4. A large crowd gathered as they stopped all the springs and the brook that flowed through the land. They said, “Why should the kings of Assyria find plenty of water?”
5. Hezekiah worked hard. He rebuilt all the broken sections of the wall, made the towers taller, built another wall outside ⌊the city wall⌋, strengthened the Millo in the City of David, and made plenty of weapons and shields.
6. He appointed military commanders over the troops and gathered the commanders in the square by the city gate. He spoke these words of encouragement:
7. “Be strong and courageous. Don’t be frightened or terrified by the king of Assyria or the crowd with him. Someone greater is on our side.
8. The king of Assyria has human power on his side, but the Lord our God is on our side to help us and fight our battles.” So the people were encouraged by what King Hezekiah of Judah said.
9. After this, while King Sennacherib of Assyria and all his royal forces were attacking Lachish, he sent his officers to King Hezekiah of Judah and to all of the people in Judah who were in Jerusalem to say:
10. “This is what King Sennacherib of Assyria says: Why are you so confident as you live in Jerusalem while it is blockaded?