2 Chronicles 32:4

Translations

Modern

Many people assembled and stopped up all the springs and the stream that flowed through the land. “Why should the kings of Assyria come and find plenty of water?” they said.

Traditional

So there was gathered much people together, who stopped all the fountains, and the brook that ran through the midst of the land, saying, Why should the kings of Assyria come, and find much water?

Literal

And many people gathered together, and they stopped up all the springs and the brook that was flowing in the midst of the land, saying, “Why should the kings of Assyria come and find many waters?”

Latin

…congregavit plurimam multitudinem, et obturaverunt cunctos fontes, et rivum qui fluebat in medio terræ, dicentes: Ne veniant reges Assyriorum, et inveniant aquarum abundantiam.

Original

Hebrew

English

Many people assembled and stopped up all the springs and the stream that flowed through the land. “Why should the kings of Assyria come and find plenty of water?” they said.

Notes

2 Chronicles 32:3–5

Sennacherib's attack was not a surprise; Hezekiah provoked it by breaking a treaty (2 Kings 18:7, 20). Water was crucial for both attackers and defenders during sieges. Hezekiah ensured Sennacherib's army could not access the city's water supply. In a famous ancient engineering feat, Hezekiah's tunnel connected the fresh waters of the Gihon Spring to the Pool of Siloam, providing water within the city walls. This tunnel is almost 530 meters long (about 580 yards or one-third of a mile) and about two meters (six feet) high. The Hezekiah inscription, found in the tunnel in 1880, describes how the excavators met to connect the two ends. Although much of the tunnel used natural underground aqueducts, it was a brilliant strategy to protect the city's citizens.

2 Chronicles 32:1–23

The Chronicler summarizes the long account of the siege against Jerusalem in twenty-three verses (compare 2 Kings 18:17–19:37; Isaiah 36–38). God responded to King Sennacherib of Assyria's attack by blessing Judah and Hezekiah for their faithfulness in seeking the Lord.

Theme notes and profiles

Hezekiah Jerusalem

Related verses

2 Chronicles 32:30
It was Hezekiah who blocked the upper outlet of the Spring of Gihon and channeled it down to the west side of the City of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all that he did.
2 Kings 18:9
In the fourth year of Hezekiah’s reign, which was the seventh year of the reign of Hoshea son of Elah over Israel, Shalmaneser king of Assyria marched against Samaria and besieged it.
2 Kings 19:17
Truly, O LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste these nations and their lands.
2 Kings 18:13
In the fourteenth year of Hezekiah’s reign, Sennacherib king of Assyria attacked and captured all the fortified cities of Judah.
2 Chronicles 32:1
After all these acts of faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah. He laid siege to the fortified cities, intending to conquer them for himself.
2 Kings 20:20
As for the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, along with all his might and how he constructed the pool and the tunnel to bring water into the city, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?
1 Kings 3:16–17
At that time two prostitutes came to the king and stood before him.
Isaiah 10:8
“Are not all my commanders kings?” he says.
1 Kings 3:9
Therefore give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?”
2 Chronicles 30:14
They proceeded to remove the altars in Jerusalem and to take away the incense altars and throw them into the Kidron Valley.
1 Kings 19:21
So Elisha turned back from him, took his pair of oxen, and slaughtered them. Using the oxen’s equipment for fuel, he cooked the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow and serve Elijah.

Parallels

2 Kings 18:13–16 Psalm 46:1–11

Places

Assyria: A powerful ancient empire, often in conflict with Israel

Glossary

Chronicles, Books of First and Second Genealogy Gihon, Spring of Hezekiah Hezekiah’s Tunnel Pool of Siloam Siloam Tunnel

Topics

Cedron: Its Channel Changed by Hezekiah Fountains and Springs: Sometimes Stopped or Turned off to Distress Enemies Gihon: Hezekiah Brings the Waters of the Upper Pool by an Aqueduct Into the City of Jerusalem Hezekiah: King of Judah: Conducts the Gihon Brook Into Jerusalem Jerusalem: Water Supply Brought in from the Gihon Brook by Hezekiah Kidron: Source of, Closed by Hezekiah Sennacherib: Invades Judah Siege by Sennacherib Sieges: Cities Invested by The Inhabitants of, Cut off Beforehand Supplies of Water

2 Chronicles 32:4

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