1 NOW it came to pass in the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign.
2 Twenty and five years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name also was Abi, the daughter of Zachariah.
3 And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that David his father did.
4 He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan.
5 He trusted in the Lord God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him.
6 For he clave to the Lord, and departed not from following him, but kept his commandments, which the Lord commanded Moses.
7 And the Lord was with him; and he prospered whithersoever he went forth: and he rebelled against the king of Assyria, and served him not.
8 He smote the Philistines, even unto Gaza, and the borders thereof, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city.
9 And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria, and besieged it.
10 And at the end of three years they took it: even in the sixth year of Hezekiah, that is the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel, Samaria was taken.
11 And the king of Assyria did carry away Israel unto Assyria, and put them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes:
12 Because they obeyed not the voice of the Lord their God, but transgressed his covenant, and all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded, and would not hear them, nor do them.
13 Now in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah did Sennacherib king of Assyria come up against all the fenced cities of Judah, and took them.
14 And Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria to Lachish, saying, I have offended; return from me: that which thou puttest on me will I bear. And the king of Assyria appointed unto Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold.
15 And Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the house of the Lord, and in the treasures of the king’s house.
16 At that time did Hezekiah cut off the gold from the doors of the temple of the Lord, and from the pillars which Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid, and gave it to the king of Assyria.
17 And the king of Assyria sent Tartan and Rabsaris and Rab-shakeh from Lachish to king Hezekiah with a great host against Jerusalem. And they went up and came to Jerusalem. And when they were come up, they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which is in the highway of the fuller’s field.
18 And when they had called to the king, there came out to them Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder.
19 And Rab-shakeh said unto them, Speak ye now to Hezekiah, Thus saith the great king, the king of Assyria, What confidence is this wherein thou trustest?
20 Thou sayest, (but they are but vain words,) I have counsel and strength for the war. Now on whom dost thou trust, that thou rebellest against me?
21 Now, behold, thou trustest upon the staff of this bruised reed, even upon Egypt, on which if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt unto all that trust on him.
22 But if ye say unto me, We trust in the Lord our God: is not that he, whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah hath taken away, and hath said to Judah and Jerusalem, Ye shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem?
23 Now therefore, I pray thee, give pledges to my lord the king of Assyria, and I will deliver thee two thousand horses, if thou be able on thy part to set riders upon them.
24 How then wilt thou turn away the face of one captain of the least of my master’s servants, and put thy trust on Egypt for chariots and for horsemen?
25 Am I now come up without the Lord against this place to destroy it? The Lord said to me, Go up against this land, and destroy it.
26 Then said Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebna, and Joah, unto Rab-shakeh, Speak, I pray thee, to thy servants in the Syrian language; for we understand it: and talk not with us in the Jews’ language in the ears of the people that are on the wall.
27 But Rab-shakeh said unto them, Hath my master sent me to thy master, and to thee, to speak these words? hath he not sent me to the men which sit on the wall, that they may eat their own dung, and drink their own piss with you?
28 Then Rab-shakeh stood and cried with a loud voice in the Jews’ language, and spake, saying, Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria:
29 Thus saith the king, Let not Hezekiah deceive you: for he shall not be able to deliver you out of his hand:
30 Neither let Hezekiah make you trust in the Lord, saying, The Lord will surely deliver us, and this city shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria.
31 Hearken not to Hezekiah: for thus saith the king of Assyria, Make an agreement with me by a present, and come out to me, and then eat ye every man of his own vine, and every one of his fig tree, and drink ye every one the waters of his cistern:
32 Until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of corn and wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of oil olive and of honey, that ye may live, and not die: and hearken not unto Hezekiah, when he persuadeth you, saying, The Lord will deliver us.
33 Hath any of the gods of the nations delivered at all his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria?
34 Where are the gods of Hamath, and of Arpad? where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah? have they delivered Samaria out of mine hand?
35 Who are they among all the gods of the countries, that have delivered their country out of mine hand, that the Lord should deliver Jerusalem out of mine hand?
36 But the people held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king’s commandment was, saying, Answer him not.
37 Then came Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder, to Hezekiah with their clothes rent, and told him the words of Rab-shakeh.

1Now it came to passe in the third yere of Hoshea sonne of Elah king of Israel, that Hezekiah the sonne of Ahaz king of Iudah, began to reigne.

2Twentie and fiue yeeres old was he when hee began to reigne, and hee reigned twentie and nine yeeres in Ierusalem: His mothers name also was Abi, the daughter of Zachariah.

