Sennacherib

13In Hezekiah's fourteenth year as king, Sennacherib, king of Assyria, attacked Judah. He captured all its strong walled cities.

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.

NoteSennacherib was a later king of Assyria. Shalmaneser had ruled before him. Strong walled cities had thick stone walls built all around them to keep enemies out.

14Hezekiah sent a message to the king of Assyria, who was at the town of Lachish. He said, "I have done wrong. Please leave, and I will pay whatever you ask." So the king of Assyria told him to pay three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold.

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.

NoteA talent was a heavy weight, about seventy-five pounds. So this was a huge pile of silver and gold. Lachish was a walled city in Judah that Assyria had captured.

15Hezekiah gave him all the silver in the LORD's house and in the palace storerooms.

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.

NoteThe LORD's house means the temple in Jerusalem. It was the special building where people worshiped God.

16He also stripped the gold off the temple doors and doorposts, which he himself had covered with gold. He gave all of it to the king of Assyria.

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.

NoteThe doors of the temple were covered with thin sheets of gold. Hezekiah peeled that gold off to pay the king.

17Even so, the king of Assyria sent three of his top officers from Lachish to Jerusalem. They came with a large army to see King Hezekiah. They marched up to the city and stopped by the water channel from the upper pool. It was beside the road that leads to the field where cloth is washed.

And the king of Assyria sent Tartan and Rabsaris and Rabshakeh 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.

NoteThese three officers had Assyrian titles, not names, a bit like calling someone the general. The water channel carried water into the city from a pool outside the wall. The field beside the road was where workers washed and cleaned wool cloth.

18They called for the king to come out. Instead three men came out to meet them. They were Eliakim son of Hilkiah, who ran the palace, Shebna the writer, and Joah son of Asaph, who kept the records.

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.

19The chief officer said to them, "Tell Hezekiah this message from the great king, the king of Assyria: What makes you so sure of yourself?

And Rabshakeh said unto them, Speak ye now to Hezekiah, Thus saith the great king, the king of Assyria, What confidence is this wherein thou trustest?

NoteGreat king was the title Assyria's kings used for themselves. It was meant to sound frightening.

20You say you have a war plan and strong soldiers, but those are only empty words. Who are you leaning on, that you dare to turn against me?

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?

21Look, you are leaning on Egypt. Egypt is like a cracked walking stick. Lean on it, and it breaks and stabs your hand. That is what Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, is to anyone who trusts him.

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.

NoteEgypt was a large country to the south. Judah hoped Egypt's army would come and help them fight Assyria.

22Maybe you will say, 'We trust the LORD our God.' But isn't he the one whose hilltop places and altars Hezekiah tore down? Hezekiah told Judah and Jerusalem they must worship only at this one altar in Jerusalem.

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?

NoteThe officer thought tearing down altars would make God angry. He did not understand that God had asked his people to use only one altar.

23Now make a deal with my master, the king of Assyria. I will even give you two thousand horses, if you can find riders for them!

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.

NoteThe officer is making fun of Judah. He means they do not even have enough soldiers to ride the horses.

24You could not beat even the least important officer my master has. And yet you count on Egypt for chariots and horsemen.

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?

NoteA chariot was a cart pulled by fast horses. Soldiers stood in it to fight.

25Do you think I came to destroy this place without the LORD's help? The LORD himself told me, 'Go up against this land and destroy it.'"

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.

26Then Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah said to the officer, "Please speak to us in the Aramaic language. We understand it. Do not speak Hebrew where the people on the wall can hear you."

Then said Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebna, and Joah, unto Rabshakeh, 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.

NoteAramaic was the language leaders used when talking to other countries. Ordinary people in Jerusalem did not know it. Hebrew was the language everyone there spoke, so everyone on the wall could understand.

27But the officer answered, "My master did not send me to say this only to you and your king. He sent me to the men sitting on the wall. They will be so hungry and thirsty that they eat their own waste and drink their own urine, just like you."

But Rabshakeh 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?

