Hezekiah
Judah's Reformer King
Also known as: Hizki
Hezekiah (Hiskia) was one of Judah's most godly kings, known for his religious reform, his trust in God during the Assyrian siege of Jerusalem, and his miraculous healing. He restored temple worship, removed idolatry, and relied on the Lord when facing the mighty Assyrian army under Sennacherib.
Family
Key events
Religious Reform and Temple Cleansing
Hezekiah carried out a comprehensive religious reform. He opened and repaired the temple, removed the high places, broke down the idols, and destroyed the bronze serpent Nehushtan that Moses had made.
1Hezekiah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah.
יְחִזְקִיָּ֣הוּ מָלַ֗ךְ בֶּן־עֶשְׂרִ֤ים וְחָמֵשׁ֙ שָׁנָ֔ה וְעֶשְׂרִ֤ים וָתֵ֙שַׁע֙ שָׁנָ֔ה מָלַ֖ךְ בִּירוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם וְשֵׁ֣ם אִמּ֔וֹ אֲבִיָּ֖ה בַּת־זְכַרְיָֽהוּ׃
2He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his forefather David had done.
וַיַּ֥עַשׂ הַיָּשָׁ֖ר בְּעֵינֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה כְּכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂ֖ה דָּוִ֥יד אָבִֽיו׃
3In the first month of the first year of his reign he opened the doors of the house of the LORD and repaired them.
ה֣וּא בַשָּׁנָה֩ הָרִאשׁוֹנָ֨ה לְמָלְכ֜וֹ בַּחֹ֣דֶשׁ הָרִאשׁ֗וֹן פָּתַ֛ח אֶת־דַּלְת֥וֹת בֵּית־יְהוָ֖ה וַֽיְחַזְּקֵֽם׃
4He brought in the priests and the Levites and gathered them in the square on the east side,
וַיָּבֵ֥א אֶת־הַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים וְאֶת־הַלְוִיִּ֑ם וַיַּֽאַסְפֵ֖ם לִרְח֥וֹב הַמִּזְרָֽח׃
5and he said to them: "Listen to me, Levites! Consecrate yourselves now, and consecrate the house of the LORD, the God of your fathers. Carry the filth out of the sanctuary.
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר לָהֶ֖ם שְׁמָע֣וּנִי הַלְוִיִּ֑ם עַתָּ֣ה הִֽתְקַדְּשׁ֗וּ וְקַדְּשׁוּ֙ אֶת־בֵּ֤ית יְהוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י אֲבֹתֵיכֶ֔ם וְהוֹצִ֥יאוּ אֶת־הַנִּדָּ֖ה מִן־הַקֹּֽדֶשׁ׃
6For our fathers were unfaithful; they did what was evil in the eyes of the LORD our God and abandoned him. They turned their faces away from the dwelling place of the LORD and turned their backs on him.
כִּֽי־מָעֲל֣וּ אֲבֹתֵ֗ינוּ וְעָשׂ֥וּ הָרַ֛ע בְּעֵינֵ֥י יְהוָֽה־אֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ וַיַּֽעַזְבֻ֑הוּ וַיַּסֵּ֧בּוּ פְנֵיהֶ֛ם מִמִּשְׁכַּ֥ן יְהוָ֖ה וַיִּתְּנוּ־עֹֽרֶף׃
3He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as David his father had done.
וַיַּ֥עַשׂ הַיָּשָׁ֖ר בְּעֵינֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה כְּכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂ֖ה דָּוִ֥ד אָבִֽיו׃
4He removed the high places, smashed the sacred pillars, and cut down the Asherah. He also broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for down to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it; it was called Nehushtan.[Nehushtan sounds like the Hebrew words for "bronze" and "serpent"; the name may be understood as "the bronze thing."]
ה֣וּא ׀ הֵסִ֣יר אֶת־הַבָּמ֗וֹת וְשִׁבַּר֙ אֶת־הַמַּצֵּבֹ֔ת וְכָרַ֖ת אֶת־הָֽאֲשֵׁרָ֑ה וְכִתַּת֩ נְחַ֨שׁ הַנְּחֹ֜שֶׁת אֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂ֣ה מֹשֶׁ֗ה כִּ֣י עַד־הַיָּמִ֤ים הָהֵ֙מָּה֙ הָי֤וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ מְקַטְּרִ֣ים ל֔וֹ וַיִּקְרָא־ל֖וֹ נְחֻשְׁתָּֽן׃
5He trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel. Among all the kings of Judah there was no one like him, either before him or after him.
בַּיהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בָּטָ֑ח וְאַחֲרָ֞יו לֹא־הָיָ֣ה כָמֹ֗הוּ בְּכֹל֙ מַלְכֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֔ה וַאֲשֶׁ֥ר הָי֖וּ לְפָנָֽיו׃
6He held fast to the LORD and did not turn away from following him; he kept the commandments the LORD had given Moses.
