¹ Now it came to pass in the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign.

² Twenty and five years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Abi, the daughter of Zachariah.

³ And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father did.

⁴ He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brazen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan.

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

⁶ For he clave to the LORD, and departed not from following him, but kept his commandments, which the LORD commanded Moses.

⁷ And the LORD was with him; and he prospered whithersoever he went forth: and he rebelled against the king of Assyria, and served him not.

⁸ He smote the Philistines, even unto Gaza, and the borders thereof, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city.

⁹ And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria, and besieged it.

¹⁰ And at the end of three years they took it: even in the sixth year of Hezekiah, that is in the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel, Samaria was taken.

¹¹ And the king of Assyria did carry away Israel unto Assyria, and put them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes:

¹² Because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD their God, but transgressed his covenant, and all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded, and would not hear them, nor do them.

¹³ Now in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah did Sennacherib king of Assyria come up against all the fenced cities of Judah, and took them.

¹⁴ And Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria to Lachish, saying, I have offended; return from me: that which thou puttest on me will I bear. And the king of Assyria appointed unto Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold.

¹⁵ And Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king's house.

¹⁶ At that time did Hezekiah cut off the gold from the doors of the temple of the LORD, and from the pillars which Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid, and gave it to the king of Assyria.

¹⁷ And the king of Assyria sent Tartan and Rabsaris and Rabshakeh from Lachish to king Hezekiah with a great host against Jerusalem. And they went up and came to Jerusalem. And when they were come up, they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which is in the highway of the fuller's field.

¹⁸ And when they had called to the king, there came out to them Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder.

¹⁹ And Rabshakeh said unto them, Speak ye now to Hezekiah, Thus saith the great king, the king of Assyria, What confidence is this wherein thou trustest?

²⁰ Thou sayest, (but they are but vain words,) I have counsel and strength for the war. Now on whom dost thou trust, that thou rebellest against me?

²¹ Now, behold, thou trustest upon the staff of this bruised reed, even upon Egypt, on which if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt unto all that trust on him.

²² But if ye say unto me, We trust in the LORD our God: is not that he, whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah hath taken away, and hath said to Judah and Jerusalem, Ye shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem?

²³ Now therefore, I pray thee, give pledges to my lord the king of Assyria, and I will deliver thee two thousand horses, if thou be able on thy part to set riders upon them.

²⁴ How then wilt thou turn away the face of one captain of the least of my master's servants, and put thy trust on Egypt for chariots and for horsemen?

²⁵ Am I now come up without the LORD against this place to destroy it? The LORD said to me, Go up against this land, and destroy it.

²⁶ Then said Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebna, and Joah, unto Rabshakeh, Speak, I pray thee, to thy servants in the Syrian language; for we understand it: and talk not with us in the Jews' language in the ears of the people that are on the wall.

²⁷ But Rabshakeh said unto them, Hath my master sent me to thy master, and to thee, to speak these words? hath he not sent me to the men which sit on the wall, that they may eat their own dung, and drink their own piss with you?

²⁸ Then Rabshakeh stood and cried with a loud voice in the Jews' language, and spake, saying, Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria:

²⁹ Thus saith the king, Let not Hezekiah deceive you: for he shall not be able to deliver you out of his hand:

³⁰ Neither let Hezekiah make you trust in the LORD, saying, The LORD will surely deliver us, and this city shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria.

³¹ Hearken not to Hezekiah: for thus saith the king of Assyria, Make an agreement with me by a present, and come out to me, and then eat ye every man of his own vine, and every one of his fig tree, and drink ye every one the waters of his cistern:

³² Until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of corn and wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of oil olive and of honey, that ye may live, and not die: and hearken not unto Hezekiah, when he persuadeth you, saying, The LORD will deliver us.

³³ Hath any of the gods of the nations delivered at all his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria?

³⁴ Where are the gods of Hamath, and of Arpad? where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah? have they delivered Samaria out of mine hand?

³⁵ Who are they among all the gods of the countries, that have delivered their country out of mine hand, that the LORD should deliver Jerusalem out of mine hand?

³⁶ But the people held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king's commandment was, saying, Answer him not.

³⁷ Then came Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder, to Hezekiah with their clothes rent, and told him the words of Rabshakeh.

---

¹ Now it came to pass in the third ^H7969 year ^H8141 of Hoshea ^H1954 son ^H1121 of Elah ^H425 king ^H4428 of Israel, ^H3478 that Hezekiah ^H2396 the son ^H1121 of Ahaz ^H271 king ^H4428 of Judah ^H3063 began to reign. ^H4427

² Twenty ^H6242 and five ^H2568 years ^H8141 old ^H1121 was he when he began to reign; ^H4427 and he reigned ^H4427 twenty ^H6242 and nine ^H8672 years ^H8141 in Jerusalem. ^H3389 His mother's ^H517 name ^H8034 also was Abi, ^H21 the daughter ^H1323 of Zachariah. ^H2148

³ And he did ^H6213 that which was right ^H3477 in the sight ^H5869 of the LORD, ^H3068 according to all that David ^H1732 his father ^H1 did. ^H6213

⁴ He removed ^H5493 the high places, ^H1116 and brake ^H7665 the images, ^H4676 and cut down ^H3772 the groves, ^H842 and brake in pieces ^H3807 the brasen ^H5178 serpent ^H5175 that Moses ^H4872 had made: ^H6213 for unto those days ^H3117 the children ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478 did burn incense ^H6999 to it: and he called ^H7121 it Nehushtan. ^H5180

⁵ He trusted ^H982 in the LORD ^H3068 God ^H430 of Israel; ^H3478 so that after ^H310 him was none like him among all the kings ^H4428 of Judah, ^H3063 nor any that were before ^H6440 him.

