Afterאַחֲרֵיthese thingsהַדְּבָרִיםand thisהָאֵלֶּהfaithfulness,וְהָאֱמֶתSennacheribסַנְחֵרִיבkingמֶלֶךְof Assyriaאַשּׁוּרcameבָּאand enteredוַיָּבֹאJudahבִיהוּדָהand encampedוַיִּחַןagainstעַלthe fortifiedהַבְּצֻרוֹתcitiesהֶעָרִיםand intendedוַיֹּאמֶרto break into themלְבִקְעָםfor himself.אֵלָיו
HezekiahיְחִזְקִיָּהוּsawוַיַּרְאthatכִּיSennacheribסַנְחֵרִיבhad comeבָאand that his faceוּפָנָיוwas set for warלַמִּלְחָמָהagainst Jerusalem,עַל יְרוּשָׁלִָם
and he took counselוַיִּוָּעַץwith his officialsעִם שָׂרָיוand his mighty menוְגִבֹּרָיוto stop upלִסְתּוֹםthe watersאֶת מֵימֵיof the springsהָעֲיָנוֹתthatאֲשֶׁרwere outsideמִחוּץthe city;לָעִירand they helped him.וַיַּעְזְרוּהוּ
Manyרָבpeopleעַםwere gathered,וַיִּקָּבְצוּand they stopped upוַיִּסְתְּמוּallאֶת כָּלthe fountainsהַמַּעְיָנוֹתand the brookוְאֶת הַנַּחַלthat flowedהַשּׁוֹטֵףthrough the middleבְּתוֹךְof the land,הָאָרֶץsaying,לֵאמֹר“Whyלָמָּהshould the kingsמַלְכֵיof Assyriaאַשּׁוּרcomeיָבוֹאוּand findוּמָצְאוּmuchרַבִּיםwater?”מַיִם
He strengthened himselfוַיִּתְחַזַּקand builtוַיִּבֶןallאֶת כָּלthe wallהַחוֹמָהthat was broken down,הַפְּרוּצָהand raisedוַיַּעַלon itעַלthe towers,הַמִּגְדָּלוֹתand outsideוְלַחוּצָהanotherאַחֶרֶתwall;הַחוֹמָהand he repairedוַיְחַזֵּקthe Milloאֶת הַמִּלּוֹאin the cityעִירof David,דָּוִידand madeוַיַּעַשׂweaponsשֶׁלַחin abundanceלָרֹבand shields.וּמָגִנִּים
He setוַיִּתֵּןcommandersשָׂרֵיof warמִלְחָמוֹתover the people,עַל הָעָםand gathered themוַיִּקְבְּצֵםto himselfאֵלָיוin the squareאֶל רְחוֹבof the gateשַׁעַרof the city,הָעִירand spokeוַיְדַבֵּרto their heart,עַל לְבָבָםsaying,לֵאמֹר
“Be strongחִזְקוּand firm;וְאִמְצוּdo notאַלfearתִּירְאוּorוְאַלbe dismayedתֵּחַתּוּbeforeמִפְּנֵיthe kingמֶלֶךְof Assyriaאַשּׁוּרor beforeוּמִלִּפְנֵיallכָּלthe multitudeהֶהָמוֹןthatאֲשֶׁרis with him,עִמּוֹforכִּיwith usעִמָּנוּthere are moreרַבthan with him.מֵעִמּוֹ
With himעִמּוֹis an armזְרוֹעַof flesh,בָּשָׂרbut with usוְעִמָּנוּis YHWHיְהוָהour Elohimאֱלֹהֵינוּto help usלְעָזְרֵנוּand to fightוּלְהִלָּחֵםour wars.”מִלְחֲמֹתֵנוּAnd the peopleוַ הָעָםreliedיִּסָּמְכוּon the wordsעַל דִּבְרֵיof Hezekiahיְחִזְקִיָּהוּkingמֶלֶךְof Judah.יְהוּדָה
AfterאַחַרthisזֶהSennacheribסַנְחֵרִיבkingמֶלֶךְof Assyriaאַשּׁוּרsentשָׁלַחhis servantsעֲבָדָיוto Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלַיְמָה—heוְהוּאwas againstעַלLachish,לָכִישׁand allוְכָלhis dominionמֶמְשַׁלְתּוֹwith him—עִמּוֹtoעַלHezekiahיְחִזְקִיָּהוּkingמֶלֶךְof Judahיְהוּדָהand toוְעַלallכָּלJudahיְהוּדָהthatאֲשֶׁרwas in Jerusalem,בִּירוּשָׁלִַםsaying,לֵאמֹר