וַיִּדְבַּק֙ בַּֽיהוָ֔ה לֹא־סָ֖ר מֵאַֽחֲרָ֑יו וַיִּשְׁמֹר֙ מִצְוֺתָ֔יו אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּ֥ה יְהוָ֖ה אֶת־מֹשֶֽׁה׃
Celebration of Passover
Hezekiah invited all Israel and Judah to celebrate Passover in Jerusalem, the largest Passover celebration since the time of King Solomon.
1Hezekiah sent word to all Israel and Judah, and he also wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh, inviting them to come to the house of the LORD in Jerusalem to keep the Passover to the LORD, the God of Israel.
וַיִּשְׁלַ֨ח יְחִזְקִיָּ֜הוּ עַל־כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל וִֽיהוּדָ֗ה וְגַֽם־אִגְּרוֹת֙ כָּתַב֙ עַל־אֶפְרַ֣יִם וּמְנַשֶּׁ֔ה לָב֥וֹא לְבֵית־יְהוָ֖ה בִּֽירוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת פֶּ֔סַח לַיהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
2The king and his officials and the whole assembly in Jerusalem had decided to keep the Passover in the second month,
וַיִּוָּעַ֨ץ הַמֶּ֧לֶךְ וְשָׂרָ֛יו וְכָל־הַקָּהָ֖ל בִּירוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת הַפֶּ֖סַח בַּחֹ֥דֶשׁ הַשֵּׁנִֽי׃
3since they could not keep it at the proper time: not enough priests had consecrated themselves, and the people had not gathered in Jerusalem.
כִּ֣י לֹ֧א יָכְל֛וּ לַעֲשֹׂת֖וֹ בָּעֵ֣ת הַהִ֑יא כִּ֤י הַכֹּהֲנִים֙ לֹֽא־הִתְקַדְּשׁ֣וּ לְמַדַּ֔י וְהָעָ֖ם לֹא־נֶאֶסְפ֥וּ לִֽירוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃
4The plan seemed right to the king and to the whole assembly,
וַיִּישַׁ֥ר הַדָּבָ֖ר בְּעֵינֵ֣י הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וּבְעֵינֵ֖י כָּל־הַקָּהָֽל׃
5so they resolved to send a proclamation throughout Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, calling the people to come to Jerusalem and keep the Passover to the LORD, the God of Israel; for they had not kept it in great numbers as it is written.
וַיַּֽעֲמִ֣ידוּ דָבָ֗ר לְהַעֲבִ֨יר ק֤וֹל בְּכָל־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ מִבְּאֵֽר־שֶׁ֣בַע וְעַד־דָּ֔ן לָב֞וֹא לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת פֶּ֛סַח לַיהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בִּירוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם כִּ֣י לֹ֥א לָרֹ֛ב עָשׂ֖וּ כַּכָּתֽוּב׃
13A great crowd gathered in Jerusalem to keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread in the second month—a very large assembly.
וַיֵּֽאָסְפ֤וּ יְרוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙ עַם־רָ֔ב לַעֲשׂ֛וֹת אֶת־חַ֥ג הַמַּצּ֖וֹת בַּחֹ֣דֶשׁ הַשֵּׁנִ֑י קָהָ֖ל לָרֹ֥ב מְאֹֽד׃
26There was great joy in Jerusalem, for since the days of Solomon son of David, king of Israel, there had been nothing like it in Jerusalem.
וַתְּהִ֥י שִׂמְחָֽה־גְדוֹלָ֖ה בִּֽירוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם כִּ֠י מִימֵ֞י שְׁלֹמֹ֤ה בֶן־דָּוִיד֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לֹ֥א כָזֹ֖את בִּירוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃ ס
21The people of Israel who were present in Jerusalem kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with great joy, and day after day the Levites and the priests praised the LORD with loud instruments.
וַיַּעֲשׂ֣וּ בְנֵֽי־יִ֠שְׂרָאֵל הַנִּמְצְאִ֨ים בִּירוּשָׁלִַ֜ם אֶת־חַ֧ג הַמַּצּ֛וֹת שִׁבְעַ֥ת יָמִ֖ים בְּשִׂמְחָ֣ה גְדוֹלָ֑ה וּֽמְהַלְלִ֣ים לַ֠יהוָה י֣וֹם ׀ בְּי֞וֹם הַלְוִיִּ֧ם וְהַכֹּהֲנִ֛ים בִּכְלֵי־עֹ֖ז לַיהוָֽה׃ ס
22Hezekiah spoke encouragingly to all the Levites who showed skill in the service of the LORD. So they ate the festal meal for the seven days, sacrificing fellowship offerings and giving thanks to the LORD, the God of their fathers.
וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר יְחִזְקִיָּ֗הוּ עַל־לֵב֙ כָּל־הַלְוִיִּ֔ם הַמַּשְׂכִּילִ֥ים שֵֽׂכֶל־ט֖וֹב לַיהוָ֑ה וַיֹּאכְל֤וּ אֶת־הַמּוֹעֵד֙ שִׁבְעַ֣ת הַיָּמִ֔ים מְזַבְּחִים֙ זִבְחֵ֣י שְׁלָמִ֔ים וּמִ֨תְוַדִּ֔ים לַיהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֥י אֲבוֹתֵיהֶֽם׃ ס
23Then the whole assembly agreed to keep the feast another seven days, and they kept those seven days with joy.
