1 Now it came to pass in the third|strong="H7969" year|strong="H8141" of Hoshea|strong="H1954" son|strong="H1121" of Elah|strong="H0425" king|strong="H4428" of Israel|strong="H3478", that Hezekiah|strong="H2396" the son|strong="H1121" of Ahaz|strong="H0271" king|strong="H4428" of Judah|strong="H3063" began to reign|strong="H4427".
2 Twenty|strong="H6242" and five|strong="H2568" years|strong="H8141" old|strong="H1121" was he when he began to reign|strong="H4427"; and he reigned|strong="H4427" twenty|strong="H6242" and nine|strong="H8672" years|strong="H8141" in Jerusalem|strong="H3389". His mother’s|strong="H0517" name|strong="H8034" also was Abi|strong="H0021", the daughter|strong="H1323" of Zachariah|strong="H2148".
3 And he did|strong="H6213" that which was right|strong="H3477" in the sight|strong="H5869" of the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w*, according to all that David|strong="H1732" his father|strong="H0001" did|strong="H6213".
4 He removed|strong="H5493" the high places|strong="H1116", and brake|strong="H7665" the images|strong="H4676", and cut down|strong="H3772" the groves|strong="H0842", and brake in pieces|strong="H3807" the brasen|strong="H5178" serpent|strong="H5175" that Moses|strong="H4872" had made|strong="H6213": for unto those days|strong="H3117" the children|strong="H1121" of Israel|strong="H3478" did burn incense|strong="H6999" to it: and he called|strong="H7121" it Nehushtan|strong="H5180".
5 He trusted|strong="H0982" in the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w* God|strong="H0430" of Israel|strong="H3478"; so that after|strong="H0310" him was none like him among all the kings|strong="H4428" of Judah|strong="H3063", nor any that were before|strong="H6440" him.
6 For he clave|strong="H1692" to the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w*, and departed|strong="H5493" not from following|strong="H0310" him, but kept|strong="H8104" his commandments|strong="H4687", which the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w* commanded|strong="H6680" Moses|strong="H4872".
7 And the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w* was with him; and he prospered|strong="H7919" whithersoever he went forth|strong="H3318": and he rebelled|strong="H4775" against the king|strong="H4428" of Assyria|strong="H0804", and served|strong="H5647" him not.
8 He smote|strong="H5221" the Philistines|strong="H6430", even unto Gaza|strong="H5804", and the borders|strong="H1366" thereof, from the tower|strong="H4026" of the watchmen|strong="H5341" to the fenced|strong="H4013" city|strong="H5892".
9 And it came to pass in the fourth|strong="H7243" year|strong="H8141" of king|strong="H4428" Hezekiah|strong="H2396", which was the seventh|strong="H7637" year|strong="H8141" of Hoshea|strong="H1954" son|strong="H1121" of Elah|strong="H0425" king|strong="H4428" of Israel|strong="H3478", that Shalmaneser|strong="H8022" king|strong="H4428" of Assyria|strong="H0804" came up|strong="H5927" against Samaria|strong="H8111", and besieged|strong="H6696" it.
10 And at the end|strong="H7097" of three|strong="H7969" years|strong="H8141" they took|strong="H3920" it: even in the sixth|strong="H8337" year|strong="H8141" of Hezekiah|strong="H2396", that is the ninth|strong="H8672" year|strong="H8141" of Hoshea|strong="H1954" king|strong="H4428" of Israel|strong="H3478", Samaria|strong="H8111" was taken|strong="H3920".
11 And the king|strong="H4428" of Assyria|strong="H0804" did carry away|strong="H1540" Israel|strong="H3478" unto Assyria|strong="H0804", and put|strong="H5148" them in Halah|strong="H2477" and in Habor|strong="H2249" by the river|strong="H5104" of Gozan|strong="H1470", and in the cities|strong="H5892" of the Medes|strong="H4074":
12 Because they obeyed|strong="H8085" not the voice|strong="H6963" of the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w* their God|strong="H0430", but transgressed|strong="H5674" his covenant|strong="H1285", and all that Moses|strong="H4872" the servant|strong="H5650" of the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w* commanded|strong="H6680", and would not hear|strong="H8085" them, nor do|strong="H6213" them.
13 Now in the fourteenth|strong="H0702" year|strong="H8141" of king|strong="H4428" Hezekiah|strong="H2396" did Sennacherib|strong="H5576" king|strong="H4428" of Assyria|strong="H0804" come up|strong="H5927" against all the fenced|strong="H1219" cities|strong="H5892" of Judah|strong="H3063", and took|strong="H8610" them.
