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Hebrew Study Bible

1After all of these acts of faithfulness occurred, King Sennacherib of Assyria came, invaded Judah, and laid siege to the fortified cities, thinking to conquer them for himself.

1אַחֲרֵ֨י הַדְּבָרִ֤ים וְהָאֱמֶת֙ הָאֵ֔לֶּה בָּ֖א סַנְחֵרִ֣יב מֶֽלֶךְ־ אַשּׁ֑וּר וַיָּבֹ֣א בִֽיהוּדָ֗ה וַיִּ֙חַן֙ עַל־ הֶעָרִ֣ים הַבְּצֻר֔וֹת וַיֹּ֖אמֶר לְבִקְעָ֥ם אֵלָֽיו׃

2As soon as Hezekiah learned that Sennacherib had arrived and had determined to attack Jerusalem,

2וַיַּרְא֙ יְחִזְקִיָּ֔הוּ כִּי־ בָ֖א סַנְחֵרִ֑יב וּפָנָ֕יו לַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה עַל־ יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃

3he developed a plan with his commanders and his elite forces to cut off the water supply from the springs that were outside the city, and they helped him to carry it out.

3וַיִּוָּעַ֗ץ עִם־ שָׂרָיו֙ וְגִבֹּרָ֔יו לִסְתּוֹם֙ אֶת־ מֵימֵ֣י הָעֲיָנ֔וֹת אֲשֶׁ֖ר מִח֣וּץ לָעִ֑יר וַֽיַּעְזְרֽוּהוּ׃

4Many people gathered together and plugged up all the springs, along with the stream that flowed through the region. They were thinking to themselves, "Why should the Assyrian kings invade and discover an abundant water supply?"

4וַיִּקָּבְצ֣וּ עַם־ רָ֔ב וַֽיִּסְתְּמוּ֙ אֶת־ כָּל־ הַמַּעְיָנ֔וֹת וְאֶת־ הַנַּ֛חַל הַשּׁוֹטֵ֥ף בְּתוֹךְ־ הָאָ֖רֶץ לֵאמֹ֑ר לָ֤מָּה יָב֙וֹאוּ֙ מַלְכֵ֣י אַשּׁ֔וּר וּמָצְא֖וּ מַ֥יִם רַבִּֽים׃

5Hezekiah took courage and rebuilt all of the walls that had been broken down. Then he erected watch towers on them, and added another external wall. He fortified the terrace ramparts in the City of David and prepared a large number of weapons and shields.

5וַיִּתְחַזַּ֡ק וַיִּבֶן֩ אֶת־ כָּל־ הַחוֹמָ֨ה הַפְּרוּצָ֜ה וַיַּ֣עַל עַל־ הַמִּגְדָּל֗וֹת וְלַח֙וּצָה֙ הַחוֹמָ֣ה אַחֶ֔רֶת וַיְחַזֵּ֥ק אֶת־ הַמִּלּ֖וֹא עִ֣יר דָּוִ֑יד וַיַּ֥עַשׂ שֶׁ֛לַח לָרֹ֖ב וּמָגִנִּֽים׃

6He appointed military officers to take charge of the people, who gathered them together in the square near the city gate and spoke to them encouragingly,

6וַיִּתֵּ֛ן שָׂרֵ֥י מִלְחָמ֖וֹת עַל־ הָעָ֑ם וַיִּקְבְּצֵ֣ם אֵלָ֗יו אֶל־ רְחוֹב֙ שַׁ֣עַר הָעִ֔יר וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר עַל־ לְבָבָ֖ם לֵאמֹֽר׃

7"Be strong and courageous. Don't be afraid or disheartened because of the king of Assyria or because of the army that accompanies him, because the one who is with us is greater than the one with him.

7חִזְק֣וּ וְאִמְצ֔וּ אַל־ תִּֽירְא֣וּ וְאַל־ תֵּחַ֗תּוּ מִפְּנֵי֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ אַשּׁ֔וּר וּמִלִּפְנֵ֖י כָּל־ הֶהָמ֣וֹן אֲשֶׁר־ עִמּ֑וֹ כִּֽי־ עִמָּ֥נוּ רַ֖ב מֵעִמּֽוֹ׃

8He only has the strength of his own flesh, but the LORD our God is with us to help us and to fight our battles." So the people were encouraged from what King Hezekiah of Judah told them.