וַיִּוָּֽעֲצוּ֙ כָּל־הַקָּהָ֔ל לַעֲשׂ֕וֹת שִׁבְעַ֥ת יָמִ֖ים אֲחֵרִ֑ים וַיַּֽעֲשׂ֥וּ שִׁבְעַת־יָמִ֖ים שִׂמְחָֽה׃
24For Hezekiah king of Judah contributed a thousand bulls and seven thousand sheep to the assembly, and the officials contributed a thousand bulls and ten thousand sheep. And a great number of priests consecrated themselves.
כִּ֣י חִזְקִיָּ֣הוּ מֶֽלֶךְ־יְ֠הוּדָה הֵרִ֨ים לַקָּהָ֜ל אֶ֣לֶף פָּרִים֮ וְשִׁבְעַ֣ת אֲלָפִ֣ים צֹאן֒ ס וְהַשָּׂרִ֞ים הֵרִ֤ימוּ לַקָּהָל֙ פָּרִ֣ים אֶ֔לֶף וְצֹ֖אן עֲשֶׂ֣רֶת אֲלָפִ֑ים וַיִּֽתְקַדְּשׁ֥וּ כֹהֲנִ֖ים לָרֹֽב׃
25The whole assembly of Judah rejoiced, along with the priests and the Levites, and all the assembly that had come from Israel, and the foreigners who had come from the land of Israel or lived in Judah.
וַֽיִּשְׂמְח֣וּ ׀ כָּל־קְהַ֣ל יְהוּדָ֗ה וְהַכֹּהֲנִים֙ וְהַלְוִיִּ֔ם וְכָל־הַקָּהָ֖ל הַבָּאִ֣ים מִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְהַגֵּרִ֗ים הַבָּאִים֙ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְהַיּוֹשְׁבִ֖ים בִּיהוּדָֽה׃
The Assyrian Siege of Jerusalem
The Assyrian king Sennacherib invaded Judah and besieged Jerusalem. Hezekiah sought the Lord in prayer and received help from the prophet Isaiah, and God saved the city by sending an angel who struck down the Assyrian army.
13In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, Sennacherib king of Assyria attacked all the fortified cities of Judah and captured them.
וּבְאַרְבַּע֩ עֶשְׂרֵ֨ה שָׁנָ֜ה לַמֶּ֣לֶךְ חִזְקִיָּ֗ה עָלָ֞ה סַנְחֵרִ֤יב מֶֽלֶךְ־אַשּׁוּר֙ עַ֣ל כָּל־עָרֵ֧י יְהוּדָ֛ה הַבְּצֻר֖וֹת וַֽיִּתְפְּשֵֽׂם׃
14So Hezekiah king of Judah sent word to the king of Assyria at Lachish: "I have sinned. Withdraw from me, and I will pay whatever you demand of me." The king of Assyria imposed on Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold.
וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח חִזְקִיָּ֣ה מֶֽלֶךְ־יְהוּדָ֣ה אֶל־מֶֽלֶךְ־אַשּׁוּר֩ ׀ לָכִ֨ישָׁה ׀ לֵאמֹ֤ר ׀ חָטָ֙אתִי֙ שׁ֣וּב מֵֽעָלַ֔י אֵ֛ת אֲשֶׁר־תִּתֵּ֥ן עָלַ֖י אֶשָּׂ֑א וַיָּ֨שֶׂם מֶֽלֶךְ־אַשּׁ֜וּר עַל־חִזְקִיָּ֣ה מֶֽלֶךְ־יְהוּדָ֗ה שְׁלֹ֤שׁ מֵאוֹת֙ כִּכַּר־כֶּ֔סֶף וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֖ים כִּכַּ֥ר זָהָֽב׃
17The king of Assyria sent the Tartan, the Rab-saris, and the Rabshakeh with a large army from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem. They came up to Jerusalem and took their stand by the aqueduct of the Upper Pool, on the road to the Launderer's Field.
וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח מֶֽלֶךְ־אַשּׁ֡וּר אֶת־תַּרְתָּ֥ן וְאֶת־רַב־סָרִ֣יס ׀ וְאֶת־רַב־שָׁקֵ֨ה מִן־לָכִ֜ישׁ אֶל־הַמֶּ֧לֶךְ חִזְקִיָּ֛הוּ בְּחֵ֥יל כָּבֵ֖ד יְרוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם וַֽיַּעֲלוּ֙ וַיָּבֹ֣אוּ יְרוּשָׁלִַ֔ם וַיַּעֲל֣וּ וַיָּבֹ֗אוּ וַיַּֽעַמְדוּ֙ בִּתְעָלַת֙ הַבְּרֵכָ֣ה הָֽעֶלְיוֹנָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֕ר בִּמְסִלַּ֖ת שְׂדֵ֥ה כוֹבֵֽס׃
14Hezekiah took the letters from the hand of the messengers and read them. Then he went up to the house of the LORD and spread it out before the LORD.
