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The Broad Wall

Archaeology has revealed the vast scope of building projects undertaken by Hezekiah in order to prepare for siege.  The king enlarged the walls of the city, no doubt in order to protect the large number of refugees who came in from the countryside, and no doubt from the northern provinces of Israel as well.  Portions of this wall have been found in the Jewish quarter of Jerusalem.  These areas were excavated in the 70’s after the Israelis recaptured Jerusalem.  Before rebuilding the Jewish quarter, heavily damaged from the war, they decided to undertake large scale excavations.  Among the important discoveries made during these excavations was the broad wall, so called because the width of the wall exceeds ..

Hezekiah’s Tunnel

Hezekiah also undertook the task of cutting a new water tunnel to bring water from the Gihon spring within the fortifications of the city.  It was a massive project that required two teams of workmen digging from both ends.  Somehow they managed to meet deep under ground.   No doubt it would have been more efficient to dig from just one side, but Hezekiah knew that Assyria was coming.  Speed was of the essence. 

Hezekiah is generally regarded as a good king but he also comes in for criticism in the book of Isaiah.  Isaiah describes the frantic preparations made by the king. 

In that day you looked to the weapons of the House of the Forest, and you saw that the breaches of the city of David were many. You collected the waters of the lower pool, and you counted the houses of Jerusalem, and you broke down the houses to fortify the wall.  You made a reservoir between the two walls for the water of the old pool. But you did not look to him who did it, or see him who planned it long ago. 

The prophet also describes the general attitude of the people of Jerusalem during this time.  Rather than use the hardship as a time for self reflection, they assumed a fatalistic attitude.

In that day the Lord GOD of hosts called for weeping and mourning, for baldness and wearing sackcloth; and behold, joy and gladness, killing oxen and slaughtering sheep, eating flesh and drinking wine. “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.  (Isa. 22:8-13 ESV)

Sargon II was killed in battle in 714 BC fighting in the Zagros mountains.  It was perhaps this event that provided the catalyst for a full-scale rebellion against the Assyrians.   Not only did Hezekiah participate in the rebellion, he was its leader.  He saw to it that the Assyrian puppet king in the Philistinne city of Ashdod was overthrown and a fellow pro-revolt leader was placed in his stead.