Passage Resources Hebrew/Greek Your Content
Previous Next
Add parallel Print Page Options
Close CEI

2 Re 18
Conferenza Episcopale Italiana

VIII. GLI ULTIMI TEMPI DEL REGNO DI GIUDA

1. EZECHIA, IL PROFETA ISAIA E L'ASSIRIA

Introduzione al regno di Ezechia (716-687)

18 Nell'anno terzo di Osea figlio di Ela, re di Israele, divenne re Ezechia figlio di Acaz, re di Giuda. 2 Quando egli divenne re, aveva venticinque anni; regnò ventinove anni in Gerusalemme. Sua madre si chiamava Abi, figlia di Zaccaria. 3 Fece ciò che è retto agli occhi del Signore, secondo quanto aveva fatto Davide suo antenato. 4 Egli eliminò le alture e frantumò le stele, abbattè il palo sacro e fece a pezzi il serpente di bronzo, eretto da Mosè; difatti fino a quel tempo gli Israeliti gli bruciavano incenso e lo chiamavano Necustan. 5 Egli confidò nel Signore, Dio di Israele. Fra tutti i re di Giuda nessuno fu simile a lui, né fra i suoi successori né fra i suoi predecessori. 6 Attaccato al Signore, non se ne allontanò; osservò i decreti che il Signore aveva dati a Mosè. 7 Il Signore fu con Ezechia e questi riuscì in tutte le iniziative. Egli si ribellò al re d'Assiria e non gli fu sottomesso. 8 Sconfisse i Filistei fino a Gaza e ai suoi confini, dal più piccolo villaggio fino alle fortezze.

Riepilogo della presa di Samaria

9 Nell'anno quarto del re Ezechia, cioè l'anno settimo di Osea figlio di Ela, re di Israele, Salmanassar re di Assiria marciò contro Samaria e la assediò. 10 Dopo tre anni la prese; nell'anno sesto di Ezechia, cioè l'anno nono di Osea re di Israele, Samaria fu presa. 11 Il re d'Assiria deportò gli Israeliti in Assiria, destinandoli a Chelach, al Cabor, fiume del Gozan, e alle città della Media. 12 Ciò accadde perché quelli non avevano ascoltato la voce del Signore loro Dio e ne avevano trasgredito l'alleanza e non avevano ascoltato né messo in pratica quanto aveva loro comandato Mosè, servo di Dio.

Invasione di Sennàcherib

13 Nell'anno quattordici del re Ezechia, Sennàcherib re di Assiria assalì e prese tutte le fortezze di Giuda. 14 Ezechia, re di Giuda, mandò a dire al re d'Assiria in Lachis: «Ho peccato; allontànati da me e io sopporterò quanto mi imporrai». Il re di Assiria impose a Ezechia re di Giuda trecento talenti d'argento e trenta talenti d'oro. 15 Ezechia consegnò tutto il denaro che si trovava nel tempio e nei tesori della reggia. 16 In quel tempo Ezechia staccò dalle porte del tempio del Signore e dagli stipiti l'oro, di cui egli stesso re di Giuda li aveva rivestiti, e lo diede al re d'Assiria.

Missione del gran coppiere

17 Il re d'Assiria mandò il tartan, il capo delle guardie e il gran coppiere da Lachis a Gerusalemme, al re Ezechia, con un grande esercito. Costoro salirono e giunsero a Gerusalemme; si fermarono al canale della piscina superiore, sulla strada del campo del lavandaio.

