Read Holman Christian Standard Bible Online
Authors: B&H Publishing Group
Holman Christian Standard Bible (118 page)
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16
At that time Hezekiah stripped the gold from the doors of the
Lord
's sanctuary and from the doorposts he had overlaid and gave it to the king of Assyria.
At that time Hezekiah stripped the gold from the doors of the
Lord
's sanctuary and from the doorposts he had overlaid and gave it to the king of Assyria.
17
Then the king of Assyria sent the Tartan, the Rab-saris, and the
•Rabshakeh
, along with a massive army, from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem. They advanced and came to Jerusalem, and they took their position by the aqueduct of the upper pool, which is by the highway to the Fuller's Field.
18
Then they called for the king, but Eliakim son of Hilkiah, who was in charge of the palace, Shebnah the court secretary, and Joah son of Asaph, the court historian, came out to them.
Then the king of Assyria sent the Tartan, the Rab-saris, and the
•Rabshakeh
, along with a massive army, from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem. They advanced and came to Jerusalem, and they took their position by the aqueduct of the upper pool, which is by the highway to the Fuller's Field.
18
Then they called for the king, but Eliakim son of Hilkiah, who was in charge of the palace, Shebnah the court secretary, and Joah son of Asaph, the court historian, came out to them.
The Rabshakeh's Speech
19
Then the Rabshakeh said to them, “Tell Hezekiah this is what the great king, the king of Assyria, says: ‘What are you relying on?
20
You think mere words are strategy and strength for war. What are you now relying on so that you have rebelled against me?
21
Look, you are now trusting in Egypt, that splintered reed of a staff that will enter and pierce the hand of anyone who leans on it. This is how Pharaoh king of Egypt is to all who trust in him.
22
Suppose you say to me: We trust in the
Lord
our God. Isn't He the One whose high places and altars Hezekiah has removed, saying to Judah and to Jerusalem: You must worship at this altar in Jerusalem? '
Then the Rabshakeh said to them, “Tell Hezekiah this is what the great king, the king of Assyria, says: ‘What are you relying on?
20
You think mere words are strategy and strength for war. What are you now relying on so that you have rebelled against me?
21
Look, you are now trusting in Egypt, that splintered reed of a staff that will enter and pierce the hand of anyone who leans on it. This is how Pharaoh king of Egypt is to all who trust in him.
22
Suppose you say to me: We trust in the
Lord
our God. Isn't He the One whose high places and altars Hezekiah has removed, saying to Judah and to Jerusalem: You must worship at this altar in Jerusalem? '
23
“So now make a bargain with my master the king of Assyria. I'll give you 2,000 horses if you're able to supply riders for them!
24
How then can you drive back a single officer among the least of my master's servants and trust in Egypt for chariots and for horsemen?
25
Have I attacked this place to destroy it without the
Lord
's approval? The
Lord
said to me, ‘Attack this land and destroy it.' ”
“So now make a bargain with my master the king of Assyria. I'll give you 2,000 horses if you're able to supply riders for them!
24
How then can you drive back a single officer among the least of my master's servants and trust in Egypt for chariots and for horsemen?
25
Have I attacked this place to destroy it without the
Lord
's approval? The
Lord
said to me, ‘Attack this land and destroy it.' ”
26
Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah, Shebnah, and Joah said to the Rabshakeh, “Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, since we understand it. Don't speak with us in Hebrew within earshot of the people on the wall.”
Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah, Shebnah, and Joah said to the Rabshakeh, “Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, since we understand it. Don't speak with us in Hebrew within earshot of the people on the wall.”
27
But the Rabshakeh said to them, “Has my master sent me only to your master and to you to speak these words? Hasn't he also sent me to the men who sit on the wall, destined with you to eat their own excrement and drink their own urine? ”
But the Rabshakeh said to them, “Has my master sent me only to your master and to you to speak these words? Hasn't he also sent me to the men who sit on the wall, destined with you to eat their own excrement and drink their own urine? ”
28
The Rabshakeh stood and called out loudly in Hebrew. Then he spoke: “Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria.
