Sennacherib Threatens Jerusalem
(2 Kings 18:13–37; 2 Chronicles 32:1–8)

1  וַיְהִ֡י (And it came to pass) בְּאַרְבַּע֩ (in the four) עֶשְׂרֵ֨ה (…) שָׁנָ֜ה (year) לַמֶּ֣לֶךְ (of king) חִזְקִיָּ֗הוּ (Hezekiah), עָלָ֞ה (came up) סַנְחֵרִ֤יב (Sennacherib) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (king) אַשּׁוּר֙ (of Assyria) עַ֣ל (against) כָּל־ (all) עָרֵ֧י (cities) יְהוּדָ֛ה (of Judah), הַבְּצֻר֖וֹת (the fortified) וַֽיִּתְפְּשֵֽׂם׃ (and he captured them). 2  וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח (And sent) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (the king) אַשּׁ֣וּר׀ (of Assyria) אֶת־ (-) רַב־ (the Rab-) שָׁקֵ֨ה (shakeh) מִלָּכִ֧ישׁ (from Lachish) יְרוּשָׁלְַ֛מָה (to Jerusalem) אֶל־ (to) הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ (king) חִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ (Hezekiah) בְּחֵ֣יל (army) כָּבֵ֑ד (with a great) וַֽיַּעֲמֹ֗ד (and he stood) בִּתְעָלַת֙ (by the conduit) הַבְּרֵכָ֣ה (of the pool) הָעֶלְיוֹנָ֔ה (upper) בִּמְסִלַּ֖ת (on the highway to) שְׂדֵ֥ה (the Field of) כוֹבֵֽס׃ (Fuller).

3  וַיֵּצֵ֥א (And went out) אֵלָ֛יו (to him) אֶלְיָקִ֥ים (Eliakim), בֶּן־ (son), חִלְקִיָּ֖הוּ (of Hilkiah) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (who was) עַל־ (over) הַבָּ֑יִת (the house), וְשֶׁבְנָא֙ (and Shebna) הַסֹּפֵ֔ר (the scribe), וְיוֹאָ֥ח (and Joah), בֶּן־ (son), אָסָ֖ף (of Asaph) הַמַּזְכִּֽיר׃ (the recorder).

4  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) אֲלֵיהֶם֙ (to them) רַב־ (the Rab-) שָׁקֵ֔ה (shakeh) אִמְרוּ־ (Say) נָ֖א (please) אֶל־ (to) חִזְקִיָּ֑הוּ (Hezekiah), כֹּֽה־ (thus) אָמַ֞ר (says) הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ (the king), הַגָּדוֹל֙ (great) מֶ֣לֶךְ (the king) אַשּׁ֔וּר (of Assyria), מָ֧ה (What) הַבִּטָּח֛וֹן (confidence) הַזֶּ֖ה (is this) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (with which) בָּטָֽחְתָּ׃ (you are confident)? 5  אָמַ֙רְתִּי֙ (I speak), אַךְ־ (a mere) דְּבַר־ (word) שְׂפָתַ֔יִם (of the lips) עֵצָ֥ה (is counsel) וּגְבוּרָ֖ה (and strength) לַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה (for the battle); עַתָּה֙ (now) עַל־ (in) מִ֣י (whom) בָטַ֔חְתָּ (are you trusting), כִּ֥י (that) מָרַ֖דְתָּ (you have rebelled) בִּֽי׃ (against me).

6  הִנֵּ֣ה (Behold), בָטַ֡חְתָּ (are you trusting) עַל־ (in) מִשְׁעֶנֶת֩ (the staff) הַקָּנֶ֨ה (of the reed), הָרָצ֤וּץ (broken) הַזֶּה֙ (this) עַל־ (in) מִצְרַ֔יִם (Egypt); אֲשֶׁ֨ר (which) יִסָּמֵ֥ךְ (who leans), אִישׁ֙ (a man) עָלָ֔יו (on it) וּבָ֥א (it will go) בְכַפּ֖וֹ (into his palm), וּנְקָבָ֑הּ (and pierce it) כֵּ֚ן (so) פַּרְעֹ֣ה (is Pharaoh) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (king) מִצְרַ֔יִם (of Egypt) לְכָֽל־ (to all) הַבֹּטְחִ֖ים (those trusting) עָלָֽיו׃ (in him). 7  וְכִי־ (But if) תֹאמַ֣ר (you say) אֵלַ֔י (to me) אֶל־ (In) יְהוָ֥ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ (our God); בָּטָ֑חְנוּ (we trust) הֲלוֹא־ (is it not) ה֗וּא (He), אֲשֶׁ֨ר (for whom) הֵסִ֤יר (has turned aside), חִזְקִיָּ֙הוּ֙ (Hezekiah) אֶת־ (-) בָּמֹתָ֣יו (His high places) וְאֶת־ (and) מִזְבְּחֹתָ֔יו (His altars) וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (and said) לִֽיהוּדָה֙ (to Judah) וְלִיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם (and to Jerusalem), לִפְנֵ֛י (Before) הַמִּזְבֵּ֥חַ (altar)? הַזֶּ֖ה (This) תִּֽשְׁתַּחֲוֽוּ׃ (you⁺ shall worship).

