English Standard Version

Hebrew Study Bible

1After these things and these acts of faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah and encamped against the fortified cities, thinking to win them for himself.

1אַחֲרֵ֨י הַדְּבָרִ֤ים וְהָאֱמֶת֙ הָאֵ֔לֶּה בָּ֖א סַנְחֵרִ֣יב מֶֽלֶךְ־ אַשּׁ֑וּר וַיָּבֹ֣א בִֽיהוּדָ֗ה וַיִּ֙חַן֙ עַל־ הֶעָרִ֣ים הַבְּצֻר֔וֹת וַיֹּ֖אמֶר לְבִקְעָ֥ם אֵלָֽיו׃

2And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come and intended to fight against Jerusalem,

2וַיַּרְא֙ יְחִזְקִיָּ֔הוּ כִּי־ בָ֖א סַנְחֵרִ֑יב וּפָנָ֕יו לַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה עַל־ יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃

3he planned with his officers and his mighty men to stop the water of the springs that were outside the city; and they helped him.

3וַיִּוָּעַ֗ץ עִם־ שָׂרָיו֙ וְגִבֹּרָ֔יו לִסְתּוֹם֙ אֶת־ מֵימֵ֣י הָעֲיָנ֔וֹת אֲשֶׁ֖ר מִח֣וּץ לָעִ֑יר וַֽיַּעְזְרֽוּהוּ׃

4A great many people were gathered, and they stopped all the springs and the brook that flowed through the land, saying, “Why should the kings of Assyria come and find much water?”

4וַיִּקָּבְצ֣וּ עַם־ רָ֔ב וַֽיִּסְתְּמוּ֙ אֶת־ כָּל־ הַמַּעְיָנ֔וֹת וְאֶת־ הַנַּ֛חַל הַשּׁוֹטֵ֥ף בְּתוֹךְ־ הָאָ֖רֶץ לֵאמֹ֑ר לָ֤מָּה יָב֙וֹאוּ֙ מַלְכֵ֣י אַשּׁ֔וּר וּמָצְא֖וּ מַ֥יִם רַבִּֽים׃

5He set to work resolutely and built up all the wall that was broken down and raised towers upon it, and outside it he built another wall, and he strengthened the Millo in the city of David. He also made weapons and shields in abundance.

5וַיִּתְחַזַּ֡ק וַיִּבֶן֩ אֶת־ כָּל־ הַחוֹמָ֨ה הַפְּרוּצָ֜ה וַיַּ֣עַל עַל־ הַמִּגְדָּל֗וֹת וְלַח֙וּצָה֙ הַחוֹמָ֣ה אַחֶ֔רֶת וַיְחַזֵּ֥ק אֶת־ הַמִּלּ֖וֹא עִ֣יר דָּוִ֑יד וַיַּ֥עַשׂ שֶׁ֛לַח לָרֹ֖ב וּמָגִנִּֽים׃

6And he set combat commanders over the people and gathered them together to him in the square at the gate of the city and spoke encouragingly to them, saying,

6וַיִּתֵּ֛ן שָׂרֵ֥י מִלְחָמ֖וֹת עַל־ הָעָ֑ם וַיִּקְבְּצֵ֣ם אֵלָ֗יו אֶל־ רְחוֹב֙ שַׁ֣עַר הָעִ֔יר וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר עַל־ לְבָבָ֖ם לֵאמֹֽר׃

7“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or dismayed before the king of Assyria and all the horde that is with him, for there are more with us than with him.

7חִזְק֣וּ וְאִמְצ֔וּ אַל־ תִּֽירְא֣וּ וְאַל־ תֵּחַ֗תּוּ מִפְּנֵי֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ אַשּׁ֔וּר וּמִלִּפְנֵ֖י כָּל־ הֶהָמ֣וֹן אֲשֶׁר־ עִמּ֑וֹ כִּֽי־ עִמָּ֥נוּ רַ֖ב מֵעִמּֽוֹ׃

8With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God, to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people took confidence from the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.