“ThusכֹּהsaysאָמַרSennacheribסַנְחֵרִיבkingמֶלֶךְof Assyria:אַשּׁוּרOnעַלwhatמָהare youאַתֶּםtrusting,בֹּטְחִיםthat you remainוְיֹשְׁבִיםin the siegeבְּמָצוֹרin Jerusalem?בִּירוּשָׁלִָם
Is notהֲלֹאHezekiahיְחִזְקִיָּהוּincitingמַסִּיתyouאֶתְכֶםto giveלָתֵתyouאֶתְכֶםover to dieלָמוּתby hungerבְּרָעָבand by thirst,וּבְצָמָאsaying,לֵאמֹר‘YHWHיְהוָהour Elohimאֱלֹהֵינוּwill deliver usיַצִּילֵנוּfrom the handמִכַּףof the kingמֶלֶךְof Assyria’?אַשּׁוּר
Is it notהֲלֹאhe,הוּאHezekiah,יְחִזְקִיָּהוּwho removedהֵסִירhis high placesאֶת בָּמֹתָיוand his altars,וְאֶת מִזְבְּחֹתָיוand saidוַיֹּאמֶרto Judahלִיהוּדָהand to Jerusalem,וְלִירוּשָׁלִַםsaying,לֵאמֹר‘Beforeלִפְנֵיoneאֶחָדaltarמִזְבֵּחַyou shall bow down,תִּשְׁתַּחֲווּand on itוְעָלָיוyou shall burn incense’?תַּקְטִירוּ
Do you notהֲלֹאknowתֵדְעוּwhatמֶהIאֲנִיand my fathersוַאֲבוֹתַיhave doneעָשִׂיתִיto allלְכֹלthe peoplesעַמֵּיof the lands?הָאֲרָצוֹתWereהֲthe godsאֱלֹהֵיof the nationsגּוֹיֵof the landsהָאֲרָצוֹתat all ableיָכוֹל יָכְלוּto deliverלְהַצִּילtheir landאֶת אַרְצָםfrom my hand?מִיָּדִי
Whoמִיamong allבְּכָלthe godsאֱלֹהֵיof these nationsהַגּוֹיִם הָאֵלֶּהthatאֲשֶׁרmy fathersאֲבוֹתַיdevoted to destructionהֶחֱרִימוּwas the one whoאֲשֶׁרwas ableיָכוֹלto deliverלְהַצִּילhis peopleאֶת עַמּוֹfrom my hand,מִיָּדִיthatכִּיyour Elohimאֱלֹהֵיכֶםshould be ableיוּכַלto deliverלְהַצִּילyouאֶתְכֶםfrom my hand?מִיָּדִי
Nowוְעַתָּהdo notאַלlet Hezekiahחִזְקִיָּהוּdeceiveיַשִּׁיאyouאֶתְכֶםorוְאַלinciteיַסִּיתyouאֶתְכֶםlike this,כָּזֹאתand do notוְאַלbelieveתַּאֲמִינוּhim,לוֹforכִּיnoלֹא כָּלgodאֱלוֹהַof anyכָּלnationגּוֹיor kingdomוּמַמְלָכָהhas been ableיוּכַלto deliverלְהַצִּילhis peopleעַמּוֹfrom my handמִיָּדִיor from the handוּמִיַּדof my fathers;אֲבוֹתָיhow much lessאַף כִּי לֹאwill your Elohimאֱלֹהֵיכֶםdeliverיַצִּילוּyouאֶתְכֶםfrom my hand!”מִיָּדִי
And his servantsוְ עֲבָדָיוspokeדִּבְּרוּstill moreעוֹדagainst YHWHעַל יְהוָהElohimהָאֱלֹהִיםand against Hezekiahוְעַל יְחִזְקִיָּהוּhis servant.עַבְדּוֹ
