II Chronicles 32

אַחֲרֵ֨י הַדְּבָרִ֤ים וְהָֽאֱמֶת֙ הָאֵ֔לֶּה בָּ֖א סַנְחֵרִ֣יב מֶלֶךְ־אַשּׁ֑וּר וַיָּבֹ֣א בִיהוּדָ֗ה וַיִּ֙חַן֙ עַל־הֶעָרִ֣ים הַבְּצֻר֔וֹת וַיֹּ֖אמֶר לְבִקְעָ֥ם אֵלָֽיו׃

After these faithful deeds, King Sennacherib of Assyria invaded Judah and encamped against its fortified towns with the aim of taking them over.

וַיַּרְא֙ יְחִזְקִיָּ֔הוּ כִּי־בָ֖א סַנְחֵרִ֑יב וּפָנָ֕יו לַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה עַל־יְרוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃

When Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come, intent on making war against Jerusalem,

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

he consulted with his officers and warriors about stopping the flow of the springs outside the city, and they supported him.

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

A large force was assembled to stop up all the springs and the wadi that flowed through the land, for otherwise, they thought, the king of Assyria would come and find water in abundance.

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

He acted with vigor, rebuilding the whole breached wall, raising towers on it, and building another wall outside it. He fortified the Millo of the City of David, and made a great quantity of arms and shields.

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

He appointed battle officers over the people; then, gathering them to him in the square of the city gate, he rallied them, saying,

חִזְק֣וּ וְאִמְצ֔וּ אַל־תִּֽירְא֣וּ וְאַל־תֵּחַ֗תּוּ מִפְּנֵי֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ אַשּׁ֔וּר וּמִלִּפְנֵ֖י כׇּל־הֶהָמ֣וֹן אֲשֶׁר־עִמּ֑וֹ כִּֽי־עִמָּ֥נוּ רַ֖ב מֵֽעִמּֽוֹ׃

“Be strong and of good courage; do not be frightened or dismayed by the king of Assyria or by the horde that is with him, for we have more with us than he has with him.

עִמּוֹ֙ זְר֣וֹעַ בָּשָׂ֔ר וְעִמָּ֜נוּ יְהֹוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֵ֙ינוּ֙ לְעׇזְרֵ֔נוּ וּלְהִלָּחֵ֖ם מִלְחֲמֹתֵ֑נוּ וַיִּסָּמְכ֣וּ הָעָ֔ם עַל־דִּבְרֵ֖י יְחִזְקִיָּ֥הוּ מֶלֶךְ־יְהוּדָֽה׃ {פ}

With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is the E TERNAL our God, to help us and to fight our battles.” The people were encouraged by the speech of King Hezekiah of Judah.

אַ֣חַר זֶ֗ה שָׁ֠לַ֠ח סַנְחֵרִ֨יב מֶלֶךְ־אַשּׁ֤וּר עֲבָדָיו֙ יְר֣וּשָׁלַ֔יְמָה וְהוּא֙ עַל־לָכִ֔ישׁ וְכׇל־מֶמְשַׁלְתּ֖וֹ עִמּ֑וֹ עַל־יְחִזְקִיָּ֙הוּ֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ יְהוּדָ֔ה וְעַל־כׇּל־יְהוּדָ֛ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר בִּירוּשָׁלַ֖͏ִם לֵאמֹֽר׃

Afterward, King Sennacherib of Assyria sent his officers to Jerusalem—he and all his staff being at Lachish—with this message to King Hezekiah of Judah and to all the people of Judah who were in Jerusalem:

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

“Thus said King Sennacherib of Assyria: On what do you trust to enable you to endure a siege in Jerusalem?

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

Hezekiah is seducing you to a death of hunger and thirst, saying, ‘The E TERNAL our God will save us from the king of Assyria.’

הֲלֹא־הוּא֙ יְחִזְקִיָּ֔הוּ הֵסִ֥יר אֶת־בָּמֹתָ֖יו וְאֶת־מִזְבְּחֹתָ֑יו וַיֹּ֨אמֶר לִיהוּדָ֤ה וְלִירוּשָׁלַ֙͏ִם֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר לִפְנֵ֨י מִזְבֵּ֧חַ אֶחָ֛ד תִּֽשְׁתַּחֲו֖וּ וְעָלָ֥יו תַּקְטִֽירוּ׃

But is not Hezekiah the one who removed your God’s shrines and altars and commanded the people of Judah and Jerusalem saying, ‘Before this one altar you shall prostrate yourselves, and upon it make your burnt offerings’?

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

Surely you know what I and my ancestors have done to the peoples of the lands? Were the gods of the nations of the lands able to save their lands from me?

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

Which of all the gods of any of those nations whom my ancestors destroyed was able to save their people from me, that your God should be able to save you from me?