וַיִּקַּ֨ח חִזְקִיָּ֧הוּ אֶת־הַסְּפָרִ֛ים מִיַּ֥ד הַמַּלְאָכִ֖ים וַיִּקְרָאֵ֑ם וַיַּ֙עַל֙ בֵּ֣ית יְהוָ֔ה וַיִּפְרְשֵׂ֥הוּ חִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ לִפְנֵ֥י יְהוָֽה׃ פ
15And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD: "LORD, God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You made the heavens and the earth.
וַיִּתְפַּלֵּ֨ל חִזְקִיָּ֜הוּ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָה֮ וַיֹּאמַר֒ יְהוָ֞ה אֱלֹהֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ יֹשֵׁ֣ב הַכְּרֻבִ֔ים אַתָּה־ה֤וּא הָֽאֱלֹהִים֙ לְבַדְּךָ֔ לְכֹ֖ל מַמְלְכ֣וֹת הָאָ֑רֶץ אַתָּ֣ה עָשִׂ֔יתָ אֶת־הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם וְאֶת־הָאָֽרֶץ׃
16Turn your ear, LORD, and hear; open your eyes, LORD, and see. Listen to the words Sennacherib has sent to mock the living God.
הַטֵּ֨ה יְהוָ֤ה ׀ אָזְנְךָ֙ וּֽשֲׁמָ֔ע פְּקַ֧ח יְהוָ֛ה עֵינֶ֖יךָ וּרְאֵ֑ה וּשְׁמַ֗ע אֵ֚ת דִּבְרֵ֣י סַנְחֵרִ֔יב אֲשֶׁ֣ר שְׁלָח֔וֹ לְחָרֵ֖ף אֱלֹהִ֥ים חָֽי׃
19Now, LORD our God, save us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone, LORD, are God."
וְעַתָּה֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵ֔ינוּ הוֹשִׁיעֵ֥נוּ נָ֖א מִיָּד֑וֹ וְיֵֽדְעוּ֙ כָּל־מַמְלְכ֣וֹת הָאָ֔רֶץ כִּ֥י אַתָּ֛ה יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהִ֖ים לְבַדֶּֽךָ׃ ס
20Then Isaiah son of Amoz sent word to Hezekiah: "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I have heard your prayer concerning Sennacherib king of Assyria.
וַיִּשְׁלַח֙ יְשַֽׁעְיָ֣הוּ בֶן־אָמ֔וֹץ אֶל־חִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ לֵאמֹ֑ר כֹּֽה־אָמַ֤ר יְהוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֲשֶׁ֨ר הִתְפַּלַּ֧לְתָּ אֵלַ֛י אֶל־סַנְחֵרִ֥ב מֶֽלֶךְ־אַשּׁ֖וּר שָׁמָֽעְתִּי׃
35That night the angel of the LORD went out and struck down a hundred and eighty-five thousand in the Assyrian camp. When men rose early in the morning, there they were—all of them dead bodies.
וַיְהִי֮ בַּלַּ֣יְלָה הַהוּא֒ וַיֵּצֵ֣א ׀ מַלְאַ֣ךְ יְהוָ֗ה וַיַּךְ֙ בְּמַחֲנֵ֣ה אַשּׁ֔וּר מֵאָ֛ה שְׁמוֹנִ֥ים וַחֲמִשָּׁ֖ה אָ֑לֶף וַיַּשְׁכִּ֣ימוּ בַבֹּ֔קֶר וְהִנֵּ֥ה כֻלָּ֖ם פְּגָרִ֥ים מֵתִֽים׃
36So Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp and withdrew. He returned to Nineveh and stayed there.
וַיִּסַּ֣ע וַיֵּ֔לֶךְ וַיָּ֖שָׁב סַנְחֵרִ֣יב מֶֽלֶךְ־אַשּׁ֑וּר וַיֵּ֖שֶׁב בְּנִֽינְוֵֽה׃
33Therefore this is what the LORD says about the king of Assyria: He will not enter this city or shoot an arrow here. He will not come before it with a shield or build a siege ramp against it.
לָכֵ֗ן כֹּֽה־אָמַ֤ר יְהוָה֙ אֶל־מֶ֣לֶךְ אַשּׁ֔וּר לֹ֤א יָבוֹא֙ אֶל־הָעִ֣יר הַזֹּ֔את וְלֹֽא־יוֹרֶ֥ה שָׁ֖ם חֵ֑ץ וְלֹֽא־יְקַדְּמֶ֣נָּה מָגֵ֔ן וְלֹֽא־יִשְׁפֹּ֥ךְ עֳלֶ֖יהָ סֹלְלָֽה׃
34By the way he came he will return; he will not enter this city, declares the LORD.
בַּדֶּ֥רֶךְ אֲשֶׁר־בָּ֖א בָּ֣הּ יָשׁ֑וּב וְאֶל־הָעִ֥יר הַזֹּ֛את לֹ֥א יָב֖וֹא נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה׃
35I will defend this city and save it, for my own sake and for the sake of David my servant.
