1After these things, and this faithfulness, Sankheriv king of Ashur came, and entered into Yehudah, and encamped against the fortified cities, and thought to make a breach therein for himself. 2And when Khizki-Yahu saw that Sankheriv was come, and that he was purposed to fight against Yerushalayim, 3he took counsel with his princes and his mighty men to stop the waters of the fountains which were without the city; and they helped him. 4So there was gathered much people together, and they stopped all the fountains, and the brook that flowed through the midst of the land, saying, “Why should the kings of Ashur come, and find much water?” 5And he took courage, and built up all the wall that was broken down, and raised it up to the towers, and another wall without, and strengthened Milo in the city of David, and made weapons and shields in abundance. 6And 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 encouragingly to them, saying, 7“Be strong and of good courage, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Ashur, nor for all the multitude that is with him; for there is a Greater One with us than with him: 8with him is an arm of flesh; but with us is יהוה our Elohim to help us, and to fight our battles.” And the people rested themselves upon the words of Khizki-Yahu Melekh Yehudah.
9After this did Sankheriv king of Ashur send his servants to Yerushalayim, now he was before Lakhish, and all his power with him, unto Khizki-Yahu Melekh Yehudah, and unto all Yehudah that were at Yerushalayim, saying, 10“Thus says Sankheriv king of Ashur, ‘Whereon do you trust, that you abide the siege in Yerushalayim? 11Does not Khizki-Yahu persuade you, to give you over to die by famine and by thirst, saying, ‘ יהוה our Elohim will deliver us out of the hand of the king of Ashur?’ 12Has not the same Khizki-Yahu taken away His high places and His altars, and commanded Yehudah and Yerushalayim, saying, ‘You shall worship before one Mizbe’akh, and upon it shall you offer?’ 13Know you not what I and my fathers have done unto 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? 14Who 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 Elohim should be able to deliver you out of my hand? 15Now therefore let not Khizki-Yahu beguile you, nor persuade you after this manner, neither believe 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 Elohim deliver you out of my hand?” 16And his servants spoke yet more against יהוה Elohim, and against His servant Khizki-Yahu. 17He wrote also a letter, to taunt יהוה Elohei Yisra’el, 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 not the Elohim of Khizki-Yahu deliver His people out of my hand.” 18And they cried with a loud voice in the language of Yehudit unto the people of Yerushalayim that were on the wall, to terrify them, and to affright them; that they might take the city. 19And they spoke of the Elohim of Yerushalayim, as of the gods of the peoples of the earth, which are the work of men’s hands. 20And Khizki-Yahu HaMelekh, and Yesha-Yahu HaNavi Ben Amotz, prayed because of this, and cried to heaven. 21And יהוה sent a Malakh, who cut off all the mighty men of valor, and the leaders and captains, in the camp of the king of Ashur. 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. 22Thus יהוה saved Khizki-Yahu and the inhabitants of Yerushalayim from the hand of Sankheriv the king of Ashur, and
from the hand of all, and guided them on every side. 23And many brought gifts unto יהוה to Yerushalayim, and precious things to Khizki-Yahu Melekh Yehudah; so that he was exalted in the sight of all nations from thenceforth.
24In those days Khizki-Yahu was sick even unto death; and he prayed unto יהוה ; and He spoke unto him, and gave him a sign. 25But Khizki-Yahu rendered not according to the benefit done unto him; for his heart was lifted up; therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Yehudah and Yerushalayim. 26Notwithstanding Khizki-Yahu humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Yerushalayim, so that the wrath of יהוה came not upon them in the days of Khizki-Yahu. 27And Khizki-Yahu had exceedingly 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; 28store-houses also for the increase of grain, and wine, and oil; and stalls for all manner of beasts, and flocks in folds. 29Moreover he provided him cities, and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance; for Elohim had given him very much substance. 30This same Khizki-Yahu also stopped the upper spring of the waters of Gikhon, and brought them straight down on the west side of the city of David. And Khizki-Yahu prospered in all his works. 31But in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Bavel, who sent unto him to inquire of the wonder that was done in the land, Elohim left him, to try him, that He might know all that was in his heart. 32Now the rest of the acts of Khizki-Yahu, and his good deeds, behold, they are written in the vision of Yesha-Yahu HaNavi Ben Amotz, and in the book of the Melakhim of Yehudah and Yisra’el. 33And Khizki-Yahu slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the ascent of the tombs of B’nei David; and all Yehudah and the inhabitants of Yerushalayim did him honor at his death. And Menasheh his son reigned in his stead.
