And it happenedוַיְהִיin yearבִּשְׁנַתthreeשָׁלֹשׁof Hosheaלְהוֹשֵׁעַsonבֶּןof Elah,אֵלָהkingמֶלֶךְof Israel,יִשְׂרָאֵלthat Hezekiahחִזְקִיָּהsonבֶןof Ahaz,אָחָזkingמֶלֶךְof Judah,יְהוּדָהbecame king.מָלַךְ
He wasהָיָהtwenty-fiveעֶשְׂרִים וְחָמֵשׁyears oldבֶּן שָׁנָהwhen he became king,בְמָלְכוֹand he reignedוְ מָלַךְtwenty-nineעֶשְׂרִים וָתֵשַׁעyearsשָׁנָהin Jerusalem.בִּירוּשָׁלִָםThe nameוְשֵׁםof his motherאִמּוֹwas Abiאֲבִיdaughterבַּתof Zechariah.זְכַרְיָה
He didוַיַּעַשׂwhat was rightהַיָּשָׁרin the eyesבְּעֵינֵיof YHWH,יְהוָהaccording to allכְּכֹלthatאֲשֶׁרDavidדָּוִדhis fatherאָבִיוhad done.עָשָׂה
Heהוּאremovedהֵסִירthe high places,אֶת הַבָּמוֹתbrokeוְשִׁבַּרthe standing stones,אֶת הַמַּצֵּבֹתand cut downוְכָרַתthe Asherah;אֶת הָאֲשֵׁרָהand he broke in piecesוְכִתַּתthe bronze serpentנְחַשׁ הַנְּחֹשֶׁתthatאֲשֶׁרMosesמֹשֶׁהhad made,עָשָׂהforכִּיuntilעַדthoseהָהֵמָּהdaysהַיָּמִיםthe sonsבְנֵיof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלhad beenהָיוּburning incenseמְקַטְּרִיםto it;לוֹand it was calledוַיִּקְרָא לוֹNehushtan.נְחֻשְׁתָּן
In YHWHבַּיהוָהthe Elohimאֱלֹהֵיof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלhe trusted;בָּטָחand after himוְאַחֲרָיוthere was notלֹא הָיָהone like himכָמֹהוּamong allבְּכֹלthe kingsמַלְכֵיof Judah,יְהוּדָהnor among thoseוַwhoאֲשֶׁרwereהָיוּbefore him.לְפָנָיו
He clungוַיִּדְבַּקto YHWH;בַּיהוָהhe did notלֹאturn awayסָרfrom following him,מֵאַחֲרָיוbut keptוַיִּשְׁמֹרhis commandmentsמִצְוֺתָיוthatאֲשֶׁרYHWHיְהוָהcommandedצִוָּהMoses.אֶת מֹשֶׁה
YHWHיְהוָהwasוְהָיָהwith him;עִמּוֹwhereverבְּכֹל אֲשֶׁרhe went out,יֵצֵאhe acted wisely.יַשְׂכִּילHe rebelledוַיִּמְרֹדagainst the kingבְּמֶלֶךְof Assyriaאַשּׁוּרand did notוְלֹאserve him.עֲבָדוֹ
Heהוּאstruckהִכָּהthe Philistinesאֶת פְּלִשְׁתִּיםas far asעַדGazaעַזָּהand its territories,וְאֶת גְּבוּלֶיהָfrom the towerמִמִּגְדַּלof the watchmenנוֹצְרִיםtoעַדthe fortified city.עִיר מִבְצָר
