1 During|strong="H1961" Hezekiah’s|strong="H2396" 14th year|strong="H8141" as|strong="H1961" king|strong="H4428", Sennacherib|strong="H5576" king|strong="H4428" of|strong="H4428" Assyria|strong="H0804" went|strong="H5927" to|strong="H1961" fight against|strong="H5921" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" strong cities|strong="H5892" of|strong="H4428" Judah|strong="H3063". Sennacherib|strong="H5576" defeated those|strong="H3605" cities|strong="H5892".
2 He|strong="H0853" sent|strong="H7971" his|strong="H3526" commander with|strong="H0413" a|strong="H7971" large|strong="H3515" army|strong="H2426" to|strong="H0413" King|strong="H4428" Hezekiah|strong="H2396" in|strong="H0413" Jerusalem|strong="H3389". The|strong="H0853" commander and|strong="H4428" his|strong="H3526" army|strong="H2426" left Lachish|strong="H3923" and|strong="H4428" went|strong="H0413" to|strong="H0413" Jerusalem|strong="H3389". They|strong="H4546" stopped|strong="H5975" near|strong="H5975" the|strong="H0853" aqueduct by|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0853" Upper|strong="H5945" Pool|strong="H1295", on|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0853" street that|strong="H4546" leads up|strong="H5975" to|strong="H0413" Laundryman’s Field|strong="H7704".
3 Three men|strong="H1121" from|strong="H3318" Jerusalem went|strong="H3318" out|strong="H3318" to|strong="H0413" talk|strong="H5608" with|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0834" commander. These|strong="H0834" men|strong="H1121" were|strong="H0834" Eliakim|strong="H0471" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Hilkiah|strong="H2518", Joah|strong="H3098" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Asaph|strong="H0623", and|strong="H1121" Shebna|strong="H7644". Eliakim|strong="H0471" was|strong="H0834" the|strong="H0834" palace|strong="H1004" manager, Joah|strong="H3098" was|strong="H0834" the|strong="H0834" record keeper, and|strong="H1121" Shebna|strong="H7644" was|strong="H0834" the|strong="H0834" royal secretary|strong="H5608".
4 The|strong="H0559" commander told|strong="H0559" them|strong="H0413", “Tell|strong="H0559" Hezekiah|strong="H2396" this|strong="H2088" is|strong="H0834" what|strong="H4100" the|strong="H0559" great|strong="H1419" king|strong="H4428", the|strong="H0559" king|strong="H4428" of|strong="H4428" Assyria|strong="H0804" says|strong="H0559":
5 I|strong="H3588" tell|strong="H0559" you|strong="H3588", if|strong="H3588" you|strong="H3588" are|strong="H1697" trusting|strong="H0982" in|strong="H5921" power|strong="H1369" and|strong="H1697" great battle|strong="H4421" plans|strong="H6098", that|strong="H3588" is|strong="H4310" useless. Those|strong="H5921" are|strong="H1697" nothing|strong="H1697" but|strong="H3588" empty|strong="H8193" words|strong="H1697". Now|strong="H6258" I|strong="H3588" ask|strong="H0559" you|strong="H3588", who|strong="H4310" do|strong="H4310" you|strong="H3588" trust|strong="H0982" so|strong="H6258" much|strong="H1697" that|strong="H3588" you|strong="H3588" are|strong="H1697" willing to|strong="H0559" rebel|strong="H4775" against|strong="H5921" me|strong="H5921"?
6 Are|strong="H0834" you|strong="H0834" depending on|strong="H5921" Egypt|strong="H4714" to|strong="H0935" help you|strong="H0834"? Egypt|strong="H4714" is|strong="H0834" like|strong="H3651" a|strong="H0935" broken walking stick|strong="H7070". If|strong="H2009" you|strong="H0834" lean|strong="H5564" on|strong="H5921" it|strong="H5921" for|strong="H5921" support|strong="H5564", it|strong="H5921" will|strong="H0834" only|strong="H3605" stab you|strong="H0834" and|strong="H0935" hurt you|strong="H0834". Pharaoh|strong="H6547", the|strong="H3605" king|strong="H4428" of|strong="H4428" Egypt|strong="H4714", cannot be|strong="H0376" trusted|strong="H0982" by|strong="H5921" anyone|strong="H3605" who|strong="H0834" depends on|strong="H5921" him|strong="H5921" for|strong="H5921" help.
