Holman Christian Standard Bible

Hebrew Study Bible

1In the third year of Israel's King Hoshea son of Elah, Hezekiah son of Ahaz became king of Judah.

1וַֽיְהִי֙ בִּשְׁנַ֣ת שָׁלֹ֔שׁ לְהוֹשֵׁ֥עַ בֶּן־ אֵלָ֖ה מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל מָלַ֛ךְ חִזְקִיָּ֥ה בֶן־ אָחָ֖ז מֶ֥לֶךְ יְהוּדָֽה׃

2He was 25 years old when he became king and reigned 29 years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Abi daughter of Zechariah.

2בֶּן־ עֶשְׂרִ֨ים וְחָמֵ֤שׁ שָׁנָה֙ הָיָ֣ה בְמָלְכ֔וֹ וְעֶשְׂרִ֤ים וָתֵ֙שַׁע֙ שָׁנָ֔ה מָלַ֖ךְ בִּירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם וְשֵׁ֣ם אִמּ֔וֹ אֲבִ֖י בַּת־ זְכַרְיָֽה׃

3He did what was right in the LORD's sight just as his ancestor David had done.

3וַיַּ֥עַשׂ הַיָּשָׁ֖ר בְּעֵינֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה כְּכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־ עָשָׂ֖ה דָּוִ֥ד אָבִֽיו׃

4He removed the high places, shattered the sacred pillars, and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke into pieces the bronze snake that Moses made, for the Israelites burned incense to it up to that time. He called it Nehushtan.

4ה֣וּא ׀ הֵסִ֣יר אֶת־ הַבָּמ֗וֹת וְשִׁבַּר֙ אֶת־ הַמַּצֵּבֹ֔ת וְכָרַ֖ת אֶת־ הָֽאֲשֵׁרָ֑ה וְכִתַּת֩ נְחַ֨שׁ הַנְּחֹ֜שֶׁת אֲשֶׁר־ עָשָׂ֣ה מֹשֶׁ֗ה כִּ֣י עַד־ הַיָּמִ֤ים הָהֵ֙מָּה֙ הָי֤וּ בְנֵֽי־ יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ מְקַטְּרִ֣ים ל֔וֹ וַיִּקְרָא־ ל֖וֹ נְחֻשְׁתָּֽן׃

5Hezekiah trusted in the LORD God of Israel; not one of the kings of Judah was like him, either before him or after him.

5בַּיהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵֽי־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בָּטָ֑ח וְאַחֲרָ֞יו לֹא־ הָיָ֣ה כָמֹ֗הוּ בְּכֹל֙ מַלְכֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֔ה וַאֲשֶׁ֥ר הָי֖וּ לְפָנָֽיו׃

6He remained faithful to Yahweh and did not turn from following Him but kept the commands the LORD had commanded Moses.

6וַיִּדְבַּק֙ בַּֽיהוָ֔ה לֹא־ סָ֖ר מֵאַֽחֲרָ֑יו וַיִּשְׁמֹר֙ מִצְוֺתָ֔יו אֲשֶׁר־ צִוָּ֥ה יְהוָ֖ה אֶת־ מֹשֶֽׁה׃

7The LORD was with him, and wherever he went he prospered. He rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him.

7וְהָיָ֤ה יְהוָה֙ עִמּ֔וֹ בְּכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־ יֵצֵ֖א יַשְׂכִּ֑יל וַיִּמְרֹ֥ד בְּמֶֽלֶךְ־ אַשּׁ֖וּר וְלֹ֥א עֲבָדֽוֹ׃

8He defeated the Philistines as far as Gaza and its borders, from watchtower to fortified city.

8הֽוּא־ הִכָּ֧ה אֶת־ פְּלִשְׁתִּ֛ים עַד־ עַזָּ֖ה וְאֶת־ גְּבוּלֶ֑יהָ מִמִּגְדַּ֥ל נוֹצְרִ֖ים עַד־ עִ֥יר מִבְצָֽר׃ פ

9In the fourth year of King Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of Israel's King Hoshea son of Elah, Shalmaneser king of Assyria marched against Samaria and besieged it.