אאַחֲרֵי הַדְּבָרִים וְהָאֱמֶת הָאֵלֶּה בָּא סַנְחֵרִיב מֶלֶךְ אַשּׁוּר; וַיָּבֹא בִיהוּדָה וַיִּחַן עַל הֶעָרִים הַבְּצֻרוֹת וַיֹּאמֶר לְבִקְעָם אֵלָיו. בוַיַּרְא יְחִזְקִיָּהוּ כִּי בָא סַנְחֵרִיב; וּפָנָיו לַמִּלְחָמָה עַל יְרוּשָׁלִָם. גוַיִּוָּעַץ עִם שָׂרָיו וְגִבֹּרָיו לִסְתּוֹם אֶת מֵימֵי הָעֲיָנוֹת אֲשֶׁר מִחוּץ לָעִיר; וַיַּעְזְרוּהוּ. דוַיִּקָּבְצוּ עַם רָב וַיִּסְתְּמוּ אֶת כָּל הַמַּעְיָנוֹת וְאֶת הַנַּחַל הַשּׁוֹטֵף בְּתוֹךְ הָאָרֶץ לֵאמֹר: לָמָּה יָבוֹאוּ מַלְכֵי אַשּׁוּר וּמָצְאוּ מַיִם רַבִּים. הוַיִּתְחַזַּק וַיִּבֶן אֶת כָּל הַחוֹמָה הַפְּרוּצָה וַיַּעַל עַל הַמִּגְדָּלוֹת וְלַחוּצָה הַחוֹמָה אַחֶרֶת וַיְחַזֵּק אֶת הַמִּלּוֹא עִיר דָּוִיד; וַיַּעַשׂ שֶׁלַח לָרֹב וּמָגִנִּים. ווַיִּתֵּן שָׂרֵי מִלְחָמוֹת עַל הָעָם; וַיִּקְבְּצֵם אֵלָיו אֶל רְחוֹב שַׁעַר הָעִיר וַיְדַבֵּר עַל לְבָבָם לֵאמֹר, זחִזְקוּ וְאִמְצוּ אַל תִּירְאוּ וְאַל תֵּחַתּוּ מִפְּנֵי מֶלֶךְ אַשּׁוּר וּמִלִּפְנֵי כָּל הֶהָמוֹן אֲשֶׁר עִמּוֹ: כִּי עִמָּנוּ רַב מֵעִמּוֹ. חעִמּוֹ זְרוֹעַ בָּשָׂר וְעִמָּנוּ יהוה אֱלֹהֵינוּ לְעָזְרֵנוּ וּלְהִלָּחֵם מִלְחֲמֹתֵנוּ; וַיִּסָּמְכוּ הָעָם עַל דִּבְרֵי יְחִזְקִיָּהוּ מֶלֶךְ יְהוּדָה.
