King Hezekiah of Judah
(2 Chronicles 29.12 22 31.1)1 In the third year of the reign of Hoshea son of Elah as king of Israel, Hezekiah son of Ahaz became king of Judah 2 at the age of twenty-five, and he ruled in Jerusalem for twenty-nine years. His mother was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah. 3 Following the example of his ancestor King David, he did what was pleasing to the Lord. 4 He destroyed the pagan places of worship, broke the stone pillars, and cut down the images of the goddess Asherah. He also broke in pieces the bronze snake that Moses had made, which was called Nehushtan. Up to that time the people of Israel had burned incense in its honor. 5 Hezekiah trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel; Judah never had another king like him, either before or after his time. 6 He was faithful to the Lord and never disobeyed him, but carefully kept all the commands that the Lord had given Moses. 7 So the Lord was with him, and he was successful in everything he did. He rebelled against the emperor of Assyria and refused to submit to him. 8 He defeated the Philistines and raided their settlements, from the smallest village to the largest city, including Gaza and its surrounding territory.
9 In the fourth year of Hezekiah's reign—which was the seventh year of King Hoshea's reign over Israel—Emperor Shalmaneser of Assyria invaded Israel and besieged Samaria. 10 In the third year of the siege Samaria fell; this was the sixth year of Hezekiah's reign and the ninth year of Hoshea's reign. 11 The Assyrian emperor took the Israelites to Assyria as prisoners and settled some of them in the city of Halah, some near the Habor River in the district of Gozan, and some in the cities of Media.
12 Samaria fell because the Israelites did not obey the Lord their God, but broke the covenant he had made with them and disobeyed all the laws given by Moses, the servant of the Lord. They would not listen and they would not obey.
The Assyrians Threaten Jerusalem
(2 Chronicles 32.1-19Isaiah 36.1-22)13 In the fourteenth year of the reign of King Hezekiah, Sennacherib, the emperor of Assyria, attacked the fortified cities of Judah and conquered them. 14 Hezekiah sent a message to Sennacherib, who was in Lachish: “I have done wrong; please stop your attack, and I will pay whatever you demand.” The emperor's answer was that Hezekiah should send him ten tons of silver and one ton of gold. 15 Hezekiah sent him all the silver in the Temple and in the palace treasury; 16 he also stripped the gold from the temple doors and the gold with which he himself had covered the doorposts, and he sent it all to Sennacherib. 17 The Assyrian emperor sent a large army from Lachish to attack Hezekiah at Jerusalem; it was commanded by his three highest officials. When they arrived at Jerusalem, they occupied the road where the cloth makers work by the ditch that brings water from the upper pool. 18 Then they sent for King Hezekiah, and three of his officials went out to meet them: Eliakim son of Hilkiah, who was in charge of the palace; Shebna, the court secretary; and Joah son of Asaph, who was in charge of the records. 19 One of the Assyrian officials told them that the emperor wanted to know what made King Hezekiah so confident. 20 He demanded, “Do you think that words can take the place of military skill and might? Who do you think will help you rebel against Assyria? 21 You are expecting Egypt to help you, but that would be like using a reed as a walking stick—it would break and jab your hand. That is what the king of Egypt is like when anyone relies on him.”
22 The Assyrian official went on, “Or will you tell me that you are relying on the Lord your God? It was the Lord's shrines and altars that Hezekiah destroyed, when he told the people of Judah and Jerusalem to worship only at the altar in Jerusalem. 23 I will make a bargain with you in the name of the emperor. I will give you two thousand horses if you can find that many men to ride them! 24 You are no match for even the lowest ranking Assyrian official, and yet you expect the Egyptians to send you chariots and cavalry! 25 Do you think I have attacked your country and destroyed it without the Lord's help? The Lord himself told me to attack it and destroy it.”
26 Then Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah told the official, “Speak Aramaic to us, sir. We understand it. Don't speak Hebrew; all the people on the wall are listening.”
27 He replied, “Do you think you and the king are the only ones the emperor sent me to say all these things to? No, I am also talking to the people who are sitting on the wall, who will have to eat their excrement and drink their urine, just as you will.”
