2 Chronicles 32 10

2 Chronicles 32:10 kjv

Thus saith Sennacherib king of Assyria, Whereon do ye trust, that ye abide in the siege in Jerusalem?

2 Chronicles 32:10 nkjv

"Thus says Sennacherib king of Assyria: 'In what do you trust, that you remain under siege in Jerusalem?

2 Chronicles 32:10 niv

"This is what Sennacherib king of Assyria says: On what are you basing your confidence, that you remain in Jerusalem under siege?

2 Chronicles 32:10 esv

"Thus says Sennacherib king of Assyria, 'On what are you trusting, that you endure the siege in Jerusalem?

2 Chronicles 32:10 nlt

"This is what King Sennacherib of Assyria says: What are you trusting in that makes you think you can survive my siege of Jerusalem?

2 Chronicles 32 verses

2 Chronicles 32 10 Meaning

2 Chronicles 32:10 presents Sennacherib, king of Assyria, directly challenging the people of Jerusalem. His rhetorical question, "On what are you trusting, that you remain under siege in Jerusalem?" is a calculated act of psychological warfare. It seeks to undermine the confidence of Judah's inhabitants in their leadership, their military capabilities, and most significantly, their God. Sennacherib aims to sow doubt and fear, portraying their trust as baseless and their defiance as futile in the face of his overwhelming power.

2 Chronicles 32 10 Context

Verse 10 falls within the narrative of Sennacherib's invasion of Judah during King Hezekiah's reign. The chapter opens with Hezekiah's proactive preparations for war, fortifying Jerusalem and ensuring water supply (vv. 1-6). Sennacherib had already conquered many fortified cities in Judah (v. 1), leading him to besiege Jerusalem. Knowing the psychological tactics of the Assyrians, Hezekiah encouraged his people to trust in the Lord, stating that while the Assyrians relied on an "arm of flesh," Judah had "the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles" (vv. 7-8). This verse (32:10) is a direct attack by Sennacherib, delivered through his officials (often Rabshakeh, though not named in Chronicles here, as he is in Kings and Isaiah), intended to counter Hezekiah's encouragement and induce panic, thereby forcing Jerusalem's surrender without a prolonged fight. It sets the stage for the dramatic display of divine intervention that follows.

2 Chronicles 32 10 Word analysis

• Thus says: (Hebrew: Ko amar - כֹּה אָמַר). This is a formula often used to introduce divine pronouncements or authoritative statements. Here, it is ironically employed by Sennacherib, an idolatrous king, to give his words a sense of unquestionable authority and finality, mimicking divine decrees. It functions as a declarative and formal opening to his intimidating message.
• Sennacherib: (Hebrew: Sancheriv - סַנְחֵרִיב). An Akkadian name, Sin-ahhē-erība, meaning "Sin (the moon-god) has replaced the brothers." He was the formidable king of Assyria from 705 to 681 BC, known for his military campaigns and brutal methods, including the destruction of Babylon. His name itself evoked fear throughout the ancient Near East due to the widespread terror associated with Assyrian conquests.
• king of Assyria: Denotes his supreme political and military authority as ruler of the most dominant and cruel empire of the ancient world at that time. Assyria's military might was virtually unchallenged, conquering numerous nations and exiling their populations, which contributed to Sennacherib's overbearing confidence and boasts.
• On what: (Hebrew: Mah - מָה). A rhetorical question designed to suggest "nothing." Sennacherib intends to convey that there is no logical or substantial basis for Judah's hope or continued resistance. It's accusatory and condescending.
• are you trusting: (Hebrew: boṭaḥ - בָטַח). The root verb means "to trust," "to be confident," "to feel secure," or "to lean on." This is the core word in the verse, highlighting the central conflict: Judah's object of trust. Sennacherib questions the legitimacy and power of what Jerusalem is leaning on.
• that you remain: (Hebrew: yoshevim - יֹשְׁבִים). Implies being seated or settled. In this context, it carries a sense of stubbornness or defiant endurance, continuing to dwell in Jerusalem despite the impossible odds and the active siege.
• under siege: (Hebrew: ba'matzor - בַּמָּצוֹר). "In the siege," specifically denoting the state of being blockaded, encircled, and cut off. This highlights the dire military predicament of Jerusalem, emphasized by Sennacherib as a seemingly insurmountable disadvantage.
• in Jerusalem: The capital city of Judah, God's chosen city where the Temple was, and symbolically the heart of the Davidic covenant. Sennacherib challenges the very idea that this special city could withstand his power, directly attacking the promises associated with it.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Thus says Sennacherib king of Assyria": This opening phrase is an imposing, authoritative declaration, signaling the official nature and ultimate power source of the message. It immediately establishes the speaker as the greatest worldly power, setting up a confrontation with Judah's less tangible reliance.
• "On what are you trusting,": This phrase constitutes the direct challenge and the central interrogation of the verse. It aims to expose the "false" confidence of the people and isolate Hezekiah by suggesting his counsel is unsound. It strikes at the very heart of their spiritual and practical reliance.
• "that you remain under siege in Jerusalem?": This final part of the phrase brings the intimidating reality into sharp focus. It contrasts their act of "trusting" with their grim physical reality of being trapped and vulnerable. It frames their continued presence in the besieged city not as courage, but as illogical and self-destructive behavior, subtly demanding their surrender.

2 Chronicles 32 10 Bonus section

• The message in this verse was not an isolated communication; it was part of a continuous psychological campaign by Sennacherib's officers, particularly the Rabshakeh, designed to break the will of the inhabitants of Jerusalem. They spoke in the local dialect to ensure everyone understood the terrifying implications and undermine Hezekiah's authority (2 Kgs 18:28-29, Isa 36:13-14).
• Sennacherib's boasting was rooted in his successful track record. He had already devastated numerous cities of Judah and countless other nations, fulfilling God's judgment against wicked nations as His unwitting instrument (Isa 10:5-15). His failure to conquer Jerusalem stands out as a unique exception in his reign.
• This passage highlights a common biblical theme: the confrontation between the boasts of worldly powers and the quiet but invincible power of God. It's a test of whether people will place their confidence in visible human strength or invisible divine power. The narrative ultimately proves that relying on "an arm of flesh" (v. 8) is futile when contrasted with the Lord's hand.

2 Chronicles 32 10 Commentary

Sennacherib's communication in 2 Chronicles 32:10 is a masterful piece of ancient propaganda and psychological warfare. His words are not merely a statement but a direct assault on the morale and faith of Jerusalem. By employing the authoritative "Thus says" formula, he presents his ultimatum with the gravitas typically reserved for divine decree, asserting his power as absolute and unchallenged. The rhetorical question, "On what are you trusting?", immediately goes to the heart of the matter. He does not ask if they are trusting, but what they are trusting in, implying that no possible entity or force could stand against him. This was a challenge to Hezekiah's leadership, the city's defenses, and, most profoundly, the efficacy of Judah's God, Yahweh.

The phrase "that you remain under siege in Jerusalem" starkly contrasts the invisible concept of "trust" with the very tangible and desperate reality of their entrapment. Sennacherib aims to exploit the fear and doubt that naturally arise from a hopeless military situation, pressing the logic that continuing to resist in a besieged city must be based on some foolish, unreasoning hope. This Assyrian strategy sought to avoid costly urban warfare by breaking the enemy's will. However, this human-centric challenge precisely set the stage for God's dramatic, unparalleled intervention, proving that trust in the Invisible God, even in the most dire circumstances, is the only foundation that truly holds. This verse therefore epitomizes the ultimate clash between human pride and divine sovereignty.