⁶ For he clave ^H1692 to the LORD, ^H3068 and departed ^H5493 not from following ^H310 him, but kept ^H8104 his commandments, ^H4687 which the LORD ^H3068 commanded ^H6680 Moses. ^H4872

⁷ And the LORD ^H3068 was with him; and he prospered ^H7919 whithersoever he went forth: ^H3318 and he rebelled ^H4775 against the king ^H4428 of Assyria, ^H804 and served ^H5647 him not.

⁸ He smote ^H5221 the Philistines, ^H6430 even unto Gaza, ^H5804 and the borders ^H1366 thereof, from the tower ^H4026 of the watchmen ^H5341 to the fenced ^H4013 city. ^H5892

⁹ And it came to pass in the fourth ^H7243 year ^H8141 of king ^H4428 Hezekiah, ^H2396 which was the seventh ^H7637 year ^H8141 of Hoshea ^H1954 son ^H1121 of Elah ^H425 king ^H4428 of Israel, ^H3478 that Shalmaneser ^H8022 king ^H4428 of Assyria ^H804 came up ^H5927 against Samaria, ^H8111 and besieged ^H6696 it.

¹⁰ And at the end ^H7097 of three ^H7969 years ^H8141 they took ^H3920 it: even in the sixth ^H8337 year ^H8141 of Hezekiah, ^H2396 that is the ninth ^H8672 year ^H8141 of Hoshea ^H1954 king ^H4428 of Israel, ^H3478 Samaria ^H8111 was taken. ^H3920

¹¹ And the king ^H4428 of Assyria ^H804 did carry away ^H1540 Israel ^H3478 unto Assyria, ^H804 and put ^H5148 them in Halah ^H2477 and in Habor ^H2249 by the river ^H5104 of Gozan, ^H1470 and in the cities ^H5892 of the Medes: ^H4074

¹² Because they obeyed ^H8085 not the voice ^H6963 of the LORD ^H3068 their God, ^H430 but transgressed ^H5674 his covenant, ^H1285 and all that Moses ^H4872 the servant ^H5650 of the LORD ^H3068 commanded, ^H6680 and would not hear ^H8085 them, nor do ^H6213 them.

¹³ Now in the fourteenth ^{H702 H6240} year ^H8141 of king ^H4428 Hezekiah ^H2396 did Sennacherib ^H5576 king ^H4428 of Assyria ^H804 come up ^H5927 against all the fenced ^H1219 cities ^H5892 of Judah, ^H3063 and took ^H8610 them.

¹⁴ And Hezekiah ^H2396 king ^H4428 of Judah ^H3063 sent ^H7971 to the king ^H4428 of Assyria ^H804 to Lachish, ^H3923 saying, ^H559 I have offended; ^H2398 return ^H7725 from me: that which thou puttest ^H5414 on me will I bear. ^H5375 And the king ^H4428 of Assyria ^H804 appointed ^H7760 unto Hezekiah ^H2396 king ^H4428 of Judah ^H3063 three ^H7969 hundred ^H3967 talents ^H3603 of silver ^H3701 and thirty ^H7970 talents ^H3603 of gold. ^H2091

¹⁵ And Hezekiah ^H2396 gave ^H5414 him all the silver ^H3701 that was found ^H4672 in the house ^H1004 of the LORD, ^H3068 and in the treasures ^H214 of the king's ^H4428 house. ^H1004

¹⁶ At that time ^H6256 did Hezekiah ^H2396 cut off ^H7112 the gold from the doors ^H1817 of the temple ^H1964 of the LORD, ^H3068 and from the pillars ^H547 which Hezekiah ^H2396 king ^H4428 of Judah ^H3063 had overlaid, ^H6823 and gave ^H5414 it to the king ^H4428 of Assyria. ^H804

¹⁷ And the king ^H4428 of Assyria ^H804 sent ^H7971 Tartan ^H8661 and Rabsaris ^H7249 and Rabshakeh ^H7262 from Lachish ^H3923 to king ^H4428 Hezekiah ^H2396 with a great ^H3515 host ^H2426 against Jerusalem. ^H3389 And they went up ^H5927 and came ^H935 to Jerusalem. ^H3389 And when they were come up, ^H5927 they came ^H935 and stood ^H5975 by the conduit ^H8585 of the upper ^H5945 pool, ^H1295 which is in the highway ^H4546 of the fuller's ^H3526 field. ^H7704

¹⁸ And when they had called ^H7121 to the king, ^H4428 there came out ^H3318 to them Eliakim ^H471 the son ^H1121 of Hilkiah, ^H2518 which was over the household, ^H1004 and Shebna ^H7644 the scribe, ^H5608 and Joah ^H3098 the son ^H1121 of Asaph ^H623 the recorder. ^H2142

¹⁹ And Rabshakeh ^H7262 said ^H559 unto them, Speak ^H559 ye now to Hezekiah, ^H2396 Thus saith ^H559 the great ^H1419 king, ^H4428 the king ^H4428 of Assyria, ^H804 What confidence ^H986 is this wherein thou trustest? ^H982

²⁰ Thou sayest, ^H559 (but they are but vain ^H8193 words,) ^H1697 I have counsel ^H6098 and strength ^H1369 for the war. ^H4421 Now on whom dost thou trust, ^H982 that thou rebellest ^H4775 against me?