He also wroteוּ כָּתַבlettersסְפָרִיםto tauntלְחָרֵףYHWH,לַיהוָהthe Elohimאֱלֹהֵיof Israel,יִשְׂרָאֵלand to speakוְלֵאמֹרagainst him,עָלָיוsaying,לֵאמֹר“Like the godsכֵּאלֹהֵיof the nationsגּוֹיֵof the landsהָאֲרָצוֹתthatאֲשֶׁרhave notלֹאdeliveredהִצִּילוּtheir peopleעַמָּםfrom my hand,מִיָּדִיsoכֵּןthe Elohimאֱלֹהֵיof Hezekiahיְחִזְקִיָּהוּwill notלֹאdeliverיַצִּילhis peopleעַמּוֹfrom my hand.”מִיָּדִי
They called outוַיִּקְרְאוּwith a loudבְ גָּדוֹלvoiceקוֹלin the language of Judahיְהוּדִיתto the peopleעַל עַםof Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַםwhoאֲשֶׁרwere onעַלthe wall,הַחוֹמָהto frighten themלְיָרְאָםand to terrify them,וּלְבַהֲלָםso thatלְמַעַןthey might captureיִלְכְּדוּthe city.אֶת הָעִיר
They spokeוַיְדַבְּרוּofאֶלthe Elohimאֱלֹהֵיof Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִָםas ofכְּעַלthe godsאֱלֹהֵיof the peoplesעַמֵּיof the earth,הָאָרֶץthe workמַעֲשֵׂהof humanהָאָדָםhands.יְדֵי
Hezekiahיְחִזְקִיָּהוּthe kingהַמֶּלֶךְand Isaiahוִישַׁעְיָהוּsonבֶןof Amoz,אָמוֹץthe prophet,הַנָּבִיאprayedוַיִּתְפַּלֵּלabout thisעַל זֹאתand cried outוַיִּזְעֲקוּto the heavens.הַשָּׁמָיִם
YHWHיְהוָהsentוַיִּשְׁלַחan angel,מַלְאָךְwho wiped outוַיַּכְחֵדeveryכָּלmighty manגִּבּוֹרof valorחַיִלand leaderוְנָגִידand commanderוְשָׂרin the campבְּמַחֲנֵהof the kingמֶלֶךְof Assyria;אַשּׁוּרand he returnedוַיָּשָׁבwith shameבְּבֹשֶׁתof faceפָּנִיםto his land.לְאַרְצוֹHe went intoוַיָּבֹאthe houseבֵּיתof his god,אֱלֹהָיוand some of those who came outוּמִיצִיאֵיof his own bodyמֵעָיוmade him fallהִפִּילֻהוּthereשָׁםby the sword.בֶחָרֶב
So YHWHוַ יְהוָהsavedיּוֹשַׁעHezekiahאֶת יְחִזְקִיָּהוּand the inhabitantsוְאֵת יֹשְׁבֵיof Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַםfrom the handמִיַּדof Sennacheribסַנְחֵרִיבkingמֶלֶךְof Assyriaאַשּׁוּרand from the handוּמִיַּדof all,כֹּלand he led themוַיְנַהֲלֵםon every side.מִסָּבִיב
Manyוְרַבִּיםwere bringingמְבִיאִיםan offeringמִנְחָהto YHWHלַיהוָהto Jerusalemלִירוּשָׁלִַםand precious thingsוּמִגְדָּנוֹתto Hezekiahלִיחִזְקִיָּהוּkingמֶלֶךְof Judah;יְהוּדָהand he was exaltedוַיִּנַּשֵּׂאin the eyesלְעֵינֵיof allכָלthe nationsהַגּוֹיִםafter this.מֵאַחֲרֵי כֵן
In thoseבַּ הָהֵםdaysיָּמִיםHezekiahיְחִזְקִיָּהוּbecame sickחָלָהto the point of death;עַד לָמוּתhe prayedוַיִּתְפַּלֵּלto YHWH,אֶל יְהוָהand he spokeוַיֹּאמֶרto himלוֹand gaveנָתַןhimלוֹa wonder.וּמוֹפֵת
But Hezekiahוְ יְחִזְקִיָּהוּdid notלֹאrepayהֵשִׁיבaccording to the benefitכִגְמֻלdone to him,עָלָיוforכִּיhis heartלִבּוֹwas lifted up;גָבַהּand there wasוַיְהִיwrathקֶצֶףupon himעָלָיוand upon Judahוְעַל יְהוּדָהand Jerusalem.וִירוּשָׁלִָם