18 Essi chiesero del re e incontro a loro vennero Eliakìm figlio di Chelkia, il maggiordomo, Sebna lo scriba e Ioach figlio di Asaf, l'archivista. 19 Il gran coppiere disse loro: «Riferite a Ezechia: Dice il gran re, il re d'Assiria: Che fiducia è quella su cui ti appoggi? 20 Pensi forse che la semplice parola possa sostituire il consiglio e la forza nella guerra? Ora, in chi confidi ribellandoti a me? 21 Ecco, tu confidi su questo sostegno di canna spezzata, che è l'Egitto, che penetra nella mano, forandola, a chi vi si appoggia; tale è il faraone re di Egitto per chiunque confida in lui. 22 Se mi dite: Noi confidiamo nel Signore nostro Dio, non è forse quello stesso del quale Ezechia distrusse le alture e gli altari, ordinando alla gente di Giuda e di Gerusalemme: Vi prostrerete soltanto davanti a questo altare in Gerusalemme? 23 Ora vieni al mio signore, re d'Assiria; io ti darò duemila cavalli, se potrai procurarti cavalieri per essi. 24 Come potresti fare retrocedere uno solo dei più piccoli servi del mio signore? Eppure tu confidi nell'Egitto per i carri e i cavalieri. 25 Ora, non è forse secondo il volere del Signore che io sono venuto contro questo paese per distruggerlo? Il Signore mi ha detto: Và contro questo paese e distruggilo».

26 Eliakìm figlio di Chelkia, Sebna e Ioach risposero al gran coppiere: «Parla, ti prego, ai tuoi servi in aramaico, perché noi lo comprendiamo; non parlare in ebraico, mentre il popolo che è sulle mura ascolta». 27 Il gran coppiere replicò: «Forse io sono stato inviato al tuo signore e a te dal mio signore per pronunziare tali parole e non piuttosto agli uomini che stanno sulle mura, i quali saranno ridotti a mangiare i loro escrementi e a bere la loro urina con voi?». 28 Il gran coppiere allora si alzò e gridò a gran voce in ebraico: «Udite la parola del gran re, del re d'Assiria: 29 Dice il re: Non vi inganni Ezechia, poiché non potrà liberarvi dalla mia mano. 30 Ezechia non vi induca a confidare nel Signore, dicendo: Certo, il Signore ci libererà, questa città non sarà messa nelle mani del re d'Assiria. 31 Non ascoltate Ezechia, poiché dice il re d'Assiria: Fate la pace con me e arrendetevi; allora ognuno potrà mangiare i frutti della sua vigna e dei suoi fichi, ognuno potrà bere l'acqua della sua cisterna, 32 finché io non venga per condurvi in un paese come il vostro, in un paese che produce frumento e mosto, in un paese ricco di pane e di vigne, in un paese di ulivi e di miele; voi vivrete e non morirete. Non ascoltate Ezechia che vi inganna, dicendovi: Il Signore ci libererà! 33 Forse gli dei delle nazioni hanno liberato ognuno il proprio paese dalla mano del re d'Assiria? 34 Dove sono gli dei di Amat e di Arpad? Dove sono gli dei di Sefarvàim, di Ena e di Ivva? Hanno essi forse liberato Samaria dalla mia mano? 35 Quali mai, fra tutti gli dei di quelle nazioni, hanno liberato il loro paese dalla mia mano? Potrà forse il Signore liberare Gerusalemme dalla mia mano?».

36 Quelli tacquero e non gli risposero neppure una parola, perché l'ordine del re era: «Non rispondete loro».

37 Eliakìm figlio di Chelkia, il maggiordomo, Sebna lo scriba e Ioach figlio di Asaf, l'archivista, si presentarono a Ezechia con le vesti stracciate e gli riferirono le parole del gran coppiere.

Listen to 2 Kings 18
Close NKJV

2 Kings 18
New King James Version

Hezekiah Reigns in Judah(A)

18 Now it came to pass in the third year of (B)Hoshea the son of Elah, king of Israel, that (C)Hezekiah the son of Ahaz, king of Judah, began to reign. 2 He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was (D)Abi[a] the daughter of Zechariah. 3 And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father David had done.

