Hezekiah Cleanses the Temple
(2 Kings 18:1–12)

1  יְחִזְקִיָּ֣הוּ (Hezekiah) מָלַ֗ךְ (became king), בֶּן־ (a son) עֶשְׂרִ֤ים (of twenty) וְחָמֵשׁ֙ (and five) שָׁנָ֔ה (years), וְעֶשְׂרִ֤ים (and twenty) וָתֵ֙שַׁע֙ (and nine) שָׁנָ֔ה (years) מָלַ֖ךְ (he reigned) בִּירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם (in Jerusalem). וְשֵׁ֣ם (And the name) אִמּ֔וֹ (of his mother) אֲבִיָּ֖ה (was Abijah) בַּת־ (daughter) זְכַרְיָֽהוּ׃ (of Zechariah). 2  וַיַּ֥עַשׂ (And he did) הַיָּשָׁ֖ר (right) בְּעֵינֵ֣י (in the eyes) יְהוָ֑ה (of YHWH), כְּכֹ֥ל (according to all) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) עָשָׂ֖ה (had done) דָּוִ֥יד (David) אָבִֽיו׃ (his father).

3  ה֣וּא (He), בַשָּׁנָה֩ (in the year) הָרִאשׁוֹנָ֨ה (first) לְמָלְכ֜וֹ (of his reign), בַּחֹ֣דֶשׁ (in the month) הָרִאשׁ֗וֹן (first), פָּתַ֛ח (he opened) אֶת־ (-) דַּלְת֥וֹת (the doors) בֵּית־ (of the house) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH) וַֽיְחַזְּקֵֽם׃ (and strengthened them). 4  וַיָּבֵ֥א (And he brought in) אֶת־ (-) הַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים (the priests) וְאֶת־ (and) הַלְוִיִּ֑ם (the Levites), וַיַּֽאַסְפֵ֖ם (and he gathered them) לִרְח֥וֹב (to the broad place) הַמִּזְרָֽח׃ (to the east), 5  וַיֹּ֥אמֶר (and he said) לָהֶ֖ם (to them) שְׁמָע֣וּנִי (Hear me) הַלְוִיִּ֑ם (O Levites)! עַתָּ֣ה (Now) הִֽתְקַדְּשׁ֗וּ (sanctify yourselves) וְקַדְּשׁוּ֙ (and sanctify) אֶת־ (-) בֵּ֤ית (the house) יְהוָה֙ (of YHWH) אֱלֹהֵ֣י (God) אֲבֹתֵיכֶ֔ם (of your⁺ fathers), וְהוֹצִ֥יאוּ (and bring out) אֶת־ (-) הַנִּדָּ֖ה (the impurity) מִן־ (from) הַקֹּֽדֶשׁ׃ (the sanctuary).

6  כִּֽי־ (For) מָעֲל֣וּ (have trespassed) אֲבֹתֵ֗ינוּ (our fathers) וְעָשׂ֥וּ (and done) הָרַ֛ע (evil) בְּעֵינֵ֥י (in the eyes) יְהוָֽה־ (of YHWH) אֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ (our God), וַיַּֽעַזְבֻ֑הוּ (and they have forsaken Him) וַיַּסֵּ֧בּוּ (and have turned away) פְנֵיהֶ֛ם (their faces) מִמִּשְׁכַּ֥ן (from the dwelling place) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH), וַיִּתְּנוּ־ (and have given) עֹֽרֶף׃ (the neck). 7  גַּ֣ם (Also) סָֽגְר֞וּ (they have shut up) דַּלְת֣וֹת (the doors) הָאוּלָ֗ם (of the porch), וַיְכַבּוּ֙ (and they put out) אֶת־ (-) הַנֵּר֔וֹת (the lamps), וּקְטֹ֖רֶת (and incense) לֹ֣א (not) הִקְטִ֑ירוּ (they have burned), וְעֹלָה֙ (and the burnt offering) לֹא־ (not) הֶעֱל֣וּ (caused to ascend) בַקֹּ֔דֶשׁ (in the Holy Place) לֵאלֹהֵ֖י (to the God) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (of Israel).

