Isaiah’s Message of Deliverance
(2 Kings 19:1–7)

1  וַיְהִ֗י (And it came to pass), כִּשְׁמֹ֙עַ֙ (when heard it) הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ (King) חִזְקִיָּ֔הוּ (Hezekiah) וַיִּקְרַ֖ע (that he tore) אֶת־ (-) בְּגָדָ֑יו (his clothes), וַיִּתְכַּ֣ס (and covered himself) בַּשָּׂ֔ק (with sackcloth), וַיָּבֹ֖א (and he entered) בֵּ֥ית (the house) יְהוָֽה׃ (of YHWH). 2  וַ֠יִּשְׁלַח (And he sent) אֶת־ (-) אֶלְיָקִ֨ים (Eliakim), אֲשֶׁר־ (who was) עַל־ (over) הַבַּ֜יִת (the house), וְאֵ֣ת׀ (and) שֶׁבְנָ֣א (Shebna) הַסּוֹפֵ֗ר (the scribe), וְאֵת֙ (and) זִקְנֵ֣י (the elders) הַכֹּהֲנִ֔ים (of the priests) מִתְכַּסִּ֖ים (covered) בַּשַּׂקִּ֑ים (with sackcloth), אֶל־ (to) יְשַֽׁעְיָ֥הוּ (Isaiah) בֶן־ (son) אָמ֖וֹץ (of Amoz) הַנָּבִֽיא׃ (the prophet). 3  וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ (And they said) אֵלָ֗יו (to him) כֹּ֚ה (Thus) אָמַ֣ר (says) חִזְקִיָּ֔הוּ (Hezekiah), יוֹם־ (day) צָרָ֧ה (of distress), וְתוֹכֵחָ֛ה (and rebuke), וּנְאָצָ֖ה (and contempt); הַיּ֣וֹם (is a day) הַזֶּ֑ה (this) כִּ֣י (for) בָ֤אוּ (have come) בָנִים֙ (sons) עַד־ (to the point of) מַשְׁבֵּ֔ר (birth), וְכֹ֥חַ (strength) אַ֖יִן (and there is not) לְלֵדָֽה׃ (for giving birth). 4  אוּלַ֡י (Perhaps) יִשְׁמַע֩ (will hear) יְהוָ֨ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהֶ֜יךָ (your God) אֵ֣ת׀ (-) דִּבְרֵ֣י (the words) רַב־ (of the Rab-) שָׁקֵ֗ה (shakeh), אֲשֶׁר֩ (whom) שְׁלָח֨וֹ (has sent) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (the king) אַשּׁ֤וּר׀ (of Assyria) אֲדֹנָיו֙ (his master) לְחָרֵף֙ (to defy) אֱלֹהִ֣ים (the God), חַ֔י (living) וְהוֹכִ֙יחַ֙ (and He will rebuke) בַּדְּבָרִ֔ים (the words) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) שָׁמַ֖ע (has heard). יְהוָ֣ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ (your God) וְנָשָׂ֣אתָ (and lift up) תְפִלָּ֔ה (a prayer) בְּעַ֥ד (on behalf) הַשְּׁאֵרִ֖ית (of the remnant) הַנִּמְצָאָֽה׃ (that is found).