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

Now then, do not let Hezekiah delude you; do not let him seduce you in this way; do not believe him. For no god of any nation or kingdom has been able to save their people from me or from my ancestors—much less your God, to save you from me!”

וְעוֹד֙ דִּבְּר֣וּ עֲבָדָ֔יו עַל־יְהֹוָ֖ה הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים וְעַ֖ל יְחִזְקִיָּ֥הוּ עַבְדּֽוֹ׃

His officers said still more things against the E TERNAL God and against Hezekiah—God’s servant.

וּסְפָרִ֣ים כָּתַ֔ב לְחָרֵ֕ף לַיהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְלֵאמֹ֨ר עָלָ֜יו לֵאמֹ֗ר כֵּאלֹהֵ֞י גּוֹיֵ֤י הָֽאֲרָצוֹת֙ אֲשֶׁ֨ר לֹֽא־הִצִּ֤ילוּ עַמָּם֙ מִיָּדִ֔י כֵּ֣ן לֹֽא־יַצִּ֞יל אֱלֹהֵ֧י יְחִזְקִיָּ֛הוּ עַמּ֖וֹ מִיָּדִֽי׃

He also wrote letters reviling the E TERNAL God of Israel, saying, “Just as the gods of the other nations of the earth did not save their people from me, so the God of Hezekiah will not save this people from me.”

וַיִּקְרְא֨וּ בְקוֹל־גָּד֜וֹל יְהוּדִ֗ית עַל־עַ֤ם יְרוּשָׁלַ֙͏ִם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עַל־הַחוֹמָ֔ה לְיָֽרְאָ֖ם וּֽלְבַהֲלָ֑ם לְמַ֖עַן יִלְכְּד֥וּ אֶת־הָעִֽיר׃

They called loudly in the language of Judah to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, to frighten them into panic, so as to capture the city.

וַֽיְדַבְּר֔וּ אֶל־אֱלֹהֵ֖י יְרוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם כְּעַ֗ל אֱלֹהֵי֙ עַמֵּ֣י הָאָ֔רֶץ מַעֲשֵׂ֖ה יְדֵ֥י הָאָדָֽם׃ {ס}

They spoke of the God of Jerusalem like they spoke of the gods of the other peoples of the earth, made by human hands.

וַיִּתְפַּלֵּ֞ל יְחִזְקִיָּ֣הוּ הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ וִישַׁעְיָ֧הוּ בֶן־אָמ֛וֹץ הַנָּבִ֖יא עַל־זֹ֑את וַֽיִּזְעֲק֖וּ הַשָּׁמָֽיִם׃ {ס}

Then King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz prayed about this, and cried out to heaven.

וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח יְהֹוָה֙ מַלְאָ֔ךְ וַיַּכְחֵ֞ד כׇּל־גִּבּ֥וֹר חַ֙יִל֙ וְנָגִ֣יד וְשָׂ֔ר בְּמַחֲנֵ֖ה מֶ֣לֶךְ אַשּׁ֑וּר וַיָּ֩שׇׁב֩ בְּבֹ֨שֶׁת פָּנִ֜ים לְאַרְצ֗וֹ וַיָּבֹא֙ בֵּ֣ית אֱלֹהָ֔יו (ומיציאו) [וּמִיצִיאֵ֣י] מֵעָ֔יו שָׁ֖ם הִפִּילֻ֥הוּ בֶחָֽרֶב׃

G OD sent an angel who annihilated every mighty warrior, commander, and officer in the army of the king of Assyria, and he returned in disgrace to his land. He entered the house of his god, and there some of his own offspring struck him down by the sword.

וַיּ֩וֹשַׁע֩ יְהֹוָ֨ה אֶת־יְחִזְקִיָּ֜הוּ וְאֵ֣ת׀ יֹשְׁבֵ֣י יְרוּשָׁלַ֗͏ִם מִיַּ֛ד סַנְחֵרִ֥יב מֶלֶךְ־אַשּׁ֖וּר וּמִיַּד־כֹּ֑ל וַֽיְנַהֲלֵ֖ם מִסָּבִֽיב׃

Thus G OD delivered Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from King Sennacherib of Assyria, and from everyone—providing for them on all sides.

וְ֠רַבִּ֠ים מְבִיאִ֨ים מִנְחָ֤ה לַֽיהֹוָה֙ לִיר֣וּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם וּמִ֨גְדָּנ֔וֹת לִֽיחִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ מֶ֣לֶךְ יְהוּדָ֑ה וַיִּנַּשֵּׂ֛א לְעֵינֵ֥י כׇל־הַגּוֹיִ֖ם מֵאַחֲרֵי־כֵֽן׃ {פ}

Many brought tribute to G OD to Jerusalem, and gifts to King Hezekiah of Judah; thereafter he was exalted in the eyes of all the nations.