²¹ Now, behold, thou trustest ^H982 upon the staff ^H4938 of this bruised ^H7533 reed, ^H7070 even upon Egypt, ^H4714 on which if a man ^H376 lean, ^H5564 it will go ^H935 into his hand, ^H3709 and pierce ^H5344 it: so is Pharaoh ^H6547 king ^H4428 of Egypt ^H4714 unto all that trust ^H982 on him.

²² But if ye say ^H559 unto me, We trust ^H982 in the LORD ^H3068 our God: ^H430 is not that he, whose high places ^H1116 and whose altars ^H4196 Hezekiah ^H2396 hath taken away, ^H5493 and hath said ^H559 to Judah ^H3063 and Jerusalem, ^H3389 Ye shall worship ^H7812 before ^H6440 this altar ^H4196 in Jerusalem? ^H3389

²³ Now therefore, I pray thee, give pledges ^H6148 to my lord ^H113 the king ^H4428 of Assyria, ^H804 and I will deliver ^H5414 thee two thousand ^H505 horses, ^H5483 if thou be able ^H3201 on thy part to set ^H5414 riders ^H7392 upon them.

²⁴ How then wilt thou turn away ^H7725 the face ^H6440 of one ^H259 captain ^H6346 of the least ^H6996 of my master's ^H113 servants, ^H5650 and put thy trust ^H982 on Egypt ^H4714 for chariots ^H7393 and for horsemen? ^H6571

²⁵ Am I now come up ^H5927 without ^H1107 the LORD ^H3068 against this place ^H4725 to destroy ^H7843 it? The LORD ^H3068 said ^H559 to me, Go up ^H5927 against this land, ^H776 and destroy ^H7843 it.

²⁶ Then said ^H559 Eliakim ^H471 the son ^H1121 of Hilkiah, ^H2518 and Shebna, ^H7644 and Joah, ^H3098 unto Rabshakeh, ^H7262 Speak, ^H1696 I pray thee, to thy servants ^H5650 in the Syrian language; ^H762 for we understand ^H8085 it: and talk ^H1696 not with us in the Jews' language ^H3066 in the ears ^H241 of the people ^H5971 that are on the wall. ^H2346

²⁷ But Rabshakeh ^H7262 said ^H559 unto them, Hath my master ^H113 sent ^H7971 me to thy master, ^H113 and to thee, to speak ^H1696 these words? ^H1697 hath he not sent me to the men ^H582 which sit ^H3427 on the wall, ^H2346 that they may eat ^H398 their own dung, ^{H6675 H2755} and drink ^H8354 their own piss ^{H4325 H7272 H7890} with you?

²⁸ Then Rabshakeh ^H7262 stood ^H5975 and cried ^H7121 with a loud ^H1419 voice ^H6963 in the Jews' language, ^H3066 and spake, ^H1696 saying, ^H559 Hear ^H8085 the word ^H1697 of the great ^H1419 king, ^H4428 the king ^H4428 of Assyria: ^H804

²⁹ Thus saith ^H559 the king, ^H4428 Let not Hezekiah ^H2396 deceive ^H5377 you: for he shall not be able ^H3201 to deliver ^H5337 you out of his hand: ^H3027

³⁰ Neither let Hezekiah ^H2396 make you trust ^H982 in the LORD, ^H3068 saying, ^H559 The LORD ^H3068 will surely ^H5337 deliver ^H5337 us, and this city ^H5892 shall not be delivered ^H5414 into the hand ^H3027 of the king ^H4428 of Assyria. ^H804

³¹ Hearken ^H8085 not to Hezekiah: ^H2396 for thus saith ^H559 the king ^H4428 of Assyria, ^H804 Make ^H6213 an agreement with me by a present, ^H1293 and come out ^H3318 to me, and then eat ^H398 ye every man ^H376 of his own vine, ^H1612 and every one ^H376 of his fig tree, ^H8384 and drink ^H8354 ye every one ^H376 the waters ^H4325 of his cistern: ^H953

³² Until I come ^H935 and take you away ^H3947 to a land ^H776 like your own land, ^H776 a land ^H776 of corn ^H1715 and wine, ^H8492 a land ^H776 of bread ^H3899 and vineyards, ^H3754 a land ^H776 of oil ^H3323 olive ^H2132 and of honey, ^H1706 that ye may live, ^H2421 and not die: ^H4191 and hearken ^H8085 not unto Hezekiah, ^H2396 when he persuadeth ^H5496 you, saying, ^H559 The LORD ^H3068 will deliver ^H5337 us.