8עִמּוֹ֙ זְר֣וֹעַ בָּשָׂ֔ר וְעִמָּ֜נוּ יְהוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֵ֙ינוּ֙ לְעָזְרֵ֔נוּ וּלְהִלָּחֵ֖ם מִלְחֲמֹתֵ֑נוּ וַיִּסָּמְכ֣וּ הָעָ֔ם עַל־ דִּבְרֵ֖י יְחִזְקִיָּ֥הוּ מֶֽלֶךְ־ יְהוּדָֽה׃ פ

9After this, Sennacherib king of Assyria, who was besieging Lachish with all his forces, sent his servants to Jerusalem to Hezekiah king of Judah and to all the people of Judah who were in Jerusalem, saying,

9אַ֣חַר זֶ֗ה שָׁ֠לַח סַנְחֵרִ֨יב מֶֽלֶךְ־ אַשּׁ֤וּר עֲבָדָיו֙ יְר֣וּשָׁלַ֔יְמָה וְהוּא֙ עַל־ לָכִ֔ישׁ וְכָל־ מֶמְשַׁלְתּ֖וֹ עִמּ֑וֹ עַל־ יְחִזְקִיָּ֙הוּ֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ יְהוּדָ֔ה וְעַל־ כָּל־ יְהוּדָ֛ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר בִּירוּשָׁלִַ֖ם לֵאמֹֽר׃

10“Thus says Sennacherib king of Assyria, ‘On what are you trusting, that you endure the siege in Jerusalem?

10כֹּ֣ה אָמַ֔ר סַנְחֵרִ֖יב מֶ֣לֶךְ אַשּׁ֑וּר עַל־ מָה֙ אַתֶּ֣ם בֹּטְחִ֔ים וְיֹשְׁבִ֥ים בְּמָצ֖וֹר בִּירוּשָׁלִָֽם׃

11Is not Hezekiah misleading you, that he may give you over to die by famine and by thirst, when he tells you, “The LORD our God will deliver us from the hand of the king of Assyria”?

11הֲלֹ֤א יְחִזְקִיָּ֙הוּ֙ מַסִּ֣ית אֶתְכֶ֔ם לָתֵ֣ת אֶתְכֶ֔ם לָמ֛וּת בְּרָעָ֥ב וּבְצָמָ֖א לֵאמֹ֑ר יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵ֔ינוּ יַצִּילֵ֕נוּ מִכַּ֖ף מֶ֥לֶךְ אַשּֽׁוּר׃

12Has not this same Hezekiah taken away his high places and his altars and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, “Before one altar you shall worship, and on it you shall burn your sacrifices”?

12הֲלֹא־ הוּא֙ יְחִזְקִיָּ֔הוּ הֵסִ֥יר אֶת־ בָּמֹתָ֖יו וְאֶת־ מִזְבְּחֹתָ֑יו וַיֹּ֨אמֶר לִֽיהוּדָ֤ה וְלִֽירוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר לִפְנֵ֨י מִזְבֵּ֧חַ אֶחָ֛ד תִּֽשְׁתַּחֲו֖וּ וְעָלָ֥יו תַּקְטִֽירוּ׃

13Do you not know what I and my fathers have done to all the peoples of other lands? Were the gods of the nations of those lands at all able to deliver their lands out of my hand?

13הֲלֹ֣א תֵדְע֗וּ מֶ֤ה עָשִׂ֙יתִי֙ אֲנִ֣י וַאֲבוֹתַ֔י לְכֹ֖ל עַמֵּ֣י הָאֲרָצ֑וֹת הֲיָכ֣וֹל יָֽכְל֗וּ אֱלֹהֵי֙ גּוֹיֵ֣ הָאֲרָצ֔וֹת לְהַצִּ֥יל אֶת־ אַרְצָ֖ם מִיָּדִֽי׃

14Who among all the gods of those nations that my fathers devoted to destruction was able to deliver his people from my hand, that your God should be able to deliver you from my hand?