7 “‘So|strong="H3808" maybe you|strong="H0834" will|strong="H3068" say|strong="H0559", “We|strong="H3588" trust|strong="H0982" the|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068" our|strong="H3068" God|strong="H0430" to|strong="H0413" help us|strong="H0413".” But|strong="H3588" Hezekiah|strong="H2396" destroyed the|strong="H0853" altars|strong="H4196" and|strong="H3068" high|strong="H1116" places|strong="H1116" where|strong="H0834" people|strong="H0834" worshiped|strong="H7812" your|strong="H3068" God|strong="H0430", right? Hezekiah|strong="H2396" told|strong="H0559" the|strong="H0853" people|strong="H0834" of|strong="H0430" Judah|strong="H3063" and|strong="H3068" Jerusalem|strong="H3389", “You|strong="H0834" must|strong="H0853" worship|strong="H7812" only at|strong="H0413" this|strong="H2088" one|strong="H2088" altar|strong="H4196" here|strong="H2088" in|strong="H0413" Jerusalem|strong="H3389".”
8 “‘If|strong="H0518" you|strong="H5414" still want to|strong="H5921" fight, my|strong="H5414" master|strong="H0113", the|strong="H5921" king|strong="H4428" of|strong="H4428" Assyria|strong="H0804", will|strong="H4428" make|strong="H5414" this|strong="H6258" agreement with|strong="H0854" you|strong="H5414". I|strong="H0518" promise that|strong="H5414" I|strong="H0518" will|strong="H4428" give|strong="H5414" you|strong="H5414" 2000 horses|strong="H5483" if|strong="H0518" you|strong="H5414" can|strong="H3201" find|strong="H5414" enough men to|strong="H5921" ride|strong="H7392" them|strong="H5414" into|strong="H5921" battle.
9 But|strong="H5921" even|strong="H0853" then|strong="H0853", you|strong="H6440" couldn’t beat even|strong="H0853" one|strong="H0259" of|strong="H6440" my|strong="H5921" master’s|strong="H0113" lowest ranking officers|strong="H5650". So|strong="H7725" why|strong="H0349" do you|strong="H6440" still|strong="H7725" depend on|strong="H5921" Egypt’s|strong="H4714" chariots|strong="H7393" and|strong="H7725" horse soldiers|strong="H5650"?
10 “‘Now|strong="H6258", do you|strong="H5921" think|strong="H0559" I|strong="H6258" came|strong="H5927" to|strong="H0413" this|strong="H2063" country|strong="H0776" to|strong="H0413" destroy|strong="H7843" it|strong="H5921" without|strong="H1107" the|strong="H0559" LORD’S|strong="H3068" help. No, it|strong="H5921" was|strong="H3068" the|strong="H0559" LORD|strong="H3068" who|strong="H3068" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" me|strong="H0413", “Go|strong="H5927" up|strong="H5927" against|strong="H5921" this|strong="H2063" country|strong="H0776" and|strong="H3068" destroy|strong="H7843" it|strong="H5921"!”’”
11 Then|strong="H1696" Eliakim|strong="H0471", Shebna|strong="H7644", and|strong="H5650" Joah|strong="H3098" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0559" commander, “Please|strong="H4994", speak|strong="H1696" to|strong="H0413" us|strong="H4994" in|strong="H5921" Hebrew. We|strong="H0587" understand|strong="H8085" that|strong="H0834" language|strong="H3066". Don’t|strong="H0408" speak|strong="H1696" to|strong="H0413" us|strong="H4994" in|strong="H5921" the|strong="H0559" language|strong="H3066" of|strong="H5650" Judah|strong="H3066". If|strong="H3588" you|strong="H0834" use our|strong="H5921" language|strong="H3066", the|strong="H0559" people|strong="H5971" on|strong="H5921" the|strong="H0559" city walls|strong="H2346" will|strong="H0834" understand|strong="H8085" you|strong="H0834".”