And it happenedוַיְהִיin the fourth yearבַּשָּׁנָה הָרְבִיעִיתof KingלַמֶּלֶךְHezekiah,חִזְקִיָּהוּthat wasהִיאthe seventh yearהַשָּׁנָה הַשְּׁבִיעִיתof Hosheaלְהוֹשֵׁעַsonבֶּןof Elah,אֵלָהkingמֶלֶךְof Israel,יִשְׂרָאֵלthat Shalmaneserשַׁלְמַנְאֶסֶרkingמֶלֶךְof Assyriaאַשּׁוּרcame upעָלָהagainst Samariaעַל שֹׁמְרוֹןand besieged it.וַיָּצַר עָלֶיהָ
They captured itוַיִּלְכְּדֻהָat the endמִקְצֵהof threeשָׁלֹשׁyears;שָׁנִיםin yearבִּשְׁנַתsixשֵׁשׁof Hezekiah,לְחִזְקִיָּהthat isהִיאyearשְׁנַתnineתֵּשַׁעof Hosheaלְהוֹשֵׁעַkingמֶלֶךְof Israel,יִשְׂרָאֵלSamariaשֹׁמְרוֹןwas captured.נִלְכְּדָה
The kingמֶלֶךְof Assyriaאַשּׁוּרcarried Israel into exileוַיֶּגֶל אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵלto Assyriaאַשּׁוּרָהand led themוַיַּנְחֵםto Halahבַּחְלַחand to the Habor,וּבְחָבוֹרthe riverנְהַרof Gozan,גּוֹזָןand to the citiesוְעָרֵיof the Medes,מָדָי
becauseעַל אֲשֶׁרthey did notלֹאlistenשָׁמְעוּto the voiceבְּקוֹלof YHWHיְהוָהtheir Elohim,אֱלֹהֵיהֶםand they transgressedוַיַּעַבְרוּhis covenant,אֶת בְּרִיתוֹallאֵת כָּלthatאֲשֶׁרMosesמֹשֶׁהthe servantעֶבֶדof YHWHיְהוָהcommanded;צִוָּהthey did notוְלֹאlisten,שָׁמְעוּand they did notוְלֹאdo it.עָשׂוּ
In yearוּבְ שָׁנָהfourteenאַרְבַּע עֶשְׂרֵהof KingלַמֶּלֶךְHezekiahחִזְקִיָּהSennacheribסַנְחֵרִיבkingמֶלֶךְof Assyriaאַשּׁוּרcame upעָלָהagainst allעַל כָּלthe fortifiedהַבְּצֻרוֹתcitiesעָרֵיof Judahיְהוּדָהand seized them.וַיִּתְפְּשֵׂם
Hezekiahחִזְקִיָּהkingמֶלֶךְof Judahיְהוּדָהsentוַיִּשְׁלַחto the kingאֶל מֶלֶךְof Assyriaאַשּׁוּרat Lachish,לָכִישָׁהsaying,לֵאמֹר“I have sinned;חָטָאתִיwithdrawשׁוּבfrom me;מֵעָלַיwhateverאֵת אֲשֶׁרyou putתִּתֵּןon meעָלַיI will bear.”אֶשָּׂאThe kingוַ מֶלֶךְof Assyriaאַשּׁוּרimposedיָּשֶׂםon Hezekiahעַל חִזְקִיָּהkingמֶלֶךְof Judahיְהוּדָהthreeשְׁלֹשׁhundredמֵאוֹתtalentsכִּכַּרof silverכֶּסֶףand thirtyוּשְׁלֹשִׁיםtalentsכִּכַּרof gold.זָהָב
Hezekiahחִזְקִיָּהgaveוַיִּתֵּןallאֶת כָּלthe silverהַכֶּסֶףthat was foundהַנִּמְצָאin the houseבֵיתof YHWHיְהוָהand in the treasuriesוּבְאֹצְרוֹתof the houseבֵּיתof the king.הַמֶּלֶךְ
At that timeבָּעֵת הַהִיאHezekiahחִזְקִיָּהcut offקִצַּץthe doorsאֶת דַּלְתוֹתof the templeהֵיכַלof YHWHיְהוָהand the doorpostsוְאֶת הָאֹמְנוֹתthatאֲשֶׁרHezekiahחִזְקִיָּהkingמֶלֶךְof Judahיְהוּדָהhad overlaid,צִפָּהand gave themוַיִּתְּנֵםto the kingלְמֶלֶךְof Assyria.אַשּׁוּר