³³ Hath any ^H376 of the gods ^H430 of the nations ^H1471 delivered ^H5337 at all ^H5337 his land ^H776 out of the hand ^H3027 of the king ^H4428 of Assyria? ^H804

³⁴ Where are the gods ^H430 of Hamath, ^H2574 and of Arpad? ^H774 where are the gods ^H430 of Sepharvaim, ^H5617 Hena, ^H2012 and Ivah? ^H5755 have they delivered ^H5337 Samaria ^H8111 out of mine hand? ^H3027

³⁵ Who are they among all the gods ^H430 of the countries, ^H776 that have delivered ^H5337 their country ^H776 out of mine hand, ^H3027 that the LORD ^H3068 should deliver ^H5337 Jerusalem ^H3389 out of mine hand? ^H3027

³⁶ But the people ^H5971 held their peace, ^H2790 and answered ^H6030 him not a word: ^H1697 for the king's ^H4428 commandment ^H4687 was, saying, ^H559 Answer ^H6030 him not.

³⁷ Then came ^H935 Eliakim ^H471 the son ^H1121 of Hilkiah, ^H2518 which was over the household, ^H1004 and Shebna ^H7644 the scribe, ^H5608 and Joah ^H3098 the son ^H1121 of Asaph ^H623 the recorder, ^H2142 to Hezekiah ^H2396 with their clothes ^H899 rent, ^H7167 and told ^H5046 him the words ^H1697 of Rabshakeh. ^H7262

---

¹ Now it came to pass in the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign.

² Twenty and five years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem: and his mother's name was Abi the daughter of Zechariah.

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

⁴ He removed the high places, and brake the pillars, and cut down the Asherah: and he brake in pieces the brazen serpent that Moses had made; for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it; and he called it Nehushtan.

⁵ He trusted in Jehovah, the God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor `among them' that were before him.

⁶ For he clave to Jehovah; he departed not from following him, but kept his commandments, which Jehovah commanded Moses.

⁷ And Jehovah was with him; whithersoever he went forth he prospered: and he rebelled against the king of Assyria, and served him not.

⁸ He smote the Philistines unto Gaza and the borders thereof, from the tower of the watchmen to the fortified city.

⁹ And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria, and besieged it.

¹⁰ And at the end of three years they took it: in the sixth year of Hezekiah, which was the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel, Samaria was taken.

¹¹ And the king of Assyria carried Israel away unto Assyria, and put them in Halah, and on the Habor, the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes,

¹² because they obeyed not the voice of Jehovah their God, but transgressed his covenant, even all that Moses the servant of Jehovah commanded, and would not hear it, nor do it.

¹³ Now in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah did Sennacherib king of Assyria come up against all the fortified cities of Judah, and took them.

¹⁴ And Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria to Lachish, saying, I have offended; return from me: that which thou puttest on me will I bear. And the king of Assyria appointed unto Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold.

¹⁵ And Hezekiah gave `him' all the silver that was found in the house of Jehovah, and in the treasures of the king's house.

¹⁶ At that time did Hezekiah cut off `the gold from' the doors of the temple of Jehovah, and `from' the pillars which Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid, and gave it to the king of Assyria.

¹⁷ And the king of Assyria sent Tartan and Rab-saris and Rabshakeh from Lachish to king Hezekiah with a great army unto Jerusalem. And they went up and came to Jerusalem. And when they were come up, they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which is in the highway of the fuller's field.

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

¹⁹ And Rabshakeh said unto them, Say ye now to Hezekiah, Thus saith the great king, the king of Assyria, What confidence is this wherein thou trustest?

²⁰ Thou sayest (but they are but vain words), `There is' counsel and strength for the war. Now on whom dost thou trust, that thou hast rebelled against me?

²¹ Now, behold, thou trustest upon the staff of this bruised reed, even upon Egypt; whereon if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt unto all that trust on him.

²² But if ye say unto me, We trust in Jehovah our God; is not that he, whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah hath taken away, and hath said to Judah and to Jerusalem, Ye shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem?

²³ Now therefore, I pray thee, give pledges to my master the king of Assyria, and I will give thee two thousand horses, if thou be able on thy part to set riders upon them.

²⁴ How then canst thou turn away the face of one captain of the least of my master's servants, and put thy trust on Egypt for chariots and for horsemen?

²⁵ Am I now come up without Jehovah against this place to destroy it? Jehovah said unto me, Go up against this land, and destroy it.

²⁶ Then said Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebnah, and Joah, unto Rabshakeh, Speak, I pray thee, to thy servants in the Syrian language; for we understand it: and speak not with us in the Jews' language, in the ears of the people that are on the wall.

²⁷ But Rabshakeh said unto them, Hath my master sent me to thy master, and to thee, to speak these words? `hath he' not `sent me' to the men that sit on the wall, to eat their own dung, and to drink their own water with you?

²⁸ Then Rabshakeh stood, and cried with a loud voice in the Jews' language, and spake, saying, Hear ye the word of the great king, the king of Assyria.

²⁹ Thus saith the king, Let not Hezekiah deceive you; for he will not be able to deliver you out of his hand:

³⁰ neither let Hezekiah make you trust in Jehovah, saying, Jehovah will surely deliver us, and this city shall not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.

³¹ Hearken not to Hezekiah: for thus saith the king of Assyria, Make your peace with me, and come out to me; and eat ye every one of his vine, and every one of his fig-tree, and drink ye every one the waters of his own cistern;

³² Until 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 of honey, that ye may live, and not die: and hearken not unto Hezekiah, when he persuadeth you, saying, Jehovah will deliver us.

