And it happened,וַיְהִיwhen Kingכִּ הַמֶּלֶךְHezekiahחִזְקִיָּהוּheard it,שְׁמֹעַthat he toreוַיִּקְרַעhis clothesאֶת בְּגָדָיוand covered himselfוַיִּתְכַּסwith sackclothבַּשָּׂקand wentוַיָּבֹאinto the houseבֵּיתof YHWH.יְהוָה
He sentוַיִּשְׁלַחEliakim,אֶת אֶלְיָקִיםwho wasאֲשֶׁרoverעַלthe house,הַבַּיִתand Shebnaוְאֵת שֶׁבְנָאthe scribe,הַסּוֹפֵרand the eldersוְאֵת זִקְנֵיof the priests,הַכֹּהֲנִיםcoveredמִתְכַּסִּיםwith sackcloth,בַּשַּׂקִּיםto Isaiahאֶל יְשַׁעְיָהוּsonבֶןof Amoz,אָמוֹץthe prophet.הַנָּבִיא
They saidוַיֹּאמְרוּto him,אֵלָיו“ThusכֹּהsaysאָמַרHezekiah:חִזְקִיָּהוּ‘Thisהַזֶּהdayהַיּוֹםis a dayיוֹםof distress,צָרָהof rebuke,וְתוֹכֵחָהand of contempt;וּנְאָצָהforכִּיchildrenבָנִיםhave comeבָאוּtoעַדthe point of birth,מַשְׁבֵּרand there is noאַיִןstrengthוְכֹחַto give birth.לְלֵדָה
PerhapsאוּלַיYHWHיְהוָהyour Elohimאֱלֹהֶיךָwill hearיִשְׁמַעthe wordsאֵת דִּבְרֵיof the Rabshakeh,רַב שָׁקֵהwhomאֲשֶׁרthe kingמֶלֶךְof Assyriaאַשּׁוּרhis masterאֲדֹנָיוhas sentשְׁלָחוֹto tauntלְחָרֵףthe livingחַיElohim,אֱלֹהִיםand will rebukeוְהוֹכִיחַhim for the wordsבַּדְּבָרִיםthatאֲשֶׁרYHWHיְהוָהyour Elohimאֱלֹהֶיךָhas heard;שָׁמַעso lift upוְנָשָׂאתָa prayerתְפִלָּהforבְּעַדthe remnantהַשְּׁאֵרִיתthat is left.’”הַנִּמְצָאָה
The servantsעַבְדֵיof KingהַמֶּלֶךְHezekiahחִזְקִיָּהוּcameוַיָּבֹאוּto Isaiah.אֶל יְשַׁעְיָהוּ
Isaiahיְשַׁעְיָהוּsaidוַיֹּאמֶרto them,אֲלֵיהֶם“Thusכֹּהyou shall sayתֹאמְרוּןto your master:אֶל אֲדֹנֵיכֶם‘ThusכֹּהsaysאָמַרYHWH:יְהוָהDo notאַלfearתִּירָאbecause ofמִפְּנֵיthe wordsהַדְּבָרִיםthatאֲשֶׁרyou have heard,שָׁמַעְתָּwith whichאֲשֶׁרthe boysנַעֲרֵיof the kingמֶלֶךְof Assyriaאַשּׁוּרhave reviledגִּדְּפוּme.אוֹתִי
Look, Iהִנְנִיam puttingנוֹתֵןin himבּוֹa spirit,רוּחַand he will hearוְשָׁמַעa rumorשְׁמוּעָהand returnוְשָׁבto his land;אֶל אַרְצוֹand I will make him fallוְהִפַּלְתִּיוby the swordבַּחֶרֶבin his land.’”בְּאַרְצוֹ
The Rabshakehרַב שָׁקֵהreturnedוַיָּשָׁבand foundוַיִּמְצָאthe kingאֶת מֶלֶךְof Assyriaאַשּׁוּרfightingנִלְחָםagainst Libnah,עַל לִבְנָהforכִּיhe had heardשָׁמַעthatכִּיhe had set outנָסַעfrom Lachish.מִלָּכִישׁ
He heardוַיִּשְׁמַעconcerning Tirhakahעַל תִּרְהָקָהkingמֶלֶךְof Cush,כּוּשׁsaying,לֵאמֹר“He has come outיָצָאto fightלְהִלָּחֵםagainst you.”אִתָּךְAnd he heard itוַיִּשְׁמַעand sentוַיִּשְׁלַחmessengersמַלְאָכִיםto Hezekiah,אֶל חִזְקִיָּהוּsaying,לֵאמֹר
