The Second Book of Kings, Chapter 18מלכים ב 18

וַֽיְהִי֙ בִּשְׁנַ֣ת שָׁלֹ֔שׁ לְהוֹשֵׁ֥עַ בֶּן אֵלָ֖ה מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל מָלַ֛ךְ חִזְקִיָּ֥ה בֶן אָחָ֖ז מֶ֥לֶךְ יְהוּדָֽה

Now it came to pass in the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign.

בֶּן עֶשְׂרִ֨ים וְחָמֵ֤שׁ שָׁנָה֙ הָיָ֣ה בְמָלְכ֔וֹ וְעֶשְׂרִ֤ים וָתֵ֨שַׁע֙ שָׁנָ֔ה מָלַ֖ךְ בִּירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם וְשֵׁ֣ם אִמּ֔וֹ אֲבִ֖י בַּת זְכַרְיָֽה

Twenty and five years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also Abi, the daughter of Zachariah.

וַיַּ֥עַשׂ הַיָּשָׁ֖ר בְּעֵינֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה כְּכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂ֖ה דָּוִ֥ד אָבִֽיו

And he did right in the sight of YHWH, according to all that David his father did.

ה֣וּא הֵסִ֣יר אֶת הַבָּמ֗וֹת וְשִׁבַּר֙ אֶת הַמַּצֵּבֹ֔ת וְכָרַ֖ת אֶת הָֽאֲשֵׁרָ֑ה וְכִתַּת֩ נְחַ֨שׁ הַנְּחֹ֜שֶׁת אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂ֣ה מֹשֶׁ֗ה כִּ֣י עַד הַיָּמִ֤ים הָהֵ֨מָּה֙ הָי֤וּ בְנֵֽי יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ מְקַטְּרִ֣ים ל֔וֹ וַיִּקְרָא ל֖וֹ נְחֻשְׁתָּֽן

He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for to those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan.

בַּיהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵֽי יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בָּטָ֑ח וְאַחֲרָ֞יו לֹא הָיָ֣ה כָמֹ֗הוּ בְּכֹל֙ מַלְכֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֔ה וַאֲשֶׁ֥ר הָי֖וּ לְפָנָֽיו

He trusted in YHWH God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor that were before him.

וַיִּדְבַּק֙ בַּֽיהוָ֔ה לֹא סָ֖ר מֵאַֽחֲרָ֑יו וַיִּשְׁמֹר֙ מִצְוֺתָ֔יו אֲשֶׁר צִוָּ֥ה יְהוָ֖ה אֶת מֹשֶֽׁה

For he clave to YHWH, departed not from following him, but kept his commandments, which YHWH commanded Moses.

וְהָיָ֤ה יְהוָה֙ עִמּ֔וֹ בְּכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר יֵצֵ֖א יַשְׂכִּ֑יל וַיִּמְרֹ֥ד בְּמֶֽלֶךְ אַשּׁ֖וּר וְלֹ֥א עֲבָדֽוֹ

And YHWH was with him; he prospered whithersoever he went forth: and he rebelled against the king of Assyria, and served him not.

הֽוּא הִכָּ֧ה אֶת פְּלִשְׁתִּ֛ים עַד עַזָּ֖ה וְאֶת גְּבוּלֶ֑יהָ מִמִּגְדַּ֥ל נוֹצְרִ֖ים עַד עִ֥יר מִבְצָֽר

He smote the Philistines, to Gaza, and the borders thereof, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city.

וַֽיְהִ֞י בַּשָּׁנָ֤ה הָֽרְבִיעִית֙ לַמֶּ֣לֶךְ חִזְקִיָּ֔הוּ הִ֚יא הַשָּׁנָ֣ה הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔ית לְהוֹשֵׁ֥עַ בֶּן אֵלָ֖ה מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל עָלָ֞ה שַׁלְמַנְאֶ֧סֶר מֶֽלֶךְ אַשּׁ֛וּר עַל שֹׁמְר֖וֹן וַיָּ֥צַר עָלֶֽיהָ

And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Hezekiah, which the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria, and besieged it.

