Historical Context:
Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, reigned from 705 to 681 BC. His invasion of Judah is a significant event recorded in the Bible, primarily in 2 Kings 18-19, 2 Chronicles 32, and Isaiah 36-37. This period marks a time of great turmoil and testing for the Kingdom of Judah under King Hezekiah.

Biblical Account:
The narrative begins with Sennacherib's campaign against Judah during the reign of Hezekiah, a king noted for his faithfulness to God and religious reforms. In 2 Kings 18:13 , it is recorded, "In the fourteenth year of Hezekiah’s reign, Sennacherib king of Assyria attacked all the fortified cities of Judah and captured them." This invasion was part of Sennacherib's broader military campaign to expand Assyrian dominance in the region.

Hezekiah's Response:
Faced with the threat of Assyrian conquest, Hezekiah initially sought to appease Sennacherib by paying tribute. 2 Kings 18:14-16 details Hezekiah's attempt to buy peace: "So Hezekiah king of Judah sent word to the king of Assyria at Lachish: 'I have done wrong. Withdraw from me, and I will pay whatever you demand of me.' The king of Assyria exacted from Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold." Despite this, Sennacherib continued his campaign against Jerusalem.

The Assyrian Threat:
Sennacherib's envoy, Rabshakeh, delivered a message of intimidation to the people of Jerusalem, questioning their reliance on Egypt and their faith in the LORD. In 2 Kings 18:19-20 , Rabshakeh taunts, "Tell Hezekiah: This is what the great king, the king of Assyria, says: On what are you basing this confidence of yours? You say you have strategy and military strength—but you speak only empty words. On whom are you depending, that you rebel against me?"

Hezekiah's Faith and Prayer:
In response to the Assyrian threats, Hezekiah sought the counsel of the prophet Isaiah and turned to God in prayer. 2 Kings 19:15-19 records Hezekiah's earnest prayer: "And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD: 'O LORD, God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, You alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You made the heavens and the earth. Incline Your ear, O LORD, and hear; open Your eyes, O LORD, and see; listen to the words that Sennacherib has sent to defy the living God.'"

Divine Intervention:
God's response to Hezekiah's prayer came through the prophet Isaiah, who assured the king of Judah that Sennacherib would not enter Jerusalem. Isaiah 37:33-35 states, "Therefore this is what the LORD says about the king of Assyria: 'He will not enter this city or shoot an arrow here. He will not come before it with shield or build a siege ramp against it. By the way that he came he will return; he will not enter this city,' declares the LORD. 'I will defend this city and save it, for My sake and for the sake of My servant David.'"

The Assyrian Defeat:
The biblical account concludes with a miraculous deliverance for Jerusalem. 2 Kings 19:35 describes the divine intervention: "That night the angel of the LORD went out and struck down 185,000 men in the camp of the Assyrians. When the people got up the next morning, there were all the dead bodies!" This event forced Sennacherib to withdraw to Nineveh, where he was later assassinated by his own sons, as recorded in 2 Kings 19:37 .

Significance:
The invasion of Judah by Sennacherib and the subsequent deliverance of Jerusalem is a powerful testament to God's sovereignty and faithfulness. It underscores the importance of reliance on God in times of crisis and serves as a reminder of His ability to protect and deliver His people against overwhelming odds.