“Thusכֹּהyou shall sayתֹאמְרוּןto Hezekiahאֶל חִזְקִיָּהוּkingמֶלֶךְof Judah,יְהוּדָהsaying,לֵאמֹר‘Do notאַלlet your Elohimאֱלֹהֶיךָin whomאֲשֶׁר בּוֹyouאַתָּהtrustבּוֹטֵחַdeceive you,יַשִּׁאֲךָsaying,לֵאמֹר“Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַםwill notלֹאbe givenתִנָּתֵןinto the handבְּיַדof the kingמֶלֶךְof Assyria.”אַשּׁוּר
Look,הִנֵּהyouאַתָּהhave heardשָׁמַעְתָּwhatאֲשֶׁרthe kingsמַלְכֵיof Assyriaאַשּׁוּרhave doneעָשׂוּto allלְכָלthe lands,הָאֲרָצוֹתdevoting them to destruction;לְהַחֲרִימָםand will youוְאַתָּהbe delivered?תִּנָּצֵל
Did the godsהַ אֱלֹהֵיof the nationsהַגּוֹיִםdeliver them,הִצִּילוּ אוֹתָםthe nations thatאֲשֶׁרmy fathersאֲבוֹתַיdestroyed:הִשְׁחִיתוּGozan,אֶת גּוֹזָןHaran,וְאֶת חָרָןRezeph,וְרֶצֶףand the sonsוּבְנֵיof Edenעֶדֶןwho wereאֲשֶׁרin Telassar?בִּתְלַשָּׂר
Where isאַיֵּהthe kingמֶלֶךְof Hamath,חֲמָתthe kingוּמֶלֶךְof Arpad,אַרְפָּדand the kingוּמֶלֶךְof the cityלָעִירof Sepharvaim,סְפַרְוָיִםHena,הֵנַעand Ivvah?’”וְעִוָּה
Hezekiahחִזְקִיָּהוּtookוַיִּקַּחthe lettersאֶת הַסְּפָרִיםfrom the handמִיַּדof the messengersהַמַּלְאָכִיםand read it;וַיִּקְרָאֵהוּthen he went upוַיַּעַלto the houseבֵּיתof YHWH,יְהוָהand Hezekiahוַ חִזְקִיָּהוּspread it outיִּפְרְשֵׂהוּbeforeלִפְנֵיYHWH.יְהוָה
Hezekiahחִזְקִיָּהוּprayedוַיִּתְפַּלֵּלto YHWH,אֶל יְהוָהsaying,לֵאמֹר
“YHWHיְהוָהTsevaot,צְבָאוֹתElohimאֱלֹהֵיof Israel,יִשְׂרָאֵלwho sitיֹשֵׁבon the cherubim,הַכְּרֻבִיםyouאַתָּהareהוּאthe Elohim,הָאֱלֹהִיםyou alone,לְבַדְּךָof allלְכֹלthe kingdomsמַמְלְכוֹתof the earth;הָאָרֶץyouאַתָּהmadeעָשִׂיתָthe heavensאֶת הַשָּׁמַיִםand the earth.וְאֶת הָאָרֶץ
Incline,הַטֵּהYHWH,יְהוָהyour earאָזְנְךָand hear;וּשְׁמָעopen,פְּקַחYHWH,יְהוָהyour eyesעֵינֶךָand see;וּרְאֵהand hearוּשְׁמַעallאֵת כָּלthe wordsדִּבְרֵיof Sennacherib,סַנְחֵרִיבwhichאֲשֶׁרhe has sentשָׁלַחto tauntלְחָרֵףthe livingחָיElohim.אֱלֹהִים
Truly,אָמְנָםYHWH,יְהוָהthe kingsמַלְכֵיof Assyriaאַשּׁוּרhave laid wasteהֶחֱרִיבוּallאֶת כָּלthe landsהָאֲרָצוֹתand their land,וְאֶת אַרְצָם
and have putוְנָתֹןtheir godsאֶת אֱלֹהֵיהֶםinto the fire,בָּאֵשׁforכִּיtheyהֵמָּהwere notלֹאgods,אֱלֹהִיםbutכִּי אִםthe workמַעֲשֵׂהof humanאָדָםhands,יְדֵיwoodעֵץand stone;וָאֶבֶןso they made them perish.וַיְאַבְּדוּם
So now,וְעַתָּהYHWHיְהוָהour Elohim,אֱלֹהֵינוּsave usהוֹשִׁיעֵנוּfrom his hand,מִיָדוֹthat allוְ כָּלthe kingdomsמַמְלְכוֹתof the earthהָאָרֶץmay knowיֵדְעוּthatכִּיyouאַתָּהare YHWH,יְהוָהyou alone.”לְבַדֶּךָ