טאַחַר זֶה שָׁלַח סַנְחֵרִיב מֶלֶךְ אַשּׁוּר עֲבָדָיו יְרוּשָׁלַיְמָה וְהוּא עַל לָכִישׁ וְכָל מֶמְשַׁלְתּוֹ עִמּוֹ עַל יְחִזְקִיָּהוּ מֶלֶךְ יְהוּדָה וְעַל כָּל יְהוּדָה אֲשֶׁר בִּירוּשָׁלִַם לֵאמֹר, יכֹּה אָמַר סַנְחֵרִיב מֶלֶךְ אַשּׁוּר: עַל מָה אַתֶּם בֹּטְחִים וְיֹשְׁבִים בְּמָצוֹר בִּירוּשָׁלִָם. יאהֲלֹא יְחִזְקִיָּהוּ מַסִּית אֶתְכֶם לָתֵת אֶתְכֶם לָמוּת בְּרָעָב וּבְצָמָא לֵאמֹר: יהוה אֱלֹהֵינוּ יַצִּילֵנוּ מִכַּף מֶלֶךְ אַשּׁוּר. יבהֲלֹא הוּא יְחִזְקִיָּהוּ הֵסִיר אֶת בָּמֹתָיו וְאֶת מִזְבְּחֹתָיו; וַיֹּאמֶר לִיהוּדָה וְלִירוּשָׁלִַם לֵאמֹר לִפְנֵי מִזְבֵּחַ אֶחָד תִּשְׁתַּחֲווּ וְעָלָיו תַּקְטִירוּ. יגהֲלֹא תֵדְעוּ מֶה עָשִׂיתִי אֲנִי וַאֲבוֹתַי לְכֹל עַמֵּי הָאֲרָצוֹת: הֲיָכוֹל יָכְלוּ אֱלֹהֵי גּוֹיֵ הָאֲרָצוֹת לְהַצִּיל אֶת אַרְצָם מִיָּדִי. ידמִי בְּכָל אֱלֹהֵי הַגּוֹיִם הָאֵלֶּה אֲשֶׁר הֶחֱרִימוּ אֲבוֹתַי אֲשֶׁר יָכוֹל לְהַצִּיל אֶת עַמּוֹ מִיָּדִי: כִּי יוּכַל אֱלֹהֵיכֶם לְהַצִּיל אֶתְכֶם מִיָּדִי. טווְעַתָּה אַל יַשִּׁיא אֶתְכֶם חִזְקִיָּהוּ וְאַל יַסִּית אֶתְכֶם כָּזֹאת וְאַל תַּאֲמִינוּ לוֹ כִּי לֹא יוּכַל כָּל אֱלוֹהַּ כָּל גּוֹי וּמַמְלָכָה לְהַצִּיל עַמּוֹ מִיָּדִי וּמִיַּד אֲבוֹתָי: אַף כִּי אֱלֹהֵיכֶם לֹא יַצִּילוּ אֶתְכֶם מִיָּדִי. טזוְעוֹד דִּבְּרוּ עֲבָדָיו עַל יהוה הָאֱלֹהִים וְעַל יְחִזְקִיָּהוּ עַבְדּוֹ. יזוּסְפָרִים כָּתַב לְחָרֵף לַיהוה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל: וְלֵאמֹר עָלָיו לֵאמֹר כֵּאלֹהֵי גּוֹיֵי הָאֲרָצוֹת אֲשֶׁר לֹא הִצִּילוּ עַמָּם מִיָּדִי כֵּן לֹא יַצִּיל אֱלֹהֵי יְחִזְקִיָּהוּ עַמּוֹ מִיָּדִי. יחוַיִּקְרְאוּ בְקוֹל גָּדוֹל יְהוּדִית עַל עַם יְרוּשָׁלִַם אֲשֶׁר עַל הַחוֹמָה לְיָרְאָם וּלְבַהֲלָם לְמַעַן יִלְכְּדוּ אֶת הָעִיר. יטוַיְדַבְּרוּ אֶל אֱלֹהֵי יְרוּשָׁלִָם: כְּעַל אֱלֹהֵי עַמֵּי הָאָרֶץ מַעֲשֵׂה יְדֵי הָאָדָם. כוַיִּתְפַּלֵּל יְחִזְקִיָּהוּ הַמֶּלֶךְ וִישַׁעְיָהוּ בֶן אָמוֹץ הַנָּבִיא עַל זֹאת; וַיִּזְעֲקוּ הַשָּׁמָיִם. כאוַיִּשְׁלַח יהוה מַלְאָךְ וַיַּכְחֵד כָּל גִּבּוֹר חַיִל וְנָגִיד וְשָׂר בְּמַחֲנֵה מֶלֶךְ אַשּׁוּר; וַיָּשָׁב בְּבֹשֶׁת פָּנִים לְאַרְצוֹ וַיָּבֹא בֵּית אֱלֹהָיו ומיציאו (וּמִיצִיאֵי) מֵעָיו שָׁם הִפִּילֻהוּ בֶחָרֶב. כבוַיּוֹשַׁע יהוה אֶת יְחִזְקִיָּהוּ וְאֵת יֹשְׁבֵי יְרוּשָׁלִַם מִיַּד סַנְחֵרִיב מֶלֶךְ אַשּׁוּר וּמִיַּד כֹּל; וַיְנַהֲלֵם מִסָּבִיב. כגוְרַבִּים מְבִיאִים מִנְחָה לַיהוה לִירוּשָׁלִַם וּמִגְדָּנוֹת לִיחִזְקִיָּהוּ מֶלֶךְ יְהוּדָה; וַיִּנַּשֵּׂא לְעֵינֵי כָל הַגּוֹיִם מֵאַחֲרֵי כֵן.