3And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that Dauid his father did.

4 He remooued the high places, and brake the images, and cut downe the groues, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for vnto those dayes the children of Israel did burne incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan.

5He trusted in the Lord God of Israel, so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Iudah, nor any that were before him.

6For he claue to the Lord, and departed not from following him, but kept his commandements, which the Lord commanded Moses.

7And the Lord was with him, and hee prospered whithersoeuer hee went forth: and he rebelled against the king of Assyria, and serued him not.

8He smote the Philistines euen vnto Gaza, and the borders thereof, from the towre of the watchmen to the fenced cities.

9 And it came to passe in the fourth yeere of king Hezekiah, (which was the seuenth yeere of Hoshea, sonne of Elah king of Israel) that Shalmaneser king of Assyria came vp against Samaria, and besieged it.

10And at the end of three yeeres they tooke it: euen in the sixt yeere of Hezekiah (that is the ninth yeere of Hoshea king of Israel) Samaria was taken.

11And the king of Assyria did carie away Israel vnto Assyria, and put them in Halah and in Habor by the riuer of Gozan, & in the cities of the Medes:

12Because they obeyed not the voice of the Lord their God, but transgressed his Couenant, and all that Moses the seruant of the Lord commanded, and would not heare them, nor doe them.

13 Now in the fourteenth yeere of king Hezekiah, did Sennacherib king of Assyria come vp against all the fenced cities of Iudah, and tooke them.

14And Hezekiah king of Iudah sent to the king of Assyria to Lachish, saying, I haue offended, returne from me: that which thou puttest on me, wil I beare. And the king of Assyria appointed vnto Hezekiah king of Iudah, three hundred talents of siluer, and thirtie talents of gold.

15And Hezekiah gaue him all the siluer that was found in the house of the Lord, and in the treasures of the kings house.

16At that time did Hezekiah cut off the gold from the doores of the temple of the Lord, and from the pillars which Hezekiah king of Iudah had ouerlaid, and gaue it to the king of Assyria.

17 And the king of Assyria sent Tartan and Rabsaris, and Rabshakeh, from Lachish to king Hezekiah, with a great hoste against Ierusalem: and they went vp, and came to Ierusalem: and when they were come vp, they came and stood by the conduit of the vpper poole, which is in the high way of the fullers field.

18And when they had called to the king there came out to them Eliakim the sonne of Helkiah, which was ouer the houshold, and Shebna the Scribe, and Ioah the sonne of Asaph the Recorder.

19And Rabshakeh said vnto them, Speake yee now to Hezekiah, Thus saith the great king, the king of Assyria, What confidence is this wherein thou trustest?

20Thou sayest, (but they are but vaine words) I haue counsell and strength for the warre: now on whom doest thou trust, that thou rebellest against me?

21Now behold, thou trustest vpon the staffe of this bruised reed, euen vpon Egypt, on which if a man leane, it will goe into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt vnto all that trust on him.

22But if ye say vnto me, We trust in the Lord our God: is not that hee whose high places, and whose altars Hezekiah hath taken away, and hath said to Iudah and Ierusalem, Ye shall worship before this altar in Ierusalem?

23Now therefore, I pray thee, giue pledges to my lord the king of Assyria, and I will deliuer thee two thousand horses, if thou be able on thy part to set riders vpon them.

24How then wilt thou turne away the face of one captaine of the least of my masters seruants, and put thy trust on Egypt for charets and for horsemen?

25Am I now come vp without the Lord against this place, to destroy it? The Lord sayd to me, Goe vp against this land, and destroy it.

26Then said Eliakim the sonne of Hilkiah, and Shebna, and Ioah, vnto Rabshakeh, Speake, I pray thee, to thy seruants in the Syrian language, (for wee vnderstand it) and talke not with vs in the Iewes language, in the eares of the people that are on the wall.

27But Rabshakeh sayd vnto them, Hath my master sent me to thy master, and to thee, to speake these wordes? hath he not sent me to the men which sit on the wall, that they may eate their owne doung, and drinke their owne pisse with you?

28Then Rabshakeh stood and cried with a loude voice in the Iewes language, and spake, saying, Heare the word of the great king, the king of Assyria.

29Thus sayth the king, Let not Hezekiah deceiue you, for he shall not be able to deliuer you out of his hand:

30Neither let Hezekiah make you trust in the Lord, saying, The Lord will surely deliuer vs, and this city shall not bee deliuered into the hand of the king of Assyria.