8  וַיְהִי֙ (And is) קֶ֣צֶף (the wrath) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH) עַל־ (upon) יְהוּדָ֖ה (Judah) וִירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם (and Jerusalem), וַיִּתְּנֵ֤ם (and He has given them up) לִזְוָעָה (for a trembling), לְשַׁמָּ֣ה (to be a horror), וְלִשְׁרֵקָ֔ה (and to be a hissing), כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר (as) אַתֶּ֥ם (you⁺ all) רֹאִ֖ים (are seeing) בְּעֵינֵיכֶֽם׃ (with your⁺ eyes). 9  וְהִנֵּ֛ה (And behold), נָפְל֥וּ (have fallen) אֲבוֹתֵ֖ינוּ (our fathers) בֶּחָ֑רֶב (by the sword), וּבָנֵ֨ינוּ (and our sons) וּבְנוֹתֵ֧ינוּ (and our daughters) וְנָשֵׁ֛ינוּ (and our wives are) בַּשְּׁבִ֖י (are in captivity) עַל־ (upon) זֹֽאת׃ (this).

10  עַתָּה֙ (Now it is) עִם־ (with) לְבָבִ֔י (my heart) לִכְר֣וֹת (to cut) בְּרִ֔ית (a covenant) לַיהוָ֖ה (before YHWH) אֱלֹהֵ֣י (God) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (of Israel), וְיָשֹׁ֥ב (that may turn away) מִמֶּ֖נּוּ (from us) חֲר֥וֹן (the burning) אַפּֽוֹ׃ (of His anger). 11  בָּנַ֕י (My sons), עַתָּ֖ה (now) אַל־ (not) תִּשָּׁל֑וּ (do be negligent), כִּֽי־ (for) בָכֶ֞ם (you⁺) בָּחַ֣ר (has chosen) יְהוָ֗ה (YHWH) לַעֲמֹ֤ד (to stand) לְפָנָיו֙ (before Him) לְשָׁ֣רְת֔וֹ (to serve Him), וְלִהְי֥וֹת (that you should be) ל֖וֹ (unto Him) מְשָׁרְתִ֥ים (ministering) וּמַקְטִרִֽים׃ס (and burning incense).

12  וַיָּקֻ֣מוּ (And arose) הַ֠לְוִיִּם (the Levites):

מַ֣חַת (Mahath) בֶּן־ (son) עֲמָשַׂ֞י (of Amasai) וְיוֹאֵ֣ל (and Joel) בֶּן־ (son) עֲזַרְיָהוּ֮ (of Azariah) מִן־ (of) בְּנֵ֣י (the sons) הַקְּהָתִי֒ (of the Kohathites);

וּמִן־ (and) בְּנֵ֣י (of the sons) מְרָרִ֔י (of Merari), קִ֚ישׁ (Kish) בֶּן־ (son) עַבְדִּ֔י (of Abdi) וַעֲזַרְיָ֖הוּ (and Azariah) בֶּן־ (son) יְהַלֶּלְאֵ֑ל (of Jehallelel);

וּמִן־ (and) הַגֵּ֣רְשֻׁנִּ֔י (of the Gershonite), יוֹאָח֙ (Joah) בֶּן־ (son) זִמָּ֔ה (of Zimmah) וְעֵ֖דֶן (and Eden) בֶּן־ (son) יוֹאָֽח׃ (of Joah);

13  וּמִן־ (and) בְּנֵי֙ (of the sons) אֱלִ֣יצָפָ֔ן (of Elizaphan), שִׁמְרִ֖י (Shimri) וִיעוּאֵל (and Jeiel);

וּמִן־ (and) בְּנֵ֣י (of the sons) אָסָ֔ף (of Asaph), זְכַרְיָ֖הוּ (Zechariah) וּמַתַּנְיָֽהוּ׃ס (and Mattaniah);

14  וּמִן־ (and) בְּנֵ֥י (of the sons) הֵימָ֖ן (of Heman), יְחוּאֵל (Jehiel) וְשִׁמְעִ֑יס (and Shimei);

וּמִן־ (and) בְּנֵ֣י (of the sons) יְדוּת֔וּן (of Jeduthun), שְׁמַֽעְיָ֖ה (Shemaiah) וְעֻזִּיאֵֽל׃ (and Uzziel).

