2 Chronicles 32 9

2 Chronicles 32:9 kjv

After this did Sennacherib king of Assyria send his servants to Jerusalem, (but he himself laid siege against Lachish, and all his power with him,) unto Hezekiah king of Judah, and unto all Judah that were at Jerusalem, saying,

2 Chronicles 32:9 nkjv

After this Sennacherib king of Assyria sent his servants to Jerusalem (but he and all the forces with him laid siege against Lachish), to Hezekiah king of Judah, and to all Judah who were in Jerusalem, saying,

2 Chronicles 32:9 niv

Later, when Sennacherib king of Assyria and all his forces were laying siege to Lachish, he sent his officers to Jerusalem with this message for Hezekiah king of Judah and for all the people of Judah who were there:

2 Chronicles 32:9 esv

After this, Sennacherib king of Assyria, who was besieging Lachish with all his forces, sent his servants to Jerusalem to Hezekiah king of Judah and to all the people of Judah who were in Jerusalem, saying,

2 Chronicles 32:9 nlt

While King Sennacherib of Assyria was still besieging the town of Lachish, he sent his officers to Jerusalem with this message for Hezekiah and all the people in the city:

2 Chronicles 32 verses

2 Chronicles 32 9 Meaning

2 Chronicles 32:9 describes the escalating phase of Sennacherib's invasion of Judah. After King Hezekiah of Judah had taken extensive measures to fortify Jerusalem and encourage his people to trust in the Lord, Sennacherib, the powerful king of Assyria, dispatched his high-ranking officials to Jerusalem. This was an act of psychological warfare, delivering a threatening message to intimidate King Hezekiah and all the people gathered in the city, demanding their surrender. Notably, Sennacherib himself, with the bulk of his formidable army, was concurrently laying siege to Lachish, Judah's second most vital fortified city, illustrating the overwhelming nature of the Assyrian campaign.

2 Chronicles 32 9 Context

The context of 2 Chronicles 32 is Sennacherib's invasion of Judah, a significant event occurring around 701 BC. Judah, under King Hezekiah, had previously been a vassal state of Assyria, but Hezekiah embarked on religious reforms, centralizing worship in Jerusalem and dismantling idolatry. He also sought alliances and withheld tribute, signaling a rebellion against Assyrian dominance. Chapter 32 opens with Sennacherib's approach, indicating his intent to conquer Judah, similar to how the Northern Kingdom of Israel fell decades prior. Before the events of verse 9, Hezekiah had diligently prepared Jerusalem for a siege: reinforcing defenses, securing water supplies, and, crucially, gathering the people to encourage them with a message of faith in God's superior power (2 Chr 32:1-8). This verse sets the stage for the direct confrontation, where Sennacherib initiates psychological warfare by sending his representatives to Jerusalem with a demoralizing message, while simultaneously committing his main forces to subdue Lachish, demonstrating the seriousness of his campaign.

2 Chronicles 32 9 Word analysis

• "After this": This temporal connector (אֲחַר־זֹאת, 'ach ar-zot, "after this") directly links Sennacherib's action to Hezekiah's diligent preparations and spiritual encouragement detailed in 2 Chronicles 32:1-8. It highlights that even in the face of human preparation and faith, the enemy’s aggression persisted, emphasizing the direct confrontation that followed Hezekiah's actions.
• "did Sennacherib king of Assyria": Sennacherib (סַנְחֵרִיב֙, Sanherib) represents the epitome of imperial military power and arrogance in the ancient Near East. The Neo-Assyrian Empire was known for its ruthlessness, efficient military, and terror tactics. Identifying him as "king of Assyria" underscores his immense authority and the formidable might he commanded.
• "send his servants": (עֲבָדָיו, 'avadav, literally "his officials" or "messengers") refers to the high-ranking diplomatic and military envoys, notably including the Rabshakeh, Rab-saris, and Tartan mentioned in the parallel accounts. These were not mere couriers but shrewd negotiators tasked with delivering Sennacherib's propaganda and intimidating messages, aiming to demoralize the besieged city into surrender without a prolonged battle.
• "to Jerusalem": The spiritual and political heart of Judah, the City of David, chosen by God. The Assyrians targeting Jerusalem was not just a military objective but also a direct challenge to the God of Israel who was believed to dwell there.
• "(but he himself laid siege against Lachish, and all his power with him,)": This parenthetical clause is profoundly significant.
  • "he himself laid siege against Lachish": Lachish (לָכִישׁ֙, Lakish) was the second most important fortified city in Judah. Sennacherib personally commanding the siege at Lachish signaled its critical strategic importance and demonstrated the Assyrian commitment to conquer Judah systematically. The detailed reliefs found in Nineveh depicting Lachish's fall testify to its brutal conquest and served as a propaganda tool.
  • "and all his power with him": (עַד־כֹּל֙ מֶֽמְשַׁלְתּ֣וֹ, 'ad kol memshalto, "even all his dominion/authority") emphasizes the sheer magnitude of the Assyrian invasion force that was committed to the Judahite campaign. This detail highlights the humanly overwhelming odds faced by Jerusalem, accentuating the divine deliverance that would follow.
• "unto Hezekiah king of Judah": The primary target of the message, as Hezekiah was the king who had rebelled against Assyria and was now responsible for leading Judah's resistance. Breaking his resolve was a key objective.
• "and unto all Judah that were at Jerusalem": This indicates the message was also directly aimed at the common people and soldiers, designed to sow fear, disunity, and rebellion from within, encouraging them to pressure Hezekiah to surrender.
• "saying,": This verb introduces the direct speech of the Assyrian envoys, detailing Sennacherib's scornful and blasphemous challenge to Hezekiah's faith and trust in God, which forms the basis for the next verses.

2 Chronicles 32 9 Bonus section

The Assyrian siege reliefs from Nineveh depicting the fall of Lachish vividly illustrate the brutal effectiveness of Sennacherib's military might, which was well known to Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem. These images show the Assyrian war machine: siege ramps, archers, impaled captives, and masses of exiles. The very existence of such artwork from Sennacherib's own palace served as ancient propaganda, meant to deter future rebellions and showcase his absolute power. Thus, when the envoys mentioned Lachish, its destruction was a very real, horrific, and recent event that would have weighed heavily on the minds of the Judahites in Jerusalem. This context of terror enhances the significance of Hezekiah's unwavering faith and the people's ultimate trust in the Lord despite overwhelming evidence of Assyrian invincibility.

2 Chronicles 32 9 Commentary

2 Chronicles 32:9 marks a pivotal moment in Sennacherib's invasion. It describes the immediate follow-up to Hezekiah's faithful preparations, portraying Sennacherib's calculated move to break Jerusalem's morale. By sending high-level envoys, Sennacherib was initiating a campaign of psychological warfare designed to terrorize and dishearten, rather than just relying on military might. The crucial parenthetical note about Sennacherib's presence at Lachish, Judah's next most important city, emphasizes the Assyrian's strategic brilliance and the formidable scale of their army, having already proven their destructive power against other strongholds. This verse starkly presents the vast disparity in human terms between the global superpower Assyria and a small nation like Judah. It sets the stage for a dramatic contrast where the boastful power of man is met with the silent, decisive power of God.