וַֽיִּלְכְּדֻ֗הָ מִקְצֵה֙ שָׁלֹ֣שׁ שָׁנִ֔ים בִּשְׁנַת שֵׁ֖שׁ לְחִזְקִיָּ֑ה הִ֣יא שְׁנַת תֵּ֗שַׁע לְהוֹשֵׁ֨עַ֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל נִלְכְּדָ֖ה שֹׁמְרֽוֹן

And at the end of three years they took it: in the sixth year of Hezekiah, that the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel, Samaria was taken.

וַיֶּ֧גֶל מֶֽלֶךְ אַשּׁ֛וּר אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל אַשּׁ֑וּרָה וַיַּנְחֵ֞ם בַּחְלַ֧ח וּבְחָב֛וֹר נְהַ֥ר גּוֹזָ֖ן וְעָרֵ֥י מָדָֽי

And the king of Assyria did carry away Israel to Assyria, and put them in Halah and in Habor the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes:

עַ֣ל אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹֽא שָׁמְע֗וּ בְּקוֹל֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵיהֶ֔ם וַיַּעַבְרוּ֙ אֶת בְּרִית֔וֹ אֵ֚ת כָּל אֲשֶׁ֣ר צִוָּ֔ה מֹשֶׁ֖ה עֶ֣בֶד יְהוָ֑ה וְלֹ֥א שָׁמְע֖וּ וְלֹ֥א עָשֽׂוּ

Because they obeyed not the voice of YHWH their God, but transgressed his covenant, all that Moses the servant of YHWH commanded, and would not hear , nor do .

וּבְאַרְבַּע֩ עֶשְׂרֵ֨ה שָׁנָ֜ה לַמֶּ֣לֶךְ חִזְקִיָּ֗ה עָלָ֞ה סַנְחֵרִ֤יב מֶֽלֶךְ אַשּׁוּר֙ עַ֣ל כָּל עָרֵ֧י יְהוּדָ֛ה הַבְּצֻר֖וֹת וַֽיִּתְפְּשֵֽׂם

Now in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah did Sennacherib king of Assyria come up against all the fenced cities of Judah, and took them.

וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח חִזְקִיָּ֣ה מֶֽלֶךְ יְהוּדָ֣ה אֶל מֶֽלֶךְ אַשּׁוּר֩ לָכִ֨ישָׁה לֵאמֹ֤ר חָטָ֨אתִי֙ שׁ֣וּב מֵֽעָלַ֔י אֵ֛ת אֲשֶׁר תִּתֵּ֥ן עָלַ֖י אֶשָּׂ֑א וַיָּ֨שֶׂם מֶֽלֶךְ אַשּׁ֜וּר עַל חִזְקִיָּ֣ה מֶֽלֶךְ יְהוּדָ֗ה שְׁלֹ֤שׁ מֵאוֹת֙ כִּכַּר כֶּ֔סֶף וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֖ים כִּכַּ֥ר זָהָֽב

And Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria to Lachish, saying, I have offended; return from me: that which you puttest on me will I bear. And the king of Assyria appointed to Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold.

וַיִּתֵּן֙ חִזְקִיָּ֔ה אֶת כָּל הַכֶּ֖סֶף הַנִּמְצָ֣א בֵית יְהוָ֑ה וּבְאֹצְר֖וֹת בֵּ֥ית הַמֶּֽלֶךְ

And Hezekiah gave all the silver that was found in the house of YHWH, and in the treasures of the king's house.

בָּעֵ֣ת הַהִ֗יא קִצַּ֨ץ חִזְקִיָּ֜ה אֶת דַּלְת֨וֹת הֵיכַ֤ל יְהוָה֙ וְאֶת הָאֹ֣מְנ֔וֹת אֲשֶׁ֣ר צִפָּ֔ה חִזְקִיָּ֖ה מֶ֣לֶךְ יְהוּדָ֑ה וַֽיִּתְּנֵ֖ם לְמֶ֥לֶךְ אַשּֽׁוּר

At that time did Hezekiah cut off the doors of the temple of YHWH, and the pillars which Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid, and gave it to the king of Assyria.

וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח מֶֽלֶךְ אַשּׁ֡וּר אֶת תַּרְתָּ֥ן וְאֶת רַב סָרִ֣יס וְאֶת רַב שָׁקֵ֨ה מִן לָכִ֜ישׁ אֶל הַמֶּ֧לֶךְ חִזְקִיָּ֛הוּ בְּחֵ֥יל כָּבֵ֖ד יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם וַֽיַּעֲלוּ֙ וַיָּבֹ֣אוּ יְרוּשָׁלִַ֔ם וַיַּעֲל֣וּ וַיָּבֹ֗אוּ וַיַּֽעַמְדוּ֙ בִּתְעָלַת֙ הַבְּרֵכָ֣ה הָֽעֶלְיוֹנָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֕ר בִּמְסִלַּ֖ת שְׂדֵ֥ה כוֹבֵֽס

And the king of Assyria sent Tartan and Rabsaris and Rabshakeh from Lachish to king Hezekiah with a great host against Jerusalem. And they went up and came to Jerusalem. And when they were come up, they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which in the highway of the fuller's field.

וַֽיִּקְרְאוּ֙ אֶל הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וַיֵּצֵ֧א אֲלֵהֶ֛ם אֶלְיָקִ֥ים בֶּן חִלְקִיָּ֖הוּ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עַל הַבָּ֑יִת וְשֶׁבְנָה֙ הַסֹּפֵ֔ר וְיוֹאָ֥ח בֶּן אָסָ֖ף הַמַּזְכִּֽיר

And when they had called to the king, there came out to them Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, which over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder.

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֲלֵהֶם֙ רַב שָׁקֵ֔ה אִמְרוּ נָ֖א אֶל חִזְקִיָּ֑הוּ כֹּֽה אָמַ֞ר הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ הַגָּדוֹל֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ אַשּׁ֔וּר מָ֧ה הַבִּטָּח֛וֹן הַזֶּ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר בָּטָֽחְתָּ

And Rabshakeh said to them, Speak you now to Hezekiah, Thus says the great king, the king of Assyria, What confidence this wherein you trustest?

אָמַ֨רְתָּ֙ אַךְ דְּבַר שְׂפָתַ֔יִם עֵצָ֥ה וּגְבוּרָ֖ה לַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה עַתָּה֙ עַל מִ֣י בָטַ֔חְתָּ כִּ֥י מָרַ֖דְתָּ בִּֽי

You sayest, (but vain words,) counsel and strength for the war. Now on whom dost you trust, that you rebellest against me?

עַתָּ֡ה הִנֵּ֣ה בָטַ֣חְתָּ לְּךָ֡ עַל מִשְׁעֶנֶת֩ הַקָּנֶ֨ה הָרָצ֤וּץ הַזֶּה֙ עַל מִצְרַ֔יִם אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִסָּמֵ֥ךְ אִישׁ֙ עָלָ֔יו וּבָ֥א בְכַפּ֖וֹ וּנְקָבָ֑הּ כֵּ֚ן פַּרְעֹ֣ה מֶֽלֶךְ מִצְרַ֔יִם לְכָֽל הַבֹּטְחִ֖ים עָלָֽיו

Now, behold, you trustest upon the staff of this bruised reed, upon Egypt, on which if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so Pharaoh king of Egypt to all that trust on him.

וְכִי תֹאמְר֣וּן אֵלַ֔י אֶל יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ בָּטָ֑חְנוּ הֲלוֹא ה֗וּא אֲשֶׁ֨ר הֵסִ֤יר חִזְקִיָּ֨הוּ֙ אֶת בָּמֹתָ֣יו וְאֶת מִזְבְּחֹתָ֔יו וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לִֽיהוּדָה֙ וְלִיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם לִפְנֵי֙ הַמִּזְבֵּ֣חַ הַזֶּ֔ה תִּֽשְׁתַּחֲו֖וּ בִּירוּשָׁלִָֽם

But if you say to me, We trust in YHWH our God: not that he, whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah has taken away, and has said to Judah and Jerusalem, You shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem?

וְעַתָּה֙ הִתְעָ֣רֶב נָ֔א אֶת אֲדֹנִ֖י אֶת מֶ֣לֶךְ אַשּׁ֑וּר וְאֶתְּנָ֤ה לְךָ֙ אַלְפַּ֣יִם סוּסִ֔ים אִם תּוּכַ֕ל לָ֥תֶת לְךָ֖ רֹכְבִ֥ים עֲלֵיהֶֽם

Now therefore, I pray you, give pledges to my lord the king of Assyria, and I will deliver you two thousand horses, if you be able on your part to set riders upon them.

