Doth not Hezekiah persuade you to give over yourselves to die by famine and by thirst, saying, The LORD our God shall deliver us out of the hand of the king of Assyria?

2 CHRONICLES 32:11KJV
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2 Chronicles 32:11 (KJV)

What does 2 Chronicles 32:11 mean?

2 Chronicles 32:11 records a challenge from the king of Assyria’s messengers, accusing King Hezekiah of misleading the people of Jerusalem by telling them to trust that the LORD would save them from the Assyrian army, even though this might lead to their suffering from hunger and thirst during a siege. The verse highlights the Assyrian attempt to undermine the people’s faith in their king and their God.

In this verse, the Assyrian spokesman is speaking to the people of Jerusalem, trying to shake their confidence in Hezekiah’s leadership and in the LORD’s (H3068) ability to deliver (H5337) them. The historical setting is the Assyrian siege of Jerusalem, where the threat of famine (H7458) and thirst (H6772) was very real. The verse captures the psychological warfare used by the Assyrians to persuade (H5496) the people to surrender rather than trust in divine rescue.

The Hebrew behind 2 Chronicles 32:11

  • "Persuade" (סוּת, suth, H5496) means to incite or entice. Here, the Assyrian messenger frames Hezekiah’s encouragement as dangerous persuasion, suggesting he is leading the people into disaster.
  • "Deliver" (נָצַל, natsal, H5337) means to rescue or save. The Assyrian spokesman questions whether the LORD can truly rescue Jerusalem from the powerful hand (H3709) of the king of Assyria (H804), casting doubt on God’s power compared to Assyria’s might.
  • "Famine" (רָעָב, ra’av, H7458) and "thirst" (צָמָא, tsama, H6772) are used to emphasize the suffering expected during a siege, making the threat very concrete and immediate for the people hearing this message.

Why 2 Chronicles 32:11 matters

  • This verse shows the psychological tactics of ancient warfare, where enemies tried to break the spirit of a city before a battle even began.
  • The verse highlights the tension between trusting in God’s deliverance and facing very real, physical threats, a theme that runs throughout the chapter.
  • Understanding the original words for "persuade" and "deliver" helps clarify that the Assyrian message was not just about military might, but about undermining faith and leadership at a critical moment.