8עִמּוֹ֙ זְר֣וֹעַ בָּשָׂ֔ר וְעִמָּ֜נוּ יְהוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֵ֙ינוּ֙ לְעָזְרֵ֔נוּ וּלְהִלָּחֵ֖ם מִלְחֲמֹתֵ֑נוּ וַיִּסָּמְכ֣וּ הָעָ֔ם עַל־ דִּבְרֵ֖י יְחִזְקִיָּ֥הוּ מֶֽלֶךְ־ יְהוּדָֽה׃ פ

9After this, King Sennacherib of Assyria sent his messengers to Jerusalem while he was in the middle of a vigorous attack on Lachish. They delivered this message to King Hezekiah of Judah and to all the people of Judah who had gathered in Jerusalem:

9אַ֣חַר זֶ֗ה שָׁ֠לַח סַנְחֵרִ֨יב מֶֽלֶךְ־ אַשּׁ֤וּר עֲבָדָיו֙ יְר֣וּשָׁלַ֔יְמָה וְהוּא֙ עַל־ לָכִ֔ישׁ וְכָל־ מֶמְשַׁלְתּ֖וֹ עִמּ֑וֹ עַל־ יְחִזְקִיָּ֙הוּ֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ יְהוּדָ֔ה וְעַל־ כָּל־ יְהוּדָ֛ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר בִּירוּשָׁלִַ֖ם לֵאמֹֽר׃

10"This is what King Sennacherib of Assyria says: 'What are you leaning on that makes you stay behind while Jerusalem comes under siege?

10כֹּ֣ה אָמַ֔ר סַנְחֵרִ֖יב מֶ֣לֶךְ אַשּׁ֑וּר עַל־ מָה֙ אַתֶּ֣ם בֹּטְחִ֔ים וְיֹשְׁבִ֥ים בְּמָצ֖וֹר בִּירוּשָׁלִָֽם׃

11Isn't Hezekiah lying to you so he can hand you over to die by famine and thirst? After all, he's telling you "The LORD our God will deliver us from the king of Assyria's control."

11הֲלֹ֤א יְחִזְקִיָּ֙הוּ֙ מַסִּ֣ית אֶתְכֶ֔ם לָתֵ֣ת אֶתְכֶ֔ם לָמ֛וּת בְּרָעָ֥ב וּבְצָמָ֖א לֵאמֹ֑ר יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵ֔ינוּ יַצִּילֵ֕נוּ מִכַּ֖ף מֶ֥לֶךְ אַשּֽׁוּר׃

12Isn't this the very same Hezekiah who removed this god's high places and altars? Isn't this the same Hezekiah who issued this order to Judah and Jerusalem: "You are to worship in front of only one altar and burn your sacrifices only on it."?

12הֲלֹא־ הוּא֙ יְחִזְקִיָּ֔הוּ הֵסִ֥יר אֶת־ בָּמֹתָ֖יו וְאֶת־ מִזְבְּחֹתָ֑יו וַיֹּ֨אמֶר לִֽיהוּדָ֤ה וְלִֽירוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר לִפְנֵ֨י מִזְבֵּ֧חַ אֶחָ֛ד תִּֽשְׁתַּחֲו֖וּ וְעָלָ֥יו תַּקְטִֽירוּ׃

13Don't you know what my predecessors have done to all the other people in other lands? Were the gods of the people who lived in those lands able to deliver their countries out of my control?

13הֲלֹ֣א תֵדְע֗וּ מֶ֤ה עָשִׂ֙יתִי֙ אֲנִ֣י וַאֲבוֹתַ֔י לְכֹ֖ל עַמֵּ֣י הָאֲרָצ֑וֹת הֲיָכ֣וֹל יָֽכְל֗וּ אֱלֹהֵי֙ גּוֹיֵ֣ הָאֲרָצ֔וֹת לְהַצִּ֥יל אֶת־ אַרְצָ֖ם מִיָּדִֽי׃

14What god, out of all the gods of those nations that my predecessors utterly destroyed, has been able to deliver his people from my control or from the control of my predecessors?