29
This is what the king says: ‘Don't let Hezekiah deceive you; he can't deliver you from my hand.
30
Don't let Hezekiah persuade you to trust in the
Lord
by saying: Certainly the
Lord
will deliver us! This city will not be handed over to the king of Assyria.'
The Rabshakeh stood and called out loudly in Hebrew. Then he spoke: “Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria.
29
This is what the king says: ‘Don't let Hezekiah deceive you; he can't deliver you from my hand.
30
Don't let Hezekiah persuade you to trust in the
Lord
by saying: Certainly the
Lord
will deliver us! This city will not be handed over to the king of Assyria.'
31
“Don't listen to Hezekiah, for this is what the king of Assyria says: ‘Make peace with me and surrender to me. Then every one of you may eat from his own vine and his own fig tree, and every one may drink water from his own cistern
32
until I come and take you away to a land like your own land — a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of olive trees and honey — so that you may live and not die. But don't listen to Hezekiah when he misleads you, saying: The
Lord
will deliver us.
33
Has any of the gods of the nations ever delivered his land from the power of the king of Assyria?
34
Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah? Have they delivered Samaria from my hand?
35
Who among all the gods of the lands has delivered his land from my power? So will the
Lord
deliver Jerusalem? ' ”
“Don't listen to Hezekiah, for this is what the king of Assyria says: ‘Make peace with me and surrender to me. Then every one of you may eat from his own vine and his own fig tree, and every one may drink water from his own cistern
32
until I come and take you away to a land like your own land — a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of olive trees and honey — so that you may live and not die. But don't listen to Hezekiah when he misleads you, saying: The
Lord
will deliver us.
33
Has any of the gods of the nations ever delivered his land from the power of the king of Assyria?
34
Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah? Have they delivered Samaria from my hand?
35
Who among all the gods of the lands has delivered his land from my power? So will the
Lord
deliver Jerusalem? ' ”
36
But the people kept silent; they didn't say anything, for the king's command was, “Don't answer him.”
37
Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah, who was in charge of the palace, Shebna the court secretary, and Joah son of Asaph, the court historian, came to Hezekiah with their clothes torn and reported to him the words of the Rabshakeh.
But the people kept silent; they didn't say anything, for the king's command was, “Don't answer him.”
37
Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah, who was in charge of the palace, Shebna the court secretary, and Joah son of Asaph, the court historian, came to Hezekiah with their clothes torn and reported to him the words of the Rabshakeh.
2 Kings
Hezekiah Seeks Isaiah's Counsel
19
When King Hezekiah heard their report, he tore his clothes, covered himself with
•sackcloth
, and went into the
Lord
's temple.
2
Then he sent Eliakim, who was in charge of the palace, Shebna the court secretary, and the leading priests, who were wearing sackcloth, to the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz.
3
They said to him, “This is what Hezekiah says: ‘Today is a day of distress, rebuke, and disgrace, for children have come to the point of birth, but there is no strength to deliver them.
4
Perhaps
•Yahweh
your God will hear all the words of the
•Rabshakeh
, whom his master the king of Assyria sent to mock the living God, and will rebuke him for the words that Yahweh your God has heard. Therefore, offer a prayer for the surviving remnant.' ”
When King Hezekiah heard their report, he tore his clothes, covered himself with
•sackcloth
, and went into the
Lord
's temple.
2
Then he sent Eliakim, who was in charge of the palace, Shebna the court secretary, and the leading priests, who were wearing sackcloth, to the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz.
3
They said to him, “This is what Hezekiah says: ‘Today is a day of distress, rebuke, and disgrace, for children have come to the point of birth, but there is no strength to deliver them.