The kingמֶלֶךְof Assyriaאַשּׁוּרsentוַיִּשְׁלַחthe Tartan,אֶת תַּרְתָּןthe Rabsaris,וְאֶת רַב סָרִיסand the Rabshakehוְאֶת רַב שָׁקֵהfrom Lachishמִן לָכִישׁto Kingאֶל הַמֶּלֶךְHezekiahחִזְקִיָּהוּwith a large forceבְּחֵיל כָּבֵדto Jerusalem.יְרוּשָׁלִָםThey went upוַיַּעֲלוּand cameוַיָּבֹאוּto Jerusalem;יְרוּשָׁלִַםthey went upוַיַּעֲלוּand cameוַיָּבֹאוּand stoodוַיַּעַמְדוּby the conduitבִּתְעָלַתof the upperהָעֶלְיוֹנָהpool,הַבְּרֵכָהwhichאֲשֶׁרis on the highwayבִּמְסִלַּתof the Launderer’sכוֹבֵסField.שְׂדֵה
They calledוַיִּקְרְאוּto the king,אֶל הַמֶּלֶךְand there came outוַיֵּצֵאto themאֲלֵהֶםEliakimאֶלְיָקִיםsonבֶּןof Hilkiah,חִלְקִיָּהוּwho wasאֲשֶׁרoverעַלthe house,הַבָּיִתand Shebnaוְשֶׁבְנָהthe scribe,הַסֹּפֵרand Joahוְיוֹאָחsonבֶּןof Asaph,אָסָףthe recorder.הַמַּזְכִּיר
The Rabshakehרַב שָׁקֵהsaidוַיֹּאמֶרto them,אֲלֵהֶם“Say,אִמְרוּplease,נָאto Hezekiah,אֶל חִזְקִיָּהוּ‘Thusכֹּהsaysאָמַרthe greatהַגָּדוֹלking,הַמֶּלֶךְthe kingמֶלֶךְof Assyria:אַשּׁוּרWhatמָהis thisהַזֶּהconfidenceהַבִּטָּחוֹןin whichאֲשֶׁרyou have trusted?בָּטָחְתָּ
You have saidאָמַרְתָּ—onlyאַךְa wordדְּבַרof lips—שְׂפָתַיִם“There is counselעֵצָהand mightוּגְבוּרָהfor war.”לַמִּלְחָמָהNow,עַתָּהon whomעַל מִיhave you trusted,בָטַחְתָּthatכִּיyou have rebelledמָרַדְתָּagainst me?בִּי
Now,עַתָּהlook,הִנֵּהyou have trustedבָטַחְתָּ לְּךָinעַלthe staffמִשְׁעֶנֶתof thisהַזֶּהbrokenהָרָצוּץreed,הַקָּנֶהinעַלEgypt,מִצְרַיִםon whichאֲשֶׁר עָלָיוa manאִישׁleans,יִסָּמֵךְand it goesוּבָאinto his palmבְכַפּוֹand pierces it.וּנְקָבָהּSoכֵּןis Pharaohפַּרְעֹהkingמֶלֶךְof Egyptמִצְרַיִםto allלְכָלwho trustהַבֹּטְחִיםin him.עָלָיו
And ifוְכִיyou sayתֹאמְרוּןto me,אֵלַי“In YHWHאֶל יְהוָהour Elohimאֱלֹהֵינוּwe trust,”בָּטָחְנוּis it notהֲלוֹאheהוּאwhoseאֲשֶׁרhigh placesאֶת בָּמֹתָיוand altarsוְאֶת מִזְבְּחֹתָיוHezekiahחִזְקִיָּהוּhas removed,הֵסִירand has saidוַיֹּאמֶרto Judahלִיהוּדָהand to Jerusalem,וְלִירוּשָׁלִַם“Beforeלִפְנֵיthisהַזֶּהaltarהַמִּזְבֵּחַyou shall bow downתִּשְׁתַּחֲווּin Jerusalem”?בִּירוּשָׁלִָם
