Sennacherib's Siege of Jerusalem

Assyrian King Sennacherib invaded Judah and besieged Jerusalem during the reign of Hezekiah. After capturing 46 fortified Judean cities, Sennacherib’s army surrounded Jerusalem and his field commander mocked Judah’s God, demanding surrender.

Hezekiah tore his clothes, went to the Temple, and prayed. The prophet Isaiah declared that God would defend the city. That night, the angel of the Lord struck down 185,000 Assyrian soldiers, and Sennacherib withdrew to Nineveh (2 Kings 19:35-36). This deliverance is confirmed by Assyrian records (Sennacherib Prism), which boast of conquering Judean cities but notably fail to claim Jerusalem’s capture.