15  וַיַּֽאַסְפ֤וּ (And they gathered) אֶת־ (-) אֲחֵיהֶם֙ (their brothers) וַיִּֽתְקַדְּשׁ֔וּ (and sanctified themselves), וַיָּבֹ֥אוּ (and they went in) כְמִצְוַת־ (according to the commandment) הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (of the king) בְּדִבְרֵ֣י (at the words) יְהוָ֑ה (of YHWH) לְטַהֵ֖ר (to cleanse) בֵּ֥ית (the house) יְהוָֽה׃ (of YHWH).

16  וַיָּבֹ֣אוּ (And went) הַ֠כֹּהֲנִים (the priests) לִפְנִ֣ימָה (into the inner part) בֵית־ (of the house) יְהוָה֮ (of YHWH) לְטַהֵר֒ (to cleanse it), וַיּוֹצִ֗יאוּ (and they brought out) אֵ֤ת (-) כָּל־ (all) הַטֻּמְאָה֙ (the unclean things) אֲשֶׁ֤ר (that) מָֽצְאוּ֙ (they found) בְּהֵיכַ֣ל (in the temple) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH) לַחֲצַ֖ר (to the court) בֵּ֣ית (of the house) יְהוָ֑ה (of YHWH). וַֽיְקַבְּלוּ֙ (And took it) הַלְוִיִּ֔ם (the Levites) לְהוֹצִ֥יא (and carried it) לְנַֽחַל־ (to the Valley) קִדְר֖וֹן (Kidron) חֽוּצָה׃ (outside). 17  וַ֠יָּחֵלּוּ (And they began) בְּאֶחָ֞ד (on the first) לַחֹ֣דֶשׁ (month) הָרִאשׁוֹן֮ (first) לְקַדֵּשׁ֒ (to consecrate), וּבְי֧וֹם (and on day) שְׁמוֹנָ֣ה (eight) לַחֹ֗דֶשׁ (of the month) בָּ֚אוּ (they came) לְאוּלָ֣ם (to the porch) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH). וַיְקַדְּשׁ֥וּ (And they sanctified) אֶת־ (-) בֵּית־ (the house) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH) לְיָמִ֣ים (in days) שְׁמוֹנָ֑ה (eight), וּבְי֨וֹם (and on the day) שִׁשָּׁ֥ה (six) עָשָׂ֛ר (and tenth) לַחֹ֥דֶשׁ (of the month) הָרִאשׁ֖וֹן (first) כִּלּֽוּ׃ס (they finished).

18  וַיָּב֤וֹאוּ (And they went) פְנִ֙ימָה֙ (inside) אֶל־ (to) חִזְקִיָּ֣הוּ (Hezekiah) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (the king) וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ (and said), טִהַ֖רְנוּ (We have cleansed) אֶת־ (-) כָּל־ (all) בֵּ֣ית (the house) יְהוָ֑ה (of YHWH), אֶת־ (-) מִזְבַּ֤ח (the altar) הָעוֹלָה֙ (of burnt offerings) וְאֶת־ (and) כָּל־ (all) כֵּלָ֔יו (its articles), וְאֶת־ (and) שֻׁלְחַ֥ן (the table) הַֽמַּעֲרֶ֖כֶת (of the showbread) וְאֶת־ (and) כָּל־ (all) כֵּלָֽיו׃ (its articles). 19  וְאֵ֣ת (And) כָּל־ (all) הַכֵּלִ֗ים (the articles) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) הִזְנִיחַ֩ (had cast aside) הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ (King) אָחָ֧ז (Ahaz) בְּמַלְכוּת֛וֹ (in his reign) בְּמַעֲל֖וֹ (in his unfaithfulness), הֵכַ֣נּוּ (we have prepared) וְהִקְדָּ֑שְׁנוּ (and consecrated), וְהִנָּ֕ם (and there they are) לִפְנֵ֖י (before) מִזְבַּ֥ח (the altar) יְהוָֽה׃ס (of YHWH).