8  וְעַתָּה֙ (And now) הִתְעָ֣רֶב (make a wager) נָ֔א (please), אֶת־ (with) אֲדֹנִ֖י (my lord) הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ (the king) אַשּׁ֑וּר (of Assyria), וְאֶתְּנָ֤ה (and I will give) לְךָ֙ (to you) אַלְפַּ֣יִם (two thousand) סוּסִ֔ים (horses), אִם־ (if) תּוּכַ֕ל (you are able) לָ֥תֶת (to set) לְךָ֖ (for you) רֹכְבִ֥ים (riders) עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃ (on them). 9  וְאֵ֣יךְ (And how) תָּשִׁ֗יב (can you turn back) אֵ֠ת (-) פְּנֵ֨י (the faces) פַחַ֥ת (a governor) אַחַ֛ד (of one among) עַבְדֵ֥י (servants), אֲדֹנִ֖י (of my lord) הַקְטַנִּ֑ים (of the least) וַתִּבְטַ֤ח (and place) לְךָ֙ (your trust) עַל־ (in) מִצְרַ֔יִם (Egypt) לְרֶ֖כֶב (for chariot) וּלְפָרָשִֽׁים׃ (and horsemen)? 10  וְעַתָּה֙ (And now) הֲמִבַּלְעֲדֵ֣י (was it without) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH) עָלִ֛יתִי (that I cam up) עַל־ (against) הָאָ֥רֶץ (the land) הַזֹּ֖את (this) לְהַשְׁחִיתָ֑הּ (to destroy it) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) אָמַ֣ר (has said) אֵלַ֔י (to me) עֲלֵ֛ה (Go up) אֶל־ (against) הָאָ֥רֶץ (the land), הַזֹּ֖את (this) וְהַשְׁחִיתָֽהּ׃ (and destroy it).

11  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) אֶלְיָקִים֩ (Eliakim) וְשֶׁבְנָ֨א (and Shebna) וְיוֹאָ֜ח (and Joah) אֶל־ (to) רַב־ (the Rab-) שָׁקֵ֗ה (shakeh), דַּבֶּר־ (Speak), נָ֤א (please), אֶל־ (to) עֲבָדֶ֙יךָ֙ (your servants) אֲרָמִ֔ית (in Aramaic); כִּ֥י (for) שֹׁמְעִ֖ים (understand it) אֲנָ֑חְנוּ (we) וְאַל־ (and do not) תְּדַבֵּ֤ר (speak) אֵלֵ֙ינוּ֙ (to us) יְהוּדִ֔ית (in Hebrew), בְּאָזְנֵ֣י (in the ears) הָעָ֔ם (of the people) אֲשֶׁ֖ר (who are) עַל־ (on) הַחוֹמָֽה׃ (the wall).

12  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said), רַב־ (the Rab-) שָׁקֵ֗ה (shakeh) הַאֶ֨ל (Was it to) אֲדֹנֶ֤יךָ (your lord) וְאֵלֶ֙יךָ֙ (and to you alone) שְׁלָחַ֣נִי (that sent me) אֲדֹנִ֔י (my master) לְדַבֵּ֖ר (to speak) אֶת־ (-) הַדְּבָרִ֣ים (the words)? הָאֵ֑לֶּה (These) הֲלֹ֣א (was it not) עַל־ (to) הָאֲנָשִׁ֗ים (the men) הַיֹּֽשְׁבִים֙ (sitting) עַל־ (on) הַ֣חוֹמָ֔ה (the wall), לֶאֱכֹ֣ל (who will eat) אֶת־ (-) חַרְאֵיהֶם (their own dung) וְלִשְׁתּ֛וֹת (and drink) אֶת־ (-) שֵׁינֵיהֶם (their own urine) עִמָּכֶֽם׃ (with you⁺).

13  וַֽיַּעֲמֹד֙ (And stood), רַב־ (the Rab-) שָׁקֵ֔ה (shakeh) וַיִּקְרָ֥א (and called out) בְקוֹל־ (voice) גָּד֖וֹל (with a great) יְהוּדִ֑ית (in Hebrew), וַיֹּ֕אמֶר (and he said), שִׁמְע֗וּ (Hear) אֶת־ (-) דִּבְרֵ֛י (the words) הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ (of the king), הַגָּד֖וֹל (great) מֶ֥לֶךְ (the king) אַשּֽׁוּר׃ (of Assyria). 14  כֹּ֚ה (Thus) אָמַ֣ר (says) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (the king), אַל־ (do not let) יַשִּׁ֥א (deceive) לָכֶ֖ם (you⁺) חִזְקִיָּ֑הוּ (Hezekiah) כִּ֥י (for) לֹֽא־ (he will not) יוּכַ֖ל (be able) לְהַצִּ֥יל (to deliver) אֶתְכֶֽם׃ (you⁺). 15  וְאַל־ (And do not) יַבְטַ֨ח (make trust) אֶתְכֶ֤ם (you⁺) חִזְקִיָּ֙הוּ֙ (Hezekiah) אֶל־ (in) יְהוָ֣ה (YHWH), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), הַצֵּ֥ל (Delivering) יַצִּילֵ֖נוּ (will deliver us) יְהוָ֑ה (YHWH) לֹ֤א (not) תִנָּתֵן֙ (will be given) הָעִ֣יר (city) הַזֹּ֔את (this) בְּיַ֖ד (into the hand) מֶ֥לֶךְ (of the king) אַשּֽׁוּר׃ (of Assyria).