וְאֵ֣יךְ תָּשִׁ֗יב אֵ֠ת פְּנֵ֨י פַחַ֥ת אַחַ֛ד עַבְדֵ֥י אֲדֹנִ֖י הַקְּטַנִּ֑ים וַתִּבְטַ֤ח לְךָ֙ עַל מִצְרַ֔יִם לְרֶ֖כֶב וּלְפָרָשִֽׁים

How then will you turn away the face of one captain of the least of my master's servants, and put your trust on Egypt for chariots and for horsemen?

עַתָּה֙ הֲמִבַּלְעֲדֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה עָלִ֛יתִי עַל הַמָּק֥וֹם הַזֶּ֖ה לְהַשְׁחִת֑וֹ יְהוָה֙ אָמַ֣ר אֵלַ֔י עֲלֵ֛ה עַל הָאָ֥רֶץ הַזֹּ֖את וְהַשְׁחִיתָֽהּ

Am I now come up without YHWH against this place to destroy it? YHWH said to me, Go up against this land, and destroy it.

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֶלְיָקִ֣ים בֶּן חִ֠לְקִיָּהוּ וְשֶׁבְנָ֨ה וְיוֹאָ֜ח אֶל רַב שָׁקֵ֗ה דַּבֶּר נָ֤א אֶל עֲבָדֶ֨יךָ֙ אֲרָמִ֔ית כִּ֥י שֹׁמְעִ֖ים אֲנָ֑חְנוּ וְאַל תְּדַבֵּ֤ר עִמָּ֨נוּ֙ יְהוּדִ֔ית בְּאָזְנֵ֣י הָעָ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֖ר עַל הַחֹמָֽה

Then said Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebna, and Joah, to Rabshakeh, Speak, I pray you, to your servants in the Syrian language; for we understand : and talk not with us in the Jews' language in the ears of the people that on the wall.

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֲלֵיהֶ֜ם רַב שָׁקֵ֗ה הַעַ֨ל אֲדֹנֶ֤יךָ וְאֵלֶ֨יךָ֙ שְׁלָחַ֣נִי אֲדֹנִ֔י לְדַבֵּ֖ר אֶת הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֑לֶּה הֲלֹ֣א עַל הָאֲנָשִׁ֗ים הַיֹּֽשְׁבִים֙ עַל הַ֣חֹמָ֔ה לֶאֱכֹ֣ל אֶת חריהם צוֹאָתָ֗ם וְלִשְׁתּ֛וֹת אֶת שיניהם מימֵ֥י רַגְלֵיהֶ֖ם עִמָּכֶֽם

But Rabshakeh said to them, Has my master sent me to your master, and to you, to speak these words? not to the men which sit on the wall, that they may eat their own dung, and drink their own piss with you?

וַֽיַּעֲמֹד֙ רַב שָׁקֵ֔ה וַיִּקְרָ֥א בְקוֹל גָּד֖וֹל יְהוּדִ֑ית וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר וַיֹּ֔אמֶר שִׁמְע֛וּ דְּבַר הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ הַגָּד֖וֹל מֶ֥לֶךְ אַשּֽׁוּר

Then Rabshakeh stood and cried with a loud voice in the Jews' language, and spake, saying, Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria:

כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ אַל יַשִּׁ֥יא לָכֶ֖ם חִזְקִיָּ֑הוּ כִּי לֹ֣א יוּכַ֔ל לְהַצִּ֥יל אֶתְכֶ֖ם מִיָּדֽוֹ

Thus says the king, Let not Hezekiah deceive you: for he shall not be able to deliver you out of his hand:

וְאַל יַבְטַ֨ח אֶתְכֶ֤ם חִזְקִיָּ֨הוּ֙ אֶל יְהוָ֣ה לֵאמֹ֔ר הַצֵּ֥ל יַצִּילֵ֖נוּ יְהוָ֑ה וְלֹ֤א תִנָּתֵן֙ אֶת הָעִ֣יר הַזֹּ֔את בְּיַ֖ד מֶ֥לֶךְ אַשּֽׁוּר

Neither let Hezekiah make you trust in YHWH, saying, YHWH will surely deliver us, and this city shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria.