28 Then the official stood up and shouted in Hebrew, “Listen to what the emperor of Assyria is telling you! 29 He warns you not to let Hezekiah deceive you. Hezekiah can't save you. 30 And don't let him persuade you to rely on the Lord. Don't think that the Lord will save you and that he will stop our Assyrian army from capturing your city. 31 Don't listen to Hezekiah. The emperor of Assyria commands you to come out of the city and surrender. You will all be allowed to eat grapes from your own vines and figs from your own trees, and to drink water from your own wells— 32 until the emperor resettles you in a country much like your own, where there are vineyards to give wine and there is grain for making bread; it is a land of olives, olive oil, and honey. If you do what he commands, you will not die, but live. Don't let Hezekiah fool you into thinking that the Lord will rescue you. 33 Did the gods of any other nations save their countries from the emperor of Assyria? 34 Where are they now, the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah? Did anyone save Samaria? 35 When did any of the gods of all these countries ever save their country from our emperor? Then what makes you think the Lord can save Jerusalem?”
36 The people kept quiet, just as King Hezekiah had told them to; they did not say a word. 37 Then Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah tore their clothes in grief, and went and reported to the king what the Assyrian official had said.
Hizkija valda pār Jūdu
(2L 29:1–22L 31:1)1 Israēla ķēniņa Hozejas, Ēlas dēla, trešajā valdīšanas gadā sāka valdīt Jūdas ķēniņš Hizkija, Āhāza dēls. 2 Viņš sāka valdīt divdesmit piecu gadu vecumā un valdīja Jeruzālemē divdesmit deviņus gadus. Viņa mātes vārds bija Abī, Zeharjas meita. 3 Viņš darīja to, kas tīkams Kungam, – visu, kā bija darījis viņa tēvs Dāvids. 4 Viņš nopostīja augstieņu altārus, nolauza elku stabus, nocirta ašēras un sadauzīja vara čūsku, ko bija darinājis Mozus, jo līdz tai dienai Israēla dēli tai kvēpināja un sauca to par Nehuštanu . 5 Viņš uzticējās Kungam, Israēla Dievam. Starp visiem Jūdas ķēniņiem tam nebija līdzīga ne pirms, ne pēc viņa. 6 Viņš pieķērās Kungam, nenovērsās no tā un pildīja pavēles, ko Kungs bija pavēlējis Mozum. 7 Kungs bija ar viņu – viss, ko viņš darīja, tam izdevās. Viņš sacēlās pret Asīrijas ķēniņu un tam nekalpoja! 8 Viņš atspieda filistiešus līdz Gazas robežām, no sargtorņa līdz pilsētas nocietinājumam!
9 Ķēniņa Hizkijas ceturtajā valdīšanas gadā, septītajā Israēla ķēniņa Hozejas, Ēlas dēla, gadā, Asīrijas ķēniņš Šalmanesers nāca pret Samariju, aplenca to 10 un ieņēma trešā gada beigās. Sestajā Hizkijas valdīšanas gadā Samarija tika ieņemta, tas bija devītais Israēla ķēniņa Hozejas gads. 11 Asīrijas ķēniņš Israēlu aizveda trimdā uz Asīriju. Viņš lika tos aizvest uz Hlahu, Hāboru pie Gozānas upes un Mēdijas pilsētām, 12 jo viņi neklausīja Kunga, sava Dieva, balsij un pārkāpa viņa derību, ko Kungs bija pavēlējis savam kalpam Mozum. Ne tie ko klausīja, ne tie ko darīja.
Sanherībs iebrūk Jūdas pilsētās
(Jes 36:1–222L 32:1–19)13 Ķēniņa Hizkijas četrpadsmitajā valdīšanas gadā Asīrijas ķēniņš Sanherībs nāca pret visām nocietinātajām Jūdas pilsētām un tās ieņēma. 14 Tad Jūdas ķēniņš Hizkija sūtīja pie Asīrijas ķēniņa uz Lāhīšu un sacīja: “Es esmu grēkojis! Atstāj mani, es došu, ko tu prasīsi!” Asīrijas ķēniņš prasīja Jūdas ķēniņam Hizkijam trīs simtus sudraba un trīsdesmit zelta talantus. 15 Hizkija atdeva visu sudrabu, kas atradās Kunga namā, un ķēniņa nama dārgumus. 16 Toreiz Hizkija noņēma no Kunga tempļa durvīm un durvju balstiem zeltu, ko Jūdas ķēniņš Hizkija tur bija uzklājis, un atdeva to Asīrijas ķēniņam.
