So there was gathered much people together, who stopped all the fountains, and the brook that ran through the midst of the land, saying, Why should the kings of Assyria come, and find much water?

2 CHRONICLES 32:4KJV
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2 Chronicles 32:4 (KJV)

What does 2 Chronicles 32:4 mean?

2 Chronicles 32:4 describes a practical defense against an Assyrian invasion. A large group of people blocked water sources outside the city so that the invading kings would have less water available for their forces.

Following Hezekiah’s decision in verse 3, the people carry out the work together. Their question, “Why should the kings of Assyria come, and find much water?” gives their reason for blocking the fountains and the brook.

The Hebrew behind 2 Chronicles 32:4

  • “stopped” — סָתַם (satam): This word can mean to stop up or block. Here it pictures the people obstructing the water sources, rather than simply refusing the Assyrians permission to use them.
  • “brook” — נַחַל (naḥal): This word can refer to a stream or a streambed. It helps the reader picture a natural watercourse, alongside the fountains the people blocked.

Why 2 Chronicles 32:4 matters

  • The verse presents the work as a shared effort. “Much people” gathered, showing that the decision involved more than the king and his officials.
  • The people’s question makes the enemy’s needs central to the plan. An invading force would need water, and the people sought to make that need harder to meet.
  • The passage also connects the outside water sources with Jerusalem’s own supply. Verse 30 later says that Hezekiah directed the waters of Gihon down toward the city, helping readers see water management as part of the preparations.

Where else these words appear

“stopped” Hebrew H5640 · used in 14 verses

  • Genesis 26:15 For all the wells which his father's servants had digged in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines had stopped them, and filled them with earth.
  • 2 Chronicles 32:3 He took counsel with his princes and his mighty men to stop the waters of the fountains which were without the city: and they did help him.
  • Lamentations 3:8 Also when I cry and shout, he shutteth out my prayer.

“fountains” Hebrew H4599 · used in 23 verses

  • Genesis 7:11 In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.
  • 2 Kings 3:25 And they beat down the cities, and on every good piece of land cast every man his stone, and filled it; and they stopped all the wells of water, and felled all the good trees: only in Kirharaseth left they the stones thereof; howbeit the slingers went about it, and smote it.
  • Proverbs 8:24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.

“ran” Hebrew H7857 · used in 30 verses

  • Leviticus 6:28 But the earthen vessel wherein it is sodden shall be broken: and if it be sodden in a brasen pot, it shall be both scoured, and rinsed in water.
  • Song of Solomon 8:7 Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned.
  • Jeremiah 8:6 I hearkened and heard, but they spake not aright: no man repented him of his wickedness, saying, What have I done? every one turned to his course, as the horse rusheth into the battle.

“gathered” Hebrew H6908 · used in 121 verses

  • Genesis 41:35 And let them gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities.
  • 2 Chronicles 32:6 And he set captains of war over the people, and gathered them together to him in the street of the gate of the city, and spake comfortably to them, saying,
  • Jeremiah 31:8 Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the coasts of the earth, and with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her that travaileth with child together: a great company shall return thither.