of Israel says: I have heard your prayer against Sennacherib king of Assyria.

2 Kings 19:21 You've mocked me and laughed at me, O daughter of Zion; you've shaken off contempt for Jerusalem.

2 Kings 19:22 Whom have you insulted and blasphemed? Against whom have you raised your voice in pride and lifted up your eyes? It's against the Holy One of Israel!

2 Kings 19:23 Through your messengers, you've mocked the Lord and said, 'I'll climb even the highest mountains of Lebanon; I'll cut down their towering cedars and choice firs. I'll enter into their fortified cities and the forest of Carmel.'

2 Kings 19:24 I dug wells in foreign lands and drank from them. I dried up all the rivers that flowed through besieged cities with my feet.

2 Kings 19:25 You haven't heard before how I did this or of ancient times when I formed it, now bringing it to pass.

2 Kings 19:26 Their inhabitants were weak; they were dismayed and frightened. They were like grass that withers quickly, like green shoots that never mature, like crops scorched before harvest.

2 Kings 19:27 I know your movements and comings and goings, as well as your fierce opposition against me.'

2 Kings 19:28 Because of your raging fury against me and the tumult of your defiance, I will put a hook in your nose and a bridle in your lips. I'll turn you back by the way on which you came.

2 Kings 19:29 This will be a sign to you: You'll eat what grows on its own in the first year, and in the second year from what sprouts from it; and in the third year, plant vineyards and reap their fruit.

2 Kings 19:30 The remnant of Judah who survive will once again take root downward and bear fruit upward.

2 Kings 19:31 Out of Jerusalem will come a remnant, and those who escape from Mount Zion. It's the zeal of the Lord of hosts that will accomplish this.

2 Kings 19:32 Therefore, this is what the Lord says concerning Sennacherib king of Assyria: He'll not enter this city, nor shoot an arrow there; he won't approach it with shield or siege ramp.

2 Kings 19:33 By the way on which he came, by the same way he will return. He'll not come into this city, declares the Lord.'

2 Kings 19:34 For I will defend this city to save it for my own sake and for David's sake, my servant.'

2 Kings 19:35 That night, an angel of the Lord struck down 185,000 Assyrian soldiers in their camp. When they arose early the next morning, there were all the bodies dead.

2 Kings 19:36 Sennacherib king of Assyria departed; he returned to Nineveh and stayed there.

2 Kings 19:37 As he was worshiping in his temple at Nisroch, Adrammelech and Sharezer, his sons, struck him down with a sword. They escaped into the land of Ararat. Esarhaddon, his son, became king in his place

2 Chronicles 32:9–32:23

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2 Chronicles 32:9 Sennacherib king of Assyria sent his emissaries to Jerusalem to taunt Hezekiah, saying, "Hezekiah is deceiving you by telling you that he'll rescue you from starvation and thirst."

2 Chronicles 32:10 Sennacherib wrote letters, saying, "This is what I say: Why are you relying on Jerusalem's walls to protect you? Do you think the Lord your God will deliver you from my hand?"

2 Chronicles 32:11 Hezekiah told them not to listen to Sennacherib's lies. Instead, he encouraged his people to trust in their God.

2 Chronicles 32:12 Sennacherib mocked Hezekiah and the Israelites, saying, "You removed your high places and altars, commanding everyone to worship at one altar alone."

2 Chronicles 32:13 He said, "Don't you know what my ancestors and I have done? We've conquered many nations without exception. No god has been able to save its people from our hands."

2 Chronicles 32:14 Sennacherib sneered, "Do you think your God will be any different? Will he protect you from me?"

2 Chronicles 32:15 He continued, "No other nation's gods could deliver their people; how much less can the Israelites' God help them against me?"

2 Chronicles 32:16 His messengers spoke even more insults about the Lord and his servant Hezekiah.

2 Chronicles 32:17 They wrote letters to mock the Lord God of Israel, saying that just as other nations' gods failed to rescue their people from Assyrian hands, so too would the Israelites' God fail them.

2 Chronicles 32:18 The Assyrians cried out in Hebrew on the city walls, trying to scare and intimidate the people.

2 Chronicles 32:19 They ridiculed the God of Jerusalem, comparing him to idols created by human hands that were worshiped on earth.

2 Chronicles 32:20 King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah prayed fervently to heaven for guidance.

2 Chronicles 32:21 The Lord sent an angel who struck down all the Assyrian army commanders and leaders. Sennacherib retreated in shame to his own land, where he was eventually killed by those close to him with their swords.

2 Chronicles 32:22 Thus the Lord saved Hezekiah and Jerusalem from Sennacherib's forces and guided them safely through every situation.

2 Chronicles 32:23 Many people came bearing gifts for the Lord at the temple in Jerusalem and offered precious offerings to King Hezekiah of Judah.

Isaiah 37:21–37:38

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Isaiah 37:21 Isaiah son of Amoz sent a message to Hezekiah, saying: The Lord, the God of Israel, says, "Because you prayed against Sennacherib king of Assyria, I've heard your prayer and will deliver you from his hand

Isaiah 37:22 The people of Zion have ridiculed you; the people of Jerusalem mockingly shake their heads at you

Isaiah 37:23 Who is it that has defied the Holy One of Israel like this?

Isaiah 37:24 Through your servants, Sennacherib has spoken against me and said, 'I have climbed to the heights of mountains, cut down its trees, and entered into his border and the forest of Carmel'

Isaiah 37:25 I've dug up their rivers, drunk from them, and with my feet dried up all the besieged cities

Isaiah 37:26 You know very well what I did long ago; now you see it happen before your eyes: I reduce fortified cities to rubble

Isaiah 37:27 Their people were weak, frightened, and dismayed; they were like grass that wilts before maturity

Isaiah 37:28 I know where you come from, your comings and goings, and the fierce opposition against me

Isaiah 37:29 Because of your rage against me and the turmoil it's caused, I'll put a hook in your nose and a bridle on your lips; then I'll turn you back to the way you came

Isaiah 37:30 This will be a sign for you: this year, eat from what grows on its own; next year, harvest what sprouts; but in the third year, plant vineyards and enjoy their fruit

Isaiah 37:31 The remnant of Judah that has escaped will once again root down deeply and bear fruit upward

Isaiah 37:32 Out of Jerusalem a remnant will emerge, along with those who escape from Mount Zion. This is the zeal of the Lord of Hosts to accomplish it

Isaiah 37:33 The Lord says that King Sennacherib won't enter this city, nor shoot an arrow into it, nor approach it with shields, nor build a siege ramp against it

Isaiah 37:34 He'll return by the same route he came; he won't come into this city," declares the Lord

Isaiah 37:35 I will defend this city for my own sake and for David's sake, my servant

Isaiah 37:36 The angel of the Lord struck down 185,000 soldiers in the Assyrian camp. When they rose early the next morning, behold, all were dead bodies

Isaiah 37:37 So King Sennacherib of Assyria retreated and went back to Nineveh; he settled there

Isaiah 37:38 While worshiping in his god Nisroch's temple, Adrammelech and Sharezer, his sons, struck him down with the sword. They escaped into the land of Ararat, and Esarhaddon, his son, succeeded him as king

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