28Then the officer stood up and shouted in Hebrew, "Listen to the words of the great king, the king of Assyria!

Then Rabshakeh 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:

29The king says: Do not let Hezekiah fool you. He cannot save you from my power.

Thus saith the king, Let not Hezekiah deceive you: for he shall not be able to deliver you out of his hand:

30Do not let Hezekiah talk you into trusting the LORD. He says, 'The LORD will save us for sure. This city will never be handed over to the king of Assyria.'

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.

31Do not listen to Hezekiah. The king of Assyria says: Make peace with me and come out to me. Then each of you can eat fruit from your own grapevine and fig tree. Each of you can drink water from your own well.

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:

NoteHaving your own grapevine and fig tree was a picture of a safe, peaceful life. A well here means a cistern, a hole cut in rock to hold rainwater.

32You can do that until I come and take you to a land like your own. It has grain and new wine, bread and vineyards, olive trees and honey. There you will live and not die. Do not listen to Hezekiah. He is fooling you when he says, 'The LORD will save us.'

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.

NoteNew wine is fresh juice pressed from grapes. The officer promises a nice land. He really means taking them far from home, as Assyria did to Israel.

33Has any god of any nation ever saved his land from the king of Assyria?

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

NoteEach country around them had its own gods. The officer is saying none of those gods could stop his army.

34Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah? Did they save Samaria from me?

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?

NoteHamath, Arpad, Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah were cities Assyria had already beaten in battle.

35Not one god of all these lands saved his land from me. So how could the LORD save Jerusalem from me?"

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?

36The people stayed quiet and did not answer a single word. King Hezekiah had told them, "Do not answer him."

But the people held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king’s commandment was, saying, Answer him not.

37Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah, who ran the palace, went to Hezekiah. Shebna the writer and Joah son of Asaph, the record keeper, went too. They had torn their clothes to show how upset they were. They told Hezekiah everything the Assyrian officer had said.

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 Rabshakeh.

8The Rabshakeh heard that Assyria's king had left the town of Lachish. So he went back and found the king fighting against the town of Libnah.

So Rabshakeh returned, and found the king of Assyria warring against Libnah: for he had heard that he was departed from Lachish.

NoteLachish and Libnah were towns in Judah with strong walls. The Assyrian army was moving from one town to the next, attacking them.

9Then Sennacherib got news about Tirhakah, the king of Ethiopia. People said, "Look, he is coming out to fight you." So Sennacherib sent messengers to Hezekiah again. They said:

And when he heard say of Tirhakah king of Ethiopia, Behold, he is come out to fight against thee: he sent messengers again unto Hezekiah, saying,

NoteThe old word here is Ethiopia. It means Cush, a land south of Egypt. Its king was bringing an army, so Assyria had another enemy to worry about.

10"Say this to Hezekiah, king of Judah. Do not let your God trick you. He tells you that Jerusalem will not be handed over to Assyria's king."

Thus shall ye speak to Hezekiah king of Judah, saying, Let not thy God in whom thou trustest deceive thee, saying, Jerusalem shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria.

11"You have heard what the kings of Assyria did to other lands. They destroyed them completely. Do you really think you will be safe?"

Behold, thou hast heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands, by destroying them utterly: and shalt thou be delivered?

12"My fathers destroyed many nations. Did the gods of those nations save them? Think of Gozan, Haran, and Rezeph. Think of the people of Eden who lived in Thelasar."

Have the gods of the nations delivered them which my fathers have destroyed; as Gozan, and Haran, and Rezeph, and the children of Eden which were in Thelasar?

NoteThese are names of faraway towns and lands. Assyria had already beaten every one of them. The king lists them to brag and to scare Hezekiah.

13"Where is the king of Hamath now? Where is the king of Arpad? Where are the kings of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah?"

Where is the king of Hamath, and the king of Arpad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, of Hena, and Ivah?

Note"Where is the king?" means those kings are all gone now. Assyria took their cities, and nobody could stop it.

14Hezekiah took the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the LORD's house. He spread the letter open in front of the LORD.