16  אַֽל־ (Do not) תִּשְׁמְע֖וּ (listen) אֶל־ (to) חִזְקִיָּ֑הוּס (Hezekiah); כִּי֩ (for) כֹ֨ה (thus) אָמַ֜ר (says) הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ (the king) אַשּׁ֗וּר (of Assyria), עֲשֽׂוּ־ (make) אִתִּ֤י (with me) בְרָכָה֙ (peace), וּצְא֣וּ (and come out) אֵלַ֔י (to me) וְאִכְל֤וּ (and will eat) אִישׁ־ (each man) גַּפְנוֹ֙ (from his own vine), וְאִ֣ישׁ (and each man) תְּאֵנָת֔וֹ (from his fig tree), וּשְׁת֖וּ (and will drink) אִ֥ישׁ (each man) מֵי־ (the waters) בוֹרֽוֹ׃ (of his own cistern); 17  עַד־ (until) בֹּאִ֕י (I come) וְלָקַחְתִּ֥י (and take) אֶתְכֶ֖ם (you⁺) אֶל־ (to) אֶ֣רֶץ (a land) כְּאַרְצְכֶ֑ם (like your⁺ own land), אֶ֤רֶץ (a land) דָּגָן֙ (of grain) וְתִיר֔וֹשׁ (and new wine), אֶ֥רֶץ (a land) לֶ֖חֶם (of bread) וּכְרָמִֽים׃ (and vineyards).

18  פֶּן־ (Lest) יַסִּ֨ית (should incite) אֶתְכֶ֤ם (you⁺) חִזְקִיָּ֙הוּ֙ (Hezekiah) לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) יַצִּילֵ֑נוּ (delivering). הַהִצִּ֜ילוּ (Will deliver us) אֱלֹהֵ֤י (have the gods) הַגּוֹיִם֙ (of the nations) אִ֣ישׁ (every man of) אֶת־ (-) אַרְצ֔וֹ (his land) מִיַּ֖ד (from the hand) מֶ֥לֶךְ (of the king) אַשּֽׁוּר׃ (of Assyria)? 19  אַיֵּ֞ה (Where are) אֱלֹהֵ֤י (the gods) חֲמָת֙ (of Hamath) וְאַרְפָּ֔ד (and Arpad)? אַיֵּ֖ה (Where are) אֱלֹהֵ֣י (the gods) סְפַרְוָ֑יִם (of Sepharvaim)? וְכִֽי־ (Indeed) הִצִּ֥ילוּ (have they delivered) אֶת־ (-) שֹׁמְר֖וֹן (Samaria) מִיָּדִֽי׃ (from my hand)? 20  מִ֗י (Who) בְּכָל־ (among all) אֱלֹהֵ֤י (the gods) הָֽאֲרָצוֹת֙ (of the lands), הָאֵ֔לֶּה (these) אֲשֶׁר־ (are they who) הִצִּ֥ילוּ (have delivered) אֶת־ (-) אַרְצָ֖ם (their lands) מִיָּדִ֑י (from my hand), כִּֽי־ (that) יַצִּ֧יל (might deliver) יְהוָ֛ה (YHWH) אֶת־ (-) יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם (Jerusalem) מִיָּדִֽי׃ (from my hand)?

21  וַֽיַּחֲרִ֔ישׁוּ (And they were quiet), וְלֹֽא־ (and they did not) עָנ֥וּ (answer) אֹת֖וֹ (him) דָּבָ֑ר (a word); כִּֽי־ (for) מִצְוַ֨ת (the command) הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ (of the king) הִ֛יא (it was) לֵאמֹ֖ר (saying), לֹ֥א (Do not) תַעֲנֻֽהוּ׃ (answer him).

22  וַיָּבֹ֣א (And came) אֶלְיָקִ֣ים (Eliakim), בֶּן־ (son) חִלְקִיָּ֣הוּ (of Hilkiah), אֲשֶׁר־ (who was) עַל־ (over) הַ֠בַּיִת (the house), וְשֶׁבְנָ֨א (and Shebna) הַסּוֹפֵ֜ר (the scribe), וְיוֹאָ֨ח (and Joah), בֶּן־ (son) אָסָ֧ף (of Asaph), הַמַּזְכִּ֛יר (the recorder), אֶל־ (to) חִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ (Hezekiah) קְרוּעֵ֣י (with torn), בְגָדִ֑ים (clothes) וַיַּגִּ֣ידוּ (and they declared) ל֔וֹ (to him) אֵ֖ת (-) דִּבְרֵ֥י (the words) רַב־ (of the Rab-) שָׁקֵֽה׃ס (shakeh).