וְגַנּוֹתִ֛י עַל־הָעִ֥יר הַזֹּ֖את לְהֽוֹשִׁיעָ֑הּ לְמַֽעֲנִ֔י וּלְמַ֖עַן דָּוִ֥ד עַבְדִּֽי׃ ס
36Then the angel of the LORD went out and struck down a hundred and eighty-five thousand men in the Assyrian camp. When the people rose early the next morning — there they all lay, dead bodies.
וַיֵּצֵ֣א ׀ מַלְאַ֣ךְ יְהוָ֗ה וַיַּכֶּה֙ בְּמַחֲנֵ֣ה אַשּׁ֔וּר מֵאָ֛ה וּשְׁמֹנִ֥ים וַחֲמִשָּׁ֖ה אָ֑לֶף וַיַּשְׁכִּ֣ימוּ בַבֹּ֔קֶר וְהִנֵּ֥ה כֻלָּ֖ם פְּגָרִ֥ים מֵתִֽים׃
Hezekiah's illness and miraculous healing
Hezekiah became mortally ill but prayed to God with tears. Through the prophet Isaiah, God promised him fifteen additional years of life, and as a sign, the shadow moved ten steps backward on Ahaz's sundial.
1In those days Hezekiah fell mortally ill. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz came to him and said, "This is what the LORD says: Put your house in order, for you are going to die; you will not recover."
בַּיָּמִ֣ים הָהֵ֔ם חָלָ֥ה חִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ לָמ֑וּת וַיָּבֹ֣א אֵ֠לָיו יְשַׁעְיָ֨הוּ בֶן־אָמ֜וֹץ הַנָּבִ֗יא וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֵלָ֜יו כֹּֽה־אָמַ֤ר יְהוָה֙ צַ֣ו לְבֵיתֶ֔ךָ כִּ֛י מֵ֥ת אַתָּ֖ה וְלֹ֥א תִֽחְיֶֽה׃
2Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD:
וַיַּסֵּ֥ב אֶת־פָּנָ֖יו אֶל־הַקִּ֑יר וַיִּ֨תְפַּלֵּ֔ל אֶל־יְהוָ֖ה לֵאמֹֽר׃
3"Please, LORD, remember how I have walked before you faithfully and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in your eyes." And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
אָנָּ֣ה יְהוָ֗ה זְכָר־נָ֞א אֵ֣ת אֲשֶׁ֧ר הִתְהַלַּ֣כְתִּי לְפָנֶ֗יךָ בֶּֽאֱמֶת֙ וּבְלֵבָ֣ב שָׁלֵ֔ם וְהַטּ֥וֹב בְּעֵינֶ֖יךָ עָשִׂ֑יתִי וַיֵּ֥בְךְּ חִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ בְּכִ֥י גָדֽוֹל׃ ס
4Isaiah had not yet gone out of the middle court when the word of the LORD came to him:
וַיְהִ֣י יְשַׁעְיָ֔הוּ לֹ֣א יָצָ֔א *העיר **חָצֵ֖ר הַתִּֽיכֹנָ֑ה וּדְבַר־יְהוָ֔ה הָיָ֥ה אֵלָ֖יו לֵאמֹֽר׃
5"Go back and say to Hezekiah, the leader of my people: This is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I am going to heal you; on the third day you will go up to the house of the LORD.
שׁ֣וּב וְאָמַרְתָּ֞ אֶל־חִזְקִיָּ֣הוּ נְגִיד־עַמִּ֗י כֹּֽה־אָמַ֤ר יְהוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵי֙ דָּוִ֣ד אָבִ֔יךָ שָׁמַ֙עְתִּי֙ אֶת־תְּפִלָּתֶ֔ךָ רָאִ֖יתִי אֶת־דִּמְעָתֶ֑ךָ הִנְנִי֙ רֹ֣פֶא לָ֔ךְ בַּיּוֹם֙ הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֔י תַּעֲלֶ֖ה בֵּ֥ית יְהוָֽה׃
6I will add fifteen years to your life, and I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city for my own sake and for the sake of my servant David."
וְהֹסַפְתִּ֣י עַל־יָמֶ֗יךָ חֲמֵ֤שׁ עֶשְׂרֵה֙ שָׁנָ֔ה וּמִכַּ֤ף מֶֽלֶךְ־אַשּׁוּר֙ אַצִּ֣ילְךָ֔ וְאֵ֖ת הָעִ֣יר הַזֹּ֑את וְגַנּוֹתִי֙ עַל־הָעִ֣יר הַזֹּ֔את לְמַֽעֲנִ֔י וּלְמַ֖עַן דָּוִ֥ד עַבְדִּֽי׃
1In those days Hezekiah fell sick and was near death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz came to him and said, "This is what the LORD says: Put your house in order, for you are going to die; you will not recover."
