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The Lord has blessed his people, and all this
is left over.”
11 Hezekiah ordered that storerooms be prepared in the Temple of the Lord. When this
was done, 12 the people faithfully brought all
the gifts, tithes, and other items dedicated for
use in the Temple. Conaniah the Levite was
put in charge, assisted by his brother Shimei.
13 The supervisors under them were Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel,
Ismakiah, Mahath, and Benaiah. These appointments were made by King Hezekiah and
Azariah, the chief official in the Temple of God.
14 Kore son of Imnah the Levite, who was the
gatekeeper at the East Gate, was put in charge
of distributing the voluntary offerings given to
God, the gifts, and the things that had been
dedicated to the Lord. 15 His faithful assistants
were Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah. They distributed the gifts
among the families of priests in their towns by
their divisions, dividing the gifts fairly among
old and young alike. 16 They distributed the gifts
to all males three years old or older, regardless
of their place in the genealogical records. The
distribution went to all who would come to the
Lord’s Temple to perform their daily duties according to their divisions. 17 They distributed
gifts to the priests who were listed by their
families in the genealogical records, and to
the Levites twenty years old or older who were
listed according to their jobs and their divisions.
18 Food allotments were also given to the families of all those listed in the genealogical records, including their little babies, wives, sons,
and daughters. For they had all been faithful in
purifying themselves.
19 As for the priests, the descendants of Aaron,
who were living in the open villages around the
towns, men were appointed by name to distribute portions to every male among the priests
and to all the Levites listed in the genealogical
records.
20 In this way, King Hezekiah handled the
distribution throughout all Judah, doing what
was pleasing and good in the sight of the Lord
his God. 21 In all that he did in the service of
the Temple of God and in his efforts to follow
God’s laws and commands, Hezekiah sought
his God wholeheartedly. As a result, he was
very successful.
Assyria Invades Judah
After Hezekiah had faithfully carried
out this work, King Sennacherib of Assyria invaded Judah. He laid siege to the fortified towns, giving orders for his army to break
through their walls. 2 When Hezekiah realized that Sennacherib also intended to attack
32
32:5 Hebrew the millo. The meaning of the Hebrew is
uncertain.
2 CHR ONICL ES 32
Jerusalem, 3 he consulted with his officials and
military advisers, and they decided to stop the
flow of the springs outside the city. 4 They organized a huge work crew to stop the flow of the
springs, cutting off the brook that ran through
the fields. For they said, “Why should the kings
of Assyria come here and find plenty of water?”
5 Then Hezekiah worked hard at repairing all
the broken sections of the wall, erecting towers,
and constructing a second wall outside the first.
He also reinforced the supporting terraces* in
the City of David and manufactured large numbers of weapons and shields. 6 He appointed
military officers over the people and assembled
them before him in the square at the city gate.
Then Hezekiah encouraged them by saying:
7 “Be strong and courageous! Don’t be afraid or
discouraged because of the king of Assyria or
his mighty army, for there is a power far greater
on our side! 8 He may have a great army, but they
are merely men. We have the Lord our God to
help us and to fight our battles for us!” Hezekiah’s words greatly encouraged the people.
Sennacherib Threatens Jerusalem
9 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:
10 “This is what King Sennacherib of Assyria
says: What are you trusting in that makes
you think you can survive my siege of
Jerusalem? 11 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! 12 Don’t you realize that Hezekiah is
the very person who destroyed all the
Lord’s shrines and altars? He commanded
Judah and Jerusalem to worship only at the
altar at the Temple and to offer sacrifices on
it alone.
13 “Surely you must realize what I and
the other kings of Assyria before me have
done to all the people of the earth! Were
any of the gods of those nations able
to rescue their people from my power?
14 Which of their gods was able to rescue
its people from the destructive power of
my predecessors? What makes you think
your God can rescue you from me? 15 Don’t
let Hezekiah deceive you! Don’t let him
fool you like this! I say it again—no god of
any nation or kingdom has ever yet been
able to rescue his people from me or my
ancestors. How much less will your God
rescue you from my power!”
16 And Sennacherib’s officers further mocked
the Lord God and his servant Hezekiah, heaping insult upon insult. 17 The king also sent