14מִ֠י בְּֽכָל־ אֱלֹהֵ֞י הַגּוֹיִ֤ם הָאֵ֙לֶּה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הֶחֱרִ֣ימוּ אֲבוֹתַ֔י אֲשֶׁ֣ר יָכ֔וֹל לְהַצִּ֥יל אֶת־ עַמּ֖וֹ מִיָּדִ֑י כִּ֤י יוּכַל֙ אֱלֹ֣הֵיכֶ֔ם לְהַצִּ֥יל אֶתְכֶ֖ם מִיָּדִֽי׃

15Now, therefore, do not let Hezekiah deceive you or mislead you in this fashion, and do not believe him, for no god of any nation or kingdom has been able to deliver his people from my hand or from the hand of my fathers. How much less will your God deliver you out of my hand!’”

15וְעַתָּ֡ה אַל־ יַשִּׁיא֩ אֶתְכֶ֨ם חִזְקִיָּ֜הוּ וְאַל־ יַסִּ֨ית אֶתְכֶ֣ם כָּזֹאת֮ וְאַל־ תַּאֲמִ֣ינוּ לוֹ֒ כִּי־ לֹ֣א יוּכַ֗ל כָּל־ אֱל֙וֹהַ֙ כָּל־ גּ֣וֹי וּמַמְלָכָ֔ה לְהַצִּ֥יל עַמּ֛וֹ מִיָּדִ֖י וּמִיַּ֣ד אֲבוֹתָ֑י אַ֚ף כִּ֣י אֱ‍ֽלֹהֵיכֶ֔ם לֹא־ יַצִּ֥ילוּ אֶתְכֶ֖ם מִיָּדִֽי׃

16And his servants said still more against the LORD God and against his servant Hezekiah.

16וְעוֹד֙ דִּבְּר֣וּ עֲבָדָ֔יו עַל־ יְהוָ֖ה הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים וְעַ֖ל יְחִזְקִיָּ֥הוּ עַבְדּֽוֹ׃

17And he wrote letters to cast contempt on the LORD, the God of Israel, and to speak against him, saying, “Like the gods of the nations of the lands who have not delivered their people from my hands, so the God of Hezekiah will not deliver his people from my hand.”

17וּסְפָרִ֣ים כָּתַ֔ב לְחָרֵ֕ף לַיהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְלֵֽאמֹ֨ר עָלָ֜יו לֵאמֹ֗ר כֵּֽאלֹהֵ֞י גּוֹיֵ֤ הָאֲרָצוֹת֙ אֲשֶׁ֨ר לֹא־ הִצִּ֤ילוּ עַמָּם֙ מִיָּדִ֔י כֵּ֣ן לֹֽא־ יַצִּ֞יל אֱלֹהֵ֧י יְחִזְקִיָּ֛הוּ עַמּ֖וֹ מִיָּדִֽי׃

18And they shouted it with a loud voice in the language of Judah to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, to frighten and terrify them, in order that they might take the city.

18וַיִּקְרְא֨וּ בְקוֹל־ גָּד֜וֹל יְהוּדִ֗ית עַל־ עַ֤ם יְרוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עַל־ הַֽחוֹמָ֔ה לְיָֽרְאָ֖ם וּֽלְבַהֲלָ֑ם לְמַ֖עַן יִלְכְּד֥וּ אֶת־ הָעִֽיר׃

19And they spoke of the God of Jerusalem as they spoke of the gods of the peoples of the earth, which are the work of men’s hands.

19וַֽיְדַבְּר֔וּ אֶל־ אֱלֹהֵ֖י יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם כְּעַ֗ל אֱלֹהֵי֙ עַמֵּ֣י הָאָ֔רֶץ מַעֲשֵׂ֖ה יְדֵ֥י הָאָדָֽם׃ ס

20Then Hezekiah the king and Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, prayed because of this and cried to heaven.

