2 Chronicles 32:11 kjv
Doth not Hezekiah persuade you to give over yourselves to die by famine and by thirst, saying, The LORD our God shall deliver us out of the hand of the king of Assyria?
2 Chronicles 32:11 nkjv
Does not Hezekiah persuade you to give yourselves over to die by famine and by thirst, saying, "The LORD our God will deliver us from the hand of the king of Assyria"?
2 Chronicles 32:11 niv
When Hezekiah says, 'The LORD our God will save us from the hand of the king of Assyria,' he is misleading you, to let you die of hunger and thirst.
2 Chronicles 32:11 esv
Is not Hezekiah misleading you, that he may give you over to die by famine and by thirst, when he tells you, "The LORD our God will deliver us from the hand of the king of Assyria"?
2 Chronicles 32:11 nlt
Hezekiah has said, 'The LORD our God will rescue us from the king of Assyria.' Surely Hezekiah is misleading you, sentencing you to death by famine and thirst!
2 Chronicles 32 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Dt 28:53-57 | You will eat the fruit of your own womb… in the siege… | Siege brings hunger, a common biblical consequence |
| 2 Kgs 18:32-35 | Do not listen to Hezekiah, for he misleads you… who among all the gods...? | Parallel account; Sennacherib's false promises |
| Isa 36:14-15 | "Do not let Hezekiah mislead you when he says, ‘The LORD will deliver us.’" | Parallel account, enemy's taunt |
| Isa 37:10-13 | "Do not let your God in whom you trust deceive you…" | Assyrian blasphemy against YHWH |
| Isa 37:23 | Whom have you mocked and reviled? Against whom have you raised your voice? | Blasphemy against the Holy One of Israel |
| Jer 17:5-7 | Cursed is the one who trusts in man... Blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD. | Contrasting human vs. divine trust |
| Ps 20:7 | Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD. | Reliance on God, not military might |
| Ps 33:16-17 | No king is saved by the size of his army... the horse is a vain hope. | Futility of human strength in battle |
| Ps 34:19 | Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him... | God's deliverance from many troubles |
| Ps 50:15 | Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall honor Me. | God promises deliverance to those who call him |
| Ps 12:4 | who say, "With our tongue we will prevail; our lips are our own; who is lord over us?" | Enemy's boastfulness and arrogance |
| Prov 29:25 | The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe. | Encourages trust in God over human fear |
| 1 Kgs 18:37-39 | The LORD, He is God! | God's demonstration of power over false gods |
| Dt 1:30 | The LORD your God, who goes before you, will Himself fight for you. | God's promise to fight for His people |
| Neh 4:14 | Do not be afraid of them; remember the Lord, great and awesome, and fight! | Faith over fear, divine aid in conflict |
| Ex 14:13-14 | The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent. | God's miraculous intervention on behalf of His people |
| 2 Chr 20:9 | if disaster comes upon us... we will cry to You in our distress... | Hezekiah's forefathers called upon God |
| 2 Chr 20:15 | for the battle is not yours but God's. | Affirmation of God's sovereign hand in conflict |
| Rom 8:31 | If God is for us, who can be against us? | Divine backing renders human opposition meaningless |
| Heb 10:35-36 | Do not throw away your confidence, which has great reward. | Endurance in faith amidst trials |
| Eph 6:11-12 | Stand against the schemes of the devil… against spiritual forces… | Spiritual warfare, unseen enemy schemes |
| Jn 8:44 | He was a murderer from the beginning... a liar and the father of lies. | Satan's nature as a deceiver, reflecting enemy's lies |
| Mt 7:15 | Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing… | Warning against misleading individuals |
2 Chronicles 32 verses
2 Chronicles 32 11 Meaning
This verse captures the essence of the Assyrian general's psychological warfare against Judah during the siege of Jerusalem. Sennacherib's commanders attempt to undermine the people's trust in King Hezekiah by accusing him of deceiving them. They claim Hezekiah's call to trust in the LORD for deliverance will lead only to famine, thirst, and death, contrasting it with a false promise of survival by surrendering. This accusation is a direct attack on Hezekiah's leadership and, more critically, on the power and faithfulness of Judah's God, YHWH, suggesting He is incapable of delivering them from the formidable Assyrian king.
2 Chronicles 32 11 Context
This verse is set during Sennacherib's invasion of Judah in 701 BC. Following Sennacherib's successful campaigns against other Judean cities, Jerusalem alone remained fortified. King Hezekiah had prepared the city for siege, strengthening its defenses and reassuring the people that their reliance should be on the LORD, not on human power or military might. This specific verse forms part of a longer speech delivered by Sennacherib's field commanders (similar to the Rabshakeh in parallel accounts) to the people of Jerusalem from outside the city walls. This public address was a crucial element of Assyrian psychological warfare, aiming to sow fear, disunity, and doubt among the besieged populace. It immediately follows the Assyrian boasting of their conquest of many nations and the inability of those nations' gods to deliver them (2 Chr 32:9-10). The commanders aim to portray Hezekiah as an unreliable leader whose spiritual advice will lead to their doom, directly challenging the integrity of Judah's king and the power of Judah's God.
