1 After these things, and the establishment thereof, Sennacherib king of Assyria came, and entered into Judah, and encamped against the fenced cities, and thought to win them for himself. 2 And 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 fountains which were without the city: and they did help him. 4 So there was gathered much people together, who stopped all the fountains, and the brook that ran through the midst of the land, saying, Why should the kings of Assyria come, and find much water? 5 Also he strengthened himself, and built up all the wall that was broken, and raised it up to the towers, and another wall without, and repaired Millo in the city of David, and made darts and shields in abundance. 6 And he set captains of war over the people, and gathered them together to him in the street of the gate of the city, and spake comfortably to them, saying, 7 Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him: 8 With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.
9 ¶ After this did Sennacherib king of Assyria send his servants to Jerusalem, (but he himself laid siege against Lachish, and all his power with him,) unto Hezekiah king of Judah, and unto all Judah that were at Jerusalem, saying, 10 Thus saith Sennacherib king of Assyria, Whereon do ye trust, that ye abide in the siege in Jerusalem? 11 Doth not Hezekiah persuade you to give over yourselves to die by famine and by thirst, saying, The LORD our God shall deliver us out of the hand of the king of Assyria? 12 Hath not the same Hezekiah taken away his high places and his altars, and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall worship before one altar, and burn incense upon it? 13 Know ye not what I and my fathers have done unto all the people of other lands? were the gods of the nations of those lands any ways able to deliver their lands out of mine hand? 14 Who was there among all the gods of those nations that my fathers utterly destroyed, that could deliver his people out of mine hand, that your God should be able to deliver you out of mine hand? 15 Now therefore let not Hezekiah deceive you, nor persuade you on this manner, neither yet believe him: for no god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people out of mine hand, and out of the hand of my fathers: how much less shall your God deliver you out of mine hand? 16 And his servants spake yet more against the LORD God, and against his servant Hezekiah. 17 He wrote also letters to rail on the LORD God of Israel, and to speak against him, saying, As the gods of the nations of other lands have not delivered their people out of mine hand, so shall not the God of Hezekiah deliver his people out of mine hand. 18 Then they cried with a loud voice in the Jews’ speech unto the people of Jerusalem that were on the wall, to affright them, and to trouble them; that they might take the city. 19 And they spake against the God of Jerusalem, as against the gods of the people of the earth, which were the work of the hands of man. 20 And for this cause Hezekiah the king, and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz, prayed and cried to heaven.
21 ¶ And the LORD sent an angel, which cut off all the mighty men of valour, and the leaders and captains in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he was come into the house of his god, they that came forth of his own bowels slew him there with the sword. 22 Thus the LORD saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and from the hand of all other , and guided them on every side. 23 And many brought gifts unto the LORD to Jerusalem, and presents to Hezekiah king of Judah: so that he was magnified in the sight of all nations from thenceforth.
24 ¶ In those days Hezekiah was sick to the death, and prayed unto the LORD: and he spake unto him, and he gave him a sign. 25 But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon 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 the LORD came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah.
27 ¶ And Hezekiah had exceeding much riches and honour: and he made himself treasuries for silver, and for gold, and for precious stones, and for spices, and for shields, and for all manner of pleasant jewels; 28 Storehouses also for the increase of corn, and wine, and oil; and stalls for all manner of beasts, and cotes for flocks. 29 Moreover he provided him cities, and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance: for God had given him substance very much. 30 This same Hezekiah also stopped the upper watercourse of Gihon, and brought it straight down to the west side of the city of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all his works.
31 ¶ Howbeit in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to enquire 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 goodness, behold, they are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, and in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. 33 And Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the chiefest of the sepulchres of the sons of David: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honour at his death. And Manasseh his son reigned in his stead.
Sanherība iebrukums
(2Ķēn 18:13–19:34Jes 36:2–22)1 Pēc šā uzticības apliecinājuma nāca Sanherībs, Asīrijas ķēniņš. Viņš ienāca Jūdā un uzslēja nometni pie nocietinātajām pilsētām, domādams tās sagrābt sev. 2 Kad Hizkija redzēja, ka Sanherībs nāk, lai uzbruktu Jeruzālemei, 3 viņš ar saviem augstmaņiem un spēkavīriem nosprieda aizbērt ūdens avotus ārpus pilsētas, un viņi tam piekrita. 4 Sapulcējās daudz ļaužu un aizbēra visus avotus un strautu, kas plūda tur cauri, sacīdami: “Kāpēc lai Asīrijas ķēniņi atnākuši atrastu daudz ūdens?” 5 Viņš sparīgi ķērās klāt un salaboja mūri visur, kur tas bija sagāzts, uzslēja uz tā torņus un ārpusē vēl vienu mūri. Viņš nostiprināja arī Millo Dāvida pilsētā, kā arī darināja daudz ieroču un vairogu. 6 Viņš iecēla tautai kara virsniekus, sapulcināja tos pie sevis pilsētas vārtu laukumā un uzmundrinādams sacīja: 7 “Esiet droši un stipri! Nebaidieties un neiztrūkstieties ne no Asīrijas ķēniņa, ne pulkiem, kas kopā ar viņu, jo ar mums ir kāds, kas lielāks par tiem! 8 Viņiem ir miesīgs spēks, bet mums – Kungs, mūsu Dievs, kas palīdz un karo mūsu karus!” Un ļaudis paļāvās uz Jūdas ķēniņa Hizkijas vārdiem.