5  וַיָּבֹ֗אוּ (And came) עַבְדֵ֛י (the servants) הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ (of king) חִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ (Hezekiah) אֶל־ (to) יְשַׁעְיָֽהוּ׃ (Isaiah). 6  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) אֲלֵיהֶם֙ (to them) יְשַֽׁעְיָ֔הוּ (Isaiah) כֹּ֥ה (Thus) תֹאמְר֖וּן (will you⁺ say) אֶל־ (to) אֲדֹנֵיכֶ֑ם (your⁺ master), כֹּ֣ה׀ (thus) אָמַ֣ר (says) יְהוָ֗ה (YHWH), אַל־ (Do not) תִּירָא֙ (be afraid) מִפְּנֵ֤י (before the face) הַדְּבָרִים֙ (of the words) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) שָׁמַ֔עְתָּ (you have heard), אֲשֶׁ֧ר (with which) גִּדְּפ֛וּ (have blasphemed) נַעֲרֵ֥י (the servants) מֶלֶךְ־ (of the king) אַשּׁ֖וּר (of Assyria) אוֹתִֽי׃ (have blasphemed). 7  הִנְנִ֨י (Behold) נוֹתֵ֥ן (I will put) בּוֹ֙ (in him) ר֔וּחַ (a spirit) וְשָׁמַ֥ע (and he will hear) שְׁמוּעָ֖ה (a rumor), וְשָׁ֣ב (and return) אֶל־ (to) אַרְצ֑וֹ (his land); וְהִפַּלְתִּ֥יו (and I will cause him to fall) בַּחֶ֖רֶב (by the sword) בְּאַרְצֽוֹ׃ (in his land).

Sennacherib’s Blasphemous Letter
(2 Kings 19:8–13)

8  וַיָּ֙שָׁב֙ (And returned), רַב־ (the Rab-) שָׁקֵ֔ה (shakeh) וַיִּמְצָא֙ (and found) אֶת־ (-) מֶ֣לֶךְ (the king) אַשּׁ֔וּר (of Assyria) נִלְחָ֖ם (making war) עַל־ (against) לִבְנָ֑ה (Libnah), כִּ֣י (for) שָׁמַ֔ע (he had heard) כִּ֥י (that) נָסַ֖ע (he had set out) מִלָּכִֽישׁ׃ (from Lachish).

9  וַיִּשְׁמַ֗ע (And the king heard) עַל־ (about) תִּרְהָ֤קָה (Tirhakah) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (king) כּוּשׁ֙ (of Cush), לֵאמֹ֔ר (with some saying) יָצָ֖א (He has come out) לְהִלָּחֵ֣ם (to make war) אִתָּ֑ךְ (with you)

וַיִּשְׁמַע֙ (and when he heard this) וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח (and he sent) מַלְאָכִ֔ים (messengers) אֶל־ (to) חִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ (Hezekiah), לֵאמֹֽר׃ (saying), 10  כֹּ֣ה (Thus) תֹאמְר֗וּן (you⁺ will speak) אֶל־ (to) חִזְקִיָּ֤הוּ (Hezekiah) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (king) יְהוּדָה֙ (of Judah), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying),

אַל־ (Let nor) יַשִּֽׁאֲךָ֣ (let deceive you) אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ (your God), אֲשֶׁ֥ר (whom) אַתָּ֛ה (you) בּוֹטֵ֥חַ (trust), בּ֖וֹ (in him) לֵאמֹ֑ר (saying), לֹ֤א (not) תִנָּתֵן֙ (will be given) יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם (Jerusalem) בְּיַ֖ד (into the hand) מֶ֥לֶךְ (of the king) אַשּֽׁוּר׃ (of Assyria). 11  הִנֵּ֣ה׀ (For behold), אַתָּ֣ה (you) שָׁמַ֗עְתָּ (have heard) אֲשֶׁ֨ר (what) עָשׂ֜וּ (have done) מַלְכֵ֥י (the kings) אַשּׁ֛וּר (of Assyria) לְכָל־ (to all) הָאֲרָצ֖וֹת (the lands) לְהַחֲרִימָ֑ם (devoting them to destruction); וְאַתָּ֖ה (and you) תִּנָּצֵֽל׃ (will you be delivered)? 12  הַהִצִּ֨ילוּ (Delivered) אוֹתָ֜ם (them) אֱלֹהֵ֤י (have the gods) הַגּוֹיִם֙ (of the nations) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) הִשְׁחִ֣יתוּ (have destroyed), אֲבוֹתַ֔י (my fathers) אֶת־ (-) גּוֹזָ֖ן (as Gozan), וְאֶת־ (and) חָרָ֑ן (Haran), וְרֶ֥צֶף (and Rezeph), וּבְנֵי־ (and the sons) עֶ֖דֶן (of Eden) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (who were) בִּתְלַשָּֽׂר׃ (in Telassar)? 13  אַיֵּ֤ה (Where is) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (the king) חֲמָת֙ (of Hamath), וּמֶ֣לֶךְ (and the king) אַרְפָּ֔ד (of Arpad), וּמֶ֖לֶךְ (and the king) לָעִ֣יר (of the city) סְפַרְוָ֑יִם (of Sepharvaim), הֵנַ֖ע (Hena), וְעִוָּֽה׃ (and Ivvah)?