14מִ֠י בְּֽכָל־ אֱלֹהֵ֞י הַגּוֹיִ֤ם הָאֵ֙לֶּה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הֶחֱרִ֣ימוּ אֲבוֹתַ֔י אֲשֶׁ֣ר יָכ֔וֹל לְהַצִּ֥יל אֶת־ עַמּ֖וֹ מִיָּדִ֑י כִּ֤י יוּכַל֙ אֱלֹ֣הֵיכֶ֔ם לְהַצִּ֥יל אֶתְכֶ֖ם מִיָּדִֽי׃

15Now therefore, don't let Hezekiah lie to you or mislead you like this. Don't believe him, because no god of any nation has been able to deliver his people from my control or from the control of my predecessors. So how much less will your God deliver you from me?'"

15וְעַתָּ֡ה אַל־ יַשִּׁיא֩ אֶתְכֶ֨ם חִזְקִיָּ֜הוּ וְאַל־ יַסִּ֨ית אֶתְכֶ֣ם כָּזֹאת֮ וְאַל־ תַּאֲמִ֣ינוּ לוֹ֒ כִּי־ לֹ֣א יוּכַ֗ל כָּל־ אֱל֙וֹהַ֙ כָּל־ גּ֣וֹי וּמַמְלָכָ֔ה לְהַצִּ֥יל עַמּ֛וֹ מִיָּדִ֖י וּמִיַּ֣ד אֲבוֹתָ֑י אַ֚ף כִּ֣י אֱ‍ֽלֹהֵיכֶ֔ם לֹא־ יַצִּ֥ילוּ אֶתְכֶ֖ם מִיָּדִֽי׃

16King Sennacherib's spokesmen said even worse things against the LORD God and against his servant Hezekiah.

16וְעוֹד֙ דִּבְּר֣וּ עֲבָדָ֔יו עַל־ יְהוָ֖ה הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים וְעַ֖ל יְחִזְקִיָּ֥הוּ עַבְדּֽוֹ׃

17Sennacherib also wrote letters like this that insulted and slandered the LORD God of Israel: "Just as the gods of the nations in other lands haven't delivered their people from my control, so also the god of Hezekiah won't deliver his people from me!"

17וּסְפָרִ֣ים כָּתַ֔ב לְחָרֵ֕ף לַיהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְלֵֽאמֹ֨ר עָלָ֜יו לֵאמֹ֗ר כֵּֽאלֹהֵ֞י גּוֹיֵ֤ הָאֲרָצוֹת֙ אֲשֶׁ֨ר לֹא־ הִצִּ֤ילוּ עַמָּם֙ מִיָּדִ֔י כֵּ֣ן לֹֽא־ יַצִּ֞יל אֱלֹהֵ֧י יְחִזְקִיָּ֛הוּ עַמּ֖וֹ מִיָּדִֽי׃

18His spokesmen shouted these things out with loud voices in the language of Judah to frighten and terrify the people of Jerusalem who were stationed on the city walls, to make it easier to conquer the city.

18וַיִּקְרְא֨וּ בְקוֹל־ גָּד֜וֹל יְהוּדִ֗ית עַל־ עַ֤ם יְרוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עַל־ הַֽחוֹמָ֔ה לְיָֽרְאָ֖ם וּֽלְבַהֲלָ֑ם לְמַ֖עַן יִלְכְּד֥וּ אֶת־ הָעִֽיר׃

19In doing so, they spoke about the God of Jerusalem as if he were like the gods of the nations of the earth that are made by the hands of human beings.

19וַֽיְדַבְּר֔וּ אֶל־ אֱלֹהֵ֖י יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם כְּעַ֗ל אֱלֹהֵי֙ עַמֵּ֣י הָאָ֔רֶץ מַעֲשֵׂ֖ה יְדֵ֥י הָאָדָֽם׃ ס

20Meanwhile, King Hezekiah and Amoz's son Isaiah the prophet were praying about this and crying out to heaven.

