Jerusalem Under Siege

Now that so much attention is being focused on the new excavations around the Gihon Spring and Hezekiah’s Tunnel—which was built as a defense against a siege by the Assyrian leader Sennacherib—it may be time to look at the siege itself. Specifically, was there one attack in 701 B.C., or were there two attacks, the second of which did not occur until 688 B.C.? And if there were two attacks, was Hezekiah’s Tunnel, which carries water from the Gihon Spring to the other side of the city, built in anticipation of the first or the second?