4
Perhaps
•Yahweh
your God will hear all the words of the
•Rabshakeh
, whom his master the king of Assyria sent to mock the living God, and will rebuke him for the words that Yahweh your God has heard. Therefore, offer a prayer for the surviving remnant.' ”
5
So the servants of King Hezekiah went to Isaiah,
6
who said to them, “Tell your master this, ‘The
Lord
says: Don't be afraid because of the words you have heard, that the king of Assyria's attendants have blasphemed Me with.
7
I am about to put a spirit in him, and he will hear a rumor and return to his own land where I will cause him to fall by the sword.' ”
So the servants of King Hezekiah went to Isaiah,
6
who said to them, “Tell your master this, ‘The
Lord
says: Don't be afraid because of the words you have heard, that the king of Assyria's attendants have blasphemed Me with.
7
I am about to put a spirit in him, and he will hear a rumor and return to his own land where I will cause him to fall by the sword.' ”
Sennacherib's Departing Threat
8
When the Rabshakeh heard that the king of Assyria had left Lachish, he returned and found him fighting against Libnah.
9
The king had heard this about Tirhakah king of
•Cush
: “Look, he has set out to fight against you.” So he again sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying,
10
“Say this to Hezekiah king of Judah: ‘Don't let your God, whom you trust, deceive you by promising that Jerusalem will not be handed over to the king of Assyria.
11
Look, you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all the countries: they
•completely
destroyed them. Will you be rescued?
12
Did the gods of the nations that my predecessors destroyed rescue them — nations such as Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and the Edenites in Telassar?
13
Where is the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad, the king of the city of Sepharvaim, Hena, or Ivvah? ' ”
When the Rabshakeh heard that the king of Assyria had left Lachish, he returned and found him fighting against Libnah.
9
The king had heard this about Tirhakah king of
•Cush
: “Look, he has set out to fight against you.” So he again sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying,
10
“Say this to Hezekiah king of Judah: ‘Don't let your God, whom you trust, deceive you by promising that Jerusalem will not be handed over to the king of Assyria.
11
Look, you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all the countries: they
•completely
destroyed them. Will you be rescued?
12
Did the gods of the nations that my predecessors destroyed rescue them — nations such as Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and the Edenites in Telassar?
13
Where is the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad, the king of the city of Sepharvaim, Hena, or Ivvah? ' ”
Hezekiah's Prayer
14
Hezekiah took the letter from the hand of the messengers, read it, then went up to the
Lord
's temple, and spread it out before the
Lord
.
15
Then Hezekiah prayed before the
Lord
:
Hezekiah took the letter from the hand of the messengers, read it, then went up to the
Lord
's temple, and spread it out before the
Lord
.
15
Then Hezekiah prayed before the
Lord
:
Lord
God of Israel who is enthroned above the
•cherubim
, You are God — You alone — of all the kingdoms of the earth. You made the heavens and the earth.
16
Listen closely,
Lord
, and hear; open Your eyes,
Lord
, and see. Hear the words that Sennacherib has sent to mock the living God.
17
Lord
, it is true that the kings of Assyria have devastated the nations and their lands.
18
They have thrown their gods into the fire, for they were not gods but made by human hands — wood and stone. So they have destroyed them.
19
Now,
Lord
our God, please save us from his hand so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You are the
Lord
God — You alone.
God of Israel who is enthroned above the
•cherubim
, You are God — You alone — of all the kingdoms of the earth. You made the heavens and the earth.
16
Listen closely,
Lord
, and hear; open Your eyes,
Lord
, and see. Hear the words that Sennacherib has sent to mock the living God.
17
Lord
, it is true that the kings of Assyria have devastated the nations and their lands.
18
They have thrown their gods into the fire, for they were not gods but made by human hands — wood and stone. So they have destroyed them.
19
Now,
Lord
our God, please save us from his hand so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You are the
Lord
God — You alone.
God's Answer through Isaiah
20
Then Isaiah son of Amoz sent a message to Hezekiah: “The
Lord
, the God of Israel says: ‘I have heard your prayer to Me about Sennacherib king of Assyria.'