9וַֽיְהִ֞י בַּשָּׁנָ֤ה הָֽרְבִיעִית֙ לַמֶּ֣לֶךְ חִזְקִיָּ֔הוּ הִ֚יא הַשָּׁנָ֣ה הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔ית לְהוֹשֵׁ֥עַ בֶּן־ אֵלָ֖ה מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל עָלָ֞ה שַׁלְמַנְאֶ֧סֶר מֶֽלֶךְ־ אַשּׁ֛וּר עַל־ שֹׁמְר֖וֹן וַיָּ֥צַר עָלֶֽיהָ׃

10The Assyrians captured it at the end of three years. In the sixth year of Hezekiah, which was the ninth year of Israel's King Hoshea, Samaria was captured.

10וַֽיִּלְכְּדֻ֗הָ מִקְצֵה֙ שָׁלֹ֣שׁ שָׁנִ֔ים בִּשְׁנַת־ שֵׁ֖שׁ לְחִזְקִיָּ֑ה הִ֣יא שְׁנַת־ תֵּ֗שַׁע לְהוֹשֵׁ֙עַ֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל נִלְכְּדָ֖ה שֹׁמְרֽוֹן׃

11The king of Assyria deported the Israelites to Assyria and put them in Halah and by the Habor, Gozan's river, and in the cities of the Medes,

11וַיֶּ֧גֶל מֶֽלֶךְ־ אַשּׁ֛וּר אֶת־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל אַשּׁ֑וּרָה וַיַּנְחֵ֞ם בַּחְלַ֧ח וּבְחָב֛וֹר נְהַ֥ר גּוֹזָ֖ן וְעָרֵ֥י מָדָֽי׃

12because they did not listen to the voice of the LORD their God but violated His covenant--all He had commanded Moses the servant of the LORD. They did not listen, and they did not obey.

12עַ֣ל ׀ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹֽא־ שָׁמְע֗וּ בְּקוֹל֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵיהֶ֔ם וַיַּעַבְרוּ֙ אֶת־ בְּרִית֔וֹ אֵ֚ת כָּל־ אֲשֶׁ֣ר צִוָּ֔ה מֹשֶׁ֖ה עֶ֣בֶד יְהוָ֑ה וְלֹ֥א שָׁמְע֖וּ וְלֹ֥א עָשֽׂוּ׃ פ

13In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, Sennacherib king of Assyria attacked all the fortified cities of Judah and captured them.

13וּבְאַרְבַּע֩ עֶשְׂרֵ֨ה שָׁנָ֜ה לַמֶּ֣לֶךְ חִזְקִיָּ֗ה עָלָ֞ה סַנְחֵרִ֤יב מֶֽלֶךְ־ אַשּׁוּר֙ עַ֣ל כָּל־ עָרֵ֧י יְהוּדָ֛ה הַבְּצֻר֖וֹת וַֽיִּתְפְּשֵֽׂם׃

14So Hezekiah king of Judah sent word to the king of Assyria at Lachish, saying, "I have done wrong; withdraw from me. Whatever you demand from me, I will pay." The king of Assyria demanded 11 tons of silver and one ton of gold from King Hezekiah of Judah.

14וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח חִזְקִיָּ֣ה מֶֽלֶךְ־ יְהוּדָ֣ה אֶל־ מֶֽלֶךְ־ אַשּׁוּר֩ ׀ לָכִ֨ישָׁה ׀ לֵאמֹ֤ר ׀ חָטָ֙אתִי֙ שׁ֣וּב מֵֽעָלַ֔י אֵ֛ת אֲשֶׁר־ תִּתֵּ֥ן עָלַ֖י אֶשָּׂ֑א וַיָּ֨שֶׂם מֶֽלֶךְ־ אַשּׁ֜וּר עַל־ חִזְקִיָּ֣ה מֶֽלֶךְ־ יְהוּדָ֗ה שְׁלֹ֤שׁ מֵאוֹת֙ כִּכַּר־ כֶּ֔סֶף וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֖ים כִּכַּ֥ר זָהָֽב׃

15So Hezekiah gave him all the silver found in the LORD's temple and in the treasuries of the king's palace.

15וַיִּתֵּן֙ חִזְקִיָּ֔ה אֶת־ כָּל־ הַכֶּ֖סֶף הַנִּמְצָ֣א בֵית־ יְהוָ֑ה וּבְאֹצְר֖וֹת בֵּ֥ית הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃

16At that time Hezekiah stripped the gold from the doors of the LORD's sanctuary and from the doorposts he had overlaid and gave it to the king of Assyria.