Hezekiah Restores Temple Worship

20  וַיַּשְׁכֵּם֙ (And rose early) יְחִזְקִיָּ֣הוּ (Hezekiah) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (the King) וַיֶּאֱסֹ֕ף (and gathered) אֵ֖ת (-) שָׂרֵ֣י (the rulers) הָעִ֑יר (of the city) וַיַּ֖עַל (and went up) בֵּ֥ית (to the house) יְהוָֽה׃ (of YHWH). 21  וַיָּבִ֣יאוּ (And they brought) פָרִים־ (bulls), שִׁבְעָה֩ (seven) וְאֵילִ֨ים (and rams) שִׁבְעָ֜ה (seven), וּכְבָשִׂ֣ים (and lambs) שִׁבְעָ֗ה (seven), וּצְפִירֵ֨י (and male) עִזִּ֤ים (goats) שִׁבְעָה֙ (seven) לְחַטָּ֔את (for a sin offering) עַל־ (for) הַמַּמְלָכָ֥ה (the kingdom) וְעַל־ (and for) הַמִּקְדָּ֖שׁ (the sanctuary) וְעַל־ (and for) יְהוּדָ֑ה (Judah). וַיֹּ֗אמֶר (And he commanded) לִבְנֵ֤י (the sons) אַהֲרֹן֙ (of Aaron) הַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים (the priests) לְהַעֲל֖וֹת (to offer them) עַל־ (on) מִזְבַּ֥ח (the altar) יְהוָֽה׃ (of YHWH).

22  וַֽיִּשְׁחֲטוּ֙ (And they killed) הַבָּקָ֔ר (the bulls), וַיְקַבְּל֤וּ (and received) הַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙ (the priests) אֶת־ (-) הַדָּ֔ם (the blood) וַֽיִּזְרְק֖וּ (and sprinkled it) הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חָה (on the altar). וַיִּשְׁחֲט֣וּ (And they slaughtered) הָאֵלִ֗ים (the rams) וַיִּזְרְק֤וּ (and sprinkled) הַדָּם֙ (the blood) הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חָה (on the altar). וַֽיִּשְׁחֲטוּ֙ (And they slaughtered) הַכְּבָשִׂ֔ים (the lambs) וַיִּזְרְק֥וּ (and sprinkled) הַדָּ֖ם (the blood) הַמִּזְבֵּֽחָה׃ (on the altar).

23  וַיַּגִּ֙ישׁוּ֙ (And they brought out) אֶת־ (-) שְׂעִירֵ֣י (the male goats) הַֽחַטָּ֔את (of the sin offering) לִפְנֵ֥י (before) הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (the king) וְהַקָּהָ֑ל (and the assembly), וַיִּסְמְכ֥וּ (and they laid) יְדֵיהֶ֖ם (their hands) עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃ (on them). 24  וַיִּשְׁחָטוּם֙ (And slaughtered them) הַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים (the priests) וַֽיְחַטְּא֤וּ (and they cleansed from sin) אֶת־ (with) דָּמָם֙ (their blood) הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חָה (on the altar), לְכַפֵּ֖ר (to make atonement) עַל־ (upon) כָּל־ (all) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (Israel). כִּ֤י (For) לְכָל־ (all) יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (Israel), אָמַ֣ר (said) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (the king), הָעוֹלָ֖ה (The burnt offering) וְהַחַטָּֽאת׃ (and the sin offering).

