Hizkiyahu and Chanelling Water into Jerusalem

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  1. Sanheriv’s Siege of Jerusalem

    Rabbi Alex Israel

    Hizkiyahu takes advantage of a gap in Assyrian rule and joins Egypt and Babylon in rebellion against Assyria. He fortifies Jerusalem and channels water into the walled city, while cutting off the water supply outside of the city. However, the new Assyrian king Sanheriv fights back, destroying 46 fortified cities in Yehuda, and sets his sights on Jerusalem. Sanheriv sends emissaries to Jerusalem to deflate the moral of the people and encourage them to surrender while boasting that God cannot stop him. After Yishayahu first prophecy sends Sanheriv away temporarily, Sanheriv returns to Jerusalem once again. This time Hizkiyahu prays to God and miraculously the entire Assyrian army is killed in one night. This description has an indirect corroboration in Assyrian historical documents that describe the war against Hizkiyahu in a manner which is jarringly inconsistent with other battles. This miracle led to the concept of Jerusalem's invincibility, a concept that the prophet Yirmiyahu could not change when he prophesied its destruction over a century later.

  2. Tests of Faith

    Rabbi Alex Israel

    Hizkiyahu's prayer in the face of a prophecy from Yishayahu of his impending death and the reversal of this prophecy to extend his life and his reign for 15 more years makes Hizkiyahu a paragon of faith. Conversely his dealings with Berodakh Baladan, King of Babylon, are criticized harshly by Yishyahu. Divrei Hayamim paints a picture of arrogance and pride as leading to Hizkiyahu's illness and perhaps the censure he received for his dealings with the Babylonian King. Melakhim seems to be critical of putting faith in other nations and forming alliances as a rejection of faith in God. 

    These two stories lead to a broader discussion within Hizkiyahu's character and in general of proactiveness versus faith in God. The Sages criticize Hizkiyahu for chanelling the waters of Gihon into the city and for utilizing the Book of Remedies as expressing a lack of faith. Are these criticisms justified?

  3. Hezekiah's Tunnel

    Megalim Institute

    Megalim | 2 minutes

    The rebellion of the king of Judah against the Assyrian Empire in 701 BCE placed Jerusalem in great danger. This video depicts Jerusalem's ordeal under the threat of Assyrian siege and Hezekiah's creative solution to the city's resulting water problem. Hezekiah's water system was an engineering wonder that included the hewing of a 533-meter-long tunnel in the depths of the rock. By means of Hezekiah's tunnel, which is mentioned in the Bible and in the Shiloah (Siloam) Inscription, the water of the Gihon Spring was diverted into the city, out of reach of the Assyrians.

    Courtesy of Megalim Institute