希西迦加強防禦

32 在希西迦忠心地辦好這些事以後,亞述王西拿基立起兵入侵猶大,圍攻各堅城,企圖攻佔這些城。 希西迦見西拿基立定意要攻打耶路撒冷, 就與眾官員和將領商議,決定截斷城外的水源,眾人也都贊成。 於是,他們召集大批民眾,截斷所有的水源和過境的溪流,不讓亞述王得到充足的水。 希西迦發憤圖強,修築所有被毀壞的城牆,在上面建造城樓,在城外加建一道牆,並在大衛城的米羅加強防禦,製造許多兵器和盾牌。 他委任將領管理民眾,將他們全部召集在城門的廣場上,訓勉他們說: 「你們要剛強勇敢,不要在亞述王和他的大軍面前恐懼驚慌,因為與我們同在的比與他同在的更有能力。 那與他同在的只是血肉之軀,與我們同在的卻是我們的上帝耶和華,祂必幫助我們,為我們作戰。」眾人因猶大王希西迦的這番話而得到鼓舞。

亞述恐嚇耶路撒冷

之後,亞述王西拿基立率領全軍圍攻拉吉,同時派遣使者到耶路撒冷城,對猶大王希西迦和城中所有的猶大人說: 10 「亞述王西拿基立這樣說,『你們仍然留在被困的耶路撒冷,究竟倚仗什麼呢? 11 希西迦說你們的上帝耶和華會從亞述王手中拯救你們,難道你們不知道這是哄騙你們的話,是要叫你們留在這裡饑渴至死嗎? 12 這希西迦不是曾經廢掉耶和華的邱壇和祭壇,吩咐猶大人和耶路撒冷人只在一個祭壇前敬拜,在祭壇上燒香嗎? 13 難道你們不知道我和我的祖先怎樣對付列國嗎?列國的神明哪個能從我手中救自己的國家呢? 14 我祖先所滅的列國中,有哪國的神明能從我手中救自己的國民呢?難道你們的上帝能從我手中救你們嗎? 15 所以,不要讓希西迦欺騙、迷惑你們,也不要相信他!任何民族或國家的神明都不能從我和我祖先手中救他的人民,何況你們的上帝呢?』」

16 亞述王的使者還用別的話譭謗耶和華上帝和祂的僕人希西迦。 17 西拿基立還寫信侮辱以色列的上帝耶和華說:「既然列邦的神明都不能從我手中救自己的人民,希西迦的上帝也不例外。」 18 亞述王的使者用希伯來語大聲向城牆上的耶路撒冷人喊話,威嚇他們,使他們懼怕,以便攻取城。 19 他把耶路撒冷的上帝與世間人手所造的神像相提並論。

耶和華拯救耶路撒冷

20 於是,希西迦王和亞摩斯的兒子以賽亞先知向天上的上帝呼求禱告。 21 耶和華就差遣一個天使進入亞述王營中,毀滅了所有的勇士、官長和將領。西拿基立只好滿臉羞愧地返回自己的國家。趁他去他神明的廟裡時,他的幾個親生兒子用刀殺了他。 22 這樣,耶和華從亞述王西拿基立及一切仇敵手中拯救了希西迦和耶路撒冷的居民,使他們四境平安。 23 許多人帶著祭物到耶路撒冷獻給耶和華,也帶許多名貴的禮物送給猶大王希西迦。此後,希西迦受到各國的敬重。

希西迦的疾病和驕傲

24 那時,希西迦病危,他向耶和華祈求。耶和華應允了他,賜給他一個徵兆。 25 希西迦卻沒有為他所蒙的恩典而感謝上帝,因為他心中驕傲。因此,上帝的烈怒臨到他、猶大和耶路撒冷。 26 後來希西迦和耶路撒冷的居民發覺自己心裡驕傲,就謙卑下來。因此,在希西迦有生之年,耶和華的烈怒沒有臨到他們。

希西迦的財富和尊榮

27 希西迦極有財富和尊榮。他建造庫房來存放他的金、銀、寶石、香料、盾牌和各種珍寶, 28 又建造倉庫來貯藏穀物、新酒和新油,並為各類牲畜蓋棚立圏。 29 他為自己建造城邑,並且擁有大批的牛羊,因為上帝賜他極多的財富。 30 他截斷基訓的上泉,將水引到大衛城的西邊。希西迦凡事亨通。 31 然而,當巴比倫的使者來見他,詢問他有關這地方發生的奇蹟時,上帝就讓希西迦自行處理,為要試驗他,好知道他內心如何。

希西迦逝世

32 希西迦其他的事蹟和他對耶和華的忠誠都記在亞摩斯的兒子以賽亞先知的《啟示書》上,以及《猶大和以色列的列王史》上。 33 希西迦與祖先同眠後,葬在大衛子孫墓地的高處。所有猶大人和耶路撒冷的居民都向他致哀。他兒子瑪拿西繼位。

32 After these things, and haemes thereof, Sancheriv (Sennacherib) Melech Assyria came, and invaded Yehudah, and laid siege against the fortified cities, and thought to conquer them for himself.

And when Chizkiyahu saw that Sancheriv was come, and that he was purposed to make milchamah against Yerushalayim,

He took counsel with his sarim and his gibborim to cover over the waters of the springs [Spring of Gihon] which were outside the Ir; and they did support him.