³³ Hath any of the gods of the nations ever delivered his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria?

³⁴ Where are the gods of Hamath, and of Arpad? where are the gods of Sepharvaim, of Hena, and Ivvah? have they delivered Samaria out of my hand?

³⁵ Who are they among all the gods of the countries, that have delivered their country out of my hand, that Jehovah should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?

³⁶ But the people held their peace, and answered him not a word; for the king's commandment was, saying, Answer him not.

³⁷ Then came Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder, to Hezekiah with their clothes rent, and told him the words of Rabshakeh.

---

¹ And it cometh to pass, in the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, reigned hath Hezekiah son of Ahaz king of Judah;

² a son of twenty and five years was he in his reigning, and twenty and nine years he hath reigned in Jerusalem, and the name of his mother `is' Abi daughter of Zechariah.

³ And he doth that which `is' right in the eyes of Jehovah, according to all that David his father did,

⁴ he hath turned aside the high places, and broken in pieces the standing-pillars, and cut down the shrine, and beaten down the brazen serpent that Moses made, for unto these days were the sons of Israel making perfume to it, and he calleth it `a piece of brass.'

⁵ In Jehovah, God of Israel, he hath trusted, and after him there hath not been like him among all the kings of Judah, nor `among any' who were before him;

⁶ and he cleaveth to Jehovah, he hath not turned aside from after Him, and keepeth His commands that Jehovah commanded Moses.

⁷ And Jehovah hath been with him, in every place where he goeth out he acteth wisely, and he rebelleth against the king of Asshur, and hath not served him;

⁸ he hath smitten the Philistines unto Gaza, and its borders, from a tower of watchers unto the fenced city.

⁹ And it cometh to pass, in the fourth year of king Hezekiah -- it `is' the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel -- come up hath Shalmaneser king of Asshur against Samaria, and layeth siege to it,

¹⁰ and they capture it at the end of three years; in the sixth year of Hezekiah -- it `is' the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel -- hath Samaria been captureth,

¹¹ and the king of Asshur removeth Israel to Asshur, and placed them in Halah, and in Habor `by' the river Gozan, and `in' cities of the Medes,

¹² because that they have not hearkened to the voice of Jehovah their God, and transgress His covenant -- all that He commanded Moses, servant of Jehovah -- yea, they have not hearkened nor done `it'.

¹³ And in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah hath Sennacherib king of Asshur come up against all the fenced cities of Judah, and seizeth them,

¹⁴ and Hezekiah king of Judah sendeth unto the king of Asshur to Lachish, saying, `I have sinned, turn back from off me; that which thou puttest on me I bear;' and the king of Asshur layeth on Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver, and thirty talents of gold,

¹⁵ and Hezekiah giveth all the silver that is found in the house of Jehovah, and in the treasures of the house of the king;

¹⁶ at that time hath Hezekiah cut off the doors of the temple of Jehovah, and the pillars that Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid, and giveth them to the king of Asshur.

¹⁷ And the king of Asshur sendeth Tartan, and the chief of the eunuchs, and the chief of the butlers, from Lachish, unto king Hezekiah, with a heavy force, to Jerusalem, and they go up and come in to Jerusalem, and they go up, and come in and stand by the conduit of the upper pool that `is' in the highway of the fuller's field.

¹⁸ And they call unto the king, and go out unto them doth Eliakim son of Hilkiah, who `is' over the house, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah son of Asaph the remembrancer.

¹⁹ And the chief of the butlers saith unto them, `Say, I pray you, unto Hezekiah, Thus said the great king, the king of Asshur, What `is' this confidence in which thou hast confided?

²⁰ Thou hast said: Only a word of the lips! counsel and might `are' for battle; now, on whom hast thou trusted that thou hast rebelled against me?

²¹ `Now, lo, thou hast trusted for thee on the staff of this broken reed, on Egypt; which a man leaneth on, and it hath gone into his hand, and pierced it! -- so `is' Pharaoh king of Egypt to all those trusting on him.

²² `And when ye say unto me, Unto Jehovah our God we have trusted, is it not He whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah hath turned aside, and saith to Judah and to Jerusalem, Before this altar do ye bow yourselves in Jerusalem?

²³ `And, now, give a pledge for thee, I pray thee, to my lord the king of Asshur, and I give to thee two thousand horses, if thou art able to give for thee riders on them.

²⁴ And how dost thou turn back the face of one captain of the least of the servants of my lord, that thou dost trust for thee on Egypt for chariot, and for horsemen?

²⁵ Now, without Jehovah have I come up against this place to destroy it? Jehovah said unto me, Go up against this land, and thou hast destroyed it.'

²⁶ And Eliakim son of Hilkiah saith -- and Shebna, and Joah -- to the chief of the butlers, `Speak, we pray thee, unto thy servants `in' Aramaean, for we are understanding, and do not speak with us `in' Jewish, in the ears of the people who `are' on the wall.'

²⁷ And the chief of the butlers saith unto them, `For thy lord, and unto thee, hath my lord sent me to speak these words? is it not for the men, those sitting on the wall to eat their own dung and to drink their own water, with you?'