Now,וְעַתָּהmake a deal,הִתְעָרֶבplease,נָאwith my masterאֶת אֲדֹנִיthe kingאֶת מֶלֶךְof Assyria:אַשּׁוּרI will giveוְאֶתְּנָהyouלְךָtwo thousandאַלְפַּיִםhorses,סוּסִיםifאִםyou are ableתּוּכַלto putלָתֶתridersרֹכְבִיםof your ownלְךָon them.עֲלֵיהֶם
How thenוְאֵיךְcan you turn backתָּשִׁיבthe faceאֵת פְּנֵיof oneאַחַדgovernor,פַחַתof the leastהַקְּטַנִּיםof the servantsעַבְדֵיof my master,אֲדֹנִיwhile you trustוַתִּבְטַח לְךָin Egyptעַל מִצְרַיִםfor chariotsלְרֶכֶבand for horsemen?וּלְפָרָשִׁים
Now,עַתָּהis it withoutהֲמִבַּלְעֲדֵיYHWHיְהוָהthat I have come upעָלִיתִיagainstעַלthisהַזֶּהplaceהַמָּקוֹםto destroy it?לְהַשְׁחִתוֹYHWHיְהוָהsaidאָמַרto me,אֵלַי“Go upעֲלֵהagainstעַלthisהַזֹּאתlandהָאָרֶץand destroy it.”’”וְהַשְׁחִיתָהּ
Eliakimאֶלְיָקִיםsonבֶּןof Hilkiah,חִלְקִיָּהוּShebna,וְשֶׁבְנָהand Joahוְיוֹאָחsaidוַיֹּאמֶרto the Rabshakeh,אֶל רַב שָׁקֵה“Speak,דַּבֶּרplease,נָאto your servantsאֶל עֲבָדֶיךָin Aramaic,אֲרָמִיתforכִּיweאֲנָחְנוּunderstand it;שֹׁמְעִיםand do notוְאַלspeakתְּדַבֵּרwith usעִמָּנוּin the language of Judahיְהוּדִיתin the earsבְּאָזְנֵיof the peopleהָעָםwhoאֲשֶׁרare onעַלthe wall.”הַחֹמָה
The Rabshakehרַב שָׁקֵהsaidוַיֹּאמֶרto them,אֲלֵיהֶם“Is it to your masterהַעַל אֲדֹנֶיךָand to youוְאֵלֶיךָthat my masterאֲדֹנִיhas sent meשְׁלָחַנִיto speakלְדַבֵּרtheseהָאֵלֶּהwords?אֶת הַדְּבָרִיםIs it notהֲלֹאto the menעַל הָאֲנָשִׁיםwho sitהַיֹּשְׁבִיםon the wall,עַל הַחֹמָהdoomed to eatלֶאֱכֹלtheir excrementאֶת צוֹאָתָםand to drinkוְלִשְׁתּוֹתtheir urineאֶת מימֵי רַגְלֵיהֶםwith you?”עִמָּכֶם
The Rabshakehרַב שָׁקֵהstoodוַיַּעֲמֹדand cried outוַיִּקְרָאwith a loudגָּדוֹלvoiceבְקוֹלin the language of Judah,יְהוּדִיתand spokeוַיְדַבֵּרand said,וַיֹּאמֶר“Hearשִׁמְעוּthe wordדְּבַרof the greatהַגָּדוֹלking,הַמֶּלֶךְthe kingמֶלֶךְof Assyria!אַשּׁוּר
Thusכֹּהsaysאָמַרthe king:הַמֶּלֶךְ‘Do notאַלlet Hezekiahחִזְקִיָּהוּdeceiveיַשִּׁיאyou,לָכֶםforכִּיhe will notלֹאbe ableיוּכַלto deliverלְהַצִּילyouאֶתְכֶםfrom his hand.מִיָּדוֹ