16בָּעֵ֣ת הַהִ֗יא קִצַּ֨ץ חִזְקִיָּ֜ה אֶת־ דַּלְת֨וֹת הֵיכַ֤ל יְהוָה֙ וְאֶת־ הָאֹ֣מְנ֔וֹת אֲשֶׁ֣ר צִפָּ֔ה חִזְקִיָּ֖ה מֶ֣לֶךְ יְהוּדָ֑ה וַֽיִּתְּנֵ֖ם לְמֶ֥לֶךְ אַשּֽׁוּר׃ פ

17Then the king of Assyria sent the Tartan, the Rab-saris, and the Rabshakeh, along with a massive army, from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem. They advanced and came to Jerusalem, and they took their position by the aqueduct of the upper pool, which is by the highway to the Fuller's Field.

17וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח 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׃

18Then they called for the king, but Eliakim son of Hilkiah, who was in charge of the palace, Shebnah the court secretary, and Joah son of Asaph, the court historian, came out to them.

18וַֽיִּקְרְאוּ֙ אֶל־ הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וַיֵּצֵ֧א אֲלֵהֶ֛ם אֶלְיָקִ֥ים בֶּן־ חִלְקִיָּ֖הוּ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עַל־ הַבָּ֑יִת וְשֶׁבְנָה֙ הַסֹּפֵ֔ר וְיוֹאָ֥ח בֶּן־ אָסָ֖ף הַמַּזְכִּֽיר׃

19Then the Rabshakeh said to them, "Tell Hezekiah this is what the great king, the king of Assyria, says: 'What are you relying on?

19וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֲלֵהֶם֙ רַב־ שָׁקֵ֔ה אִמְרוּ־ נָ֖א אֶל־ חִזְקִיָּ֑הוּ כֹּֽה־ אָמַ֞ר הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ הַגָּדוֹל֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ אַשּׁ֔וּר מָ֧ה הַבִּטָּח֛וֹן הַזֶּ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר בָּטָֽחְתָּ׃

20You think mere words are strategy and strength for war. What are you now relying on so that you have rebelled against me?

20אָמַ֙רְתָּ֙ אַךְ־ דְּבַר־ שְׂפָתַ֔יִם עֵצָ֥ה וּגְבוּרָ֖ה לַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה עַתָּה֙ עַל־ מִ֣י בָטַ֔חְתָּ כִּ֥י מָרַ֖דְתָּ בִּֽי׃

21Look, you are now trusting in Egypt, that splintered reed of a staff that will enter and pierce the hand of anyone who leans on it. This is how Pharaoh king of Egypt is to all who trust in him.

21עַתָּ֡ה הִנֵּ֣ה בָטַ֣חְתָּ לְּךָ֡ עַל־ מִשְׁעֶנֶת֩ הַקָּנֶ֨ה הָרָצ֤וּץ הַזֶּה֙ עַל־ מִצְרַ֔יִם אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִסָּמֵ֥ךְ אִישׁ֙ עָלָ֔יו וּבָ֥א בְכַפּ֖וֹ וּנְקָבָ֑הּ כֵּ֚ן פַּרְעֹ֣ה מֶֽלֶךְ־ מִצְרַ֔יִם לְכָֽל־ הַבֹּטְחִ֖ים עָלָֽיו׃

22Suppose you say to me: We trust in the LORD our God. Isn't He the One whose high places and altars Hezekiah has removed, saying to Judah and to Jerusalem: You must worship at this altar in Jerusalem?"

22וְכִי־ תֹאמְר֣וּן אֵלַ֔י אֶל־ יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ בָּטָ֑חְנוּ הֲלוֹא־ ה֗וּא אֲשֶׁ֨ר הֵסִ֤יר חִזְקִיָּ֙הוּ֙ אֶת־ בָּמֹתָ֣יו וְאֶת־ מִזְבְּחֹתָ֔יו וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לִֽיהוּדָה֙ וְלִיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם לִפְנֵי֙ הַמִּזְבֵּ֣חַ הַזֶּ֔ה תִּֽשְׁתַּחֲו֖וּ בִּירוּשָׁלִָֽם׃

23So now make a bargain with my master the king of Assyria. I'll give you 2,000 horses if you're able to supply riders for them!

