1. After these faithful deeds, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and entered Judah. He laid siege to the fortified cities and intended to break into them.
2. Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come and that he planned war on Jerusalem,
3. so he consulted with his officials and his warriors about stopping up the waters of the springs that were outside the city, and they helped him.
4. Many people gathered and stopped up all the springs and the stream that flowed through the land; they said, “Why should the kings of Assyria come and find plenty of water? ”
5. Then Hezekiah strengthened his position by rebuilding the entire broken-down wall and heightening the towers and the other outside wall. He repaired the supporting terraces of the city of David, and made an abundance of weapons and shields.
6. He set military commanders over the people and gathered the people in the square of the city gate. Then he encouraged them, saying,
7. “Be strong and courageous! Don’t be afraid or discouraged before the king of Assyria or before the large army that is with him, for there are more with us than with him.
8. He has only human strength, but we have Yahweh our God to help us and to fight our battles.” So the people relied on the words of King Hezekiah of Judah.
9. After this, while Sennacherib king of Assyria with all his armed forces besieged Lachish, he sent his servants to Jerusalem against King Hezekiah of Judah and against all those of Judah who were in Jerusalem, saying,
10. “This is what King Sennacherib of Assyria says: ‘What are you relying on that you remain in Jerusalem under siege?