The Assyrians Threaten Jerusalem
(2 Kings 18.13-272 Chronicles 32.1-19)1 In the fourteenth year that Hezekiah was king of Judah, Sennacherib, the emperor of Assyria, attacked the fortified cities of Judah and captured them. 2 Then he ordered his chief official to go from Lachish to Jerusalem with a large military force to demand that King Hezekiah surrender. The official occupied the road where the cloth makers work, by the ditch that brings water from the upper pool. 3 Three Judeans came out to meet him: the official in charge of the palace, Eliakim son of Hilkiah; the court secretary, Shebna; and the official in charge of the records, Joah son of Asaph. 4 The Assyrian official told them that the emperor wanted to know what made King Hezekiah so confident. 5 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? 6 You are expecting Egypt to help you, but that would be like using a reed as a walking stick—it would break and would jab your hand. That is what the king of Egypt is like when anyone relies on him.”
7 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 at one altar only. 8 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 riders. 9 You are no match for even the lowest ranking Assyrian official, and yet you expect the Egyptians to send you chariots and horsemen. 10 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.”
11 Then Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah told the official, “Speak Aramaic to us. We understand it. Don't speak Hebrew; all the people on the wall are listening.”
12 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.”
13 Then the official stood up and shouted in Hebrew, “Listen to what the emperor of Assyria is telling you. 14 He warns you not to let Hezekiah deceive you. Hezekiah can't save you. 15 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. 16 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— 17 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. 18 Don't let Hezekiah fool you into thinking that the Lord will rescue you. Did the gods of any other nations save their countries from the emperor of Assyria? 19 Where are they now, the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim? Did anyone save Samaria? 20 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?”
21 The people kept quiet, just as King Hezekiah had told them to; they did not say a word. 22 Then Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah tore their clothes in grief and went and reported to the king what the Assyrian official had said.
1 Ķēniņa Hiskijas četrpadsmitajā valdīšanas gadā cēlās Asīrijas ķēniņš Sanheribs pret visām stiprajām Jūdas pilsētām un tās ieņēma. 2 Un Asīrijas ķēniņš sūtīja savu karavadoni Rabsaku no Lahišas ar lielu karaspēku pie ķēniņa Hiskijas uz Jeruzālemi. Viņš apmetās pie ūdens vada augšējā dīķa ceļā uz velētāju tīrumu. 3 Tad izgāja pie viņa namu pārvaldnieks Ēljakīms, Hilkijas dēls, ar valsts rakstvedi Sebnu un kancleru Joahu, Asafa dēlu. 4 Un Rabsaks tiem sacīja: "Paziņojiet Hiskijam: tā saka lielais Asīrijas ķēniņš: uz ko tu liec savu cerību? 5 Es saku, tie ir tukši vārdi, ka tev esot pietiekami padoma un spēka, lai karotu. Uz ko tad tu paļaujies, saceldamies pret mani? 6 Nu jā, tu paļaujies uz Ēģipti, uz šo aizlauzto niedri, bet, kas uz to balstās, tam tā sadurs roku un ievainos. Tāds ir faraons, Ēģiptes ķēniņš, pret visiem, kas uz viņu paļaujas. 7 Un, ja tu man saki: mēs paļaujamies uz To Kungu, mūsu Dievu! - vai tad viņš nav tas pats, kura kalnu svētnīcas un altārus Hiskija novāca un teica Jūdai un Jeruzālemei: tikai te, šā altāra priekšā, jums būs pielūgt? - 8 Bet nu salīgstiet ar manu kungu, Asīrijas ķēniņu, un es tev došu divi tūkstoši zirgu; parādi, vai vari sadabūt vajadzīgos jātniekus! 9 Kā tad tu gribi uzņemties cīņu ar vienu pašu virspavēlnieku no mana kunga mazākajiem kalpiem? Bet tu tomēr paļaujies uz Ēģipti ratu un jātnieku dēļ! 10 Es taču ne bez Tā Kunga, jūsu Dieva, gribas nācu pret šo zemi, lai to izpostītu! Tas Kungs pats man pavēlēja celties pret šo zemi un to izpostīt!" 11 Tad Ēljakīms, Sebna un Joahs sacīja Rabsakam: "Runā ar saviem kalpiem aramejiski, mēs to saprotam, bet nerunā ar mums jūdiski šo ļaužu priekšā, kas stāv uz mūra!" 12 Un Rabsaks atbildēja: "Vai tad mans kungs mani sūtījis tikai pie tava kunga un pie tevis runāt šos vārdus, bet ne taisni pie tiem vīriem, kas stāv uz mūra, kam kopā ar jums būs jāēd savi izkārnījumi un jādzer savi mīzali?" 13 Tad Rabsaks nostājās un teica stiprā balsī jūdiski: "Uzklausiet lielā ķēniņa, Asīrijas ķēniņa, vārdus! 14 Tā saka jums ķēniņš: lai Hiskija jūs nepieviļ, jo viņš nevar jūs glābt! 15 Un Hiskija lai jūs neapmierina ar Dievu To Kungu, kad viņš saka: Tas Kungs droši vien mūs izglābs, mūsu pilsēta nekritīs Asīrijas ķēniņa rokās! - 16 Neklausaities uz Hiskiju! Jo tā saka jums Asīrijas ķēniņš: slēdziet mieru ar mani un uzticieties man! Tad ikviens ēdīs no sava paša vīnakoka un ikviens no sava paša vīģeskoka un dzers ūdeni no savas paša akas, 17 kamēr es nākšu un vedīšu jūs zemē, kas tāda pati kā jūsējā, labības un vīna pilna, zemē, kas maizes un vīnadārzu pilna! 18 Hiskija tikai lai jūs nepieviļ, kad viņš saka: Tas Kungs mūs izglābs! - Vai tad kāds no citu tautu dieviem ir savu zemi izglābis no Asīrijas ķēniņa rokas? 19 Kur ir Hamatas un Arpadas dievi? Kur ir Sefarvajima dievs? Vai tie Samariju izglāba no manas rokas? 20 Kur ir kāds no šo zemju dieviem, kas savu zemi būtu izglābis no manas rokas? Kā tad Dievs Tas Kungs lai izglābtu Jeruzālemi no manas varas?" 21 Tad viņi cieta klusu un neatbildēja viņam neviena vārda, jo ķēniņš bija viņiem pavēlējis: "Jūs neatbildiet viņam!" 22 Tad atgriezās namu pārvaldnieks Ēljakīms, Hilkija dēls, valsts rakstvedis Sebna un kanclers Joahs, Asafa dēls, pie Hiskijas ar saplēstām drēbēm un atstāstīja viņam, ko Rabsaks teicis.