4 (E)He removed the [b]high places and broke the sacred pillars, cut down the [c]wooden image and broke in pieces the (F)bronze serpent that Moses had made; for until those days the children of Israel burned incense to it, and called it [d]Nehushtan. 5 He (G)trusted in the Lord God of Israel, (H)so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor who were before him. 6 For he (I)held fast to the Lord; he did not depart from following Him, but kept His commandments, which the Lord had commanded Moses. 7 The Lord (J)was with him; he (K)prospered wherever he went. And he (L)rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him. 8 (M)He [e]subdued the Philistines, as far as Gaza and its territory, (N)from watchtower to fortified city.

9 Now (O)it came to pass in the fourth year of King Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of Hoshea the son of Elah, king of Israel, that Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria and besieged it. 10 And at the end of three years they took it. In the sixth year of Hezekiah, that is, (P)the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel, Samaria was taken. 11 (Q)Then the king of Assyria carried Israel away captive to Assyria, and put them (R)in Halah and by the Habor, the River of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes, 12 because they (S)did not obey the voice of the Lord their God, but transgressed His covenant and all that Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded; and they would neither hear nor do them.

13 And (T)in the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah and took them. 14 Then Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria at Lachish, saying, “I have done wrong; turn away from me; whatever you impose on me I will pay.” And the king of Assyria assessed Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold. 15 So Hezekiah (U)gave him all the silver that was found in the house of the Lord and in the treasuries of the king’s house. 16 At that time Hezekiah stripped the gold from the doors of the temple of the Lord, and from the pillars which Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid, and gave [f]it to the king of Assyria.

Sennacherib Boasts Against the Lord(V)

17 Then the king of Assyria sent the [g]Tartan, the [h]Rabsaris, and the [i]Rabshakeh from Lachish, with a great army against Jerusalem, to King Hezekiah. And they went up and came to Jerusalem. When they had come up, they went and stood by the (W)aqueduct from the upper pool, (X)which was on the highway to the Fuller’s Field. 18 And when they had called to the king, (Y)Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, Shebna the [j]scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph, the recorder, came out to them. 19 Then the Rabshakeh said to them, “Say now to Hezekiah, ‘Thus says the great king, the king of Assyria: (Z)“What confidence is this in which you trust? 20 You speak of having plans and power for war; but they are [k]mere words. And in whom do you trust, that you rebel against me? 21 (AA)Now look! You are trusting in the staff of this broken reed, Egypt, on which if a man leans, it will go into his hand and pierce it. So is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him. 22 But if you say to me, ‘We trust in the Lord our God,’ is it not He (AB)whose [l]high places and whose altars Hezekiah has taken away, and said to Judah and Jerusalem, ‘You shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem’?” ’ 23 Now therefore, I urge you, give a pledge to my master the king of Assyria, and I will give you two thousand horses—if you are able on your part to put riders on them! 24 How then will you repel one captain of the least of my master’s servants, and put your trust in Egypt for chariots and horsemen? 25 Have I now come up without the Lord against this place to destroy it? The Lord said to me, ‘Go up against this land, and destroy it.’ ”

26 (AC)Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, Shebna, and Joah said to the Rabshakeh, “Please speak to your servants in (AD)Aramaic, for we understand it; and do not speak to us in [m]Hebrew in the hearing of the people who are on the wall.”

27 But the Rabshakeh said to them, “Has my master sent me to your master and to you to speak these words, and not to the men who sit on the wall, who will eat and drink their own waste with you?”

28 Then the Rabshakeh stood and called out with a loud voice in [n]Hebrew, and spoke, saying, “Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria! 29 Thus says the king: (AE)‘Do not let Hezekiah deceive you, for he shall not be able to deliver you from his hand; 30 nor let Hezekiah make you trust in the Lord, saying, “The Lord will surely deliver us; this city shall not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.” ’ 31 Do not listen to Hezekiah; for thus says the king of Assyria: ‘Make peace with me [o]by a present and come out to me; and every one of you eat from his own (AF)vine and every one from his own fig tree, and every one of you drink the waters of his own cistern; 32 until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, (AG)a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of olive groves and honey, that you may live and not die. But do not listen to Hezekiah, lest he persuade you, saying, “The Lord will deliver us.” 33 (AH)Has any of the gods of the nations at all delivered its land from the hand of the king of Assyria? 34 Where are the gods of (AI)Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim and Hena and (AJ)Ivah? Indeed, have they delivered Samaria from my hand? 35 Who among all the gods of the lands have delivered their countries from my hand, (AK)that the Lord should deliver Jerusalem from my hand?’ ”

