II Kings 18:7-16 , II Chronicles 32:1-8
“And the LORD was with him; and he prospered whithersoever he went forth: and he rebelled against the king of Assyria, and served him not. He smote the Philistines, even unto Gaza, and the borders thereof, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city.” (II Kings 18:7-8)
During Joshua’s time, Judah had failed to completely drive out the Philistines, and eight hundred years later they were still making periodic raids. The Assyrian Empire was nearing it’s peak, almost completely surrounding Judah and Israel. Hezekiah’s father, Ahaz had encouraged the Assyrians to attack Syria and as a result Judah ended up paying tribute to Assyria to keep them from invading.
God blessed Hezekiah for his efforts to serve God, and Hezekiah began to deal with some of the difficulties Judah had gone through, ending the Philistine raids and refusing to keep paying the Assyrians for their “protection”. The Assyrian king was not pleased at the loss of revenue.
“After these things, and the establishment thereof, Sennacherib king of Assyria came, and entered into Judah, and encamped against the fenced cities, and thought to win them for himself.
And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib was come, and that he was purposed to fight against Jerusalem, He took counsel with his princes and his mighty men to stop the waters of the fountains which were without the city: and they did help him.” (II Chronicles 32:1-3)
Unlike most political leaders, Hezekiah regularly consulted with the people about what they should do. Because the people believed they had a part in what was going to be done, the people got behind Hezekiah to fight the Assyrians, just as they had done in turning back to God. His demonstration of concern for their opinion convinced them that he could be trusted to consider the effects of his decisions on their lives. Literally, he had their backs. Leaders who don’t do so frequently embark on projects the people are ambivalent about or opposed to, destroying their trust.
“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?
Also he strengthened himself, and built up all the wall that was broken, and raised it up to the towers, and another wall without, and repaired Millo in the city of David, and made darts and shields in abundance.
And he set captains of war over the people, and gathered them together to him in the street of the gate of the city, and spake comfortably to them, saying, Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more 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.
And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.” (II Chronicles 32:4-8)
The people stopped up the springs and wells and diverted the streams to prevent Assyrian access to water, forcing them to search for water instead of concentrating on winning. He rebuilt the outer walls of Milo, the old military fort, as well as damaged sections of the city wall and built additional fortifications. He also took into account the concerns they might have facing the most powerful army in the world, reminding them that God had more power than the Assyrian army had and encouraging them to trust him. Because they trusted him to do the best possible for them, they were willing to trust him about God’s power.
“And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria, and besieged it. And at the end of three years they took it: even in the sixth year of Hezekiah, that is the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel, Samaria was taken.
And the king of Assyria did carry away Israel unto Assyria, and put them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes: Because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD their God, but transgressed his covenant, and all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded, and would not hear them, nor do them.” (II Kings 18:9-12)
Judah only had a non-aggression treaty with Assyria and was not Assyrian territory. Israel had been conquered by the Assyrians and was Assyrian territory. While they didn’t like it when Hezekiah refused to maintain the treaty, it was just an irritation. When Hoshea hired the Egyptians to throw them out it was a major revolt, and they couldn’t ignore it. The fourth year after Hezekiah became king, the Assyrians captured Hoshea and for almost three years were totally involved in trying to take control of Israel. Relocating the Jews and resettling the land took about eight more years.
Once again we are reminded that the Assyrian victory over Israel was a result of their refusal to obey God’s commands.
“Now in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah did Sennacherib king of Assyria come up against all the fenced cities of Judah, and took them.
And Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria to Lachish, saying, I have offended; return from me: that which thou puttest on me will I bear.
And the king of Assyria appointed unto Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold.” (II Kings 18:13-14)
With the problem with Israel resolved, and the army already there, Sennacherib could focus on conquering Judah. He attacked and conquered most of the major cities of Judah. Hezekiah asked to renew their non aggression treaty, offering to pay whatever amount they demanded. Three hundred talents of silver and thirty of gold was the figure they were given, but it was more than The treasury department had available.
“And Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king's house. At that time did Hezekiah cut off the gold from the doors of the temple of the LORD, and from the pillars which Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid, and gave it to the king of Assyria.” (II Kings 18:15-16)
Having seen what happened to Israel, Hezekiah tried to appease the Assyrians, donating the royal wealth, and raiding the temple for the rest, cutting off the gold coverings of the doors and pillars and undoing much of the repairs they had made. Since the Assyrians wanted the land, the money would not satisfy them. Efforts to appease people almost always fail for the same reason.