Hezekiah’s Prayer
(2 Kings 19:14–19)

14  וַיִּקַּ֨ח (And received) חִזְקִיָּ֧הוּ (Hezekiah) אֶת־ (-) הַסְּפָרִ֛ים (the letter) מִיַּ֥ד (from the hand) הַמַּלְאָכִ֖ים (of the messengers), וַיִּקְרָאֵ֑הוּ (and read it) וַיַּ֙עַל֙ (and he went up) בֵּ֣ית (to the house) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH), וַיִּפְרְשֵׂ֥הוּ (spread it out) חִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ (Hezekiah) לִפְנֵ֥י (before the face of) יְהוָֽה׃ (YHWH). 15  וַיִּתְפַּלֵּל֙ (And prayed) חִזְקִיָּ֔הוּ (Hezekiah) אֶל־ (to) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH), לֵאמֹֽר׃ (saying),

16  יְהוָ֨ה (O YHWH of) צְבָא֜וֹת (Hosts), אֱלֹהֵ֤י (God) יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (of Israel), יֹשֵׁ֣ב (the One sitting above) הַכְּרֻבִ֔ים (the cherubim), אַתָּה־ (You) ה֤וּא (are) הָֽאֱלֹהִים֙ (God), לְבַדְּךָ֔ (You alone), לְכֹ֖ל (of all) מַמְלְכ֣וֹת (the kingdoms) הָאָ֑רֶץ (of the earth). אַתָּ֣ה (You) עָשִׂ֔יתָ (made) אֶת־ (-) הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם (the heavens) וְאֶת־ (and) הָאָֽרֶץ׃ (the earth). 17  הַטֵּ֨ה (Incline) יְהוָ֤ה׀ (O YHWH), אָזְנְךָ֙ (Your ear), וּֽשְׁמָ֔ע (and hear); פְּקַ֧ח (open) יְהוָ֛ה (O YHWH), עֵינֶ֖ךָ (Your eyes), וּרְאֵ֑ה (and see); וּשְׁמַ֗ע (and hear) אֵ֚ת (-) כָּל־ (all) דִּבְרֵ֣י (the words) סַנְחֵרִ֔יב (of Sennacherib), אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) שָׁלַ֔ח (he has sent) לְחָרֵ֖ף (to reproach) אֱלֹהִ֥ים (the God) חָֽי׃ (living).

18  אָמְנָ֖ם (Truly), יְהוָ֑ה (O YHWH), הֶחֱרִ֜יבוּ (have destroyed) מַלְכֵ֥י (the kings) אַשּׁ֛וּר (of Assyria) אֶת־ (-) כָּל־ (all) הָאֲרָצ֖וֹת (the nations), וְאֶת־ (and) אַרְצָֽם׃ (their lands), 19  וְנָתֹ֥ן (and have given) אֶת־ (-) אֱלֹהֵיהֶ֖ם (their gods) בָּאֵ֑שׁ (into the fire), כִּי֩ (for) לֹ֨א (not) אֱלֹהִ֜ים (gods), הֵ֗מָּה (they are) כִּ֣י (but) אִם־ (only) מַעֲשֵׂ֧ה (the work) יְדֵֽי־ (of the hands), אָדָ֛ם (of man) עֵ֥ץ (wood) וָאֶ֖בֶן (and stone) וַֽיְאַבְּדֽוּם׃ (and they have destroyed them).