36 But the people held their peace and answered him not a word; for the king’s commandment was, “Do not answer him.” 37 Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph, the recorder, came to Hezekiah (AL)with their clothes torn, and told him the words of the Rabshakeh.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 18:2 Abijah, 2 Chr. 29:1ff.
  2. 2 Kings 18:4 Places for pagan worship
  3. 2 Kings 18:4 Heb. Asherah, a Canaanite goddess
  4. 2 Kings 18:4 Lit. Bronze Thing, also similar to Heb. nahash, serpent
  5. 2 Kings 18:8 Lit. struck
  6. 2 Kings 18:16 Lit. them
  7. 2 Kings 18:17 A title, probably Commander in Chief
  8. 2 Kings 18:17 A title, probably Chief Officer
  9. 2 Kings 18:17 A title, probably Chief of Staff or Governor
  10. 2 Kings 18:18 secretary
  11. 2 Kings 18:20 Lit. a word of the lips
  12. 2 Kings 18:22 Places for pagan worship
  13. 2 Kings 18:26 Lit. Judean
  14. 2 Kings 18:28 Lit. Judean
  15. 2 Kings 18:31 By paying tribute
Close NBLA

2 Reyes 18
Nueva Biblia de las Américas

Ezequías rey de Judá

18 En el año tercero de Oseas, hijo de Ela, rey de Israel(A), comenzó a reinar Ezequías, hijo de Acaz, rey de Judá(B). 2 (C)Tenía veinticinco años cuando comenzó a reinar, y reinó veintinueve años en Jerusalén. El nombre de su madre era Abi[a], hija de Zacarías. 3 Hizo lo recto ante los ojos del Señor(D), conforme a todo lo que su padre David había hecho. 4 Quitó los lugares altos(E), derribó los pilares sagrados y cortó la Asera[b]. También hizo pedazos la serpiente de bronce que Moisés había hecho(F), porque hasta aquellos días los israelitas le quemaban incienso; y la llamaban Nehustán[c].

5 Ezequías confió en el Señor, Dios de Israel(G). Después de él, no hubo ninguno como él entre todos los reyes de Judá, ni entre los que fueron antes de él(H), 6 porque se apegó al Señor; no se apartó de Él(I), sino que guardó los mandamientos que el Señor había ordenado a Moisés. 7 El Señor estaba con él; adondequiera que iba prosperaba(J). Se rebeló contra el rey de Asiria y no le sirvió(K). 8 Derrotó[d] a los filisteos hasta Gaza(L) y su territorio, desde las torres de atalaya hasta las ciudades fortificadas(M).

9 En el año cuarto del rey Ezequías, que era el año séptimo de Oseas, hijo de Ela, rey de Israel, Salmanasar, rey de Asiria, subió contra Samaria y la sitió(N), 10 y después de tres años la tomaron. En el año sexto de Ezequías, que era el año noveno de Oseas, rey de Israel, Samaria fue tomada(O). 11 Y el rey de Asiria llevó a Israel al destierro en Asiria, y los puso en Halah y en el Habor, río de Gozán, y en las ciudades de los medos(P), 12 porque no obedecieron la voz del Señor su Dios, sino que quebrantaron Su pacto, es decir, todo lo que Moisés, siervo del Señor, había ordenado; no escucharon, ni lo cumplieron(Q).