אַֽל תִּשְׁמְע֖וּ אֶל חִזְקִיָּ֑הוּ כִּי֩ כֹ֨ה אָמַ֜ר מֶ֣לֶךְ אַשּׁ֗וּר עֲשֽׂוּ אִתִּ֤י בְרָכָה֙ וּצְא֣וּ אֵלַ֔י וְאִכְל֤וּ אִישׁ גַּפְנוֹ֙ וְאִ֣ישׁ תְּאֵֽנָת֔וֹ וּשְׁת֖וּ אִ֥ישׁ מֵֽי בוֹרֽוֹ

Hearken not to Hezekiah: for thus says the king of Assyria, Make with me by a present, and come out to me, and eat you every man of his own vine, and every one of his fig tree, and drink you every one the waters of his cistern:

עַד בֹּאִי֩ וְלָקַחְתִּ֨י אֶתְכֶ֜ם אֶל אֶ֣רֶץ כְּאַרְצְכֶ֗ם אֶרֶץ֩ דָּגָ֨ן וְתִיר֜וֹשׁ אֶ֧רֶץ לֶ֣חֶם וּכְרָמִ֗ים אֶ֣רֶץ זֵ֤ית יִצְהָר֙ וּדְבַ֔שׁ וִֽחְי֖וּ וְלֹ֣א תָמֻ֑תוּ וְאַֽל תִּשְׁמְעוּ֙ אֶל חִזְקִיָּ֔הוּ כִּֽי יַסִּ֤ית אֶתְכֶם֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר יְהוָ֖ה יַצִּילֵֽנוּ

Until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of corn and wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of oil olive and of honey, that you may live, and not die: and hearken not to Hezekiah, when he persuadeth you, saying, YHWH will deliver us.

הַהַצֵּ֥ל הִצִּ֛ילוּ אֱלֹהֵ֥י הַגּוֹיִ֖ם אִ֣ישׁ אֶת אַרְצ֑וֹ מִיַּ֖ד מֶ֥לֶךְ אַשּֽׁוּר

Has any of the gods of the nations delivered at all his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria?

אַיֵּה֩ אֱלֹהֵ֨י חֲמָ֜ת וְאַרְפָּ֗ד אַיֵּ֛ה אֱלֹהֵ֥י סְפַרְוַ֖יִם הֵנַ֣ע וְעִוָּ֑ה כִּֽי הִצִּ֥ילוּ אֶת שֹׁמְר֖וֹן מִיָּדִֽי

Where the gods of Hamath, and of Arpad? where the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah? have they delivered Samaria out of mine hand?

מִ֚י בְּכָל אֱלֹהֵ֣י הָֽאֲרָצ֔וֹת אֲשֶׁר הִצִּ֥ילוּ אֶת אַרְצָ֖ם מִיָּדִ֑י כִּי יַצִּ֧יל יְהוָ֛ה אֶת יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם מִיָּדִֽי

Who they among all the gods of the countries, that have delivered their country out of mine hand, that YHWH should deliver Jerusalem out of mine hand?

וְהֶחֱרִ֣ישׁוּ הָעָ֔ם וְלֹֽא עָנ֥וּ אֹת֖וֹ דָּבָ֑ר כִּי מִצְוַ֨ת הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ הִ֛יא לֵאמֹ֖ר לֹ֥א תַעֲנֻֽהוּ

But the people held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king's commandment was, saying, Answer him not.

וַיָּבֹ֣א אֶלְיָקִ֣ים בֶּן חִלְקִיָּ֣ה אֲשֶׁר עַל הַ֠בַּיִת וְשֶׁבְנָ֨א הַסֹּפֵ֜ר וְיוֹאָ֨ח בֶּן אָסָ֧ף הַמַּזְכִּ֛יר אֶל חִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ קְרוּעֵ֣י בְגָדִ֑ים וַיַּגִּ֣דוּ ל֔וֹ דִּבְרֵ֖י רַב שָׁקֵֽה

Then came Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, which over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder, to Hezekiah with clothes rent, and told him the words of Rabshakeh.