So there was gathered Am Rav together, who covered the springs, and the wadi that flowed through the midst of HaAretz, saying, Why should the melachim of Assyria come, and find mayim rabbim?

Also he strengthened himself, and repaired all the chomah that was broken down, and raised it on the migdalot, and another chomah outside of it, and repaired Millo [terraces] in Ir Dovid, and made weapons and shields in abundance.

And he appointed sarim milchamot over HaAm, and gathered them together before him in the rechov of the Sha’ar HaIr, and spoke encouragingly to them, saying,

Chizku (be strong) and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed because of the melech Assyria, nor because of all the vast army that is with him, for there be more with us than with him.

With him is zero’a basar, but with us is Hashem Eloheinu to help us, and to fight milchamoteinu (our battles). And HaAm took heart upon the words of Chizkiyahu Melech Yehudah.

After this did Sancheriv melech Assyria send his avadim to Yerushalayim, (but he himself laid siege against Lachish, with all his forces with him,) unto Chizkiyah Melech Yehudah, and unto kol Yehudah that were in Yerushalayim, saying,

10 Thus saith Sancheriv melech Assyria, Whereon do ye base confidence, that ye abide in the siege in Yerushalayim?

11 Doth not Chizkiyahu mislead you to give over yourselves to die by ra’av and by tzama, saying, Hashem Eloheinu shall deliver us out of the yad Melech Assyria?

12 Is not this the same Chizkiyah that has removed His high places and His mizbechot, and commanded Yehudah and Yerushalayim, saying, Ye shall worship before Mizbe’ach echad, and burn ketoret upon it?

13 Know ye not what I and avotai have done unto all the people of other lands? Were the elohei goyei ha’aratzot able to deliver their land out of mine yad?

14 Who was there among kol elohei haGoyim that avotai utterly destroyed, that could save his people out of mine yad, that Eloheichem should be able to save you out of mine yad?

15 Now therefore let not Chizkiyahu deceive you, nor mislead you on this manner, neither yet believe him, for no g-d of any goy or mamlachah was able to deliver his people out of mine yad, and out of the yad of avotai. How much less shall Eloheichem deliver you out of mine yad?

16 And his avadim spoke yet more against Hashem HaElohim, and against His eved Chizkiyahu.

17 He wrote also sefarim to blaspheme Hashem Elohei Yisroel, and to speak against Him, saying, As the elohei goyei ha’aratzot have not saved their people out of mine yad, so shall not the Elohei Chizkiyahu save his people out of mine yad.

18 Then they cried with a kol gadol in the language of the Yehudim unto the Am Yerushalayim that were on the chomah, to frighten them, and to terrorize them, that they might capture the Ir.

19 And they spoke against the Elohei Yerushalayim, as against the g-ds of the peoples of the land, which were the work of the hands of ha’adam.

20 And for this cause Chizkiyahu HaMelech, and Yeshayah ben Amoz, HaNavi, davened and cried out to Shomayim.

21 And Hashem sent a malach, which destroyed all the fighting gibborim, and the nagid and sar in the machaneh of the melech Assyria. So he withdrew in boshet panim (shamefaced disgrace) to his own land. And when he was entered the bais elohav, they that came forth of his own loins [i.e., his sons] cut him down there with the cherev.

22 Thus Hashem saved Chizkiyahu and the inhabitants of Yerushalayim from the yad Sancheriv Melech Ashur, and from the yad of all other, and guided them on every side.

23 And many brought minchah unto Hashem to Yerushalayim, and migdanot (expensive gifts) to Chizkiyahu Melech Yehudah, so that he was magnified in the sight of Kol HaGoyim from thenceforth.

24 In those yamim Chizkiyah became ill, to the point of mot, and davened unto Hashem, and He answered him, and He gave him a mofet [see 2Kgs 20:1-11].

25 But Chizkiyahu did not render back according to the benefit done unto him; for his lev was lifted up in pride; therefore there was ketzef (wrath) upon him, and upon Yehudah and Yerushalayim.

26 Notwithstanding Chizkiyahu humbled himself for the pride of his lev, both he and the inhabitants of Yerushalayim, so that the ketzef Hashem came not upon them in the days of Chizkiyah.

27 And Chizkiyahu had exceeding much osher and kavod, and he made himself otzarot for kesef, and for zahav, and for precious stones, and for spices, and for moginim, and for all manner of valuable things;

28 Silos also for the increase of dagan, and tirosh and yitzhar (pure olive oil); and stalls for the livestock, and pens for all the sheep.

29 Moreover he built him towns, and possessions of tzon and bakar in abundance, for Elohim had given him wealth very much.

30 This same Chizkiyahu also covered over the upper source of the Gichon Spring and tunneled it straight down to the west side of Ir Dovid. Chizkiyahu prospered in all his works.

31 Howbeit in the business of the ambassadors of the sarim of Babylon, who sent unto him to inquire of the mofet that was done in HaAretz, HaElohim left him, to test him, that He might know all that was in his lev.

32 Now the rest of the acts of Chizkiyahu, and his acts of chesed, hinei, they are written in the Chazon Yeshayahu ben Amoz HaNavi, and in the Sefer Melachim of Yehudah and Yisroel.

33 And Chizkiyahu slept with Avotav, and they buried him on the ascent in kivrei Bnei Dovid; and all Yehudah and the inhabitants of Yerushalayim did him kavod at his mot. And Menasheh bno reigned in his place.