2 Chronicles 32 11 Word analysis
- Does not: (Hebrew: הֲלֹא - ha-lo) This particle functions as a strong rhetorical question expecting an affirmative answer, "Is it not the case that...?" It is an accusation presented as a self-evident truth, designed to make the listeners question Hezekiah immediately.
- Hezekiah: (Hebrew: יְחִזְקִיָּהוּ - Yeḥizqiyyāhū) The current king of Judah. His name means "The LORD strengthens" or "The LORD is my strength." The Assyrians directly target the personification of Judah's faith and leadership, twisting the meaning of his name into a weakness.
- mislead: (Hebrew: יַפִּית - yappith) From the root יָפָה (yapah), meaning "to persuade," "allure," "entice," or "deceive." Here it carries a strong connotation of deception and treachery. The Assyrians portray Hezekiah not merely as mistaken, but as actively leading his people astray to their ruin. This term indicates a deliberate, harmful persuasion.
- you: Refers to the people of Judah, specifically the common folk gathered on the city walls, whom the Assyrians seek to separate from their king and God.
- to give yourselves over to death by hunger and thirst: This phrase describes the predicted dire consequences of following Hezekiah's counsel to resist. "Hunger and thirst" represent the quintessential suffering of a siege, a grim but realistic outcome if no relief came. The phrasing "give yourselves over" emphasizes their active, self-destructive choice if they obey Hezekiah, painting their continued loyalty as suicide.
- saying: Introduces what the Assyrians claim to be Hezekiah's direct words or promise. While Hezekiah certainly declared God would deliver them (v. 7-8), the Assyrians frame it as a false assurance given in the face of insurmountable odds.
- ‘The LORD our God: The Assyrian general uses "the LORD" (YHWH), showing he is aware of the name of Judah's God. However, he also uses "our God" in Hezekiah's purported quote, indicating that he is directly challenging the relationship between YHWH and Judah, effectively mocking their faith and divine allegiance. This is a profound act of theological defiance.
- will deliver us: Refers to a future act of divine rescue from their desperate situation. This is the core of Hezekiah's message of faith (2 Chr 32:7-8). The Assyrians are twisting this promise of divine intervention, making it sound naive and delusional given their overwhelming power.
- from the hand of the king of Assyria’: "Hand" (Hebrew: יָד - yad) symbolizes power, authority, control. Sennacherib was indeed an immensely powerful king, having crushed many nations and their gods. The Assyrians underscore their absolute dominance, suggesting no god or king could stand against their king's "hand." This highlights the theological battle: the power of the Living God vs. the power of the greatest earthly empire.
2 Chronicles 32 11 Bonus section
- The Rabshakeh's Strategy: This speech, delivered by a high-ranking Assyrian official, reflects a common ancient Near Eastern siege tactic: psychological warfare. They sought to demoralize the defenders, incite internal rebellion, and compel surrender without a costly direct assault. This strategy is also vividly described in the parallel accounts in 2 Kgs 18 and Isa 36.
- Polemic against YHWH: The most severe aspect of the Assyrian speech is their direct challenge to the power of YHWH. They had already conquered nations whose gods failed to protect them, leading them to believe Judah's God would be no different. This sets up the grand divine response, proving YHWH's uniqueness as the only true and living God.
- Hezekiah's Response: Unlike those who succumb to fear, Hezekiah responds with fervent prayer and reliance on the LORD (2 Chr 32:20). This faithful response sets the stage for God's miraculous deliverance, validating Hezekiah's initial counsel (2 Chr 32:21).
- Lesson on Trials: This narrative underscores that often, during our greatest trials, the enemy attempts to deceive and demoralize, casting doubt on God's faithfulness and our leaders' integrity. It is in such moments that steadfast faith and unwavering trust in God's promises are most crucial.
2 Chronicles 32 11 Commentary
2 Chronicles 32:11 encapsulates the ultimate challenge of faith in the face of overwhelming odds. The Assyrians employed a calculated strategy of disinformation and fear-mongering. By painting King Hezekiah as a deceiver and His God as impotent, they sought to erode the people's will to resist. The mention of "hunger and thirst" highlights the real and terrible prospects of siege warfare, creating a stark contrast to Hezekiah's spiritual promise of divine rescue. This propaganda aimed to sever the spiritual lifeline between the people and their God, as well as undermine their trust in their chosen leader. The enemy's accusation serves as a spiritual test, probing whether the people's trust rested truly on God's omnipotence or on human logic and sight. This conflict is not merely military; it is a profound theological contest where the supremacy of YHWH over human might and false gods is put to the ultimate test. It reminds believers that opposition often targets our spiritual leadership and the very object of our faith.