Chapter 4: The Shadow of Samaria

In Hezekiah's fourth year as king, the Assyrian empire laid siege to Samaria, the capital of the northern kingdom of Israel. By his sixth year, the city fell. The Assyrians scattered the people across the empire, deporting them to Halah, to Gozan along the Habor River, and to the cities of the Medes. The ten northern tribes of Israel were erased. They would never return.

Refugees streamed south into Judah carrying stories of horror. Cities burned. Families torn apart. Entire populations marched into exile in chains. What had been the other half of God's people was gone.

Hezekiah understood what this meant. Judah was next.

He struck the Philistines as far as Gaza, securing his western border. Then he turned to Jerusalem. He repaired every broken section of the wall and built a second wall outside it. He reinforced the stone terraces that supported the City of David and manufactured weapons and shields in quantities the city had never seen. He ordered every spring outside the city walls blocked so the Assyrians would find no water when they came.

THE PEOPLE (as they blocked the springs)“Why should the kings of Assyria come and find plenty of water?”— 2 Chronicles 32:4

Then Hezekiah undertook his most audacious project. A tunnel carved through 1750 feet of solid rock beneath the city to channel the water from the Gihon Spring inside the walls. Two teams of diggers started from opposite ends and met in the middle. If Assyria came, Jerusalem would have water. The enemy would not.

When the preparations were complete, Hezekiah gathered the people in the square at the city gate.

HEZEKIAH“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him. With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.”— 2 Chronicles 32:7-8

And the people gained confidence from what the king said.