20  וְעַתָּה֙ (And now) יְהוָ֣ה (O YHWH) אֱלֹהֵ֔ינוּ (our God), הוֹשִׁיעֵ֖נוּ (save us) מִיָד֑וֹ (from his hand), וְיֵֽדְעוּ֙ (that may know) כָּל־ (so that all) מַמְלְכ֣וֹת (the kingdoms) הָאָ֔רֶץ (of the earth) כִּֽי־ (that) אַתָּ֥ה (You are) יְהוָ֖ה (O YHWH), לְבַדֶּֽךָ׃ (You alone).

Sennacherib’s Fall Prophesied
(2 Kings 19:20–34)

21  וַיִּשְׁלַח֙ (And sent) יְשַֽׁעְיָ֣הוּ (Isaiah) בֶן־ (son) אָמ֔וֹץ (of Amoz) אֶל־ (to) חִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ (Hezekiah), לֵאמֹ֑ר (saying), כֹּֽה־ (Thus) אָמַ֤ר (says) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) אֱלֹהֵ֣י (God) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel), אֲשֶׁר֙ (because) הִתְפַּלַּ֣לְתָּ (you have prayed) אֵלַ֔י (to Me) אֶל־ (regarding) סַנְחֵרִ֖יב (Sennacherib) מֶ֥לֶךְ (king) אַשּֽׁוּר׃ (of Assyria), 22  זֶ֣ה (this is) הַדָּבָ֔ר (the word) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) דִּבֶּ֥ר (has spoken) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) עָלָ֑יו (concerning him)

בָּזָ֨ה (Despises) לְךָ֜ (you) לָעֲגָ֣ה (and mocks); לְךָ֗ (at you)

בְּתוּלַת֙ (the virgin), בַּת־ (the daughter) צִיּ֔וֹן (of Zion),

אַחֲרֶ֙יךָ֙ (behind you) רֹ֣אשׁ (the head)

הֵנִ֔יעָה (shakes) בַּ֖ת (the daughter) יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ (of Jerusalem).

23  אֶת־ (-) מִ֤י (Whom) חֵרַ֙פְתָּ֙ (have you taunted) וְגִדַּ֔פְתָּ (and blasphemed)?

וְעַל־ (And against) מִ֖י (whom) הֲרִימ֣וֹתָה (have you raised) קּ֑וֹל (the voice),

וַתִּשָּׂ֥א (and lifted) מָר֛וֹם (on high)? עֵינֶ֖יךָ (Your eyes)

אֶל־ (against) קְד֥וֹשׁ (the Holy One) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (of Israel).

24  בְּיַ֣ד (By the hand) עֲבָדֶיךָ֮ (of your servants) חֵרַ֣פְתָּ׀ (you have reproached) אֲדֹנָי֒ (the Lord),

וַתֹּ֗אמֶר (and you have said),

בְּרֹ֥ב (By the multitude) רִכְבִּ֛י (of my chariots)

אֲנִ֥י (I) עָלִ֛יתִי (have gone up)

מְר֥וֹם (to the height) הָרִ֖ים (of the mountains),

יַרְכְּתֵ֣י (to the sides) לְבָנ֑וֹן (of Lebanon);

וְאֶכְרֹ֞ת (and I have cut down) קוֹמַ֤ת (the tallest) אֲרָזָיו֙ (of its cedars)

מִבְחַ֣ר (the choicest) בְּרֹשָׁ֔יו (of its cypress trees)

וְאָבוֹא֙ (and I have come) מְר֣וֹם (to the height) קִצּ֔וֹ (of its end),

יַ֖עַר (the forest) כַּרְמִלּֽוֹ׃ (of its Carmel).

25  אֲנִ֥י (I) קַ֖רְתִּי (have dug),

וְשָׁתִ֣יתִי (and I have drunk) מָ֑יִם (water);

וְאַחְרִב֙ (and I have dried up) בְּכַף־ (with the soles) פְּעָמַ֔י (of my feet)

כֹּ֖ל (all) יְאֹרֵ֥י (the rivers) מָצֽוֹר׃ (of Egypt).