9 Tad Asīrijas ķēniņš Sanherībs, kurš pats ar visu karaspēku karoja pret Lāhīšu, sūtīja savus kalpus uz Jeruzālemi pie Jūdas ķēniņa Hizkijas un visiem Jeruzālemes jūdiem, lai tiem pavēsta: 10 “Tā saka Asīrijas ķēniņš Sanherībs: uz ko jūs cerat aplenktajā Jeruzālemē? 11 Vai Hizkija nav jūs maldinājis, likdams mirt badā un slāpēs un sacīdams: Kungs, mūsu Dievs, glābs mūs no Asīrijas ķēniņa! 12 Vai pats Hizkija neaizvāca augstieņu altārus un nepavēlēja Jūdā un Jeruzālemē, ka jūs drīkstat zemoties un kvēpināt tikai uz viena altāra? 13 Vai tad jūs nezināt, ko es un mans tēvs esam darījuši visu citu zemju ļaudīm? Vai tad citu tautu dievi spēja no manis paglābt savas zemes!? 14 Kurš no visiem manu tēvu iznīdēto tautu dieviem ir spējis glābt no manis savus ļaudis? Kā tad jūsu dievi jūs paglābs no manis!? 15 Neļaujiet Hizkijam sevi maldināt, neticiet viņam, ka viņš jūs nepieviļ! Ja nevienas citas tautas vai valsts dievs nav varējis paglābt savus ļaudis ne no manis, ne no maniem tēviem, tad jūsu dievs ne tik neglābs jūs no manis!”
16 Un viņa kalpi runāja vēl vairāk pret Kungu Dievu un viņa kalpu Hizkiju. 17 Sanherībs bija uzrakstījis vēstuli, lai ņirgātos par Kungu, Israēla Dievu. Viņš teica: “Tāpat kā citu tautu dievi nevienā zemē nav spējuši paglābt savus ļaudis no manis, tā arī Hizkijas Dievs neglābs savus ļaudis no manis!” 18 Tie tā klaigāja jūdu valodā Jeruzālemes iemītniekiem, kas bija uz mūra, lai ļaudis satrauktos un nobītos un tad tie varētu ieņemt pilsētu. 19 Tie runāja par Jeruzālemes Dievu tāpat kā par citu zemju tautu dieviem, kas ir cilvēku roku darināti.
Sanherība sakāve un nāve
(2Ķēn 19:35–37)20 Ķēniņš Hizkija un pravietis Jesaja, Āmoca dēls, lūgdami sauca uz debesīm. 21 Tad Kungs sūtīja eņģeli, un tas nomaitāja visus varonīgos karavīrus, virsniekus un pavēlniekus Asīrijas ķēniņa nometnē, ka viņam ar kaunu bija jāatgriežas savā zemē. Kad viņš iegāja sava dieva namā, paša dēli viņu nogalēja ar zobenu. 22 Tā Kungs paglāba Hizkiju un Jeruzālemes iemītniekus no Asīrijas ķēniņa Sanherība un visiem viņu ienaidniekiem un deva viņiem rimtumu it visur! 23 Tad daudzi pienesa dāvanas Kungam Jeruzālemē un dārglietas Jūdas ķēniņam Hizkijam, un visu tautu vidū viņš kļuva diženāks nekā iepriekš.
Hizkijas slimība
(2Ķēn 20:1–11Jes 38:1–8)24 Tolaik Hizkija bija uz nāvi slims, un viņš lūdzās Kungu, un Kungs viņam atbildēja un deva zīmi, 25 bet Hizkija neatgriezās, jo bija kļuvis lepns. Tāpēc pār viņu, Jūdu un Jeruzālemi nāca dusmu versme. 26 Tad Hizkija, atmetis lepnību, zemojās – gan viņš, gan Jeruzālemes iemītnieki, un Kunga dusmu versme nenāca Hizkijas laikā.
Hizkijas varenība un darbi
(2Ķēn 20:12–21Jes 39:1–8)27 Hizkijas bagātība un gods augtin auga. Viņš cēla mantnīcas sudrabam un zeltam, dārgakmeņiem un balzama smaržām, vairogiem un dažādām jaukām lietām 28 un noliktavas graudu ražai, jaunam vīnam un svaigai eļļai, un novietnes visdažādākajiem lopiem, un laidarus ganāmpulkiem. 29 Viņš cēla sev pilsētas, viņam bija milzums avju un vēršu, jo Dievs viņam deva daudz mantas. 30 Hizkija aizdarīja augšējā Gīhona avota izteku un novadīja to lejā uz Dāvida pilsētas rietumdaļu. Hizkijam veicās viss, ko viņš darīja. 31 Kad pie viņa nāca Bābeles augstmaņu sūtņi vaicāt par zīmi, kas dota viņa zemei, Dievs atstāja viņu vienu, lai pārbaudītu un uzzinātu visu, kas viņam prātā.
32 Pārējie Hizkijas darbi un viņa laipnība – par to Jūdas un Israēla ķēniņu grāmatā ir rakstījis pravietis Jesaja, Āmoca dēls! 33 Hizkija apgūlās pie tēviem, un viņu apbedīja Dāvida dēlu kapenēs. Viņu ar godu izvadīja visi Jūdas un Jeruzālemes iemītnieki. Pēc tam sāka valdīt viņa dēls Manase.