14 And Hezekiah|strong="H2396" king|strong="H4428" of Judah|strong="H3063" sent|strong="H7971" to the king|strong="H4428" of Assyria|strong="H0804" to Lachish|strong="H3923", saying|strong="H0559", I have offended|strong="H2398"; return|strong="H7725" from me: that which thou puttest|strong="H5414" on me will I bear|strong="H5375". And the king|strong="H4428" of Assyria|strong="H0804" appointed|strong="H7760" unto Hezekiah|strong="H2396" king|strong="H4428" of Judah|strong="H3063" three|strong="H7969" hundred|strong="H3967" talents|strong="H3603" of silver|strong="H3701" and thirty|strong="H7970" talents|strong="H3603" of gold|strong="H2091".
15 And Hezekiah|strong="H2396" gave|strong="H5414" him all the silver|strong="H3701" that was found|strong="H4672" in the house|strong="H1004" of the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w*, and in the treasures|strong="H0214" of the king’s|strong="H4428" house|strong="H1004".
16 At that time|strong="H6256" did Hezekiah|strong="H2396" cut off|strong="H7112" the gold from the doors|strong="H1817" of the temple|strong="H1964" of the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w*, and from the pillars|strong="H0547" which Hezekiah|strong="H2396" king|strong="H4428" of Judah|strong="H3063" had overlaid|strong="H6823", and gave|strong="H5414" it to the king|strong="H4428" of Assyria|strong="H0804".
17 And the king|strong="H4428" of Assyria|strong="H0804" sent|strong="H7971" Tartan|strong="H8661" and Rabsaris|strong="H7249" and Rab-shakeh|strong="H7262" from Lachish|strong="H3923" to king|strong="H4428" Hezekiah|strong="H2396" with a great|strong="H3515" host|strong="H2426" against Jerusalem|strong="H3389". And they went up|strong="H5927" and came|strong="H0935" to Jerusalem|strong="H3389". And when they were come up|strong="H5927", they came|strong="H0935" and stood|strong="H5975" by the conduit|strong="H8585" of the upper|strong="H5945" pool|strong="H1295", which is in the highway|strong="H4546" of the fuller’s|strong="H3526" field|strong="H7704".
18 And when they had called|strong="H7121" to the king|strong="H4428", there came out|strong="H3318" to them Eliakim|strong="H0471" the son|strong="H1121" of Hilkiah|strong="H2518", which was over the household|strong="H1004", and Shebna|strong="H7644" the scribe|strong="H5608", and Joah|strong="H3098" the son|strong="H1121" of Asaph|strong="H0623" the recorder|strong="H2142".
19 And Rab-shakeh|strong="H7262" said|strong="H0559" unto them, Speak|strong="H0559" ye now to Hezekiah|strong="H2396", Thus saith|strong="H0559" the great|strong="H1419" king|strong="H4428", the king|strong="H4428" of Assyria|strong="H0804", What confidence|strong="H0986" is this wherein thou trustest|strong="H0982"?
20 Thou sayest|strong="H0559", (but they are but vain|strong="H8193" words|strong="H1697",) I have counsel|strong="H6098" and strength|strong="H1369" for the war|strong="H4421". Now on whom dost thou trust|strong="H0982", that thou rebellest|strong="H4775" against me?
21 Now, behold, thou trustest|strong="H0982" upon the staff|strong="H4938" of this bruised|strong="H7533" reed|strong="H7070", even upon Egypt|strong="H4714", on which if a man|strong="H0376" lean|strong="H5564", it will go|strong="H0935" into his hand|strong="H3709", and pierce|strong="H5344" it: so is Pharaoh|strong="H6547" king|strong="H4428" of Egypt|strong="H4714" unto all that trust|strong="H0982" on him.
22 But if ye say|strong="H0559" unto me, We trust|strong="H0982" in the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w* our God|strong="H0430": is not that he, whose high places|strong="H1116" and whose altars|strong="H4196" Hezekiah|strong="H2396" hath taken away|strong="H5493", and hath said|strong="H0559" to Judah|strong="H3063" and Jerusalem|strong="H3389", Ye shall worship|strong="H7812" before|strong="H6440" this altar|strong="H4196" in Jerusalem|strong="H3389"?
23 Now therefore, I pray thee, give pledges|strong="H6148" to my lord|strong="H0113" the king|strong="H4428" of Assyria|strong="H0804", and I will deliver|strong="H5414" thee two thousand|strong="H0505" horses|strong="H5483", if thou be able|strong="H3201" on thy part to set|strong="H5414" riders|strong="H7392" upon them.
24 How then wilt thou turn away|strong="H7725" the face|strong="H6440" of one|strong="H0259" captain|strong="H6346" of the least|strong="H6996" of my master’s|strong="H0113" servants|strong="H5650", and put thy trust|strong="H0982" on Egypt|strong="H4714" for chariots|strong="H7393" and for horsemen|strong="H6571"?
25 Am I now come up|strong="H5927" without|strong="H1107" the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w* against this place|strong="H4725" to destroy|strong="H7843" it? The \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w* said|strong="H0559" to me, Go up|strong="H5927" against this land|strong="H0776", and destroy|strong="H7843" it.