כדבַּיָּמִים הָהֵם חָלָה יְחִזְקִיָּהוּ עַד לָמוּת; וַיִּתְפַּלֵּל אֶל יהוה וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ וּמוֹפֵת נָתַן לוֹ. כהוְלֹא כִגְמֻל עָלָיו הֵשִׁיב יְחִזְקִיָּהוּ כִּי גָבַהּ לִבּוֹ; וַיְהִי עָלָיו קֶצֶף וְעַל יְהוּדָה וִירוּשָׁלִָם. כווַיִּכָּנַע יְחִזְקִיָּהוּ בְּגֹבַהּ לִבּוֹ הוּא וְיוֹשְׁבֵי יְרוּשָׁלִָם; וְלֹא בָא עֲלֵיהֶם קֶצֶף יהוה בִּימֵי יְחִזְקִיָּהוּ. כזוַיְהִי לִיחִזְקִיָּהוּ עֹשֶׁר וְכָבוֹד הַרְבֵּה מְאֹד; וְאֹצָרוֹת עָשָׂה לוֹ לְכֶסֶף וּלְזָהָב וּלְאֶבֶן יְקָרָה וְלִבְשָׂמִים וּלְמָגִנִּים וּלְכֹל כְּלֵי חֶמְדָּה. כחוּמִסְכְּנוֹת לִתְבוּאַת דָּגָן וְתִירוֹשׁ וְיִצְהָר; וְאֻרָוֹת לְכָל בְּהֵמָה וּבְהֵמָה וַעֲדָרִים לָאֲוֵרֹת. כטוְעָרִים עָשָׂה לוֹ וּמִקְנֵה צֹאן וּבָקָר לָרֹב: כִּי נָתַן לוֹ אֱלֹהִים רְכוּשׁ רַב מְאֹד. לוְהוּא יְחִזְקִיָּהוּ סָתַם אֶת מוֹצָא מֵימֵי גִיחוֹן הָעֶלְיוֹן וַיַּישְּׁרֵם לְמַטָּה מַּעְרָבָה לְעִיר דָּוִיד; וַיַּצְלַח יְחִזְקִיָּהוּ בְּכָל מַעֲשֵׂהוּ. לאוְכֵן בִּמְלִיצֵי שָׂרֵי בָבֶל הַמְשַׁלְּחִים עָלָיו לִדְרֹשׁ הַמּוֹפֵת אֲשֶׁר הָיָה בָאָרֶץ עֲזָבוֹ הָאֱלֹהִים לְנַסּוֹתוֹ לָדַעַת כָּל בִּלְבָבוֹ. לבוְיֶתֶר דִּבְרֵי יְחִזְקִיָּהוּ וַחֲסָדָיו הִנָּם כְּתוּבִים בַּחֲזוֹן יְשַׁעְיָהוּ בֶן אָמוֹץ הַנָּבִיא עַל סֵפֶר מַלְכֵי יְהוּדָה וְיִשְׂרָאֵל. לגוַיִּשְׁכַּב יְחִזְקִיָּהוּ עִם אֲבֹתָיו וַיִּקְבְּרֻהוּ בְּמַעֲלֵה קִבְרֵי בְנֵי דָוִיד וְכָבוֹד עָשׂוּ לוֹ בְמוֹתוֹ כָּל יְהוּדָה וְיֹשְׁבֵי יְרוּשָׁלִָם; וַיִּמְלֹךְ מְנַשֶּׁה בְנוֹ תַּחְתָּיו.
D'var יהוה , The Word of יהוה 