“And the LORD was with him; and he prospered whithersoever he went forth: and he rebelled against the king of Assyria, and served him not. He smote the Philistines, even unto Gaza, and the borders thereof, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city.” (II Kings 18:7-8)
During Joshua’s time, Judah had failed to completely drive out the Philistines, and eight hundred years later they were still making periodic raids. The Assyrian Empire was nearing it’s peak, almost completely surrounding Judah and Israel. Hezekiah’s father, Ahaz had encouraged the Assyrians to attack Syria and as a result Judah ended up paying tribute to Assyria to keep them from invading.
God blessed Hezekiah for his efforts to serve God, and Hezekiah began to deal with some of the difficulties Judah had gone through, ending the Philistine raids and refusing to keep paying the Assyrians for their “protection”. The Assyrian king was not pleased at the loss of revenue.
“After these things, and the establishment thereof, Sennacherib king of Assyria came, and entered into Judah, and encamped against the fenced cities, and thought to win them for himself.
And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib was come, and that he was purposed to fight against Jerusalem, He took counsel with his princes and his mighty men to stop the waters of the fountains which were without the city: and they did help him.” (II Chronicles 32:1-3)
Unlike most political leaders, Hezekiah regularly consulted with the people about what they should do. Because the people believed they had a part in what was going to be done, the people got behind Hezekiah to fight the Assyrians, just as they had done in turning back to God. His demonstration of concern for their opinion convinced them that he could be trusted to consider the effects of his decisions on their lives. Literally, he had their backs. Leaders who don’t do so frequently embark on projects the people are ambivalent about or opposed to, destroying their trust.
“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?
Also he strengthened himself, and built up all the wall that was broken, and raised it up to the towers, and another wall without, and repaired Millo in the city of David, and made darts and shields in abundance.
And he set captains of war over the people, and gathered them together to him in the street of the gate of the city, and spake comfortably to them, saying, Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more 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.
And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.” (II Chronicles 32:4-8)
The people stopped up the springs and wells and diverted the streams to prevent Assyrian access to water, forcing them to search for water instead of concentrating on winning. He rebuilt the outer walls of Milo, the old military fort, as well as damaged sections of the city wall and built additional fortifications. He also took into account the concerns they might have facing the most powerful army in the world, reminding them that God had more power than the Assyrian army had and encouraging them to trust him. Because they trusted him to do the best possible for them, they were willing to trust him about God’s power.
“And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria, and besieged it. And at the end of three years they took it: even in the sixth year of Hezekiah, that is the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel, Samaria was taken.
And the king of Assyria did carry away Israel unto Assyria, and put them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes: Because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD their God, but transgressed his covenant, and all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded, and would not hear them, nor do them.” (II Kings 18:9-12)
Judah only had a non-aggression treaty with Assyria and was not Assyrian territory. Israel had been conquered by the Assyrians and was Assyrian territory. While they didn’t like it when Hezekiah refused to maintain the treaty, it was just an irritation. When Hoshea hired the Egyptians to throw them out it was a major revolt, and they couldn’t ignore it. The fourth year after Hezekiah became king, the Assyrians captured Hoshea and for almost three years were totally involved in trying to take control of Israel. Relocating the Jews and resettling the land took about eight more years.
Once again we are reminded that the Assyrian victory over Israel was a result of their refusal to obey God’s commands.
“Now in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah did Sennacherib king of Assyria come up against all the fenced cities of Judah, and took them.
And Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria to Lachish, saying, I have offended; return from me: that which thou puttest on me will I bear.
And the king of Assyria appointed unto Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold.” (II Kings 18:13-14)
With the problem with Israel resolved, and the army already there, Sennacherib could focus on conquering Judah. He attacked and conquered most of the major cities of Judah. Hezekiah asked to renew their non aggression treaty, offering to pay whatever amount they demanded. Three hundred talents of silver and thirty of gold was the figure they were given, but it was more than The treasury department had available.
“And Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king's house. At that time did Hezekiah cut off the gold from the doors of the temple of the LORD, and from the pillars which Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid, and gave it to the king of Assyria.” (II Kings 18:15-16)
Having seen what happened to Israel, Hezekiah tried to appease the Assyrians, donating the royal wealth, and raiding the temple for the rest, cutting off the gold coverings of the doors and pillars and undoing much of the repairs they had made. Since the Assyrians wanted the land, the money would not satisfy them. Efforts to appease people almost always fail for the same reason.
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