Despite the hefty sum Hezekiah paid to Sennacherib as tribute, the latter still sent his men to intimidate Judah. He was bent on punishing Judah anyway. In 2 Chronicles 32:2-4, we see that when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib intended to make war on Jerusalem, in consultation with his officers and his warriors decided to cut off the supply of water from the springs which were outside the city. Many people then assembled and stopped up all the springs and the stream which flowed through the region. He did this in preparation for the attack from Assyria.
Meanwhile,
2 Kings 18:17-18 said that Sennacherib sent three of his senior officers
namely, Tartan, Reb-saris, and Rabshakeh with a large army from
Lachish to Jerusalem to intimidate Hezekiah. The three men and the army came to
a conduit that led to the upper pool and called out to the king. In
response, verse 18 said that Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the
household, and Shebnah the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder,
came out to meet them.
We
will explore what Sennacherib said to Hezekiah in our next reflection. Suffice
it to say that in life we will meet intimidating people like Sennacherib,
who cannot be appeased easily. First Peter 5:8 tells us that we also have
adversaries like a roaring lion would prowl around seeking to devour us. What
should we do? Stay sober in spirit and alert. Be discerning. Paul tells us to
be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. And remember to put on the
full armor of God. Our victory is in the Lord!
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