[1] After these things, and this faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria
came, and entered into Judah, and encamped against the fortified cities,
and thought to win them for himself. [2] When Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib
was come, and that he was purposed to fight against Jerusalem, [3] he took
counsel with his princes and his mighty men to stop the waters of the
springs which were outside of the city; and they helped him. [4] So there
was gathered much people together, and they stopped all the springs, and
the brook that flowed through the midst of the land, saying, Why should the
kings of Assyria come, and find much water? [5] He took courage, and built
up all the wall that was broken down, and raised [it] up to the towers, and
the other wall outside, and strengthened Millo [in] the city of David, and
made weapons and shields in abundance. [6] He set captains of war over the
people, and gathered them together to him in the broad place at the gate of
the city, and spoke comfortably to them, saying, [7] Be strong and of good
courage, don`t be afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all
the multitude who is with him; for there is a greater with us than with
him: [8] with him is an arm of flesh; but with us is Yahweh our God to help
us, and to fight our battles. The people rested themselves on the words of
Hezekiah king of Judah. [9] After this did Sennacherib king of Assyria send
his servants to Jerusalem, (now he was before Lachish, and all his power
with him,) to Hezekiah king of Judah, and to all Judah who were at
Jerusalem, saying, [10] Thus says Sennacherib king of Assyria, Whereon do
you trust, that you abide the siege in Jerusalem? [11] Does not Hezekiah
persuade you, to give you over to die by famine and by thirst, saying,
Yahweh our God will deliver us out of the hand of the king of Assyria? [12]
Has not the same Hezekiah taken away his high places and his altars, and
commanded Judah and Jerusalem, saying, You shall worship before one altar,
and on it shall you burn incense? [13] Don`t you know what I and my fathers
have done to all the peoples of the lands? Were the gods of the nations of
the lands in any wise able to deliver their land out of my hand? [14] Who
was there among all the gods of those nations which my fathers utterly
destroyed, that could deliver his people out of my hand, that your God
should be able to deliver you out of my hand? [15] Now therefore don`t let
Hezekiah deceive you, nor persuade you after this manner, neither believe
you him; for no god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people
out of my hand, and out of the hand of my fathers: how much less shall your
God deliver you out of my hand? [16] His servants spoke yet more against
Yahweh God, and against his servant Hezekiah. [17] He wrote also letters,
to rail on Yahweh, the God of Israel, and to speak against him, saying, As
the gods of the nations of the lands, which have not delivered their people
out of my hand, so shall the God of Hezekiah not deliver his people out of
my hand. [18] They cried with a loud voice in the Jews` language to the
people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, to frighten them, and to trouble
them; that they might take the city. [19] They spoke of the God of
Jerusalem, as of the gods of the peoples of the earth, which are the work
of men`s hands. [20] Hezekiah the king, and Isaiah the prophet the son of
Amoz, prayed because of this, and cried to heaven. [21] Yahweh sent an
angel, who cut off all the mighty men of valor, and the leaders and
captains, in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of
face to his own land. When he was come into the house of his god, those who
came forth from his own bowels killed him there with the sword. [22] Thus
Yahweh saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of
Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and from the hand of all [others], and
guided them on every side. [23] Many brought gifts to Yahweh to Jerusalem,
and precious things to Hezekiah king of Judah; so that he was exalted in
the sight of all nations from thenceforth. [24] In those days Hezekiah was
sick even to death: and he prayed to Yahweh; and he spoke to him, and gave
him a sign. [25] But Hezekiah didn`t render again according to the benefit
done to him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore there was wrath on him,
and on Judah and Jerusalem. [26] Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself
for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so
that the wrath of Yahweh didn`t come on them in the days of Hezekiah. [27]
Hezekiah had exceeding much riches and honor: and he provided him
treasuries for silver, and for gold, and for precious stones, and for
spices, and for shields, and for all manner of goodly vessels; [28]
store-houses also for the increase of grain and new wine and oil; and
stalls for all manner of animals, and flocks in folds. [29] Moreover he
provided him cities, and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance; for
God had given him very much substance. [30] This same Hezekiah also stopped
the upper spring of the waters of Gihon, and brought them straight down on
the west side of the city of David. Hezekiah prospered in all his works.
[31] However in [the business of] the ambassadors of the princes of
Babylon, who sent to him to inquire of the wonder that was done in the
land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his
heart. [32] Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and his good deeds,
behold, they are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet the son of
Amoz, in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. [33] Hezekiah slept
with his fathers, and they buried him in the ascent of the tombs of the
sons of David: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honor
at his death. Manasseh his son reigned in his place.
