2 Chronicles 32:4

2 When Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come to make war against Jerusalem,

3 he consulted with his leaders and commanders about stopping up the waters of the springs outside the city, and they helped him carry it out.

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.

5 Then Hezekiah worked resolutely to rebuild all the broken sections of the wall and to raise up towers on it. He also built an outer wall and reinforced the supporting terraces of the City of David, and he produced an abundance of weapons and shields.

6 Hezekiah appointed military commanders over the people and gathered the people in the square of the city gate. Then he encouraged them, saying,

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
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.
KJV
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?
WEB
Then many people gathered together and they stopped all the springs and the brook that flowed through the middle of the land, saying, “Why should the kings of Assyria come, and find abundant water?”
ASV
So there was gathered much people together, and they stopped all the fountains, and the brook that flowed through the midst of the land, saying, Why should the kings of Assyria come, and find much water?
DARBY
And there was gathered together much people, and they stopped all the fountains, and the torrent that flows through the midst of the land, saying, Why should the kings of Assyria come and find much water?
BLB
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?”
ÅB
Det samlet seg da meget folk, og de tilstoppet alle kildene og den bekk som rant midt igjennom landet; for de sa: Hvorfor skulle assyrerkongene komme og finne rikelig vann?
OTB
Derfor samlet en stor forsamling seg og stengte alle kildene og bekken som rant gjennom landet, og sa, "Hvorfor skulle kongene av Assyria komme og finne en overflod av vann?"
B1930
Det samlet sig da meget folk, og de tilstoppet alle kildene og den bekk som rant midt igjennem landet; for de sa: Hvorfor skulde assyrerkongene komme og finne rikelig vann?

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 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.

    Read in context
  • 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.

    Read in context
  • 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.

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 10:8

    “Are not all my commanders kings?” he says.

    Read in context
  • 1 Kings 3:16–17

    At that time two prostitutes came to the king and stood before him.

    Read in context
  • 1 Kings 19:21

    So Elisha turned back from him, took his pair of oxen, and slaughtered them. With the oxen’s equipment, he cooked the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow and serve Elijah.

    Read in context
  • 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.

    Read in context
  • 2 Kings 19:17

    Truly, O LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste these nations and their lands.

    Read in context