31Hearken not to Hezekiah: for thus sayth the king of Assyria, Make an agreement with me by a present, and come out to me, and then eate yee euery man of his owne vine, and euery one of his figge tree, and drinke yee euery one the waters of his cisterne:

32Untill I come and take you away to a land like your owne land, a land of corne and wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of oile Oliue, and of honie, that yee may liue, and not die: and hearken not vnto Hezekiah, when hee perswadeth you, saying, The Lord will deliuer vs.

33Hath any of the gods of the nations deliuered at all his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria?

34Where are the gods of Hamath, and of Arpad? where are the gods of Sepharuaim, Hena, and Iuah? haue they deliuered Samaria out of mine hand?

35Who are they among all the gods of the countreys, that haue deliuered their countrey out of mine hand, that the Lord should deliuer Ierusalem out of mine hand?

36But the people helde their peace, and answered him not a word: for the kings commaundement was, saying, Answere him not.

37Then came Eliakim the sonne of Hilkiah, which was ouer the houshold, and Shebna the Scribe, and Ioah the sonne of Asaph the Recorder, to Hezekiah with their clothes rent, and tolde him the words of Rabshakeh.

I == 2nd Chr 28:27 ; 29:1

 

II == 2nd Chr 29:1

 

 

 

 

IV == Num 21:9 ; 2nd chr 31:1

 

 

 

 

V == 2nd Kings 19:10 ; 23:25 ; Job 13:15 ; Ps 13:5

VI == Deut 10:20 ; Josh 23:8

VII == 1st Sam 18:5 , 14 ; 2nd Kings 16:7 ; 2nd Chr 15:2 ; Ps 60:12

 

VIII == 2nd Kings 17:9 ; 1st Chr 4:41 ; Isa 14:29

IX == 2nd Kings 17:3

 

 

X == 2nd Kings 17:6

 

XI == 2nd Kings 17:6 ; 1st Chr 5:26

 

XII == 2nd Kings 17:7 ; Dan 9:6 , 10

 

 

XIII == 2nd Chr 32:1 ; Isa 36:1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XV == 2nd Kings 16:8

 

 

 

 

 

XVII == Isa 7:3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XIX == 2nd chr 32:10

 

 

 

 

 

XXI == Ezek 29:6-7

 

 

 

XXII == 2nd Kings 18:4 ; 2nd Chr 31:1 ; 32:12

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XXIX == 2nd chr 32:15

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XXXII == Deut 8:7-8

 

 

 

 

XXXIII == 2nd Kings 19:12 ; 2nd chr 32:14 ; Isa 10:10-11

 

XXXIV == 2nd Kings 17:24 ; 19:13

XXXV == Dan 3:15

 

 

 

 

XXXVII == Isa 33:7

 

1 In the third year of Hoshea, son of Elah, king of Israel, Hezekiah, son of Ahaz, king of Judah, began to reign.

2 He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Abi, daughter of Zechariah.

3 He pleased the LORD, just as his forefather David had done.

4 It as he who removed the high places, shattered the pillars, and cut down the sacred poles. He smashed the bronze serpent called Nehushtan which Moses had made, because up to that time the Israelites were burning incense to it.

5 He put his trust in the LORD, the God of Israel; and neither before him nor after him was there anyone like him among all the kings of Judah.

6 Loyal to the LORD, Hezekiah never turned away from him, but observed the commandments which the LORD had given Moses.

7 The LORD was with him, and he prospered in all that he set out to do. He rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him.

8 He also subjugated the watchtowers and walled cities of the Philistines, all the way to Gaza and its territory.

9 In the fourth year of King Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of Hoshea, son of Elah, king of Israel, Shalmaneser, king of Assyria, attacked Samaria, laid siege to it,

10 and after three years captured it. In the sixth year of Hezekiah, the ninth year of Hoshea, king of Israel, Samaria was taken.

11 The king of Assyria then deported the Israelites to Assyria and settled them in Halah, at the Habor, a river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.

12 This came about because they had not heeded the warning of the LORD, their God, but violated his covenant, not heeding and not fulfilling the commandments of Moses, the servant of the LORD.

13 In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, Sennacherib, king of Assyria, went on an expedition against all the fortified cities of Judah and captured them.

14 Hezekiah, king of Judah, sent this message to the king of Assyria at Lachish: "I have done wrong. Leave me, and I will pay whatever tribute you impose on me." The king of Assyria exacted three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold from Hezekiah, king of Judah.

