Sennacherib, king of Assyria, came up against Hezekiah, king of Judah. The people prayed and the LORD sent an angel to intervene. This story is referred to in three different locations in the scriptures. The report does not say how it happened, but indicates that one angel annihilated five thousand-one hundred and eighty of the Assyrians. A mighty outcome was released by their prayers.
“For I will defend this city, to save it, for mine own sake, and for my servant David’s sake. And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the LORD went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrans an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold they were all dead corpses. So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh.” (II Kings 19:34-36)
It is given again in II Chronicles 32:20-21 “And for this cause Hezekiah the king, and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz, prayed and cried to heaven. And the LORD sent an angel, which cut off all the mighty men of valour, and the leaders and captains in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land.”
Isaiah the Prophet also spoke of this incident. “Then the angel of the LORD went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and fourscore and five thousand; and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.” (Isaiah 37:36)