Isaiahיְשַׁעְיָהוּsonבֶןof Amozאָמוֹץsentוַיִּשְׁלַחto Hezekiah,אֶל חִזְקִיָּהוּsaying,לֵאמֹר“ThusכֹּהsaysאָמַרYHWH,יְהוָהthe Elohimאֱלֹהֵיof Israel:יִשְׂרָאֵל‘Because of whatאֲשֶׁרyou have prayedהִתְפַּלַּלְתָּto meאֵלַיconcerning Sennacheribאֶל סַנְחֵרִיבkingמֶלֶךְof Assyria,אַשּׁוּר
thisזֶהis the wordהַדָּבָרthatאֲשֶׁרYHWHיְהוָהhas spokenדִּבֶּרagainst him:עָלָיו“She despises you,בָּזָה לְךָshe mocks you,לָעֲגָה לְךָthe virgin,בְּתוּלַתdaughterבַּתof Zion;צִיּוֹןbehind youאַחֲרֶיךָshe shakesהֵנִיעָהher head,רֹאשׁthe daughterבַּתof Jerusalem.יְרוּשָׁלִָם
Whomאֶת מִיhave you tauntedחֵרַפְתָּand reviled?וְגִדַּפְתָּAgainst whomוְעַל מִיhave you raisedהֲרִימוֹתָהyour voiceקּוֹלand liftedוַתִּשָּׂאon highמָרוֹםyour eyes?עֵינֶיךָAgainst the Holy Oneאֶל קְדוֹשׁof Israel!יִשְׂרָאֵל
Throughבְּיַדyour servantsעֲבָדֶיךָyou have tauntedחֵרַפְתָּAdonai,אֲדֹנָיand you have said,וַתֹּאמֶר‘With the multitudeבְּרֹבof my chariotsרִכְבִּיIאֲנִיhave gone upעָלִיתִיto the heightמְרוֹםof the mountains,הָרִיםto the remotest partsיַרְכְּתֵיof Lebanon;לְבָנוֹןI will cut downוְאֶכְרֹתits tallקוֹמַת וcedars,אֲרָזָיits choicestמִבְחַרcypresses;בְּרֹשָׁיוI will enterוְאָבוֹאthe heightמְרוֹםof its farthest end,קִצּוֹthe forestיַעַרof its orchard.כַּרְמִלּוֹ
Iאֲנִיhave dugקַרְתִּיand drunkוְשָׁתִיתִיwaters,מָיִםand I will dry upוְאַחְרִבwith the soleבְּכַףof my feetפְּעָמַיallכֹּלthe riversיְאֹרֵיof Egypt.’מָצוֹר
Have you notהֲלוֹאheard?שָׁמַעְתָּFrom afarלְמֵרָחוֹקI made it,אוֹתָהּ עָשִׂיתִיfrom daysמִימֵיof oldקֶדֶםI formed it;וִיצַרְתִּיהָnowעַתָּהI have brought it about,הֲבֵאתִיהָand it has beenוּתְהִיfor reducingלְהַשְׁאוֹתfortifiedבְּצֻרוֹתcitiesעָרִיםinto heapsגַּלִּיםof ruins.נִצִּים
Their inhabitants,וְיֹשְׁבֵיהֶןlacking strength,קִצְרֵי יָדwere terrifiedחַתּוּand put to shame;וָבֹשׁוּthey wereהָיוּgrassעֵשֶׂבof the fieldשָׂדֶהand greenוִירַקof new grass,דֶּשֶׁאgrassחֲצִירon the roofs,גַּגּוֹתand a sown fieldוּשְׁדֵמָהbeforeלִפְנֵיit grows up.קָמָה
Your sitting downוְשִׁבְתְּךָand your going outוְצֵאתְךָand your coming inוּבוֹאֲךָI know,יָדָעְתִּיand your ragingוְאֵת הִתְרַגֶּזְךָagainst me.אֵלָי
