2nd Dabar-Hayamym (2 Chronicles) — 32

Sannacharib Boasts Against YAHUAH 

1 After these deeds of faithfulness, Sannacharib king of Assyria came and entered Yahudah; he encamped against the fortified cities, thinking to win them over to himself. 

2 And when Hazakyahu saw that Sannacharib had come, and that his purpose was to make war against Yahushalam, 

3 he consulted with his leaders and commanders to stop the water from the springs which were outside the city; and they helped him. 

4 Thus many people gathered together who stopped all the springs and the brook that ran through the land, saying, “Why should the kings of Assyria come and find much water?”

5 And he strengthened himself, built up all the wall that was broken, raised it up to the towers, and built another wall outside; also he repaired the Millo in the City of Daud, and made weapons and shields in abundance. 

6 Then he set military captains over the people, gathered them together to him in the open square of the city gate, and gave them encouragement, saying, 

7 “Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid nor dismayed before the king of Assyria, nor before all the multitude that is with him; for there are more with us than with him. 

8 With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is  𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH our 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH, to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people were strengthened by the words of Hazakyahu king of Yahudah.

9 After this Sannacharib king of Assyria sent his servants to Yahushalam (but he and all the forces with him laid siege against Lachish), to Hazakyahu king of Yahudah, and to all Yahudah who were in Yahushalam, saying, 

10 “Thus says Sannacharib king of Assyria: ‘In what do you trust, that you remain under siege in Yahushalam? 

11 Does Hazakyahu persuade you to give yourselves over to die by famine and by thirst, saying' 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH  our 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH will deliver us from the hand of the king of Assyria”? 

12 Do you not realize that Hazakyahu is the one who destroyed your high places and altars, and commanded Yahudah and Yahushalam, saying, “You must worship before one altar and burn incense on it”? 

13 Do you not know what I and my fathers have done to all the peoples of other lands? Were the idols of the nations of those lands in any way able to deliver their lands out of my hand? 

14 Who was there among all the idols of those nations that my fathers utterly destroyed that could deliver his people from my hand, that your 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH should be able to deliver you from my hand? 

15 Now therefore, do not let Hazakyahu deceive you or persuade you like this, and do not believe him; for no idol of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people from my hand or the hand of my fathers. How much less will your 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH deliver you from my hand?’ ”

16 Furthermore, his servants spoke against 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH the 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH of Yashar'AL and against His servant Hazakyahu.

17 He also wrote letters to revile  𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH the 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH of Yashar'AL, and to speak against Him, saying, “As the idols of the nations of other lands have not delivered their people from my hand, so the 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH of Hazakiah will not deliver His people from my hand.” 

18 Then they called out with a loud voice in Abarym (Hebrew) to the people of Yahushalam who were on the wall, to frighten them and trouble them, that they might take the city. 

19 And they spoke against the 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH of Yahushalam, as against the idols of the people of the Arath, the work of men’s hands.

Sannacharib’s Defeated and his Death

20 Now because of this King Hazakyahu and the Nabym Yashayahu, the son of Amuz, prayed and cried out to Shamaym. 

21 Then 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH sent a Malak who cut down every mighty man of valor, leader, and captain in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned shamefaced to his own land. And when he had gone into the temple of his idols, some of his own offspring struck him down with the sword there.

22 Thus 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH saved Hazakyahu and the inhabitants of Yahushalam from the hand of Sannacharib the king of Assyria, and from the hand of all others, and guided them on every side. 

23 And many brought gifts to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH  at Yahushalam, and presents to Hazakyahu king of Yahudah, so that he was exalted in the sight of all nations thereafter.

Hazakyahu Humbles Himself

24 In those days Hazakyahu was sick and near death, and he prayed to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH; and 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH spoke to him and gave him a sign. 

25 But Hazakyahu did not repay according to the favor shown him, for his heart was lifted up; therefore wrath was looming over him and over Yahudah and Yahushalam. 

26 Then Hazakyahu humbled himself for the pride of his heart, he and the inhabitants of Yahushalam, so that the wrath of  𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH did not come upon them in the days of Hazakyahu.

Hazakyahu’s Wealth and Honor

27 Hazakyahu had very great riches and honor. And he made himself treasuries for silver, for gold, for precious stones, for spices, for shields, and for all kinds of desirable items; 

28 storehouses for the harvest of grain, wine, and oil; and stalls for all kinds of livestock, and folds for flocks. 

29 Moreover he provided cities for himself, and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance; for 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH had given him very much property. 

30 This same Hazakyahu also stopped the water outlet of Upper Gihun, and brought the water by tunnel to the west side of the City of Daud. Hazakyahu prospered in all his works.

31 However, regarding the ambassadors of the princes of Babylun, whom they sent to him to inquire about the wonder that was done in the land, 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH withdrew from him, in order to test him, that He might know all that was in his heart.

Death of Hazakyahu 

32 Now the rest of the acts of Hazakyahu, and his goodness, indeed they are written in the vision of Yashayahu the Nabym, the son of Amuz, and in the book of the kings of Yahudah and Yashar'AL. 

33 So Hazakyahu rested with his fathers, and they buried him in the upper tombs of the sons of Daud; and all Yahudah and the inhabitants of Yahushalam honored him at his death. Then Manassah his son reigned in his place.