21
This is the word the
Lord
has spoken against him:
Then Isaiah son of Amoz sent a message to Hezekiah: “The
Lord
, the God of Israel says: ‘I have heard your prayer to Me about Sennacherib king of Assyria.'
21
This is the word the
Lord
has spoken against him:
Virgin Daughter
•Zion
despises you and scorns you:
Daughter Jerusalem
shakes her head behind your back.
22
Who is it you mocked and blasphemed?
Against whom have you raised your voice
and lifted your eyes in pride?
Against the Holy One of Israel!
23
You have mocked the Lord through your messengers.
You have said:
•Zion
despises you and scorns you:
Daughter Jerusalem
shakes her head behind your back.
22
Who is it you mocked and blasphemed?
Against whom have you raised your voice
and lifted your eyes in pride?
Against the Holy One of Israel!
23
You have mocked the Lord through your messengers.
You have said:
With my many chariots
I have gone up to the heights of the mountains,
to the far recesses of Lebanon.
I cut down its tallest cedars,
its choice cypress trees.
I came to its farthest outpost,
its densest forest.
24
I dug wells,
and I drank foreign waters.
I dried up all the streams of Egypt
with the soles of my feet.
I have gone up to the heights of the mountains,
to the far recesses of Lebanon.
I cut down its tallest cedars,
its choice cypress trees.
I came to its farthest outpost,
its densest forest.
24
I dug wells,
and I drank foreign waters.
I dried up all the streams of Egypt
with the soles of my feet.
25
Have you not heard?
I designed it long ago;
I planned it in days gone by.
I have now brought it to pass,
and you have crushed fortified cities
into piles of rubble.
26
Their inhabitants have become powerless,
dismayed, and ashamed.
They are plants of the field,
tender grass,
grass on the rooftops,
blasted by the east wind.
Have you not heard?
I designed it long ago;
I planned it in days gone by.
I have now brought it to pass,
and you have crushed fortified cities
into piles of rubble.
26
Their inhabitants have become powerless,
dismayed, and ashamed.
They are plants of the field,
tender grass,
grass on the rooftops,
blasted by the east wind.
27
But I know your sitting down,
your going out and your coming in,
and your raging against Me.
28
Because your raging against Me
and your arrogance have reached My ears,
I will put My hook in your nose
and My bit in your mouth;
I will make you go back
the way you came.
But I know your sitting down,
your going out and your coming in,
and your raging against Me.
28
Because your raging against Me
and your arrogance have reached My ears,
I will put My hook in your nose
and My bit in your mouth;
I will make you go back
the way you came.
29
“This will be the sign for you: This year you will eat what grows on its own, and in the second year what grows from that. But in the third year sow and reap, plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
30
The surviving remnant of the house of Israel will again take root downward and bear fruit upward.
31
For a remnant will go out from Jerusalem and survivors, from Mount Zion. The zeal of the
Lord
of
•Hosts
will accomplish this.
“This will be the sign for you: This year you will eat what grows on its own, and in the second year what grows from that. But in the third year sow and reap, plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
30
The surviving remnant of the house of Israel will again take root downward and bear fruit upward.
31
For a remnant will go out from Jerusalem and survivors, from Mount Zion. The zeal of the
Lord
of
•Hosts
will accomplish this.
32
Therefore, this is what the
Lord
says about the king of Assyria:
He will not enter this city
or shoot an arrow there
or come before it with a shield
or build up an assault ramp against it.
33
He will go back
on the road that he came
and he will not enter this city.
Therefore, this is what the
Lord
says about the king of Assyria:
He will not enter this city
or shoot an arrow there
or come before it with a shield
or build up an assault ramp against it.
33
He will go back
on the road that he came
and he will not enter this city.
This is the
Lord
's declaration.
Lord
's declaration.
34
I will defend this city and rescue it
for My sake and for the sake of My servant David.”
I will defend this city and rescue it
for My sake and for the sake of My servant David.”
Defeat and Death of Sennacherib
35
That night the angel of the
Lord
went out and struck down 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians. When the people got up the next morning — there were all the dead bodies!