Invasión de Senaquerib

13 (R)En el año catorce del rey Ezequías, subió Senaquerib, rey de Asiria, contra todas las ciudades fortificadas de Judá, y las tomó. 14 Entonces Ezequías, rey de Judá, envió a decir al rey de Asiria en Laquis: «He hecho lo malo(S). Retírate[e] de mí; lo que me impongas, aceptaré». Y el rey de Asiria impuso a Ezequías, rey de Judá, 10.2 toneladas de plata y una tonelada de oro. 15 Y Ezequías le dio toda la plata que se hallaba en la casa del Señor y en los tesoros de la casa del rey(T). 16 En aquel tiempo Ezequías quitó el oro de las puertas del templo del Señor, y de los postes de las puertas que el mismo Ezequías, rey de Judá, había revestido de oro, y lo entregó al rey de Asiria.

17 Desde Laquis el rey de Asiria envió a Jerusalén, al Tartán(U), al Rabsaris y al Rabsaces[f] con un gran ejército contra el rey Ezequías. Y subieron y llegaron a Jerusalén. Y cuando subieron, llegaron y se colocaron junto al acueducto del estanque superior que está en la calzada del campo del Batanero[g](V). 18 Llamaron al rey, y salió a ellos Eliaquim, hijo de Hilcías(W), que era mayordomo, con el escriba Sebna(X) y el cronista Joa, hijo de Asaf.

19 Entonces el Rabsaces les dijo: «Digan ahora a Ezequías: “Así dice el gran rey, el rey de Asiria: ‘¿Qué confianza es esta que tú tienes(Y)? 20 Tú dices (pero solo son palabras vanas): “Tengo consejo y poder para la guerra”. Pero ahora, ¿en quién confías que te has rebelado contra mí(Z)? 21 Yo sé que tú confías en el báculo de esta caña quebrada, es decir, en Egipto(AA), en el cual, si un hombre se apoya, penetrará en su mano y la traspasará. Así es Faraón, rey de Egipto, para todos los que confían en él. 22 Pero si ustedes me dicen: “Nosotros confiamos en el Señor nuestro Dios”, ¿no es Él aquel cuyos lugares altos y cuyos altares Ezequías ha quitado(AB) y ha dicho a Judá y a Jerusalén: “Adorarán delante de este altar en Jerusalén”? 23 Ahora pues, te ruego que llegues a un acuerdo[h] con mi señor el rey de Asiria, y yo te daré 2,000 caballos, si por tu parte puedes poner jinetes sobre ellos. 24 ¿Cómo, pues, puedes rechazar a un oficial[i] de los menores de los siervos de mi señor, y confiar en Egipto para tener carros y hombres de a caballo? 25 ¿He subido ahora sin el consentimiento del Señor contra este lugar para destruirlo? El Señor me dijo: “Sube contra esta tierra y destrúyela”’”».

26 Entonces Eliaquim, hijo de Hilcías, Sebna y Joa dijeron al Rabsaces: «Le rogamos que hable a sus siervos en arameo(AC), porque nosotros lo entendemos[j], y no nos hable en la lengua de Judá[k] a oídos del pueblo que está sobre la muralla». 27 Pero el Rabsaces les dijo: «¿Acaso me ha enviado mi señor para hablar estas palabras solo a tu señor y a ti, y no a los hombres que están sentados en la muralla, condenados a comer sus propios excrementos y beber su propia orina con ustedes?». 28 El Rabsaces se puso en pie, gritó a gran voz en la lengua de Judá, y dijo: «Escuchen la palabra del gran rey, el rey de Asiria. 29 Así dice el rey: “Que no los engañe Ezequías, porque él no los podrá librar de mi[l] mano(AD); 30 ni que Ezequías les haga confiar en el Señor, diciendo: ‘Ciertamente el Señor nos librará, y esta ciudad no será entregada en manos del rey de Asiria’. 31 No escuchen a Ezequías, porque así dice el rey de Asiria: ‘Hagan la paz conmigo[m] y salgan a mí, y coma cada uno de su vid y cada uno de su higuera, y beba(AE) cada cual de las aguas de su cisterna, 32 hasta que yo venga y los lleve a una tierra como la tierra de ustedes, tierra de grano y de vino nuevo, tierra de pan y de viñas, tierra de olivos y de miel, para que vivan y no mueran(AF)’.