²⁸ And the chief of the butlers standeth and calleth with a great voice `in' Jewish, and speaketh and saith, `Hear ye a word of the great king, the king of Asshur:

²⁹ thus said the king, Let not Hezekiah lift you up, for he is not able to deliver you out of his hand;

³⁰ and let not Hezekiah make you trust unto Jehovah, saying, Jehovah doth certainly deliver us, and this city is not given into the hand of the king of Asshur.

³¹ `Do not hearken unto Hezekiah, for thus said the king of Asshur, Make with me a blessing, and come out unto me, and eat ye each of his vine, and each of his fig-tree, and drink ye each the waters of his own well,

³² till my coming in, and I have taken you unto a land like your own land, a land of corn and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of oil olive, and honey, and live, and die not; and do not hearken unto Hezekiah, when he persuadeth you, saying, Jehovah doth deliver us.

³³ `Have the gods of the nations delivered at all each his land out of the hand of the king of Asshur?

³⁴ Where `are' the gods of Hamath and Arpad? where the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah, that they have delivered Samaria out of my hand?

³⁵ Who `are they' among all the gods of the lands that have delivered their land out of my hand, that Jehovah doth deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?'

³⁶ And the people have kept silent, and have not answered him a word, for the command of the king is, saying, `Do not answer him.'

³⁷ And Eliakim son of Hilkiah, who `is' over the house, cometh in, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah son of Asaph the remembrancer, unto Hezekiah, with rent garments, and they declare to him the words of the chief of the butlers.

---

¹ And it came to pass in the third year of Hoshea the son of Elah, king of Israel, that Hezekiah the son of Ahaz, king of Judah, began to reign.

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

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

⁴ He removed the high places, and broke the columns, and cut down the Asherahs, and broke in pieces the serpent of brass that Moses had made; for to those days the children of Israel burned incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan.

⁵ He trusted in Jehovah the God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor [among any] that were before him.

⁶ And he clave to Jehovah, and did not turn aside from following him, but kept his commandments, which Jehovah commanded Moses.

⁷ And Jehovah was with him; he prospered whithersoever he went forth. And he rebelled against the king of Assyria, and served him not.

⁸ He smote the Philistines unto Gazah and its borders, from the watchmen's tower to the fortified city.

⁹ And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of Hoshea the son of Elah, king of Israel, [that] Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria and besieged it.

¹⁰ And at the end of three years they took it; in the sixth year of Hezekiah, that is, the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel, Samaria was taken.

¹¹ And the king of Assyria carried away Israel to Assyria, and settled them in Halah and by the Habor, the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes;

¹² because they hearkened not to the voice of Jehovah their God, but transgressed his covenant, all that Moses the servant of Jehovah commanded; and they would not hear nor do it.

¹³ And in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah, Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah, and took them.

¹⁴ And Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria to Lachish, saying, I have sinned; retire from me: I will bear what thou layest upon me. And the king of Assyria laid upon Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold.

¹⁵ And Hezekiah gave all the silver that was found in the house of Jehovah, and in the treasures of the king's house.

¹⁶ At that time Hezekiah stripped the doors of the temple of Jehovah, and the posts that Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid, and gave them to the king of Assyria.

¹⁷ And the king of Assyria sent Tartan and Rabsaris and Rab-shakeh from Lachish, with a strong force, against king Hezekiah, to Jerusalem. And they went up and came to Jerusalem. And when they were come up, they came and stood by the aqueduct of the upper pool, which is on the highway of the fuller's field.

¹⁸ And they called to the king. Then came forth to them Eliakim the son of Hilkijah, who was over the household, and Shebnah the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph, the chronicler.

¹⁹ And Rab-shakeh said to them, Say now to Hezekiah, Thus says the great king, the king of Assyria: What confidence is this wherein thou trustest?

²⁰ Thou sayest -- but it is a word of the lips -- There is counsel and strength for war. Now on whom dost thou rely, that thou hast revolted against me?

²¹ Now behold, thou reliest upon the staff of that broken reed, upon Egypt, on which if a man lean, it goes into his hand and pierces it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all that rely upon him.

²² And if ye say to me, We rely upon Jehovah our God: is it not he whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah has removed, saying to Judah and Jerusalem, Ye shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem?

²³ And now, engage, I pray thee, with my master the king of Assyria, and I will give thee two thousand horses, if thou canst set the riders upon them.

²⁴ How then wilt thou turn away the face of one captain of the least of my master's servants? And thou reliest upon Egypt for chariots and for horsemen!

²⁵ Am I now come up without Jehovah against this place to destroy it? Jehovah said to me, Go up against this land and destroy it.

²⁶ And Eliakim the son of Hilkijah, and Shebnah and Joah said to Rab-shakeh, Speak, we pray thee, to thy servants in Syriac, for we understand it, and talk not with us in the Jewish [language] in the ears of the people that are on the wall.

²⁷ And Rab-shakeh said to them, Is it to thy master and to thee that my master sent me to speak these words? Is it not to the men that sit on the wall, that they may eat their own dung and drink their own urine with you?

²⁸ And Rab-shakeh stood and cried with a loud voice in the Jewish [language], and spoke and said, Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria!

²⁹ Thus says the king: Let not Hezekiah deceive you; for he will not be able to deliver you out of the [king's] hand.

³⁰ Neither let Hezekiah make you rely upon Jehovah, saying, Jehovah will certainly deliver us, and this city shall not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.