בַּיָּמִ֣ים הָהֵ֔ם חָלָ֥ה חִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ לָמ֑וּת וַיָּב֣וֹא אֵ֠לָיו יְשַׁעְיָ֨הוּ בֶן־אָמ֜וֹץ הַנָּבִ֗יא וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֵלָ֜יו כֹּֽה־אָמַ֤ר יְהוָה֙ צַ֣ו לְבֵיתֶ֔ךָ כִּ֛י מֵ֥ת אַתָּ֖ה וְלֹ֥א תִֽחְיֶֽה׃
2Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD:
וַיַּסֵּ֧ב חִזְקִיָּ֛הוּ פָּנָ֖יו אֶל־הַקִּ֑יר וַיִּתְפַּלֵּ֖ל אֶל־יְהוָֽה׃
3"Remember, LORD, I beg you, how I have walked before you faithfully and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in your eyes." And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
וַיֹּאמַ֗ר אָנָּ֤ה יְהוָה֙ זְכָר־נָ֞א אֵ֣ת אֲשֶׁ֧ר הִתְהַלַּ֣כְתִּי לְפָנֶ֗יךָ בֶּֽאֱמֶת֙ וּבְלֵ֣ב שָׁלֵ֔ם וְהַטּ֥וֹב בְּעֵינֶ֖יךָ עָשִׂ֑יתִי וַיֵּ֥בְךְּ חִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ בְּכִ֥י גָדֽוֹל׃ ס
4Then the word of the LORD came to Isaiah:
וַֽיְהִי֙ דְּבַר־יְהוָ֔ה אֶֽל־יְשַׁעְיָ֖הוּ לֵאמֹֽר׃
5"Go and say to Hezekiah: This is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I am going to add fifteen years to your life.
הָל֞וֹךְ וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ אֶל־חִזְקִיָּ֗הוּ כֹּֽה־אָמַ֤ר יְהוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵי֙ דָּוִ֣ד אָבִ֔יךָ שָׁמַ֙עְתִּי֙ אֶת־תְּפִלָּתֶ֔ךָ רָאִ֖יתִי אֶת־דִּמְעָתֶ֑ךָ הִנְנִי֙ יוֹסִ֣ף עַל־יָמֶ֔יךָ חֲמֵ֥שׁ עֶשְׂרֵ֖ה שָׁנָֽה׃
6And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria; I will defend this city.
וּמִכַּ֤ף מֶֽלֶךְ־אַשּׁוּר֙ אַצִּ֣ילְךָ֔ וְאֵ֖ת הָעִ֣יר הַזֹּ֑את וְגַנּוֹתִ֖י עַל־הָעִ֥יר הַזֹּֽאת׃
7This will be the sign to you from the LORD that the LORD will do what he has promised:
וְזֶה־לְּךָ֥ הָא֖וֹת מֵאֵ֣ת יְהוָ֑ה אֲשֶׁר֙ יַעֲשֶׂ֣ה יְהוָ֔ה אֶת־הַדָּבָ֥ר הַזֶּ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבֵּֽר׃
8I will make the shadow cast by the sun go back the ten steps it has gone down on the stairway of Ahaz." So the sunlight went back the ten steps it had descended.
הִנְנִ֣י מֵשִׁ֣יב אֶת־צֵ֣ל הַֽמַּעֲל֡וֹת אֲשֶׁ֣ר יָרְדָה֩ בְמַעֲל֨וֹת אָחָ֥ז בַּשֶּׁ֛מֶשׁ אֲחֹרַנִּ֖ית עֶ֣שֶׂר מַעֲל֑וֹת וַתָּ֤שָׁב הַשֶּׁ֙מֶשׁ֙ עֶ֣שֶׂר מַעֲל֔וֹת בַּֽמַּעֲל֖וֹת אֲשֶׁ֥ר יָרָֽדָה׃ ס
Visit from Babylonian envoys
Hezekiah showed the Babylonian envoys all his treasures. The prophet Isaiah warned him that everything would be carried off to Babylon, a prophecy about the coming exile.
12At that time Berodach-baladan son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a gift to Hezekiah, for he had heard that Hezekiah had been ill.
בָּעֵ֣ת הַהִ֡יא שָׁלַ֡ח בְּרֹאדַ֣ךְ בַּ֠לְאֲדָן בֶּֽן־בַּלְאֲדָ֧ן מֶֽלֶךְ־בָּבֶ֛ל סְפָרִ֥ים וּמִנְחָ֖ה אֶל־חִזְקִיָּ֑הוּ כִּ֣י שָׁמַ֔ע כִּ֥י חָלָ֖ה חִזְקִיָּֽהוּ׃
13Hezekiah listened to them and showed them his entire treasury—the silver, the gold, the spices, the fine oil, his armory, and everything found among his treasures. There was nothing in his palace or in all his realm that he did not show them.
וַיִּשְׁמַ֣ע עֲלֵיהֶם֮ חִזְקִיָּהוּ֒ וַיַּרְאֵ֣ם אֶת־כָּל־בֵּ֣ית נְכֹתֹ֡ה אֶת־הַכֶּסֶף֩ וְאֶת־הַזָּהָ֨ב וְאֶת־הַבְּשָׂמִ֜ים וְאֵ֣ת ׀ שֶׁ֣מֶן הַטּ֗וֹב וְאֵת֙ בֵּ֣ית כֵּלָ֔יו וְאֵ֛ת כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֥ר נִמְצָ֖א בְּאֽוֹצְרֹתָ֑יו לֹֽא־הָיָ֣ה דָבָ֗ר אֲ֠שֶׁר לֹֽא־הֶרְאָ֧ם חִזְקִיָּ֛הוּ בְּבֵית֖וֹ וּבְכָל־מֶמְשַׁלְתּֽוֹ׃
14Then the prophet Isaiah came to King Hezekiah and asked him, "What did those men say, and where did they come from?" "They came from a distant land," Hezekiah said, "from Babylon."