15 Hezekiah paid him all the funds there were in the temple of the LORD and in the palace treasuries.

16 He broke up the door panels and the uprights of the temple of the LORD which he himself had ordered to be overlaid with gold, and gave the gold to the king of Assyria.

17 The king of Assyria sent the general, the lord chamberlain, and the commander from Lachish with a great army to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem. They went up, and on their arrival in Jerusalem, stopped at the conduit of the upper pool on the highway of the fuller's field.

18 They called for the king, who sent out to them Eliakim, son of Hilkiah, the master of the palace; Shebnah the scribe; and the herald Joah, son of Asaph.

19 The commander said to them, "Tell Hezekiah, 'Thus says the great king, the king of Assyria: On what do you base this confidence of yours?

20 Do you think mere words substitute for strategy and might in war? On whom, then, do you rely, that you rebel against me?

21 This Egypt, the staff on which you rely, is in fact a broken reed which pierces the hand of anyone who leans on it. That is what Pharaoh, king of Egypt, is to all who rely on him.

22 But if you say to me, We rely on the LORD, our God, is not he the one whose high places and altars Hezekiah has removed, commanding Judah and Jerusalem to worship before this altar in Jerusalem?'

23 "Now, make a wager with my lord, the king of Assyria: I will give you two thousand horses if you can put riders on them.

24 How then can you repulse even one of the least servants of my lord, relying as you do on Egypt for chariots and horsemen?

25 Was it without the LORD'S will that I have come up to destroy this place? The LORD said to me, 'Go up and destroy that land!'"

26 Then Eliakim, son of Hilkiah, and Shebnah and Joah said to the commander: "Please speak to your servants in Aramaic; we understand it. Do not speak to us in Judean within earshot of the people who are on the wall."

27 But the commander replied: "Was it to your master and to you that my lord sent me to speak these words? Was it not rather to the men sitting on the wall, who, with you, will have to eat their own excrement and drink their urine?"

28 Then the commander stepped forward and cried out in a loud voice in Judean, "Listen to the words of the great king, the king of Assyria.

29 Thus says the king: 'Do not let Hezekiah deceive you, since he cannot deliver you out of my hand.

30 Let not Hezekiah induce you to rely on the LORD, saying, The LORD will surely save us; this city will not be handed over to the king of Assyria.

31 Do not listen to Hezekiah, for the king of Assyria says: Make peace with me and surrender! Then each of you will eat of his own vine and of his own fig-tree, and drink the water of his own cistern,

32 until I come to take you to a land like your own, a land of grain and wine, of bread and orchards, of olives, oil and fruit syrup. Choose life, not death. Do not listen to Hezekiah when he would seduce you by saying, The LORD will rescue us.

33 Has any of the gods of the nations ever rescued his land from the hand of the king of Assyria?

34 Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Avva? Where are the gods of the land of Samaria?

35 Which of the gods for all these lands ever rescued his land from my hand? Will the LORD then rescue Jerusalem from my hand?'"

36 But the people remained silent and did not answer him one word, for the king had ordered them not to answer him.

37 Then the master of the palace, Eliakim, son of Hilkiah, Shebnah the scribe, and the herald Joah, son of Asaph, came to Hezekiah with their garments torn, and reported to him what the commander had

v 1,2. Time of Hezekiah’s reign allows Ahaz to have been only 11 or 12 years old when Hezekiah was born, so we must assume Ahaz was past that age and  Hezekiah was co-regent with him a few years. Of kings of Judah, Asa, Jehoshaphat and Josiah it is said they did what was right in the sight of the Lord but not like David. But Hezekiah came on strong doing “according to all” David had done. It is strange that after the influence of his wicked father, Ahaz, that he would be so zealous for the Lord, but it only shows what the grace of God can do in anyone. Even Urijah the priest cooperated with Ahaz in setting up the wicked altar, 2 Ki. 16:11-16, so Isaiah may have had much more contact and influence on Hezekiah than Scripture records. He had a Godly mother, but each is responsible for himself. It may be he saw how his father’s actions were bringing the judgment of God. He was mature when he began full regency, different than Joash 7, and Josiah, 8.   See also a parallel text for the whole chapter in Isa. 36. 

v 3. Compare 2 Chron. 30:5-10.  In doing right he invited the rest of Israel to come worship with Judah. Some came, most mocked and ridiculed. (Ilus. The family that ridiculed my invitations to them until they  were in spiritual trouble, then walked across the fields to see me.) See 2 Chr. 29, 30, 31 for Hezekiah’s reforms.