Then Hezekiahוַ יְחִזְקִיָּהוּhumbled himselfיִּכָּנַעfor the lifting upבְּגֹבַהּof his heart,לִבּוֹheהוּאand the inhabitantsוְיֹשְׁבֵיof Jerusalem,יְרוּשָׁלִָםand the wrathקֶצֶףof YHWHיְהוָהdid notוְלֹאcomeבָאupon themעֲלֵיהֶםin the daysבִּימֵיof Hezekiah.יְחִזְקִיָּהוּ
Hezekiahלִיחִזְקִיָּהוּhadוַיְהִיveryמְאֹדgreatהַרְבֵּהrichesעֹשֶׁרand glory;וְכָבוֹדand he madeוְ עָשָׂהtreasuriesאֹצָרוֹתfor himselfלוֹfor silver,לְכֶסֶףfor gold,וּלְזָהָבfor preciousיְקָרָהstones,וּלְאֶבֶןfor spices,וְלִבְשָׂמִיםfor shields,וּלְמָגִנִּיםand for all kindsוּלְכֹלof desirableחֶמְדָּהobjects;כְּלֵי
and storehousesוּמִסְכְּנוֹתfor the produceלִתְבוּאַתof grain,דָּגָןnew wine,וְתִירוֹשׁand oil;וְיִצְהָרand stallsוְאֻרָוֺתfor all kindsלְכָלof livestock,בְּהֵמָה וּבְהֵמָהand flocksוַעֲדָרִיםfor the folds.לָאֲוֵרוֹת
He madeעָשָׂהcitiesוְעָרִיםfor himself,לוֹand livestockוּמִקְנֵהof flocksצֹאןand herdsוּבָקָרin abundance,לָרֹבforכִּיElohimאֱלֹהִיםhad givenנָתַןhimלוֹveryמְאֹדgreatרַבwealth.רְכוּשׁ
This same Hezekiahוְהוּא יְחִזְקִיָּהוּstopped upסָתַםthe upperאֶת הָעֶלְיוֹןoutletמוֹצָאof the watersמֵימֵיof Gihonגִיחוֹןand directed themוַיַּישְּׁרֵםdownלְמַטָּהto the westמַּעְרָבָהof the cityלְעִירof David.דָּוִידAnd Hezekiahוַ יְחִזְקִיָּהוּprosperedיַּצְלַחin allבְּכָלhis work.מַעֲשֵׂהוּ
And so,וְכֵןwith the interpretersבִּמְלִיצֵיof the officialsשָׂרֵיof Babylon,בָּבֶלwho sentהַמְשַׁלְּחִיםto himעָלָיוto inquireלִדְרֹשׁabout the wonderהַמּוֹפֵתthatאֲשֶׁרhad happenedהָיָהin the land,בָאָרֶץElohimהָאֱלֹהִיםleft him,עֲזָבוֹto test him,לְנַסּוֹתוֹto knowלָדַעַתallכָּלthat was in his heart.בִּלְבָבוֹ
The restוְיֶתֶרof the actsדִּבְרֵיof Hezekiahיְחִזְקִיָּהוּand his deeds of loyal love,וַחֲסָדָיוthey areהִנָּםwrittenכְּתוּבִיםin the visionבַּחֲזוֹןof Isaiahיְשַׁעְיָהוּsonבֶןof Amoz,אָמוֹץthe prophet,הַנָּבִיאin the bookעַל סֵפֶרof the kingsמַלְכֵיof Judahיְהוּדָהand Israel.וְיִשְׂרָאֵל
Hezekiahיְחִזְקִיָּהוּlay downוַיִּשְׁכַּבwith his fathers,עִם אֲבֹתָיוand they buried himוַיִּקְבְּרֻהוּin the ascentבְּמַעֲלֵהof the tombsקִבְרֵיof the sonsבְנֵיof David;דָוִידand allכָּלJudahיְהוּדָהand the inhabitantsוְיֹשְׁבֵיof Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִָםdidעָשׂוּhimלוֹhonorוְכָבוֹדat his death.בְמוֹתוֹAnd Manassehוַ מְנַשֶּׁהhis sonבְנוֹreignedיִּמְלֹךְin his place.תַּחְתָּיו