20וַיִּתְפַּלֵּ֞ל יְחִזְקִיָּ֣הוּ הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ וִֽישַֽׁעְיָ֧הוּ בֶן־ אָמ֛וֹץ הַנָּבִ֖יא עַל־ זֹ֑את וַֽיִּזְעֲק֖וּ הַשָּׁמָֽיִם׃ פ

21So the LORD sent an angel, who eliminated all of the elite forces, commanders, and officers within the encampment of the king of Assyria. As a result, he retreated to his own country, deeply ashamed and humiliated. When he visited the temple of his god, some of his sons killed him right there with swords.

21וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח יְהוָה֙ מַלְאָ֔ךְ וַיַּכְחֵ֞ד כָּל־ גִּבּ֥וֹר חַ֙יִל֙ וְנָגִ֣יד וְשָׂ֔ר בְּמַחֲנֵ֖ה מֶ֣לֶךְ אַשּׁ֑וּר וַיָּשָׁב֩ בְּבֹ֨שֶׁת פָּנִ֜ים לְאַרְצ֗וֹ וַיָּבֹא֙ בֵּ֣ית אֱלֹהָ֔יו [ומיציאו] (וּמִֽיצִיאֵ֣י) מֵעָ֔יו שָׁ֖ם הִפִּילֻ֥הוּ בֶחָֽרֶב׃

22That's how the LORD delivered Hezekiah, as well as those who lived in Jerusalem, from Assyria's King Sennacherib and all his forces, and provided for all of their needs.

22וַיּוֹשַׁע֩ יְהוָ֨ה אֶת־ יְחִזְקִיָּ֜הוּ וְאֵ֣ת ׀ יֹשְׁבֵ֣י יְרוּשָׁלִַ֗ם מִיַּ֛ד סַנְחֵרִ֥יב מֶֽלֶךְ־ אַשּׁ֖וּר וּמִיַּד־ כֹּ֑ל וַֽיְנַהֲלֵ֖ם מִסָּבִֽיב׃

23Many brought gifts to the LORD in Jerusalem and brought presents to King Hezekiah of Judah. As a result, he was exalted in the opinion of all nations thereafter.

23וְ֠רַבִּים מְבִיאִ֨ים מִנְחָ֤ה לַיהוָה֙ לִיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם וּמִ֨גְדָּנ֔וֹת לִֽיחִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ מֶ֣לֶךְ יְהוּדָ֑ה וַיִּנַּשֵּׂ֛א לְעֵינֵ֥י כָל־ הַגּוֹיִ֖ם מֵאַֽחֲרֵי־ כֵֽן׃ ס

24During this time Hezekiah became critically ill, and he prayed to the LORD. The LORD spoke to him and gave him a sign.

24בַּיָּמִ֣ים הָהֵ֔ם חָלָ֥ה יְחִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ עַד־ לָמ֑וּת וַיִּתְפַּלֵּל֙ אֶל־ יְהוָ֔ה וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ל֔וֹ וּמוֹפֵ֖ת נָ֥תַן לֽוֹ׃

25But Hezekiah's response wasn't commensurate with what had been done for him because he was arrogant in heart, so wrath came upon him, upon Judah, and upon Jerusalem.

25וְלֹא־ כִגְמֻ֤ל עָלָיו֙ הֵשִׁ֣יב יְחִזְקִיָּ֔הוּ כִּ֥י גָבַ֖הּ לִבּ֑וֹ וַיְהִ֤י עָלָיו֙ קֶ֔צֶף וְעַל־ יְהוּדָ֖ה וִירוּשָׁלִָֽם׃

26But Hezekiah humbled himself while he was arrogant in heart, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem joined him in this. As a result, the LORD's wrath did not come upon them during Hezekiah's lifetime.

26וַיִּכָּנַ֤ע יְחִזְקִיָּ֙הוּ֙ בְּגֹ֣בַהּ לִבּ֔וֹ ה֖וּא וְיֹשְׁבֵ֣י יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם וְלֹא־ בָ֤א עֲלֵיהֶם֙ קֶ֣צֶף יְהוָ֔ה בִּימֵ֖י יְחִזְקִיָּֽהוּ׃

27Hezekiah received immense wealth and honor. He built treasuries for himself to store silver, gold, precious stones, spices, shields, and all sorts of valuable items,

27וַיְהִ֧י לִֽיחִזְקִיָּ֛הוּ עֹ֥שֶׁר וְכָב֖וֹד הַרְבֵּ֣ה מְאֹ֑ד וְאֹֽצָר֣וֹת עָֽשָׂה־ ל֠וֹ לְכֶ֨סֶף וּלְזָהָ֜ב וּלְאֶ֣בֶן יְקָרָ֗ה וְלִבְשָׂמִים֙ וּלְמָ֣גִנִּ֔ים וּלְכֹ֖ל כְּלֵ֥י חֶמְדָּֽה׃

28along with storage facilities for grain, wine, oil, stalls for all sorts of cattle, and sheepfolds for his flocks.