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

At that time, Hezekiah fell deathly sick. He prayed to G OD , who responded to him and gave him a sign.

וְלֹֽא־כִגְמֻ֤ל עָלָיו֙ הֵשִׁ֣יב יְחִזְקִיָּ֔הוּ כִּ֥י גָבַ֖הּ לִבּ֑וֹ וַֽיְהִ֤י עָלָיו֙ קֶ֔צֶף וְעַל־יְהוּדָ֖ה וִירוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃

Hezekiah made no return for what had been bestowed upon him, for he grew arrogant; so wrath was decreed for him and for Judah and Jerusalem.

וַיִּכָּנַ֤ע יְחִזְקִיָּ֙הוּ֙ בְּגֹ֣בַהּ לִבּ֔וֹ ה֖וּא וְיוֹשְׁבֵ֣י יְרוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם וְלֹא־בָ֤א עֲלֵיהֶם֙ קֶ֣צֶף יְהֹוָ֔ה בִּימֵ֖י יְחִזְקִיָּֽהוּ׃

Then Hezekiah humbled himself where he had been arrogant, he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and no wrath of G OD came on them during the reign of Hezekiah.

וַיְהִ֧י לִיחִזְקִיָּ֛הוּ עֹ֥שֶׁר וְכָב֖וֹד הַרְבֵּ֣ה מְאֹ֑ד וְאֹצָר֣וֹת עָֽשָׂה־ל֠וֹ לְכֶ֨סֶף וּלְזָהָ֜ב וּלְאֶ֣בֶן יְקָרָ֗ה וְלִבְשָׂמִים֙ וּלְמָ֣גִנִּ֔ים וּלְכֹ֖ל כְּלֵ֥י חֶמְדָּֽה׃

Hezekiah enjoyed riches and glory in abundance; he filled treasuries with silver and gold, precious stones, spices, shields, and all lovely objects;

וּמִ֨סְכְּנ֔וֹת לִתְבוּאַ֥ת דָּגָ֖ן וְתִיר֣וֹשׁ וְיִצְהָ֑ר וְאֻֽרָוֺת֙ לְכׇל־בְּהֵמָ֣ה וּבְהֵמָ֔ה וַעֲדָרִ֖ים לָאֲוֵרֹֽת׃

and store-cities with the produce of grain, wine, and oil, and stalls for all kinds of beasts, and flocks for sheepfolds.

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

And he acquired towns, and flocks of small and large cattle in great number, for God endowed him with very many possessions.

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

It was Hezekiah who stopped up the spring of water of Upper Gihon, leading it downward west of the City of David; Hezekiah prospered in all that he did.

וְכֵ֞ן בִּמְלִיצֵ֣י׀ שָׂרֵ֣י בָבֶ֗ל הַֽמְשַׁלְּחִ֤ים עָלָיו֙ לִדְרֹ֗שׁ הַמּוֹפֵת֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הָיָ֣ה בָאָ֔רֶץ עֲזָב֖וֹ הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים לְנַ֨סּוֹת֔וֹ לָדַ֖עַת כׇּל־בִּלְבָבֽוֹ׃

So too in the matter of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who were sent to him to inquire about the sign that was in the land, when God forsook him in order to test him, to learn all that was in his mind.

וְיֶ֛תֶר דִּבְרֵ֥י יְחִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ וַחֲסָדָ֑יו הִנָּ֣ם כְּתוּבִ֗ים בַּחֲז֞וֹן יְשַׁעְיָ֤הוּ בֶן־אָמוֹץ֙ הַנָּבִ֔יא עַל־סֵ֥פֶר מַלְכֵֽי־יְהוּדָ֖ה וְיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

The other events of Hezekiah’s reign, and his faithful acts, are recorded in the visions of the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz and in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.

וַיִּשְׁכַּ֨ב יְחִזְקִיָּ֜הוּ עִם־אֲבֹתָ֗יו וַֽיִּקְבְּרֻ֘הוּ֮ בְּֽמַעֲלֵה֮ קִבְרֵ֣י בְנֵי־דָוִיד֒ וְכָבוֹד֙ עָשׂוּ־ל֣וֹ בְמוֹת֔וֹ כׇּל־יְהוּדָ֖ה וְיֹשְׁבֵ֣י יְרוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם וַיִּמְלֹ֛ךְ מְנַשֶּׁ֥ה בְנ֖וֹ תַּחְתָּֽיו׃ {פ}

Hezekiah rested with his ancestors, and was buried on the upper part of the tombs of the sons of David. When he died, all the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem accorded him much honor. Manasseh, his son, succeeded him.