³¹ Hearken not to Hezekiah; for thus says the king of Assyria: Make peace with me, and come out to me; and eat every one of his vine and every one of his fig-tree, and drink every one the waters of his own cistern;

³² until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of corn and wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of olive-trees and of honey, that ye may live and not die; and hearken not to Hezekiah, when he persuades you, saying, Jehovah will deliver us.

³³ Have any of the gods of the nations delivered at all his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria?

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

³⁵ Which are they among all the gods of the countries, who have delivered their country out of my hand, that Jehovah should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?

³⁶ But the people were silent and answered him not a word; for the king's command was, saying, Answer him not.

³⁷ And Eliakim the son of Hilkijah, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph, the chronicler, came to Hezekiah with their garments rent, and told him the words of Rab-shakeh.

---

¹ Now it happened in the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign.

² He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem: and his mother's name was Abi the daughter of Zechariah.

³ He did that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh, according to all that David his father had done.

⁴ He removed the high places, and broke the pillars, and cut down the Asherah: and he broke in pieces the brazen serpent that Moses had made; for to those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it; and he called it Nehushtan.

⁵ He trusted in Yahweh, the God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor [among them] that were before him.

⁶ For he joined with Yahweh; he didn't depart from following him, but kept his commandments, which Yahweh commanded Moses.

⁷ Yahweh was with him; wherever he went forth he prospered: and he rebelled against the king of Assyria, and didn't serve him.

⁸ He struck the Philistines to Gaza and the borders of it, from the tower of the watchmen to the fortified city.

⁹ It happened in the fourth year of king Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria, and besieged it.

¹⁰ At the end of three years they took it: in the sixth year of Hezekiah, which was the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel, Samaria was taken.

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

¹² because they didn't obey the voice of Yahweh their God, but transgressed his covenant, even all that Moses the servant of Yahweh commanded, and would not hear it, nor do it.

¹³ Now in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah did Sennacherib king of Assyria come up against all the fortified cities of Judah, and took them.

¹⁴ Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria to Lachish, saying, I have offended; return from me: that which you put on me will I bear. The king of Assyria appointed to Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold.

¹⁵ Hezekiah gave [him] all the silver that was found in the house of Yahweh, and in the treasures of the king's house.

¹⁶ At that time did Hezekiah cut off [the gold from] the doors of the temple of Yahweh, and [from] the pillars which Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid, and gave it to the king of Assyria.

¹⁷ The king of Assyria sent Tartan and Rabsaris and Rabshakeh from Lachish to king Hezekiah with a great army to Jerusalem. They went up and came to Jerusalem. When they were come up, they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which is in the highway of the fuller's field.

¹⁸ When they had called to the king, there came out to them Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebnah the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder.

¹⁹ Rabshakeh said to them, Say you now to Hezekiah, Thus says the great king, the king of Assyria, What confidence is this in which you trust?

²⁰ You say (but they are but vain words), [There is] counsel and strength for the war. Now on whom do you trust, that you have rebelled against me?

²¹ Now, behold, you trust on the staff of this bruised reed, even on Egypt; whereon if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust on him.

²² But if you tell me, We trust in Yahweh our God; isn't that he whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah has taken away, and has said to Judah and to Jerusalem, You shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem?

²³ Now therefore, Please give pledges to my master the king of Assyria, and I will give you two thousand horses, if you are able on your part to set riders on them.

²⁴ How then can you turn away the face of one captain of the least of my master's servants, and put your trust on Egypt for chariots and for horsemen?

²⁵ Am I now come up without Yahweh against this place to destroy it? Yahweh said to me, Go up against this land, and destroy it.

²⁶ Then said Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebnah, and Joah, to Rabshakeh, Please speak to your servants in the Syrian language; for we understand it: and don't speak with us in the Jews' language, in the ears of the people who are on the wall.

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

²⁸ Then Rabshakeh stood, and cried with a loud voice in the Jews' language, and spoke, saying, Hear you the word of the great king, the king of Assyria.

²⁹ Thus says the king, Don't let Hezekiah deceive you; for he will not be able to deliver you out of his hand:

³⁰ neither let Hezekiah make you trust in Yahweh, saying, Yahweh will surely deliver us, and this city shall not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.

³¹ Don't listen to Hezekiah: for thus says the king of Assyria, Make your peace with me, and come out to me; and eat you everyone of his vine, and everyone of his fig tree, and everyone drink the waters of his own cistern;

³² Until 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 of honey, that you may live, and not die: and don't listen to Hezekiah, when he persuades you, saying, Yahweh will deliver us.

³³ Has any of the gods of the nations ever delivered his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria?

³⁴ Where are the gods of Hamath, and of Arpad? where are the gods of Sepharvaim, of Hena, and Ivvah? have they delivered Samaria out of my hand?

³⁵ Who are they among all the gods of the countries, that have delivered their country out of my hand, that Yahweh should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?

³⁶ But the people held their peace, and answered him not a word; for the king's commandment was, saying, Don't answer him.

³⁷ Then came Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder, to Hezekiah with their clothes torn, and told him the words of Rabshakeh.

---

¹ Now in the third year of Hoshea, son of Elah, king of Israel, Hezekiah, the son of Ahaz, became king of Judah.

