Then they cried with a loud voice in the Jews’ speech unto the people of Jerusalem that were on the wall, to affright them, and to trouble them; that they might take the city.
Sennacherib's malice cuts two ways at once: he undermines Hezekiah's authority by whispering to the people that their king will starve them, and he blasphemes God Himself, comparing the Maker of heaven and earth to the dead idols of conquered nations. Mark how a man's pride in his own conquests becomes the fuel for his impiety.
AI summary
Commenting on 2 Chronicles 32:9-23
Thus the Lord saved Hezekiah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria,.... As most clearly appeared; for no stroke was struck but by him: and from the hand of all other; the Arabic version adds,"who were round about them;''who by this defeat were deterred from attacking them: and guided them on every side: and guarded them all around...
they cried with a loud voice . . . unto the people of Jerusalem . . . on the wall--It appears that the wall on the west side of the city reached as far to the side of the uppermost pool of Gihon at that time as it does now, if not farther; and the wall was so close to that pool that those sent...