12 But|strong="H3808" the|strong="H0853" commander said|strong="H0559", “My|strong="H5921" master|strong="H0113" sent|strong="H7971" me|strong="H0413" to|strong="H0413" speak|strong="H1696" to|strong="H0413" everyone|strong="H0376", not|strong="H3808" just|strong="H1697" to|strong="H0413" you|strong="H7971" and|strong="H0398" your|strong="H5921" master|strong="H0113". I|strong="H1697" must|strong="H0853" also|strong="H0853" speak|strong="H1696" to|strong="H0413" those|strong="H0428" people|strong="H0376" sitting|strong="H3427" there|strong="H3427" on|strong="H5921" the|strong="H0853" wall|strong="H2346". When|strong="H1696" we|strong="H1697" surround your|strong="H5921" city, they|strong="H5921" will|strong="H0376" suffer too|strong="H5921". Like|strong="H5973" you|strong="H7971", they|strong="H5921" will|strong="H0376" become so|strong="H7971" hungry they|strong="H5921" will|strong="H0376" eat|strong="H0398" their|strong="H5921" own|strong="H0376" waste and|strong="H0398" drink|strong="H8354" their|strong="H5921" own|strong="H0376" urine|strong="H7890"!”
13 Then|strong="H0853" the|strong="H0853" commander, shouting|strong="H6963" loudly|strong="H6963" in|strong="H8085" Hebrew, gave|strong="H0559" this|strong="H1697" warning|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0559" them|strong="H0853" all|strong="H1697":
14 This|strong="H3541" is|strong="H4428" what|strong="H3541" the|strong="H0853" king|strong="H4428" says|strong="H0559": Don’t|strong="H0408" let|strong="H0408" Hezekiah|strong="H2396" fool you|strong="H3588"! He|strong="H3588" cannot|strong="H3808" save|strong="H5337" you|strong="H3588" from|strong="H5337" my|strong="H3588" power.
15 Don’t|strong="H0408" listen to|strong="H0413" him|strong="H0413" when|strong="H3068" he|strong="H3068" tells|strong="H0559" you|strong="H5414" to|strong="H0413" trust|strong="H0982" in|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068". Don’t|strong="H0408" believe him|strong="H0413" when|strong="H3068" he|strong="H3068" says|strong="H0559", “The|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068" will|strong="H3068" save|strong="H5337" us|strong="H5414". He|strong="H3068" will|strong="H3068" not|strong="H3808" let|strong="H5414" the|strong="H0853" king|strong="H4428" of|strong="H4428" Assyria|strong="H0804" defeat|strong="H5414" the|strong="H0853" city|strong="H5892".”
16 Don’t|strong="H0408" listen|strong="H8085" to|strong="H0413" Hezekiah|strong="H2396"! This|strong="H3541" is|strong="H0376" what|strong="H3541" the|strong="H0559" king|strong="H4428" of|strong="H4428" Assyria|strong="H0804" says|strong="H0559": Come|strong="H3318" out|strong="H3318" here|strong="H3541" and|strong="H4428" show|strong="H6213" me|strong="H0413" that|strong="H3588" you|strong="H3588" want peace|strong="H1293". Then|strong="H3318" you|strong="H3588" will|strong="H4428" all|strong="H0398" be|strong="H0408" free|strong="H3318" to|strong="H0413" have|strong="H0376" grapes from|strong="H3318" your|strong="H8085" own|strong="H0376" vines|strong="H1612", figs|strong="H8384" from|strong="H3318" your|strong="H8085" own|strong="H0376" trees|strong="H8384", and|strong="H4428" water|strong="H4325" from|strong="H3318" your|strong="H8085" own|strong="H0376" well.