20וַיִּתְפַּלֵּ֞ל יְחִזְקִיָּ֣הוּ הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ וִֽישַֽׁעְיָ֧הוּ בֶן־ אָמ֛וֹץ הַנָּבִ֖יא עַל־ זֹ֑את וַֽיִּזְעֲק֖וּ הַשָּׁמָֽיִם׃ פ

21And the LORD sent an angel, who cut off all the mighty warriors and commanders and officers in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he came into the house of his god, some of his own sons struck him down there with the sword.

21וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח יְהוָה֙ מַלְאָ֔ךְ וַיַּכְחֵ֞ד כָּל־ גִּבּ֥וֹר חַ֙יִל֙ וְנָגִ֣יד וְשָׂ֔ר בְּמַחֲנֵ֖ה מֶ֣לֶךְ אַשּׁ֑וּר וַיָּשָׁב֩ בְּבֹ֨שֶׁת פָּנִ֜ים לְאַרְצ֗וֹ וַיָּבֹא֙ בֵּ֣ית אֱלֹהָ֔יו [ומיציאו] (וּמִֽיצִיאֵ֣י) מֵעָ֔יו שָׁ֖ם הִפִּילֻ֥הוּ בֶחָֽרֶב׃

22So the LORD saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib king of Assyria and from the hand of all his enemies, and he provided for them on every side.

22וַיּוֹשַׁע֩ יְהוָ֨ה אֶת־ יְחִזְקִיָּ֜הוּ וְאֵ֣ת ׀ יֹשְׁבֵ֣י יְרוּשָׁלִַ֗ם מִיַּ֛ד סַנְחֵרִ֥יב מֶֽלֶךְ־ אַשּׁ֖וּר וּמִיַּד־ כֹּ֑ל וַֽיְנַהֲלֵ֖ם מִסָּבִֽיב׃

23And many brought gifts to the LORD to Jerusalem and precious things to Hezekiah king of Judah, so that he was exalted in the sight of all nations from that time onward.

23וְ֠רַבִּים מְבִיאִ֨ים מִנְחָ֤ה לַיהוָה֙ לִיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם וּמִ֨גְדָּנ֔וֹת לִֽיחִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ מֶ֣לֶךְ יְהוּדָ֑ה וַיִּנַּשֵּׂ֛א לְעֵינֵ֥י כָל־ הַגּוֹיִ֖ם מֵאַֽחֲרֵי־ כֵֽן׃ ס

24In those days Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death, and he prayed to the LORD, and he answered him and gave him a sign.

24בַּיָּמִ֣ים הָהֵ֔ם חָלָ֥ה יְחִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ עַד־ לָמ֑וּת וַיִּתְפַּלֵּל֙ אֶל־ יְהוָ֔ה וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ל֔וֹ וּמוֹפֵ֖ת נָ֥תַן לֽוֹ׃

25But Hezekiah did not make return according to the benefit done to him, for his heart was proud. Therefore wrath came upon him and Judah and Jerusalem.

25וְלֹא־ כִגְמֻ֤ל עָלָיו֙ הֵשִׁ֣יב יְחִזְקִיָּ֔הוּ כִּ֥י גָבַ֖הּ לִבּ֑וֹ וַיְהִ֤י עָלָיו֙ קֶ֔צֶף וְעַל־ יְהוּדָ֖ה וִירוּשָׁלִָֽם׃

26But Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah.

26וַיִּכָּנַ֤ע יְחִזְקִיָּ֙הוּ֙ בְּגֹ֣בַהּ לִבּ֔וֹ ה֖וּא וְיֹשְׁבֵ֣י יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם וְלֹא־ בָ֤א עֲלֵיהֶם֙ קֶ֣צֶף יְהוָ֔ה בִּימֵ֖י יְחִזְקִיָּֽהוּ׃

27And Hezekiah had very great riches and honor, and he made for himself treasuries for silver, for gold, for precious stones, for spices, for shields, and for all kinds of costly vessels;

27וַיְהִ֧י לִֽיחִזְקִיָּ֛הוּ עֹ֥שֶׁר וְכָב֖וֹד הַרְבֵּ֣ה מְאֹ֑ד וְאֹֽצָר֣וֹת עָֽשָׂה־ ל֠וֹ לְכֶ֨סֶף וּלְזָהָ֜ב וּלְאֶ֣בֶן יְקָרָ֗ה וְלִבְשָׂמִים֙ וּלְמָ֣גִנִּ֔ים וּלְכֹ֖ל כְּלֵ֥י חֶמְדָּֽה׃

28storehouses also for the yield of grain, wine, and oil; and stalls for all kinds of cattle, and sheepfolds.