Pero no escuchen a Ezequías porque los engaña, diciendo: ‘El Señor nos librará’. 33 ¿Acaso alguno de los dioses de las naciones ha librado su tierra de la mano del rey de Asiria(AG)? 34 ¿Dónde están los dioses de Hamat y de Arfad(AH)? ¿Dónde están los dioses de Sefarvaim, de Hena y de Iva(AI)? ¿Cuándo han librado ellos a Samaria de mi mano(AJ)? 35 ¿Quiénes de entre todos los dioses de estas tierras han librado su tierra de mi mano(AK), para que el Señor libre a Jerusalén de mi mano?”». 36 Pero el pueblo se quedó callado y no le respondió palabra alguna, porque la orden del rey era: «No le respondan». 37 Entonces Eliaquim, hijo de Hilcías(AL), mayordomo de la casa real, el escriba Sebna y el cronista Joa, hijo de Asaf, fueron a Ezequías con sus vestidos rasgados(AM), y le relataron las palabras del Rabsaces.

Footnotes

  1. 18:2 En 2Crón. 29:1, Abías.
  2. 18:4 I.e. deidad femenina.
  3. 18:4 I.e. pedazo de bronce.
  4. 18:8 Lit. Hirió.
  5. 18:14 Lit. Vuelve.
  6. 18:17 I.e. oficiales de alto rango.
  7. 18:17 O Lavandero.
  8. 18:23 Lit. intercambies promesas.
  9. 18:24 O gobernador.
  10. 18:26 Lit. oímos.
  11. 18:26 Lit. en judío; i.e. en hebreo, y así en el vers. 28.
  12. 18:29 Así en algunas versiones antiguas; en heb. su.
  13. 18:31 Lit. Hagan conmigo una bendición.
Listen to 2 Kings 18
Close NIV

2 Kings 18
New International Version

Hezekiah King of Judah(A)(B)(C)

18 In the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, Hezekiah(D) son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign. 2 He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years.(E) His mother’s name was Abijah[a] daughter of Zechariah. 3 He did what was right(F) in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father David(G) had done. 4 He removed(H) the high places,(I) smashed the sacred stones(J) and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke into pieces the bronze snake(K) Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it. (It was called Nehushtan.[b])

5 Hezekiah trusted(L) in the Lord, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him. 6 He held fast(M) to the Lord and did not stop following him; he kept the commands the Lord had given Moses. 7 And the Lord was with him; he was successful(N) in whatever he undertook. He rebelled(O) against the king of Assyria and did not serve him. 8 From watchtower to fortified city,(P) he defeated the Philistines, as far as Gaza and its territory.

9 In King Hezekiah’s fourth year,(Q) which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, Shalmaneser king of Assyria marched against Samaria and laid siege to it. 10 At the end of three years the Assyrians took it. So Samaria was captured in Hezekiah’s sixth year, which was the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel. 11 The king(R) of Assyria deported Israel to Assyria and settled them in Halah, in Gozan on the Habor River and in towns of the Medes.(S) 12 This happened because they had not obeyed the Lord their God, but had violated his covenant(T)—all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded.(U) They neither listened to the commands(V) nor carried them out.

13 In the fourteenth year(W) of King Hezekiah’s reign, Sennacherib king of Assyria attacked all the fortified cities of Judah(X) and captured them. 14 So Hezekiah king of Judah sent this message to the king of Assyria at Lachish:(Y) “I have done wrong.(Z) Withdraw from me, and I will pay whatever you demand of me.” The king of Assyria exacted from Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents[c] of silver and thirty talents[d] of gold. 15 So Hezekiah gave(AA) him all the silver that was found in the temple of the Lord and in the treasuries of the royal palace.

16 At this time Hezekiah king of Judah stripped off the gold with which he had covered the doors(AB) and doorposts of the temple of the Lord, and gave it to the king of Assyria.

