He took counsel with his princes and his mighty men to stop the waters of the fountains which were without the city: and they did help him.

he took counsel with his princes and his mighty men to stop the waters of the fountains which were without the city; and they helped him.

He took counsel with the princes, and the most valiant men, to stop up the heads of the springs, that were without the city: and as they were all of this mind,

and he taketh counsel with his heads and his mighty ones, to stop the waters of the fountains that are at the outside of the city, and they help him,

He took up with his rulers and men of war the question of stopping up the water-springs outside the town; and they gave him their support.

he took counsel with the rulers and with the most valiant men, so that they might obstruct the heads of the springs which were beyond the city. And with everyone discerning the same judgment about this,

To stop the waters - Compare 2-Chronicles 32:30. Hezekiah's object was probably twofold - to hide the springs outside the city in order to distress the Assyrians, and to convey their water underground into the city, in order to increase his own supply during the siege.

He took counsel with his princes, and his mighty men,.... With his nobles, and the officers of his army, what steps should be taken to resist, retard, and distress the enemy, and among the rest what follows was proposed:
to stop the waters of the fountains which were without the city; that so the Assyrian army would find it difficult to supply themselves with water, which was an article of great importance:
and they did help him; to stop the fountains, not only with their advice how to do it, but with their men, their servants, who assisted those that Hezekiah employed in this work.

To stop - And withal to draw the waters by secret pipes underground to Jerusalem.