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Prophets and Kings
The power of the oppressor was to be broken. Yet Hezekiah, in
the earlier years of his reign, had continued to pay tribute to Assyria,
in harmony with the agreement entered into by Ahaz. Meanwhile the
king had taken “counsel with his princes and his mighty men,” and
had done everything possible for the defense of his kingdom. He had
made sure of a bountiful supply of water within the walls of Jerusalem,
while without the city there should be a scarcity. “Also he strengthened
himself, and built up all the wall that was broken, and raised it up to
the towers, and another wall without, and repaired Millo in the city of
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David, and made darts and shields in abundance. And he set captains
of war over the people.”
2 Chronicles 32:3, 5, 6
. Nothing had been left
undone that could be done in preparation for a siege.
At the time of Hezekiah’s accession to the throne of Judah, the
Assyrians had already carried captive a large number of the children
of Israel from the northern kingdom; and a few years after he had
begun to reign, and while he was still strengthening the defenses of
Jerusalem, the Assyrians besieged and captured Samaria and scattered
the ten tribes among the many provinces of the Assyrian realm. The
borders of Judah were only a few miles distant, with Jerusalem less
than fifty miles away; and the rich spoils to be found within the temple
would tempt the enemy to return.
But the king of Judah had determined to do his part in preparing to
resist the enemy; and, having accomplished all that human ingenuity
and energy could do, he had assembled his forces and had exhorted
them to be of good courage. “Great is the Holy One of Israel in the
midst of thee” had been the message of the prophet Isaiah to Judah;
and the king with unwavering faith now declared, “With us is the Lord
our God to help us, and to fight our battles.”
Isaiah 12:6
;
2 Chronicles
32:8
.
Nothing more quickly inspires faith than the exercise of faith. The
king of Judah had prepared for the coming storm; and now, confident
that the prophecy against the Assyrians would be fulfilled, he stayed
his soul upon God. “And the people rested themselves upon the words
of Hezekiah.”
2 Chronicles 32:8
. What though the armies of Assyria,
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fresh from the conquest of the greatest nations of earth, and triumphant
over Samaria in Israel, should now turn their forces against Judah?
What though they should boast, “As my hand hath found the kingdoms
of the idols, and whose graven images did excel them of Jerusalem