MPV Commentary

1. After these events and the restoration of temple worship, Hezekiah had decided to refuse to pay the tribute to Assyria that his father had agreed to.

Sennacherib entered Judah and encamped against the fortified cities. The entire land was ravaged; strong fortresses like Ashdod (Isa 20:1) and Lachish had fallen, and the siege of Libnah had begun. Fearing he couldn't resist, Hezekiah sent a delegation to acknowledge his fault and offer terms of submission by paying the tribute.

2-8. When Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib was determined to attack Jerusalem, he took measures to fortify the city against the impending siege. This included polluting or filling up wells and altering the course of rivers, an old practice still used in Eastern wars. Hezekiah's plan was to cover the fountain heads so they wouldn't be discovered by the enemy and to carry water into the city through subterranean channels.

4. A large crowd gathered to stop all the fountains and the brook that ran through the land. The location of these fountains is unclear, but En-rogel and the Virgin's Fount may have been among them. The brook, however, can be precisely located as a stream flowing through the Gihon valley, separating Akra and Zion from Bezetha, Moriah, and Ophel.

5, 6. Hezekiah strengthened himself by inspecting the city defenses to repair breaches in the wall, renew masonry, raise machines to towers, and fortify the lower portion of Zion, particularly Millo (the original city of David).

6. He gathered his soldiers together in the street, equipped them with full military gear, and addressed them with a stirring speech, emphasizing their motives for courage and confidence, especially God's favor and helping power.

9-20. (See 2Ki 18:17-35; also 2Ki 19:8-34).

18. The Assyrian officers cried out in a loud voice to the people of Jerusalem on the wall, apparently near the uppermost pool of Gihon.