Sennacherib Threatens Jerusalem(AC)(AD)

17 The king of Assyria sent his supreme commander,(AE) his chief officer and his field commander with a large army, from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem. They came up to Jerusalem and stopped at the aqueduct of the Upper Pool,(AF) on the road to the Washerman’s Field. 18 They called for the king; and Eliakim(AG) son of Hilkiah the palace administrator, Shebna(AH) the secretary, and Joah son of Asaph the recorder went out to them.

19 The field commander said to them, “Tell Hezekiah:

“‘This is what the great king, the king of Assyria, says: On what are you basing this confidence(AI) of yours? 20 You say you have the counsel and the might for war—but you speak only empty words. On whom are you depending, that you rebel against me? 21 Look, I know you are depending on Egypt,(AJ) that splintered reed of a staff,(AK) which pierces the hand of anyone who leans on it! Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who depend on him. 22 But if you say to me, “We are depending on the Lord our God”—isn’t he the one whose high places and altars Hezekiah removed, saying to Judah and Jerusalem, “You must worship before this altar in Jerusalem”?

23 “‘Come now, make a bargain with my master, the king of Assyria: I will give you two thousand horses—if you can put riders on them! 24 How can you repulse one officer(AL) of the least of my master’s officials, even though you are depending on Egypt for chariots and horsemen[e]? 25 Furthermore, have I come to attack and destroy this place without word from the Lord?(AM) The Lord himself told me to march against this country and destroy it.’”

26 Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah, and Shebna and Joah said to the field commander, “Please speak to your servants in Aramaic,(AN) since we understand it. Don’t speak to us in Hebrew in the hearing of the people on the wall.”

27 But the commander replied, “Was it only to your master and you that my master sent me to say these things, and not to the people sitting on the wall—who, like you, will have to eat their own excrement and drink their own urine?”

28 Then the commander stood and called out in Hebrew, “Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria! 29 This is what the king says: Do not let Hezekiah deceive(AO) you. He cannot deliver you from my hand. 30 Do not let Hezekiah persuade you to trust in the Lord when he says, ‘The Lord will surely deliver us; this city will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.’

31 “Do not listen to Hezekiah. This is what the king of Assyria says: Make peace with me and come out to me. Then each of you will eat fruit from your own vine and fig tree(AP) and drink water from your own cistern,(AQ) 32 until I come and take you to a land like your own—a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of olive trees and honey. Choose life(AR) and not death!

“Do not listen to Hezekiah, for he is misleading you when he says, ‘The Lord will deliver us.’ 33 Has the god(AS) of any nation ever delivered his land from the hand of the king of Assyria? 34 Where are the gods of Hamath(AT) and Arpad?(AU) Where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena and Ivvah? Have they rescued Samaria from my hand? 35 Who of all the gods of these countries has been able to save his land from me? How then can the Lord deliver Jerusalem from my hand?”(AV)

36 But the people remained silent and said nothing in reply, because the king had commanded, “Do not answer him.”

37 Then Eliakim(AW) son of Hilkiah the palace administrator, Shebna the secretary, and Joah son of Asaph the recorder went to Hezekiah, with their clothes torn,(AX) and told him what the field commander had said.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 18:2 Hebrew Abi, a variant of Abijah
  2. 2 Kings 18:4 Nehushtan sounds like the Hebrew for both bronze and snake.
  3. 2 Kings 18:14 That is, about 11 tons or about 10 metric tons
  4. 2 Kings 18:14 That is, about 1 ton or about 1 metric ton
  5. 2 Kings 18:24 Or charioteers
Next
2 Re 17
2 Re 19
Next
dropdown
Conferenza Episcopale Italiana (CEI)

by Public Domain

New King James Version (NKJV)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Learn the Bible in 30 days
Nueva Biblia de las Américas (NBLA)

Nueva Biblia de las Américas™ NBLA™ Copyright © 2005 por The Lockman Foundation

Nueva Biblia de las Américas™ NBLA™ is made available by The Lockman Foundation
New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.

July Summer Surge

More on the NIV