17 Asīrijas ķēniņš sūtīja tartānu, rab-sarīsu un rab-šākehu ar spēcīgu karaspēku no Lāhīšas pie ķēniņa Hizkijas uz Jeruzālemi. Tie cēlās un nāca uz Jeruzālemi. Kad tie bija atnākuši un nostājušies pie augšējās ūdenskrātuves iztekas, kas ir ceļa malā pie Velētāju tīruma, 18 tie sauca ķēniņu. Pie viņiem iznāca Eljākīms, Hilkijas dēls, kurš bija namu pārraugs, rakstvedis Šebna un lietvedis Joāhs, Āsāfa dēls. 19 Rab-šākehs viņiem teica: “Sakiet Hizkijam: tā saka lielais ķēniņš, Asīrijas ķēniņš: vai tad tā ir uzticība? Kam tu uzticies? 20 Tu runā tik tukšus vārdus, bet karam vajag spēku un padomu! Kam tu tagad esi uzticējies, ka sacēlies pret mani? 21 Re nu! Tu uzticies zizlim, salauzītai Ēģiptes niedrei – kurš uz tās balstās, tam tā dur rokā un caururbj to! – tāds ir Ēģiptes ķēniņš faraons un visi, kas tam uzticas! 22 Bet, ja jūs sakāt: mēs uzticamies Kungam, mūsu Dievam! – vai Hizkija nenopostīja viņa augstienes un altārus, Jūdā un Jeruzālemē pasludinādams: jums jāzemojas tikai Jeruzālemes altāra priekšā!? 23 Tad nu salīgsti ar manu kungu, Asīrijas ķēniņu, un es tev došu divus tūkstošus zirgu, ja vien tu būtu spējīgs dabūt tiem jātniekus! 24 Kā tad tu atsitīsi vienu virsnieku, mana kunga mazāko kalpu?! Bet tu uzticies Ēģiptes kararatiem un jātniekiem! 25 Vai tad es bez Kunga ziņas esmu nācis nopostīt šo vietu? Kungs man sacīja: celies pret šo zemi un izposti to!”
26 Eljākīms, Hilkijas dēls, Šebna un Joāhs sacīja rab-šākeham: “Runājiet taču ar saviem kalpiem aramiešu valodā, jo mēs to saprotam – nerunājiet ar mums jūdu valodā, dzirdot ļaudīm, kas ir uz mūra!” 27 Rab-šākehs tiem sacīja: “Vai mans kungs lai saka šos vārdus tavam kungam? Vai ne labāk tiem vīriem, kas dzīvo šajos mūros un kuriem kopā ar jums būs jāēd savi mēsli un jādzer savi mīzali?” 28 Rab-šākehs nostājās un sauca stiprā balsī jūdu valodā – viņš runāja un sacīja: “Klausieties lielā ķēniņa, Asīrijas ķēniņa, vārdu: 29 tā saka ķēniņš: lai Hizkija jūs nekrāpj, jo viņš nav spējīgs izglābt jūs no manas rokas! 30 Un lai Hizkija nedod jums cerības uz Kungu, sacīdams: patiesi Kungs mūs izglābs un neatdos šo pilsētu Asīrijas ķēniņa rokā! 31 Neklausieties Hizkiju! Tā saka Asīrijas ķēniņš: noslēdziet mieru ar mani un nāciet ārā pie manis, tad katrs ēdīs no sava vīnakoka un sava vīģes koka un katrs dzers ūdeni no savas akas, 32 līdz es nākšu un vedīšu jūs uz zemi, kas līdzīga jūsu zemei, tā ir labības un vīna zeme, maizes un vīnadārzu zeme, olīvkoku un medus zeme – un jūs dzīvosiet un nemirsiet! Neklausieties uz Hizkiju, viņš jūs maldina, sacīdams: Kungs mūs izglābs! 33 Vai kādas tautas dievi tiešām ir izglābuši savu zemi no Asīrijas ķēniņa rokas? 34 Kur ir Hamātas un Arpadas dievi, kur ir Sefarvaimas, Hēnas un Ivas dievi – vai tie ir paglābuši Samariju no manas rokas? 35 Kurš no visiem zemes dieviem ir izglābis savu zemi no manas rokas? Kā tad lai Kungs izglābj Jeruzālemi no manas rokas?” 36 Bet tauta klusēja un neatbildēja ne vārda, jo ķēniņš bija pavēlējis: “Jūs nedrīkstat atbildēt!”
37 Tad namu pārraugs Eljākīms, Hilkijas dēls, un rakstvedis Šebna, un lietvedis Joāhs, Āsāfa dēls, nāca pie Hizkijas, saplēsuši savas drānas, un atstāstīja viņam, ko bija teicis rab-šākehs.