25  וַיַּֽעֲמֵ֨ד (And he stationed) אֶת־ (-) הַלְוִיִּ֜ם (the Levites) בֵּ֣ית (in the house) יְהוָ֗ה (of YHWH) בִּמְצִלְתַּ֙יִם֙ (with cymbals), בִּנְבָלִ֣ים (with harps), וּבְכִנֹּר֔וֹת (and with lyres), בְּמִצְוַ֥ת (according to the commandment) דָּוִ֛יד (of David) וְגָ֥ד (and of Gad) חֹזֵֽה־ (seer) הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (of the king) וְנָתָ֣ן (and of Nathan) הַנָּבִ֑יא (the prophet). כִּ֧י (For) בְיַד־ (by the hand) יְהוָ֛ה (of YHWH) הַמִּצְוָ֖ה (was the command) בְּיַד־ (by the hand) נְבִיאָֽיו׃ס (of His prophets). 26  וַיַּֽעַמְד֤וּ (And stood) הַלְוִיִּם֙ (the Levites) בִּכְלֵ֣י (with the instruments) דָוִ֔יד (of David), וְהַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים (and the priests) בַּחֲצֹצְרֽוֹת׃ס (with the trumpets).

27  וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (And said) חִזְקִיָּ֔הוּ (Hezekiah) לְהַעֲל֥וֹת (to offer) הָעֹלָ֖ה (the burnt offering) לְהַמִּזְבֵּ֑חַ (on the altar). וּבְעֵ֞ת (And at the time) הֵחֵ֣ל (began) הָֽעוֹלָ֗ה (the burnt offering), הֵחֵ֤ל (began) שִׁיר־ (the song) יְהוָה֙ (of YHWH), וְהַחֲצֹ֣צְר֔וֹת (and the trumpets), וְעַ֨ל־ (and by) יְדֵ֔י (the hands) כְּלֵ֖י (of the instruments) דָּוִ֥יד (of David) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (king) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (of Israel). 28  וְכָל־ (And all) הַקָּהָל֙ (the assembly) מִֽשְׁתַּחֲוִ֔ים (worshiped), וְהַשִּׁ֣יר (and the singers) מְשׁוֹרֵ֔ר (sang), וְהַחֲצֹצְר֖וֹת (and the trumpets) מַחֲצֹצְרִים (sounded), הַכֹּ֕ל (all) עַ֖ד (until) לִכְל֥וֹת (was completed) הָעֹלָֽה׃ (the burnt offering).

29  וּכְכַלּ֖וֹת (And when was completed) לְהַעֲל֑וֹת (the burnt offering), כָּרְע֗וּ (bowed down) הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ (the king) וְכָֽל־ (and all) הַנִּמְצְאִ֥ים (those found) אִתּ֖וֹ (with him), וַיִּֽשְׁתַּחֲוֽוּ׃ (and they worshiped). 30  וַ֠יֹּאמֶר (And said) יְחִזְקִיָּ֨הוּ (Hezekiah) הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ (the king) וְהַשָּׂרִים֙ (and the leaders) לַלְוִיִּ֔ם (the Levites) לְהַלֵּל֙ (to sing praise) לַֽיהוָ֔ה (to YHWH) בְּדִבְרֵ֥י (with the words) דָוִ֖יד (of David) וְאָסָ֣ף (and of Asaph) הַחֹזֶ֑ה (the seer). וַֽיְהַלְלוּ֙ (And they sang praises) עַד־ (with) לְשִׂמְחָ֔ה (gladness), וַֽיִּקְּד֖וּ (and they bowed down) וַיִּֽשְׁתַּחֲוֽוּ׃פ (and worshiped).