17 After|strong="H0413" some time|strong="H5704", I|strong="H5704" will|strong="H0776" come|strong="H0935" and|strong="H0935" take|strong="H3947" you|strong="H5704" to|strong="H0413" a|strong="H3947" land|strong="H0776" like|strong="H0776" your|strong="H3947" own. In|strong="H0935" that|strong="H5704" new|strong="H8492" land|strong="H0776", you|strong="H5704" will|strong="H0776" have|strong="H0776" plenty of|strong="H0776" grain|strong="H1715" for|strong="H0413" making bread|strong="H3899" and|strong="H0935" vineyards|strong="H3754" for|strong="H0413" producing wine|strong="H8492".
18 Don’t believe Hezekiah|strong="H2396" when|strong="H3068" he|strong="H0430" tells|strong="H0559" you|strong="H0853", “The|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068" will|strong="H3068" save|strong="H5337" us|strong="H5337".” He|strong="H0430" is|strong="H3068" wrong. Did|strong="H0376" any|strong="H0376" of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H0853" gods|strong="H0430" of|strong="H4428" other|strong="H0376" nations|strong="H1471" save|strong="H5337" their|strong="H3068" land|strong="H0776" from|strong="H0376" the|strong="H0853" king|strong="H4428" of|strong="H4428" Assyria|strong="H0804"?
19 When|strong="H3588" I|strong="H3588" destroyed the|strong="H0853" cities of|strong="H0430" Hamath|strong="H2574" and|strong="H0430" Arpad|strong="H0774", where|strong="H0346" were|strong="H3027" their|strong="H3588" gods|strong="H0430"? What|strong="H3588" about the|strong="H0853" gods|strong="H0430" of|strong="H0430" Sepharvaim|strong="H5617"? Were|strong="H3027" any|strong="H3588" gods|strong="H0430" able|strong="H3027" to|strong="H3027" save|strong="H5337" Samaria|strong="H8111" from|strong="H3027" my|strong="H5337" power|strong="H3027"?
20 None|strong="H3605" of|strong="H0776" the|strong="H3605" gods|strong="H0430" of|strong="H0776" these|strong="H0428" other|strong="H0428" places|strong="H3605" were|strong="H0834" able|strong="H3027" to|strong="H3068" save|strong="H5337" their|strong="H3605" land|strong="H0776" from|strong="H3027" me|strong="H5337"! So|strong="H0834" why|strong="H0834" do|strong="H4310" you|strong="H0834" think the|strong="H3605" LORD|strong="H3068" can|strong="H4310" save|strong="H5337" Jerusalem|strong="H3389" from|strong="H3027" me|strong="H5337"?
21 But|strong="H3588" the|strong="H0853" people|strong="H3808" were|strong="H1697" silent|strong="H2790". They|strong="H3588" did|strong="H3808" not|strong="H3808" say|strong="H0559" a|strong="H3588" word|strong="H1697" to|strong="H0559" the|strong="H0853" commander, because|strong="H3588" King|strong="H4428" Hezekiah had|strong="H4428" commanded|strong="H0559" them|strong="H0853", “Don’t|strong="H3808" say|strong="H0559" anything|strong="H1697" to|strong="H0559" him|strong="H0853".”
22 Then|strong="H0853" the|strong="H0853" palace|strong="H1004" manager (Eliakim|strong="H0471" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Hilkiah|strong="H2518"), the|strong="H0853" royal secretary|strong="H5608" (Shebna|strong="H7644"), and|strong="H1121" the|strong="H0853" record keeper (Joah|strong="H3098" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Asaph|strong="H0623") went|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0413" Hezekiah|strong="H2396". Their|strong="H5921" clothes|strong="H0899" were|strong="H0834" torn|strong="H7167" to|strong="H0413" show|strong="H5046" they|strong="H0834" were|strong="H0834" upset|strong="H1697". They|strong="H0834" told|strong="H5046" Hezekiah|strong="H2396" everything|strong="H0834" the|strong="H0853" Assyrian commander had|strong="H0834" said|strong="H0413".