321 After these things and this truth, come hath Sennacherib king of Asshur, yea, he cometh in to Judah, and encampeth against the cities of the bulwarks, and saith to rend them unto himself. 2 And Hezekiah seeth that Sennacherib hath come, and his face 'is' to the battle against Jerusalem, 3 and he taketh counsel with his heads and his mighty ones, to stop the waters of the fountains that 'are' at the outside of the city—and they help him, 4 and much people are gathered, and they stop all the fountains and the brook that is rushing into the midst of the land, saying, 'Why do the kings of Asshur come, and have found much water?' 5 And he strengtheneth himself, and buildeth the whole of the wall that is broken, and causeth 'it' to ascend unto the towers, and at the outside of the wall another, and strengtheneth Millo, 'in' the city of David, and maketh darts in abundance, and shields. 6 And he putteth heads of war over the people, and gathereth them unto him, unto the broad place of a gate of the city, and speaketh unto their heart, saying, 7 'Be strong and courageous, be not afraid, nor be cast down from the face of the king of Asshur, and from the face of all the multitude that 'is' with him, for with us 'are' more than with him. 8 With him 'is' an arm of flesh, and with us 'is' Jehovah our God, to help us, and to fight our battles;' and the people are supported by the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.
9 After this hath Sennacherib king of Asshur sent his servants to Jerusalem—and he 'is' by Lachish, and all his power with him—against Hezekiah king of Judah, and against all Judah, who 'are' in Jerusalem, saying, 10 'Thus said Sennacherib king of Asshur, On what are ye trusting and abiding in the bulwark, in Jerusalem? 11 'Is not Hezekiah persuading you, to give you up to die by famine, and by thirst, saying, Jehovah our God doth deliver us from the hand of the king of Asshur? 12 Hath not Hezekiah himself turned aside His high places, and His altars, and speaketh to Judah and to Jerusalem, saying, Before one altar ye bow yourselves, and on it ye make perfume? 13 'Do ye not know what I have done—I and my fathers—to all peoples of the lands? Were the gods of the nations of the lands at all able to deliver their land out of my hand? 14 Who among all the gods of these nations whom my fathers have devoted to destruction 'is' he who hath been able to deliver his people out of my hand, that your God is able to deliver you out of my hand? 15 'And, now, let not Hezekiah lift you up, nor persuade you thus, nor give credence to him, for no god of any nation and kingdom is able to deliver his people from my hand, and from the hand of my fathers: also, surely your God doth not deliver you from my hand!' 16 And again have his servants spoken against Jehovah God, and against Hezekiah His servant, 17 and letters he hath written to give reproach to Jehovah, God of Israel, and to speak against Him, saying, 'As the gods of the nations of the lands that have not delivered their people from my hand, so the God of Hezekiah doth not deliver His people from my hand.' 18 And they call with a great voice 'in' Jewish, against the people of Jerusalem who 'are' on the wall, to frighten them, and to trouble them, that they may capture the city, 19 and they speak against the God of Jerusalem as against the gods of the peoples of the land—work of the hands of man.
20 And Hezekiah the king prayeth, and Isaiah son of Amoz the prophet, concerning this, and they cry to the heavens,
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Chronicles 32:1-20
Commentary on 2 Chronicles 32:1-23
(Read 2 Chronicles 32:1-23)
Those who trust God with their safety, must use proper means, else they tempt him. God will provide, but so must we also. Hezekiah gathered his people together, and spake comfortably to them. A believing confidence in God, will raise us above the prevailing fear of man. Let the good subjects and soldiers of Jesus Christ, rest upon his word, and boldly say, Since God is for us, who can be against us? By the favour of God, enemies are lost, and friends gained.