And do notוְאַלlet Hezekiahחִזְקִיָּהוּmake you trustיַבְטַח אֶתְכֶםin YHWH,אֶל יְהוָהsaying,לֵאמֹר“YHWHיְהוָהwill surely deliver us,הַצֵּל יַצִּילֵנוּand thisהַזֹּאתcityהָעִירwill notוְלֹאbe givenתִנָּתֵן אֶתinto the handבְּיַדof the kingמֶלֶךְof Assyria.”אַשּׁוּר
Do notאַלlistenתִּשְׁמְעוּto Hezekiah,אֶל חִזְקִיָּהוּforכִּיthusכֹהsaysאָמַרthe kingמֶלֶךְof Assyria:אַשּׁוּר“Make peaceעֲשׂוּ בְרָכָהwith meאִתִּיand come outוּצְאוּto me,אֵלַיand eat,וְאִכְלוּeachאִישׁfrom his vineגַּפְנוֹand eachוְאִישׁfrom his fig tree,תְּאֵנָתוֹand drink,וּשְׁתוּeachאִישׁthe waterמֵיof his cistern,בוֹרוֹ
untilעַדI comeבֹּאִיand takeוְלָקַחְתִּיyouאֶתְכֶםto a landאֶל אֶרֶץlike your land,כְּאַרְצְכֶםa landאֶרֶץof grainדָּגָןand new wine,וְתִירוֹשׁa landאֶרֶץof breadלֶחֶםand vineyards,וּכְרָמִיםa landאֶרֶץof olive treesזֵיתof oilיִצְהָרand honey,וּדְבַשׁso that you may liveוִחְיוּand notוְלֹאdie.”תָמֻתוּAnd do notוְאַלlistenתִּשְׁמְעוּto Hezekiah,אֶל חִזְקִיָּהוּforכִּיhe incitesיַסִּיתyou,אֶתְכֶםsaying,לֵאמֹר“YHWHיְהוָהwill deliver us.”יַצִּילֵנוּ
Have the godsהַ אֱלֹהֵיof the nationsהַגּוֹיִםreally delivered,הַצֵּל הִצִּילוּeachאִישׁhis land,אֶת אַרְצוֹfrom the handמִיַּדof the kingמֶלֶךְof Assyria?אַשּׁוּר
Where areאַיֵּהthe godsאֱלֹהֵיof Hamathחֲמָתand Arpad?וְאַרְפָּדWhere areאַיֵּהthe godsאֱלֹהֵיof Sepharvaim,סְפַרְוַיִםHena,הֵנַעand Ivvah?וְעִוָּהHave they deliveredכִּי הִצִּילוּSamariaאֶת שֹׁמְרוֹןfrom my hand?מִיָּדִי
Whoמִיamong allבְּכָלthe godsאֱלֹהֵיof the landsהָאֲרָצוֹתare those thatאֲשֶׁרhave deliveredהִצִּילוּtheir landאֶת אַרְצָםfrom my hand,מִיָּדִיthatכִּיYHWHיְהוָהshould deliverיַצִּילJerusalemאֶת יְרוּשָׁלִַםfrom my hand?’”מִיָּדִי
But the peopleוְ הָעָםwere silentהֶחֱרִישׁוּand did notוְלֹאanswerעָנוּhimאֹתוֹa word,דָּבָרforכִּיit wasהִיאthe commandmentמִצְוַתof the king,הַמֶּלֶךְsaying,לֵאמֹר“Do notלֹאanswer him.”תַעֲנֻהוּ
Eliakimאֶלְיָקִיםsonבֶּןof Hilkiah,חִלְקִיָּהwho wasאֲשֶׁרoverעַלthe house,הַבַּיִתand Shebnaוְשֶׁבְנָאthe scribe,הַסֹּפֵרand Joahוְיוֹאָחsonבֶּןof Asaph,אָסָףthe recorder,הַמַּזְכִּירcameוַיָּבֹאto Hezekiahאֶל חִזְקִיָּהוּwith their clothes torn,קְרוּעֵי בְגָדִיםand they toldוַיַּגִּדוּhimלוֹthe wordsדִּבְרֵיof the Rabshakeh.רַב שָׁקֵה