26 Then said|strong="H0559" Eliakim|strong="H0471" the son|strong="H1121" of Hilkiah|strong="H2518", and Shebna|strong="H7644", and Joah|strong="H3098", unto Rab-shakeh|strong="H7262", Speak|strong="H1696", I pray thee, to thy servants|strong="H5650" in the Syrian language|strong="H0762"; for we understand|strong="H8085" it: and talk|strong="H1696" not with us in the Jews’ language|strong="H3066" in the ears|strong="H0241" of the people|strong="H5971" that are on the wall|strong="H2346".
27 But Rab-shakeh|strong="H7262" said|strong="H0559" unto them, Hath my master|strong="H0113" sent|strong="H7971" me to thy master|strong="H0113", and to thee, to speak|strong="H1696" these words|strong="H1697"? hath he not sent me to the men|strong="H0582" which sit|strong="H3427" on the wall|strong="H2346", that they may eat|strong="H0398" their own dung|strong="H6675", and drink|strong="H8354" their own piss|strong="H4325" with you?
28 Then Rab-shakeh|strong="H7262" stood|strong="H5975" and cried|strong="H7121" with a loud|strong="H1419" voice|strong="H6963" in the Jews’ language|strong="H3066", and spake|strong="H1696", saying|strong="H0559", Hear|strong="H8085" the word|strong="H1697" of the great|strong="H1419" king|strong="H4428", the king|strong="H4428" of Assyria|strong="H0804":
29 Thus saith|strong="H0559" the king|strong="H4428", Let not Hezekiah|strong="H2396" deceive|strong="H5377" you: for he shall not be able|strong="H3201" to deliver|strong="H5337" you out of his hand|strong="H3027":
30 Neither let Hezekiah|strong="H2396" make you trust|strong="H0982" in the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w*, saying|strong="H0559", The \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w* will surely|strong="H5337" deliver|strong="H5337" us, and this city|strong="H5892" shall not be delivered|strong="H5414" into the hand|strong="H3027" of the king|strong="H4428" of Assyria|strong="H0804".
31 Hearken|strong="H8085" not to Hezekiah|strong="H2396": for thus saith|strong="H0559" the king|strong="H4428" of Assyria|strong="H0804", Make|strong="H6213" an agreement with me by a present|strong="H1293", and come out|strong="H3318" to me, and then eat|strong="H0398" ye every man|strong="H0376" of his own vine|strong="H1612", and every one|strong="H0376" of his fig tree|strong="H8384", and drink|strong="H8354" ye every one|strong="H0376" the waters|strong="H4325" of his cistern|strong="H0953":
32 Until I come|strong="H0935" and take you away|strong="H3947" to a land|strong="H0776" like your own land|strong="H0776", a land|strong="H0776" of corn|strong="H1715" and wine|strong="H8492", a land|strong="H0776" of bread|strong="H3899" and vineyards|strong="H3754", a land|strong="H0776" of oil|strong="H3323" olive|strong="H2132" and of honey|strong="H1706", that ye may live|strong="H2421", and not die|strong="H4191": and hearken|strong="H8085" not unto Hezekiah|strong="H2396", when he persuadeth|strong="H5496" you, saying|strong="H0559", The \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w* will deliver|strong="H5337" us.
33 Hath any|strong="H0376" of the gods|strong="H0430" of the nations|strong="H1471" delivered|strong="H5337" at all|strong="H5337" his land|strong="H0776" out of the hand|strong="H3027" of the king|strong="H4428" of Assyria|strong="H0804"?
34 Where are the gods|strong="H0430" of Hamath|strong="H2574", and of Arpad|strong="H0774"? where are the gods|strong="H0430" of Sepharvaim|strong="H5617", Hena|strong="H2012", and Ivah|strong="H5755"? have they delivered|strong="H5337" Samaria|strong="H8111" out of mine hand|strong="H3027"?
35 Who are they among all the gods|strong="H0430" of the countries|strong="H0776", that have delivered|strong="H5337" their country|strong="H0776" out of mine hand|strong="H3027", that the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w* should deliver|strong="H5337" Jerusalem|strong="H3389" out of mine hand|strong="H3027"?
36 But the people|strong="H5971" held their peace|strong="H2790", and answered|strong="H6030" him not a word|strong="H1697": for the king’s|strong="H4428" commandment|strong="H4687" was, saying|strong="H0559", Answer|strong="H6030" him not.
37 Then came|strong="H0935" Eliakim|strong="H0471" the son|strong="H1121" of Hilkiah|strong="H2518", which was over the household|strong="H1004", and Shebna|strong="H7644" the scribe|strong="H5608", and Joah|strong="H3098" the son|strong="H1121" of Asaph|strong="H0623" the recorder|strong="H2142", to Hezekiah|strong="H2396" with their clothes|strong="H0899" rent|strong="H7167", and told|strong="H5046" him the words|strong="H1697" of Rab-shakeh|strong="H7262".