Sennacherib’s Invasion of Judah

Reading: 2 Chronicles 29-30.

Daily-Devotion:

Following the Great Passover celebration, Hezekiah continued breaking up the pagan altars, sacred poles, pillars, and high places throughout the cities of Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh, destroying them all.

He himself provided from his possessions the burnt offerings the LORD required at the Temple, daily, weekly, new moons, and at the three annual feasts – Passover, Weeks (later called Pentecost), and Booths or Tabernacles.

He commanded the people of Jerusalem to give tithes and offerings to the Priests and Levites so they could devote themselves to the law of the LORD. As the word spread, all Israel gave in abundance the first fruits of grain, wine, oil, honey, and all the produce of the land.

In the third month, they began to pile up the heaps, and finished them in the seventh month. Those times coincided with the harvests’ beginning and ending, and the festivals of Weeks and Booths.

Hezekiah questioned the Priests about the people’s contributions. The High Priest said that since these gifts were coming in, they had enough to eat with plenty to spare, for the LORD blessed His people so we have this great supply left over.

Hezekiah was putting things into order for the service of the LORD in the Temple.

But then, the Assyrian King, Sennacherib, invaded Judah. He encamped against the fortified cities, wanting to win them for himself. When Hezekiah saw the Assyrians planned to come to Jerusalem, he and the people stopped up the springs and the Wadi to keep water from the Assyrians. Hezekiah also built up the walls around the city and made abundant weapons and shields.

Hezekiah said to the people, “Do not be dismayed before the King of Assyria and all the horde with him; there is one greater with us than with him. With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God, to help us and to fight our battles.”

Sennacherib sent his servants to Jerusalem to discourage the people. He asked, what are you relying on that you undergo the siege of Jerusalem? Hezekiah is misleading you when he says the LORD will help you. Did Hezekiah not take away His high places and altars, saying worship at one altar? Were the gods of the nations of other lands able to save their lands from me? What makes you think your God can save you from me?

They said more against the Lord GOD and his servant Hezekiah. He also wrote letters in contempt of the LORD the God of Israel and spoke against Him, saying as the gods of nations in other lands could not rescue their people from me, so the God of Hezekiah will not rescue you from me.

Then Hezekiah and Isaiah prayed because of this and cried to Heaven. And the LORD sent an angel who cut off all the mighty warriors and commanders in the camp of the King Sennacherib. So he returned in disgrace to his own land of Assyria. When he came into the house of his god, some of his own sons struck him down with the sword.

So, the LORD saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and Judah from the hand of Sennacherib and from the hand of all his enemies. He gave them rest on every side.

The rest of the acts of Hezekiah and his good deeds are written in the vision of the prophet Isaiah in the Book of the Kings of Israel. Hezekiah reigned over Judah for twenty-nine years. He was succeeded by his son, Manasseh, who did evil in the sight of the LORD.