And he resolutely set to work and rebuilt all of the wall that had been broken down and erected towers on it, and built another outside wall and strengthened the Millo in the city of David, and made weapons and shields in great numbers.
Parallel translations
- WEB He took courage, built up all the wall that was broken down, and raised it up to the towers, with the other wall outside, and strengthened Millo in David’s city, and made weapons and shields in abundance.
- KJV Also he strengthened himself, and built up all the wall that was broken, and raised it up to the towers, and another wall without, and repaired Millo in the city of David, and made darts and shields in abundance.
- BSB Then Hezekiah worked resolutely to rebuild all the broken sections of the wall and to raise up towers on it. He also built an outer wall and reinforced the supporting terraces of the City of David, and he produced an abundance of weapons and shields.
- NKJV And he strengthened himself, built up all the wall that was broken, raised it up to the towers, and built another wall outside; also he repaired the Millo in the City of David, and made weapons and shields in abundance.
- NLT Then Hezekiah worked hard at repairing all the broken sections of the wall, erecting towers, and constructing a second wall outside the first. He also reinforced the supporting terraces in the City of David and manufactured large numbers of weapons and shields.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Hezekiah strengthened the walls, built towers and a second wall, fortified the Millo, and made abundant weapons and shields. It matters because he diligently fortified the city for defense.
Overview
Taking courage, the king repaired breaches, raised the walls and towers, and armed the people thoroughly. His energetic preparation demonstrates responsible leadership in the face of invasion. Such diligence, paired with trust in God, models faithful stewardship of the resources and duties God gives.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- 2 Chr 25:23Joash king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash the son of Jehoahaz, at Beth Shemesh, and brought him to Jerusalem, and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim to the corner gate, four hundred cubits.
- 1 Kgs 9:24But Pharaoh’s daughter came up out of David’s city to her house which Solomon had built for her. Then he built Millo.
- Isa 22:9–10You saw the breaches of David’s city, that they were many; and you gathered together the waters of the lower pool.
- 2 Kgs 25:4Then a breach was made in the city, and all the men of war fled by night by the way of the gate between the two walls, which was by the king’s garden (now the Chaldeans were against the city around it); and the king went by the way of the Arabah.
- 2 Sam 5:9David lived in the stronghold, and called it David’s city. David built around from Millo and inward.
- 2 Chr 26:8The Ammonites gave tribute to Uzziah. His name spread abroad even to the entrance of Egypt; for he grew exceedingly strong.
- Judg 9:6All the men of Shechem assembled themselves together, and all the house of Millo, and went and made Abimelech king, by the oak of the pillar that was in Shechem.
- 2 Chr 17:1–2Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place, and strengthened himself against Israel.
- 2 Chr 14:5–7Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the sun images; and the kingdom was quiet before him.
- 2 Chr 23:1In the seventh year, Jehoiada strengthened himself, and took the captains of hundreds, Azariah the son of Jeroham, Ishmael the son of Jehohanan, Azariah the son of Obed, Maaseiah the son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat the son of Zichri, into a covenant with him.
- Jer 39:4When Zedekiah the king of Judah and all the men of war saw them, then they fled, and went out of the city by night, by the way of the king’s garden, through the gate between the two walls; and he went out toward the Arabah.
- 2 Chr 26:14–15Uzziah prepared for them, even for all the army, shields, spears, helmets, coats of mail, bows, and stones for slinging.
- 1 Kgs 11:27This was the reason why he lifted up his hand against the king: Solomon built Millo, and repaired the breach of his father David’s city.
- 2 Chr 12:1When the kingdom of Rehoboam was established and he was strong, he abandoned Yahweh’s law, and all Israel with him.
- 2 Kgs 12:20His servants arose, and made a conspiracy, and struck Joash at the house of Millo, on the way that goes down to Silla.
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Temple, priesthood, and the repeated need for a faithful king who seeks the LORD all point past every imperfect reign to the King and Temple who finally and fully dwell with God's people.
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