וַיָּבֹא֙ יְשַֽׁעְיָ֣הוּ הַנָּבִ֔יא אֶל־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ חִזְקִיָּ֑הוּ וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֵלָ֜יו מָ֥ה אָמְר֣וּ ׀ הָאֲנָשִׁ֣ים הָאֵ֗לֶּה וּמֵאַ֙יִן֙ יָבֹ֣אוּ אֵלֶ֔יךָ וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ חִזְקִיָּ֔הוּ מֵאֶ֧רֶץ רְחוֹקָ֛ה בָּ֖אוּ מִבָּבֶֽל׃
15"What did they see in your palace?" the prophet asked. "They saw everything in my palace," Hezekiah said. "There is nothing among my treasures that I did not show them."
וַיֹּ֕אמֶר מָ֥ה רָא֖וּ בְּבֵיתֶ֑ךָ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר חִזְקִיָּ֗הוּ אֵ֣ת כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֤ר בְּבֵיתִי֙ רָא֔וּ לֹא־הָיָ֥ה דָבָ֛ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹֽא־הִרְאִיתִ֖ם בְּאֹצְרֹתָֽי׃
16Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, "Hear the word of the LORD:
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר יְשַׁעְיָ֖הוּ אֶל־חִזְקִיָּ֑הוּ שְׁמַ֖ע דְּבַר־יְהוָֽה׃
17The days are coming when everything in your palace, and all that your fathers have stored up until this day, will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the LORD.
הִנֵּה֮ יָמִ֣ים בָּאִים֒ וְנִשָּׂ֣א ׀ כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּבֵיתֶ֗ךָ וַאֲשֶׁ֨ר אָצְר֧וּ אֲבֹתֶ֛יךָ עַד־הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּ֖ה בָּבֶ֑לָה לֹֽא־יִוָּתֵ֥ר דָּבָ֖ר אָמַ֥ר יְהוָֽה׃
18And some of your own sons, who will come from you, whom you yourself will father, will be taken away to serve as eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.
וּמִבָּנֶ֜יךָ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יֵצְא֧וּ מִמְּךָ֛ אֲשֶׁ֥ר תּוֹלִ֖יד *יקח **יִקָּ֑חוּ וְהָיוּ֙ סָֽרִיסִ֔ים בְּהֵיכַ֖ל מֶ֥לֶךְ בָּבֶֽל׃
1At that time Merodach-baladan son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a gift to Hezekiah, for he had heard that Hezekiah had been ill and had recovered.
בָּעֵ֣ת הַהִ֡וא שָׁלַ֡ח מְרֹדַ֣ךְ בַּ֠לְאֲדָן בֶּֽן־בַּלְאֲדָ֧ן מֶֽלֶךְ־בָּבֶ֛ל סְפָרִ֥ים וּמִנְחָ֖ה אֶל־חִזְקִיָּ֑הוּ וַיִּשְׁמַ֕ע כִּ֥י חָלָ֖ה וֽ͏ַיֶּחֱזָֽק׃
2Hezekiah welcomed the envoys gladly and showed them his treasure house—the silver, the gold, the spices, the fine oil, his whole armory, and everything found among his treasures. There was nothing in his palace or in all his realm that Hezekiah did not show them.
וַיִּשְׂמַ֣ח עֲלֵיהֶם֮ חִזְקִיָּהוּ֒ וַיַּרְאֵ֣ם אֶת־בֵּ֣ית *נכתה **נְכֹת֡וֹ אֶת־הַכֶּסֶף֩ וְאֶת־הַזָּהָ֨ב וְאֶת־הַבְּשָׂמִ֜ים וְאֵ֣ת ׀ הַשֶּׁ֣מֶן הַטּ֗וֹב וְאֵת֙ כָּל־בֵּ֣ית כֵּלָ֔יו וְאֵ֛ת כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֥ר נִמְצָ֖א בְּאֹֽצְרֹתָ֑יו לֹֽא־הָיָ֣ה דָבָ֗ר אֲ֠שֶׁר לֹֽא־הֶרְאָ֧ם חִזְקִיָּ֛הוּ בְּבֵית֖וֹ וּבְכָל־מֶמְשַׁלְתּֽוֹ׃
3Then Isaiah the prophet came to King Hezekiah and asked him, "What did these men say, and where did they come from?" Hezekiah answered, "They came to me from a distant land, from Babylon."