v 4-6. The brazen serpent had become an object of worship instead a symbol of faith. As such it was Nehushtan - filthy. Hezekiah not only removed the high places and idolatry, but trusted, faithfully followed and obeyed the Lord like no other king of Judah before or after him. See 2 Chr. 29:3-31:21.

v 7,8. Because he followed the Lord, God prospered him, enabling him to rebel out from under Assyria, and to defeat the Philistines every where he went. Rebellion against Assyrian precipitated their invasion of 18:13-19:36.

v 9-12. This shows the time element of Israel in relationship to Judah, and repeats the overthrow of Israel because of their disobedience to God, as in 17:3-6.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

v 13. When Hezekiah rebelled against Assyria, it was tied up controlling Babylon, so anticipating retaliation he (1) made alliance with the surrounding nations. However the Assyrians conquered the surrounding nations one by one, then turned and took all the fortified cities of Judah. (Sennacherib’s inscription refers to capturing 46 strong cities and many villages.)
Insert from 2 Chr. 32:2-8 When Hezekiah saw that an attack on Jerusalem was imminent, he decided with his princes to have all the nearby springs stopped, which would also stop most of the water running down the brook at that time of year. This would force the enemy to have to haul in water for their army and horses. He also built up his fortifications, including an outer wall. He assembled weapons,  appointed captains, and spoke encouraging words to the people. He assured them that though the enemy had superior numbers, God would help Jerusalem to fight their battles.

v 14-16. The Assyrians set up camp in Lachish in preparation for the siege of Jerusalem.  Hezekiah confessed his error against Assyria but should have (2) confessed it before God. He (3) compromised with the enemy by giving him about 11 tons of silver, and about a ton of gold, some of which he obtained by stripping the temple doors of gold.  (Insert from Isaiah 36:1 First invasion of Judah was when Hezekiah paid tribute. Israel had already fallen. Isa. 36:2 and on begins with I Ki. 1:13, and in verse 17, Isaiah had been sent to Ahaz at the same location, conduit of the upper field, and he was told Aram-Israel would not succeed, but he lacked faith to ask for a sign. Hezekiah now faces a test as his men talk there with Sennacherib.)

v 17,18. Sennacherib sent a great host in spite of the gold ransom, with intent to terrorize Jerusalem and cause it to surrender without a fight. The results of Hezekiah’s compromise continued. Compromising with sin has long lasting effects.

v 19-22. Assyrian Rabshakeh rightly mocked Israel for trusting in Egypt, but he thought Hezekiah had offended God by tearing down the high places and having worship at one Jerusalem altar. (Unsaved don’t understand our stand for the Lord.)

 

v 24-25. He intimidated by inferring Israel wouldn’t know how to use the horses it they had them. Then he lied, “God told me to attack Jerusalem.” Compare Gal. 1:8 and 1 Kings 13:24. Don’t even believe an angel if it is contrary to God’s word. It was in God’s plan that Assyria eventually overrun Judah because of their sins, so some think it is possible this was a command from God. Compare 2 Chr. 36:20,21, where apparently God did instruct Neco of Egypt, or Isa. 45:1-6, where God definitely instructed Cyrus. However, in this case he had broken the agreement to withdraw after payment was made, he did not honor the customary request not to speak in the Jews language, he misrepresented what captivity would be like, and blasphemed God. So I insist on the view that he was definitely lying about his instruction from God. 

v 26-30. The Jewish representatives wanted Rabshakeh not to speak in the Jews language, because it would make them fearful. That was just the thing he wanted to do, so he only talked louder, telling how foolish it was to trust God for deliverance.

v 31,32. He implied captivity would be a nice land of plenty. Like Satan tempting Eve. The Rabshakeh didn’t mention how their sons would be made eunuchs etc.

v 33-35. He continued to seek to undermine Hezekiah’s leadership and pointed out that if the gods of all the other countries hadn’t been able to deliver them from him, then it was useless to expect the Lord could deliver them. 2 Chr. 32:11-17 adds intimidation that Hezekiah would have them die of famine and thirst if they trusted in God for help. Also that none of the other gods could help their nations, so it was ridiculous to let Hezekiah deceive them into thinking God could deliver them. (He must have heard of Hezekiah’s deep trust in the Lord.)

V 36,37. All the people on guard or watching from the wall were faithful to the words of Hezekiah that they should not answer. The Jewish representatives then tore their clothes and reported the message to Hezekiah.