23וְעַתָּה֙ הִתְעָ֣רֶב נָ֔א אֶת־ אֲדֹנִ֖י אֶת־ מֶ֣לֶךְ אַשּׁ֑וּר וְאֶתְּנָ֤ה לְךָ֙ אַלְפַּ֣יִם סוּסִ֔ים אִם־ תּוּכַ֕ל לָ֥תֶת לְךָ֖ רֹכְבִ֥ים עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃

24How then can you drive back a single officer among the least of my master's servants and trust in Egypt for chariots and for horsemen?

24וְאֵ֣יךְ תָּשִׁ֗יב אֵ֠ת פְּנֵ֨י פַחַ֥ת אַחַ֛ד עַבְדֵ֥י אֲדֹנִ֖י הַקְּטַנִּ֑ים וַתִּבְטַ֤ח לְךָ֙ עַל־ מִצְרַ֔יִם לְרֶ֖כֶב וּלְפָרָשִֽׁים׃

25Have I attacked this place to destroy it without the LORD's approval? The LORD said to me, 'Attack this land and destroy it.'"

25עַתָּה֙ הֲמִבַּלְעֲדֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה עָלִ֛יתִי עַל־ הַמָּק֥וֹם הַזֶּ֖ה לְהַשְׁחִת֑וֹ יְהוָה֙ אָמַ֣ר אֵלַ֔י עֲלֵ֛ה עַל־ הָאָ֥רֶץ הַזֹּ֖את וְהַשְׁחִיתָֽהּ׃

26Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah, Shebnah, and Joah said to the Rabshakeh, "Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, since we understand it. Don't speak with us in Hebrew within earshot of the people on the wall."

26וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֶלְיָקִ֣ים בֶּן־ חִ֠לְקִיָּהוּ וְשֶׁבְנָ֨ה וְיוֹאָ֜ח אֶל־ רַב־ שָׁקֵ֗ה דַּבֶּר־ נָ֤א אֶל־ עֲבָדֶ֙יךָ֙ אֲרָמִ֔ית כִּ֥י שֹׁמְעִ֖ים אֲנָ֑חְנוּ וְאַל־ תְּדַבֵּ֤ר עִמָּ֙נוּ֙ יְהוּדִ֔ית בְּאָזְנֵ֣י הָעָ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֖ר עַל־ הַחֹמָֽה׃

27But the Rabshakeh said to them, "Has my master sent me only to your master and to you to speak these words? Hasn't he also sent me to the men who sit on the wall, destined with you to eat their own excrement and drink their own urine?"

27וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֲלֵיהֶ֜ם רַב־ שָׁקֵ֗ה הַעַ֨ל אֲדֹנֶ֤יךָ וְאֵלֶ֙יךָ֙ שְׁלָחַ֣נִי אֲדֹנִ֔י לְדַבֵּ֖ר אֶת־ הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֑לֶּה הֲלֹ֣א עַל־ הָאֲנָשִׁ֗ים הַיֹּֽשְׁבִים֙ עַל־ הַ֣חֹמָ֔ה לֶאֱכֹ֣ל אֶת‪‬ [חריהם] (צוֹאָתָ֗ם) וְלִשְׁתּ֛וֹת אֶת־ [שיניהם] (מימֵ֥י‪‬) (רַגְלֵיהֶ֖ם) עִמָּכֶֽם׃

28The Rabshakeh stood and called out loudly in Hebrew. Then he spoke: "Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria.

28וַֽיַּעֲמֹד֙ רַב־ שָׁקֵ֔ה וַיִּקְרָ֥א בְקוֹל־ גָּד֖וֹל יְהוּדִ֑ית וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר וַיֹּ֔אמֶר שִׁמְע֛וּ דְּבַר־ הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ הַגָּד֖וֹל מֶ֥לֶךְ אַשּֽׁוּר׃

29This is what the king says: 'Don't let Hezekiah deceive you; he can't deliver you from my hand.

29כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ אַל־ יַשִּׁ֥יא לָכֶ֖ם חִזְקִיָּ֑הוּ כִּי־ לֹ֣א יוּכַ֔ל לְהַצִּ֥יל אֶתְכֶ֖ם מִיָּדֽוֹ׃

30Don't let Hezekiah persuade you to trust in the LORD by saying: Certainly the LORD will deliver us! This city will not be handed over to the king of Assyria.'"

30וְאַל־ יַבְטַ֨ח אֶתְכֶ֤ם חִזְקִיָּ֙הוּ֙ אֶל־ יְהוָ֣ה לֵאמֹ֔ר הַצֵּ֥ל יַצִּילֵ֖נוּ יְהוָ֑ה וְלֹ֤א תִנָּתֵן֙ אֶת־ הָעִ֣יר הַזֹּ֔את בְּיַ֖ד מֶ֥לֶךְ אַשּֽׁוּר׃

31Don't listen to Hezekiah, for this is what the king of Assyria says: 'Make peace with me and surrender to me. Then every one of you may eat from his own vine and his own fig tree, and every one may drink water from his own cistern

31אַֽל־ תִּשְׁמְע֖וּ אֶל־ חִזְקִיָּ֑הוּ כִּי֩ כֹ֨ה אָמַ֜ר מֶ֣לֶךְ אַשּׁ֗וּר עֲשֽׂוּ־ אִתִּ֤י בְרָכָה֙ וּצְא֣וּ אֵלַ֔י וְאִכְל֤וּ אִישׁ־ גַּפְנוֹ֙ וְאִ֣ישׁ תְּאֵֽנָת֔וֹ וּשְׁת֖וּ אִ֥ישׁ מֵֽי־ בוֹרֽוֹ׃

32until I come and take you away to a land like your own land--a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of olive trees and honey--so that you may live and not die. But don't listen to Hezekiah when he misleads you, saying: The LORD will deliver us.

32עַד־ 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׃

33Has any of the gods of the nations ever delivered his land from the power of the king of Assyria?

33הַהַצֵּ֥ל הִצִּ֛ילוּ אֱלֹהֵ֥י הַגּוֹיִ֖ם אִ֣ישׁ אֶת־ אַרְצ֑וֹ מִיַּ֖ד מֶ֥לֶךְ אַשּֽׁוּר׃

34Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah? Have they delivered Samaria from my hand?

34אַיֵּה֩ אֱלֹהֵ֨י חֲמָ֜ת וְאַרְפָּ֗ד אַיֵּ֛ה אֱלֹהֵ֥י סְפַרְוַ֖יִם הֵנַ֣ע וְעִוָּ֑ה כִּֽי־ הִצִּ֥ילוּ אֶת־ שֹׁמְר֖וֹן מִיָּדִֽי׃

35Who among all the gods of the lands has delivered his land from my power? So will the LORD deliver Jerusalem?'"

35מִ֚י בְּכָל־ אֱלֹהֵ֣י הָֽאֲרָצ֔וֹת אֲשֶׁר־ הִצִּ֥ילוּ אֶת־ אַרְצָ֖ם מִיָּדִ֑י כִּי־ יַצִּ֧יל יְהוָ֛ה אֶת־ יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם מִיָּדִֽי׃

36But the people kept silent; they didn't say anything, for the king's command was, "Don't answer him."

36וְהֶחֱרִ֣ישׁוּ הָעָ֔ם וְלֹֽא־ עָנ֥וּ אֹת֖וֹ דָּבָ֑ר כִּי־ מִצְוַ֨ת הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ הִ֛יא לֵאמֹ֖ר לֹ֥א תַעֲנֻֽהוּ׃

37Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah, who was in charge of the palace, Shebna the court secretary, and Joah son of Asaph, the court historian, came to Hezekiah with their clothes torn and reported to him the words of the Rabshakeh.

37וַיָּבֹ֣א אֶלְיָקִ֣ים בֶּן־ חִלְקִיָּ֣ה אֲשֶׁר־ עַל־ הַ֠בַּיִת וְשֶׁבְנָ֨א הַסֹּפֵ֜ר וְיוֹאָ֨ח בֶּן־ אָסָ֧ף הַמַּזְכִּ֛יר אֶל־ חִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ קְרוּעֵ֣י בְגָדִ֑ים וַיַּגִּ֣דוּ ל֔וֹ דִּבְרֵ֖י רַב־ שָׁקֵֽה׃

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

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