English Standard Version

Hebrew Study Bible

1In the third year of Hoshea son of Elah, king of Israel, Hezekiah the son of Ahaz, king of Judah, began to reign.

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

2He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Abi the daughter of Zechariah.

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

3And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, according to all that David his father had done.

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

4He removed the high places and broke the pillars and cut down the Asherah. And he broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the people of Israel had made offerings to it (it was called 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׃

5He trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel, so that there was none like him among all the kings of Judah after him, nor among those who were before him.

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

6For he held fast to the LORD. He did not depart from following him, but kept the commandments that the LORD commanded Moses.

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

7And the LORD was with him; wherever he went out, he prospered. He rebelled against the king of Assyria and would not serve him.

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

8He struck down the Philistines as far as Gaza and its territory, 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 Hoshea son of Elah, king of Israel, Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up 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׃

10and at the end of three years he took it. In the sixth year of Hezekiah, which was the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel, Samaria was taken.

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

11The king of Assyria carried the Israelites away to Assyria and put them in Halah, and on the Habor, the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes,

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

12because they did not obey the voice of the LORD their God but transgressed his covenant, even all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded. They neither listened nor obeyed.

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 came up against all the fortified cities of Judah and took them.

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

14And Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria at Lachish, saying, “I have done wrong; withdraw from me. Whatever you impose on me I will bear.” And the king of Assyria required of Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold.

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׃

15And Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the house of the LORD and in the treasuries of the king’s house.

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

16At that time Hezekiah stripped the gold from the doors of the temple of the LORD and from the doorposts that Hezekiah king of Judah 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

17And the king of Assyria sent the Tartan, the Rab-saris, and the Rabshakeh with a great army from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem. And they went up and came to Jerusalem. When they arrived, they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which is on the highway to the Washer’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׃

18And when they called for the king, there came out to them Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebnah the secretary, and Joah the son of Asaph, the recorder.

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

19And the Rabshakeh said to them, “Say to Hezekiah, ‘Thus says the great king, the king of Assyria: On what do you rest this trust of yours?

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

20Do you think that mere words are strategy and power for war? In whom do you now trust, that you have rebelled against me?

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

21Behold, you are trusting now in Egypt, that broken reed of a staff, which will pierce the hand of any man who leans on it. Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt 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׃

22But if you say to me, “We trust in the LORD our God,” is it not he whose high places and altars Hezekiah has removed, saying to Judah and to Jerusalem, “You shall worship before 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׃

23Come now, make a wager with my master the king of Assyria: I will give you two thousand horses, if you are able on your part to set riders on them.

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

24How then can you repulse a single captain among the least of my master’s servants, when you trust in Egypt for chariots and for horsemen?

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

25Moreover, is it without the LORD that I have come up against this place to destroy it? The LORD said to me, “Go up against this land and destroy it.”’”

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

26Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebnah, and Joah, said to the Rabshakeh, “Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, for we understand it. Do not speak to us in the language of Judah within the hearing of the people who are 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 to speak these words to your master and to you, and not to the men sitting on the wall, who are doomed with you to eat their own dung and to 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׃

28Then the Rabshakeh stood and called out in a loud voice in the language of Judah: “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׃

29Thus says the king: ‘Do not let Hezekiah deceive you, for he will not be able to deliver you out of my hand.

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

30Do not let Hezekiah make you trust in the LORD by saying, The LORD will surely deliver us, and this city will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.’

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

31Do not listen to Hezekiah, for thus says the king of Assyria: ‘Make your peace with me and come out to me. Then each one of you will eat of his own vine, and each one of his own fig tree, and each one of you will drink the water of 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 wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of olive trees and honey, that you may live, and not die. And do not listen to Hezekiah when he misleads you by 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 out of the hand 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 out of my hand?

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

35Who among all the gods of the lands have delivered their lands out of my hand, that the LORD should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?’”

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

36But the people were silent and answered him not a word, for the king’s command was, “Do not answer him.”

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

37Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebna the secretary, and Joah the son of Asaph, the recorder, came to Hezekiah with their clothes torn and told 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׃

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.