36
So Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp and left. He returned home and lived in Nineveh.
That night the angel of the
Lord
went out and struck down 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians. When the people got up the next morning — there were all the dead bodies!
36
So Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp and left. He returned home and lived in Nineveh.
37
One day, while he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch, his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer struck him down with the sword and escaped to the land of Ararat. Then his son Esar-haddon became king in his place.
One day, while he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch, his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer struck him down with the sword and escaped to the land of Ararat. Then his son Esar-haddon became king in his place.
2 Kings
Hezekiah's Illness and Recovery
20
In those days Hezekiah became terminally ill. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz came and said to him, “This is what the
Lord
says: ‘Put your affairs in order, for you are about to die; you will not recover.' ”
In those days Hezekiah became terminally ill. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz came and said to him, “This is what the
Lord
says: ‘Put your affairs in order, for you are about to die; you will not recover.' ”
2
Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the
Lord
,
3
“Please
Lord
, remember how I have walked before You faithfully and wholeheartedly and have done what pleases You.”And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the
Lord
,
3
“Please
Lord
, remember how I have walked before You faithfully and wholeheartedly and have done what pleases You.”And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
4
Isaiah had not yet gone out of the inner courtyard when the word of the
Lord
came to him:
5
“Go back and tell Hezekiah, the leader of My people, ‘This is what the
Lord
God of your ancestor David says: I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Look, I will heal you. On the third day from now you will go up to the
Lord
's temple.
6
I will add 15 years to your life. I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city for My sake and for the sake of My servant David.' ”
Isaiah had not yet gone out of the inner courtyard when the word of the
Lord
came to him:
5
“Go back and tell Hezekiah, the leader of My people, ‘This is what the
Lord
God of your ancestor David says: I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Look, I will heal you. On the third day from now you will go up to the
Lord
's temple.
6
I will add 15 years to your life. I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city for My sake and for the sake of My servant David.' ”
7
Then Isaiah said, “Bring a lump of pressed figs.” So they brought it and applied it to his infected skin, and he recovered.
Then Isaiah said, “Bring a lump of pressed figs.” So they brought it and applied it to his infected skin, and he recovered.
8
Hezekiah had asked Isaiah, “What is the sign that the
Lord
will heal me and that I will go up to the
Lord
's temple on the third day? ”
Hezekiah had asked Isaiah, “What is the sign that the
Lord
will heal me and that I will go up to the
Lord
's temple on the third day? ”
9
Isaiah said, “This is the sign to you from the
Lord
that He will do what He has promised: Should the shadow go ahead 10 steps or go back 10 steps? ”
Isaiah said, “This is the sign to you from the
Lord
that He will do what He has promised: Should the shadow go ahead 10 steps or go back 10 steps? ”
10
Then Hezekiah answered, “It's easy for the shadow to lengthen 10 steps. No, let the shadow go back 10 steps.”
11
So Isaiah the prophet called out to the
Lord
, and He brought the shadow back the 10 steps it had descended on Ahaz's stairway.
Then Hezekiah answered, “It's easy for the shadow to lengthen 10 steps. No, let the shadow go back 10 steps.”
11
So Isaiah the prophet called out to the
Lord
, and He brought the shadow back the 10 steps it had descended on Ahaz's stairway.
Hezekiah's Folly
12
At that time Merodach-baladan son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a gift to Hezekiah since he heard that he had been sick.
13
Hezekiah gave them a hearing and showed them his whole treasure house — the silver, the gold, the spices, and the precious oil — and his armory, and everything that was found in his treasuries. There was nothing in his palace and in all his realm that Hezekiah did not show them.
At that time Merodach-baladan son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a gift to Hezekiah since he heard that he had been sick.
13
Hezekiah gave them a hearing and showed them his whole treasure house — the silver, the gold, the spices, and the precious oil — and his armory, and everything that was found in his treasuries. There was nothing in his palace and in all his realm that Hezekiah did not show them.
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