26  הֲלֽוֹא־ (Have not) שָׁמַ֤עְתָּ (you heard)

לְמֵֽרָחוֹק֙ (how from distant times), אוֹתָ֣הּ (it) עָשִׂ֔יתִי (I made)

מִ֥ימֵי (from days), קֶ֖דֶם (of old) וִיצַרְתִּ֑יהָ (and I formed it)

עַתָּ֣ה (now) הֲבֵאתִ֔יהָ (I am bringing it to pass),

וּתְהִ֗י (that you should) לְהַשְׁא֛וֹת (crash) גַּלִּ֥ים (into heaps). נִצִּ֖ים (Of ruins)

עָרִ֥ים (cities) בְּצֻרֽוֹת׃ (fortified).

27  וְיֹֽשְׁבֵיהֶן֙ (And their dwellers) קִצְרֵי־ (short) יָ֔ד (of hand),

חַ֖תּוּ (were dismayed) וָבֹ֑שׁוּ (and put to shame);

הָי֞וּ (they have become) עֵ֤שֶׂב (a plant) שָׂדֶה֙ (of the field),

וִ֣ירַק (and green) דֶּ֔שֶׁא (grass),

חֲצִ֣יר (grass) גַּגּ֔וֹת (on the rooftops),

וּשְׁדֵמָ֖ה (and field) לִפְנֵ֥י (before) קָמָֽה׃ (it is grown).

28  וְשִׁבְתְּךָ֛ (And your standing up and your sitting down), וְצֵאתְךָ֥ (and your going out), וּבוֹאֲךָ֖ (and your coming in), יָדָ֑עְתִּי (I have known)

וְאֵ֖ת (and) הִֽתְרַגֶּזְךָ֥ (your raging) אֵלָֽי׃ (against Me).

29  יַ֚עַן (Because) הִתְרַגֶּזְךָ֣ (your raging) אֵלַ֔י (against Me) וְשַׁאֲנַנְךָ֖ (and your arrogance),

עָלָ֣ה (have come up) בְאָזְנָ֑י (into My ears),

וְשַׂמְתִּ֨י (I will put) חַחִ֜י (My hook) בְּאַפֶּ֗ךָ (in your nose),

וּמִתְגִּי֙ (and My bridle) בִּשְׂפָתֶ֔יךָ (on your lips),

וַהֲשִׁ֣יבֹתִ֔יךָ (and I will turn you back)

בַּדֶּ֖רֶךְ (to the way) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) בָּ֥אתָ (you came) בָּֽהּ׃ (by it).

30  וְזֶה־ (And this is) לְּךָ֣ (to you) הָא֔וֹת (a sign)

אָכ֤וֹל (you will eat) הַשָּׁנָה֙ (this year)

סָפִ֔יחַ (the aftergrowth);

וּבַשָּׁנָ֥ה (year) הַשֵּׁנִ֖ית (and in the second) שָׁחִ֑יס (what springs forth);

וּבַשָּׁנָ֣ה (year) הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֗ית (and in the third) זִרְע֧וּ (you will sow) וְקִצְר֛וּ (and reap),

וְנִטְע֥וּ (and plant) כְרָמִ֖ים (vineyards), וְאָכוֹל (and eat) פִרְיָֽם׃ (their fruit).

31  וְיָ֨סְפָ֜ה (And again will) פְּלֵיטַ֧ת (the surivors) בֵּית־ (of the house) יְהוּדָ֛ה (of Judah)

הַנִּשְׁאָרָ֖ה (those remaining)

שֹׁ֣רֶשׁ (take root) לְמָ֑טָּה (beneath),

וְעָשָׂ֥ה (and produce) פְרִ֖י (fruit) לְמָֽעְלָה׃ (above).

32  כִּ֤י (For) מִירֽוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙ (from Jerusalem) תֵּצֵ֣א (will go forth) שְׁאֵרִ֔ית (a remnant),

וּפְלֵיטָ֖ה (and a survivor) מֵהַ֣ר (from Mount) צִיּ֑וֹן (Zion);

קִנְאַ֛ת (the zeal) יְהוָ֥ה (of YHWH of) צְבָא֖וֹת (Hosts)

תַּֽעֲשֶׂה־ (will do) זֹּֽאת׃ס (this).