וַיָּבֹא֙ יְשַׁעְיָ֣הוּ הַנָּבִ֔יא אֶל־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ חִזְקִיָּ֑הוּ וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֵלָ֜יו מָ֥ה אָמְר֣וּ ׀ הָאֲנָשִׁ֣ים הָאֵ֗לֶּה וּמֵאַ֙יִן֙ יָבֹ֣אוּ אֵלֶ֔יךָ וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ חִזְקִיָּ֔הוּ מֵאֶ֧רֶץ רְחוֹקָ֛ה בָּ֥אוּ אֵלַ֖י מִבָּבֶֽל׃
4"What did they see in your palace?" Isaiah asked. "They saw everything in my palace," Hezekiah said. "There is nothing among my treasures that I did not show them."
וַיֹּ֕אמֶר מָ֥ה רָא֖וּ בְּבֵיתֶ֑ךָ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר חִזְקִיָּ֗הוּ אֵ֣ת כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֤ר בְּבֵיתִי֙ רָא֔וּ לֹֽא־הָיָ֥ה דָבָ֛ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹֽא־הִרְאִיתִ֖ים בְּאוֹצְרֹתָֽי׃
5Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, "Hear the word of the LORD of hosts:
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר יְשַׁעְיָ֖הוּ אֶל־חִזְקִיָּ֑הוּ שְׁמַ֖ע דְּבַר־יְהוָ֥ה צְבָאֽוֹת׃
6"Look, the days are coming when everything in your palace, and all that your fathers have stored up until this day, will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the LORD.
הִנֵּה֮ יָמִ֣ים בָּאִים֒ וְנִשָּׂ֣א ׀ כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּבֵיתֶ֗ךָ וַאֲשֶׁ֨ר אָצְר֧וּ אֲבֹתֶ֛יךָ עַד־הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּ֖ה בָּבֶ֑ל לֹֽא־יִוָּתֵ֥ר דָּבָ֖ר אָמַ֥ר יְהוָֽה׃
7And some of your own sons, your own flesh and blood, whom you will father, will be taken away to serve as eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon." [Footnote: The Hebrew word can also mean court officials or royal stewards.]
וּמִבָּנֶ֜יךָ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יֵצְא֧וּ מִמְּךָ֛ אֲשֶׁ֥ר תּוֹלִ֖יד יִקָּ֑חוּ וְהָיוּ֙ סָרִיסִ֔ים בְּהֵיכַ֖ל מֶ֥לֶךְ בָּבֶֽל׃
The tunnel to the Pool of Siloam
Hezekiah built an underground water channel through the mountain to secure Jerusalem's water supply from the Gihon spring to the Pool of Siloam, a remarkable engineering feat.
20The rest of the acts of Hezekiah, all his achievements, and how he made the pool and the conduit and brought water into the city, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
וְיֶ֨תֶר דִּבְרֵ֤י חִזְקִיָּ֙הוּ֙ וְכָל־גְּב֣וּרָת֔וֹ וַאֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂ֗ה אֶת־הַבְּרֵכָה֙ וְאֶת־הַתְּעָלָ֔ה וַיָּבֵ֥א אֶת־הַמַּ֖יִם הָעִ֑ירָה הֲלֹא־הֵ֣ם כְּתוּבִ֗ים עַל־סֵ֛פֶר דִּבְרֵ֥י הַיָּמִ֖ים לְמַלְכֵ֥י יְהוּדָֽה׃
2When Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come and was set on attacking Jerusalem,
וַיַּרְא֙ יְחִזְקִיָּ֔הוּ כִּי־בָ֖א סַנְחֵרִ֑יב וּפָנָ֕יו לַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה עַל־יְרוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃
3he consulted with his officers and his warriors about stopping up the springs outside the city, and they supported him.
וַיִּוָּעַ֗ץ עִם־שָׂרָיו֙ וְגִבֹּרָ֔יו לִסְתּוֹם֙ אֶת־מֵימֵ֣י הָעֲיָנ֔וֹת אֲשֶׁ֖ר מִח֣וּץ לָעִ֑יר וַֽיַּעְזְרֽוּהוּ׃
4A large force was mustered, and they stopped up all the springs and the stream that flowed through the land. "Why should the kings of Assyria come and find plenty of water?" they said.
וַיִּקָּבְצ֣וּ עַם־רָ֔ב וַֽיִּסְתְּמוּ֙ אֶת־כָּל־הַמַּעְיָנ֔וֹת וְאֶת־הַנַּ֛חַל הַשּׁוֹטֵ֥ף בְּתוֹךְ־הָאָ֖רֶץ לֵאמֹ֑ר לָ֤מָּה יָב֙וֹאוּ֙ מַלְכֵ֣י אַשּׁ֔וּר וּמָצְא֖וּ מַ֥יִם רַבִּֽים׃
30It was this same Hezekiah who blocked the upper outlet of the Gihon spring and channeled the water down to the west side of the City of David. He succeeded in everything he undertook.
וְה֣וּא יְחִזְקִיָּ֗הוּ סָתַם֙ אֶת־מוֹצָ֞א מֵימֵ֤י גִיחוֹן֙ הָֽעֶלְי֔וֹן וַֽיַּישְּׁרֵ֥ם לְמַֽטָּה־מַּעְרָ֖בָה לְעִ֣יר דָּוִ֑יד וַיַּצְלַ֥ח יְחִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ בְּכָֽל־מַעֲשֵֽׂהוּ׃