28וּמִ֨סְכְּנ֔וֹת לִתְבוּאַ֥ת דָּגָ֖ן וְתִיר֣וֹשׁ וְיִצְהָ֑ר וְאֻֽרָוֺת֙ לְכָל־ בְּהֵמָ֣ה וּבְהֵמָ֔ה וַעֲדָרִ֖ים לָאֲוֵרֽוֹת׃

29He also built cities for himself and stored up flocks and herds in abundance, because God had given him great riches.

29וְעָרִים֙ עָ֣שָׂה ל֔וֹ וּמִקְנֵה־ צֹ֥אן וּבָקָ֖ר לָרֹ֑ב כִּ֤י נָֽתַן־ לוֹ֙ אֱלֹהִ֔ים רְכ֖וּשׁ רַ֥ב מְאֹֽד׃

30Hezekiah stopped up the upper outlet of the Gihon springs and diverted them down to the western side of the City of David. He prospered in everything he did.

30וְה֣וּא יְחִזְקִיָּ֗הוּ סָתַם֙ אֶת־ מוֹצָ֞א מֵימֵ֤י גִיחוֹן֙ הָֽעֶלְי֔וֹן וַֽיַּישְּׁרֵ֥ם לְמַֽטָּה־ מַּעְרָ֖בָה לְעִ֣יר דָּוִ֑יד וַיַּצְלַ֥ח יְחִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ בְּכָֽל־ מַעֲשֵֽׂהוּ׃

31Later on, envoys came from the princes of Babylon to inquire about the miracle that had happened in the land. God left Hezekiah to himself, so that he might make known what was really in Hezekiah's heart.

31וְכֵ֞ן בִּמְלִיצֵ֣י ׀ שָׂרֵ֣י בָּבֶ֗ל הַֽמְשַׁלְּחִ֤ים עָלָיו֙ לִדְרֹ֗שׁ הַמּוֹפֵת֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הָיָ֣ה בָאָ֔רֶץ עֲזָב֖וֹ הָֽאֱלֹהִ֑ים לְנַ֨סּוֹת֔וֹ לָדַ֖עַת כָּל־ בִּלְבָבֽוֹ׃

32Now the rest of Hezekiah's accomplishments and his faithful deeds are recorded in the vision of Amoz's son Isaiah the prophet, and in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.

32וְיֶ֛תֶר דִּבְרֵ֥י יְחִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ וַחֲסָדָ֑יו הִנָּ֣ם כְּתוּבִ֗ים בַּחֲז֞וֹן יְשַֽׁעְיָ֤הוּ בֶן־ אָמוֹץ֙ הַנָּבִ֔יא עַל־ סֵ֥פֶר מַלְכֵי־ יְהוּדָ֖ה וְיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

33Hezekiah died, as had his fathers, and they buried him in the upper part of the tombs of the descendants of David. All of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem honored him at his death. But his son Manasseh reigned in his place.

33וַיִּשְׁכַּ֨ב יְחִזְקִיָּ֜הוּ עִם־ אֲבֹתָ֗יו וַֽיִּקְבְּרֻהוּ֮ בְּֽמַעֲלֵה֮ קִבְרֵ֣י בְנֵי־ דָוִיד֒ וְכָבוֹד֙ עָֽשׂוּ־ ל֣וֹ בְמוֹת֔וֹ כָּל־ יְהוּדָ֖ה וְיֹשְׁבֵ֣י יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם וַיִּמְלֹ֛ךְ מְנַשֶּׁ֥ה בְנ֖וֹ תַּחְתָּֽיו׃ פ

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.

Greek and Hebrew Study Bible courtesy Bible Hub and the Discovery Bible team.