28וּמִ֨סְכְּנ֔וֹת לִתְבוּאַ֥ת דָּגָ֖ן וְתִיר֣וֹשׁ וְיִצְהָ֑ר וְאֻֽרָוֺת֙ לְכָל־ בְּהֵמָ֣ה וּבְהֵמָ֔ה וַעֲדָרִ֖ים לָאֲוֵרֽוֹת׃

29He likewise provided cities for himself, and flocks and herds in abundance, for God had given him very great possessions.

29וְעָרִים֙ עָ֣שָׂה ל֔וֹ וּמִקְנֵה־ צֹ֥אן וּבָקָ֖ר לָרֹ֑ב כִּ֤י נָֽתַן־ לוֹ֙ אֱלֹהִ֔ים רְכ֖וּשׁ רַ֥ב מְאֹֽד׃

30This same Hezekiah closed the upper outlet of the waters of Gihon and directed them down to the west side of the city of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all his works.

30וְה֣וּא יְחִזְקִיָּ֗הוּ סָתַם֙ אֶת־ מוֹצָ֞א מֵימֵ֤י גִיחוֹן֙ הָֽעֶלְי֔וֹן וַֽיַּישְּׁרֵ֥ם לְמַֽטָּה־ מַּעְרָ֖בָה לְעִ֣יר דָּוִ֑יד וַיַּצְלַ֥ח יְחִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ בְּכָֽל־ מַעֲשֵֽׂהוּ׃

31And so in the matter of the envoys of the princes of Babylon, who had been sent to him to inquire about the sign that had been done in the land, God left him to himself, in order to test him and to know all that was in his heart.

31וְכֵ֞ן בִּמְלִיצֵ֣י ׀ שָׂרֵ֣י בָּבֶ֗ל הַֽמְשַׁלְּחִ֤ים עָלָיו֙ לִדְרֹ֗שׁ הַמּוֹפֵת֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הָיָ֣ה בָאָ֔רֶץ עֲזָב֖וֹ הָֽאֱלֹהִ֑ים לְנַ֨סּוֹת֔וֹ לָדַ֖עַת כָּל־ בִּלְבָבֽוֹ׃

32Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah and his good deeds, behold, they are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.

32וְיֶ֛תֶר דִּבְרֵ֥י יְחִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ וַחֲסָדָ֑יו הִנָּ֣ם כְּתוּבִ֗ים בַּחֲז֞וֹן יְשַֽׁעְיָ֤הוּ בֶן־ אָמוֹץ֙ הַנָּבִ֔יא עַל־ סֵ֥פֶר מַלְכֵי־ יְהוּדָ֖ה וְיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

33And Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the upper part of the tombs of the sons of David, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honor at his death. And Manasseh his son reigned in his place.

33וַיִּשְׁכַּ֨ב יְחִזְקִיָּ֜הוּ עִם־ אֲבֹתָ֗יו וַֽיִּקְבְּרֻהוּ֮ בְּֽמַעֲלֵה֮ קִבְרֵ֣י בְנֵי־ דָוִיד֒ וְכָבוֹד֙ עָֽשׂוּ־ ל֣וֹ בְמוֹת֔וֹ כָּל־ יְהוּדָ֖ה וְיֹשְׁבֵ֣י יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם וַיִּמְלֹ֛ךְ מְנַשֶּׁ֥ה בְנ֖וֹ תַּחְתָּֽיו׃ פ

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.

Greek and Hebrew Study Bible courtesy Bible Hub and the Discovery Bible team.