33  לָכֵ֗ן (Therefore) כֹּֽה־ (thus) אָמַ֤ר (says) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) אֶל־ (concerning) מֶ֣לֶךְ (the king) אַשּׁ֔וּר (of Assyria),

לֹ֤א (He will not) יָבוֹא֙ (come) אֶל־ (into) הָעִ֣יר (the city), הַזֹּ֔את (this)

וְלֹֽא־ (and not) יוֹרֶ֥ה (shoot) שָׁ֖ם (there), חֵ֑ץ (an arrow)

וְלֹֽא־ (and not) יְקַדְּמֶ֣נָּה (come before it) מָגֵ֔ן (with shields),

וְלֹֽא־ (and not) יִשְׁפֹּ֥ךְ (pour out) עֳלֶ֖יהָ (against it) סֹלְלָֽה׃ (a siege mound).

34  בַּדֶּ֥רֶךְ (By the way) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) בָּ֖א (he came), בָּ֣הּ (by it) יָשׁ֑וּב (will he return),

וְאֶל־ (and into) הָעִ֥יר (the city), הַזֹּ֛את (this) לֹ֥א (not) יָב֖וֹא (he will enter)

נְאֻם־ (a declaration) יְהוָֽה׃ (of YHWH).

35  וְגַנּוֹתִ֛י (And I will cover) עַל־ (over) הָעִ֥יר (the city) הַזֹּ֖את (this)

לְהֽוֹשִׁיעָ֑הּ (to save it) לְמַֽעֲנִ֔י (for My own sake),

וּלְמַ֖עַן (and for the sake). דָּוִ֥ד (Of David) עַבְדִּֽי׃ס (My servant).

Jerusalem Delivered from the Assyrians
(2 Kings 19:35–37; 2 Chronicles 32:20–23)

36  וַיֵּצֵ֣א׀ (And went forth), מַלְאַ֣ךְ (the angel) יְהוָ֗ה (of YHWH) וַיַּכֶּה֙ (and killed) בְּמַחֲנֵ֣ה (in the camp) אַשּׁ֔וּר (of Assyria) מֵאָ֛ה (a hundred) וּשְׁמֹנִ֥ים (and eighty) וַחֲמִשָּׁ֖ה (and five) אָ֑לֶף (thousand); וַיַּשְׁכִּ֣ימוּ (and they rose early) בַבֹּ֔קֶר (in the morning), וְהִנֵּ֥ה (and behold), כֻלָּ֖ם (all of them were) פְּגָרִ֥ים (corpses) מֵתִֽים׃ (dead).

37  וַיִּסַּ֣ע (And he pulled out), וַיֵּ֔לֶךְ (and went away) וַיָּ֖שָׁב (and returned), סַנְחֵרִ֣יב (Sennacherib) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (king) אַשּׁ֑וּר (of Assyria) וַיֵּ֖שֶׁב (and dwelt) בְּנִֽינְוֵֽה׃ (in Nineveh). 38  וַיְהִי֩ (And it came to pass), ה֨וּא (as he) מִֽשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֜ה (was worshiping) בֵּ֣ית׀ (in the house) נִסְרֹ֣ךְ (of Nisroch) אֱלֹהָ֗יו (his god), וְֽאַדְרַמֶּ֨לֶךְ (that Adrammelech) וְשַׂרְאֶ֤צֶר (and Sarezer) בָּנָיו֙ (his sons) הִכֻּ֣הוּ (struck him) בַחֶ֔רֶב (with the sword); וְהֵ֥מָּה (and they) נִמְלְט֖וּ (escaped) אֶ֣רֶץ (to the land) אֲרָרָ֑ט (of Ararat). וַיִּמְלֹ֛ךְ (And reigned) אֵֽסַר־ (and Esar-) חַדֹּ֥ן (haddon) בְּנ֖וֹ (his son) תַּחְתָּֽיו׃ס (in his place).