² He was twenty-five years old when he became king, ruling in Jerusalem for twenty-nine years; his mother's name was Abi, the daughter of Zechariah.

³ He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord as David his father had done.

⁴ He had the high places taken away, and the stone pillars broken to bits, and the Asherah cut down; and the brass snake which Moses had made was crushed to powder at his order, because in those days the children of Israel had offerings burned before it, and he gave it the name Nehushtan.

⁵ He had faith in the Lord, the God of Israel; so that there was no one like him among all the kings of Judah who were before him.

⁶ For his heart was fixed on the Lord, not turning from his ways, and he did his orders which the Lord gave to Moses.

⁷ And the Lord was with him; he did well in all his undertakings: and he took up arms against the king of Assyria and was his servant no longer.

⁸ He overcame the Philistines as far as Gaza and its limits, from the tower of the watchman to the walled town.

⁹ Now in 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, shutting it in with his armies.

¹⁰ And at the end of three years they took it; in the sixth year of Hezekiah's rule, which was the ninth year of Hoshea, king of Israel, Samaria was taken.

¹¹ And the king of Assyria took Israel away as prisoners into Assyria, placing them in Halah and in Habor on the river Gozan, and in the towns of the Medes;

¹² Because they did not give ear to the voice of the Lord their God, but went against his agreement, even against everything ordered by Moses, the servant of the Lord, and they did not give ear to it or do it.

¹³ Now in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah, Sennacherib, king of Assyria, came up against all the walled towns of Judah and took them.

¹⁴ And Hezekiah, king of Judah, sent to Lachish, to the king of Assyria, saying, I have done wrong; give up attacking me, and whatever you put on me I will undergo. And the payment he was to make was fixed by the king of Assyria at three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold.

¹⁵ So Hezekiah gave him all the silver in the house of the Lord, and in the king's store-house.

¹⁶ And at that time Hezekiah had the gold from the doors of the Lord's house, and from the door-pillars plated by him, cut off and gave it to the king of Assyria.

¹⁷ Then the king of Assyria sent the Tartan and the Rab-saris and the Rab-shakeh from Lachish to Jerusalem, to King Hezekiah, with a strong force. And they went up and came to Jerusalem, and took up their position by the stream of the higher pool, by the highway of the washerman's field.

¹⁸ And they sent for the king, and Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah, who was over the house, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah, the son of Asaph, the recorder, came out to them.

¹⁹ And the Rab-shakeh said to them, Say now to Hezekiah, These are the words of the great king, the king of Assyria: In what are you placing your hope?

²⁰ You say you have a design, and strength for war, but these are only words. Now to whom are you looking for support, that you have gone against my authority?

²¹ See, now, you are basing your hope on that broken rod of Egypt, which will go through a man's hand if he makes use of it for a support; for so is Pharaoh, king of Egypt, to all who put their faith in him.

²² And if you say to me, Our hope is in the Lord our God: is it not he, whose high places and altars Hezekiah has taken away, saying to Judah and Jerusalem that worship may only be given before this altar in Jerusalem?

²³ And now, take a chance with my master, the king of Assyria, and I will give you two thousand horses, if you are able to put horsemen on them.

²⁴ How then may you put to shame the least of my master's servants? and you have put your hope in Egypt for war-carriages and horsemen:

²⁵ And have I now come up to send destruction on this place without the Lord's authority? It was the Lord himself who said to me, Go up against this land and make it waste.

²⁶ Then Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah, and Shebna and Joah said to the Rab-shakeh, Will you kindly make use of the Aramaean language in talking to your servants, for we are used to it, and do not make use of the Jews' language in the hearing of the people on the wall.

²⁷ But the Rab-shakeh said to them, Is it to your master or to you that my master has sent me to say these words? has he not sent me to the men seated on the wall? for they are the people who will be short of food with you when the town is shut in.

²⁸ Then the Rab-shakeh got up and said with a loud voice in the Jews' language, Give ear to the words of the great king, the king of Assyria;

²⁹ This is what the king says: Do not be tricked by Hezekiah, for there is no salvation for you in him.

³⁰ And do not let Hezekiah make you put your faith in the Lord, saying, The Lord will certainly keep us safe, and this town will not be given into the hands of the king of Assyria.

³¹ Do not give ear to Hezekiah, for this is what the king of Assyria says: Make peace with me and come out to me; and everyone will be free to take the fruit of his vine and of his fig-tree, and the water of his spring;

³² Till I come and take you away to a land like yours, a land of grain and wine, a land of bread and vine-gardens, a land of oil-giving olives and of honey, so that life and not death may be your fate. Give no attention to Hezekiah when he says to you, The Lord will keep us safe.

³³ Has any one of the gods of the nations kept his land from falling into the hands of the king of Assyria?

³⁴ Where are the gods of Hamath and of Arpad? where are the gods of Sepharvaim, of Hena and Ivvah? have they kept Samaria out of my hands?

³⁵ Who among all the gods of these countries have kept their country from falling into my hands, to give cause for the thought that the Lord will keep Jerusalem from falling into my hands?

³⁶ But the people kept quiet and gave him no answer: for the king's order was, Give him no answer.

³⁷ Then Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah, who was over the house, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah, the son of Asaph, the recorder, came to Hezekiah, with their clothing parted as a sign of grief, and gave him an account of what the Rab-shakeh had said.