Becauseיַעַןyour ragingהִתְרַגֶּזְךָagainst meאֵלַיand your arroganceוְשַׁאֲנַנְךָhave come upעָלָהinto my ears,בְאָזְנָיI will putוְשַׂמְתִּיmy hookחַחִיin your noseבְּאַפֶּךָand my bridleוּמִתְגִּיin your lips,בִּשְׂפָתֶיךָand I will turn you backוַהֲשִׁיבֹתִיךָby the wayבַּדֶּרֶךְby whichאֲשֶׁר בָּהּyou came.”בָּאתָ
And thisוְזֶהshall be for youלְּךָthe sign:הָאוֹתthis yearהַשָּׁנָהyou will eatאָכוֹלwhat grows of itself,סָפִיחַand in the second yearוּבַשָּׁנָה הַשֵּׁנִיתwhat springs from that;שָׁחִיסand in the third yearוּבַשָּׁנָה הַשְּׁלִישִׁיתsowזִרְעוּand reap,וְקִצְרוּand plantוְנִטְעוּvineyardsכְרָמִיםand eatוְאִכְלוּtheir fruit.פִרְיָם
And what has escapedפְּלֵיטַתof the houseבֵּיתof Judah,יְהוּדָהwhat is left,הַנִּשְׁאָרָהwill againוְיָסְפָהtake rootשֹׁרֶשׁdownwardלְמָטָּהand bearוְעָשָׂהfruitפְרִיupward.לְמָעְלָה
Forכִּיfrom Jerusalemמִירוּשָׁלִַםwill go outתֵּצֵאa remnant,שְׁאֵרִיתand those who escapeוּפְלֵיטָהfrom MountמֵהַרZion.צִיּוֹןThe zealקִנְאַתof YHWHיְהוָהTsevaotצְבָאוֹתwill doתַּעֲשֶׂהthis.זֹּאת
ThereforeלָכֵןthusכֹּהsaysאָמַרYHWHיְהוָהconcerning the kingאֶל מֶלֶךְof Assyria:אַשּׁוּרHe will notלֹאcomeיָבוֹאintoאֶלthisהַזֹּאתcityהָעִירand will notוְלֹאshootיוֹרֶהthereשָׁםan arrow,חֵץand will notוְלֹאcome before itיְקַדְּמֶנָּהwith a shield,מָגֵןand will notוְלֹאheap upיִשְׁפֹּךְagainst itעֳלֶיהָa siege ramp.סֹלְלָה
By the wayבַּדֶּרֶךְthatאֲשֶׁרhe came,בָּאby itבָּהּhe will return,יָשׁוּבand intoוְאֶלthisהַזֹּאתcityהָעִירhe will notלֹאcome,יָבוֹאdeclaresנְאֻםYHWH.יְהוָה
I will protectוְגַנּוֹתִי עַלthisהַזֹּאתcityהָעִירto save it,לְהוֹשִׁיעָהּfor my own sakeלְמַעֲנִיand for the sakeוּלְמַעַןof Davidדָּוִדmy servant.’”עַבְדִּי
The angelמַלְאַךְof YHWHיְהוָהwent outוַיֵּצֵאand struckוַיַּכֶּהin the campבְּמַחֲנֵהof Assyriaאַשּׁוּרa hundredמֵאָהeighty-fiveוּשְׁמֹנִים וַחֲמִשָּׁהthousand;אָלֶףand when they rose earlyוַיַּשְׁכִּימוּin the morning,בַבֹּקֶרlook,וְהִנֵּהall of themכֻלָּםwere deadמֵתִיםbodies.פְּגָרִים
Sennacheribסַנְחֵרִיבkingמֶלֶךְof Assyriaאַשּׁוּרset outוַיִּסַּעand wentוַיֵּלֶךְand returned,וַיָּשָׁבand livedוַיֵּשֶׁבin Nineveh.בְּנִינְוֵה
And it happened,וַיְהִיas heהוּאwas bowing downמִשְׁתַּחֲוֶהin the houseבֵּיתof Nisrochנִסְרֹךְhis god,אֱלֹהָיוthat Adrammelechוְאַדְרַמֶּלֶךְand Sharezer,וְשַׂרְאֶצֶרhis sons,בָּנָיוstruck himהִכֻּהוּwith the sword;בַחֶרֶבand theyוְהֵמָּהescapedנִמְלְטוּto the landאֶרֶץof Ararat.אֲרָרָטAnd Esarhaddonוַ אֵסַר חַדֹּןhis sonבְּנוֹreignedיִּמְלֹךְin his place.תַּחְתָּיו