31  וַיַּ֨עַן (And answered) יְחִזְקִיָּ֜הוּ (Hezekiah) וַיֹּ֗אמֶר (and said), עַתָּ֨ה (Now that) מִלֵּאתֶ֤ם (you⁺ have filled) יֶדְכֶם֙ (your⁺ hand) לַיהוָ֔ה (to YHWH), גֹּ֧שׁוּ (come near) וְהָבִ֛יאוּ (and bring) זְבָחִ֥ים (sacrifices) וְתוֹד֖וֹת (and thank offerings) לְבֵ֣ית (into the house) יְהוָ֑ה (of YHWH).

וַיָּבִ֤יאוּ (And brought in) הַקָּהָל֙ (the assembly) זְבָחִ֣ים (sacrifices) וְתוֹד֔וֹת (and thank offerings), וְכָל־ (and all) נְדִ֥יב (of willing) לֵ֖ב (heart) עֹלֽוֹת׃ (burnt offerings). 32  וַיְהִ֞י (And was) מִסְפַּ֣ר (the number) הָעֹלָה֮ (of the burnt offerings) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) הֵבִ֣יאוּ (brought) הַקָּהָל֒ (the assembly) בָּקָ֣ר (bulls) שִׁבְעִ֔ים (seventy), אֵילִ֥ים (rams) מֵאָ֖ה (a hundred), כְּבָשִׂ֣ים (lambs) מָאתָ֑יִם (two hundred)— לְעֹלָ֥ה (for a burnt offering) לַיהוָ֖ה (to YHWH) כָּל־ (all) אֵֽלֶּה׃ (these). 33  וְֽהַקֳּדָשִׁ֑ים (And the consecrated things were) בָּקָר֙ (bulls) שֵׁ֣שׁ (six) מֵא֔וֹת (hundred) וְצֹ֖אן (and sheep) שְׁלֹ֥שֶׁת (three) אֲלָפִֽים׃ (thousand).

34  רַ֤ק (But) הַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙ (the priests) הָי֣וּ (were) לִמְעָ֔ט (too few), וְלֹ֣א (so that not) יָֽכְל֔וּ (they could) לְהַפְשִׁ֖יט (skin) אֶת־ (-) כָּל־ (all) הָעֹל֑וֹת (the burnt offerings). וַֽיְּחַזְּק֞וּם (And strengthened them) אֲחֵיהֶ֣ם (their brothers) הַלְוִיִּ֗ם (the Levites) עַד־ (until) כְּל֤וֹת (was finished) הַמְּלָאכָה֙ (the work), וְעַ֣ד (and until) יִתְקַדְּשׁ֣וּ (had sanctified themselves) הַכֹּֽהֲנִ֔ים (the priests). כִּ֤י (For) הַלְוִיִּם֙ (the Levites) יִשְׁרֵ֣י (were more diligent) לֵבָ֔ב (of heart) לְהִתְקַדֵּ֖שׁ (to consecrate themselves) מֵֽהַכֹּהֲנִֽים׃ (than the priests).

35  וְגַם־ (And) עֹלָ֨ה (the burnt offerings were) לָרֹ֜ב (in abundance), בְּחֶלְבֵ֧י (with the fat) הַשְּׁלָמִ֛ים (of the peace offerings) וּבַנְּסָכִ֖ים (and with the drink offerings) לָעֹלָ֑ה (for the burnt offering). וַתִּכּ֖וֹן (And was established) עֲבוֹדַ֥ת (the service) בֵּית־ (of the house) יְהוָֽה׃ (of YHWH). 36  וַיִּשְׂמַ֤ח (And rejoiced) יְחִזְקִיָּ֙הוּ֙ (Hezekiah) וְכָל־ (and all) הָעָ֔ם (the people) עַ֛ל (that) הַהֵכִ֥ין (had prepared) הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים (God) לָעָ֑ם (the people), כִּ֥י (for) בְּפִתְאֹ֖ם (suddenly) הָיָ֥ה (had come to pass) הַדָּבָֽר׃פ (the matter).