And Hezekiah received the letter of the hand of the messengers, and read it: and Hezekiah went up into the house of the LORD, and spread it before the LORD.

NoteHezekiah laid the letter open in God's house. It was his way of saying, "Look at this, LORD. Read what he wrote about you."

15Hezekiah prayed to the LORD. He said, "LORD, God of Israel, you sit as king between the winged creatures called cherubim. You alone are God over every kingdom on earth. You made the heavens and the earth."

And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD, and said, O LORD God of Israel, which dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; thou hast made heaven and earth.

NoteCherubim were winged creatures. Two gold ones stood in the temple with their wings spread. People pictured God sitting there like a king on a throne.

16"LORD, bend down and listen. Open your eyes, LORD, and look. Hear the words Sennacherib sent to insult the living God."

LORD, bow down thine ear, and hear: open, LORD, thine eyes, and see: and hear the words of Sennacherib, which hath sent him to reproach the living God.

17"It is true, LORD. The kings of Assyria have wrecked those nations and their lands."

Of a truth, LORD, the kings of Assyria have destroyed the nations and their lands,

18"They threw the gods of those nations into the fire and burned them. Those gods were not real gods. They were only wood and stone made by human hands."

And have cast their gods into the fire: for they were no gods, but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone: therefore they have destroyed them.

NoteOther countries made statues out of wood and stone. They called those statues their gods. When Assyria burned them, the statues could not save anyone.

19"Now, LORD our God, please save us from his power. Then every kingdom on earth will know that you alone are God."

Now therefore, O LORD our God, I beseech thee, save thou us out of his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the LORD God, even thou only.

20Then Isaiah son of Amoz sent a message to Hezekiah. "The LORD, the God of Israel, says this. I have heard your prayer about Sennacherib, king of Assyria."

Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, That which thou hast prayed to me against Sennacherib king of Assyria I have heard.

21"Here is what the LORD says about him. The daughter of Zion, the city of Jerusalem, is not afraid of you. She laughs at you. Jerusalem shakes her head at you as you go."

This is the word that the LORD hath spoken concerning him; The virgin the daughter of Zion hath despised thee, and laughed thee to scorn; the daughter of Jerusalem hath shaken her head at thee.

NoteZion was the hill that Jerusalem was built on. People called the city "the daughter of Zion," like a nickname. Shaking your head at someone was a way of laughing at them.

22"Who have you insulted and mocked? Who did you shout at? Who did you look down on so proudly? The Holy One of Israel."

Whom hast thou reproached and blasphemed? and against whom hast thou exalted thy voice, and lifted up thine eyes on high? even against the Holy One of Israel.

Note"The Holy One of Israel" is a name for God. It means God is good and pure, and no one else is like him.

23"You sent your messengers to insult the Lord. You said, 'I came with my many chariots to the tops of the mountains. I climbed the far peaks of Lebanon. I cut down its tallest cedar trees and its finest fir trees. I reached its farthest camps and its thickest forests.'"

By thy messengers thou hast reproached the LORD, and hast said, With the multitude of my chariots I am come up to the height of the mountains, to the sides of Lebanon, and will cut down the tall cedar trees thereof, and the choice fir trees thereof: and I will enter into the lodgings of his borders, and into the forest of his Carmel.

NoteChariots were carts pulled by horses that soldiers rode into battle. Lebanon was a mountain land north of Israel. Its huge cedar trees were famous, and kings wanted that wood.

24"You said, 'I dug wells and drank water in lands not my own. I dried up every stream just by walking through it.'"

I have digged and drunk strange waters, and with the sole of my feet have I dried up all the rivers of besieged places.

NoteHe is bragging here. He means his army can march anywhere and take anything. He says it is so big it could drink a river dry.

25"Have you not heard? I planned this long ago. In days long past I decided it. Now I have made it happen. That is why you can smash walled cities into piles of stones."

Hast thou not heard long ago how I have done it, and of ancient times that I have formed it? now have I brought it to pass, that thou shouldest be to lay waste fenced cities into ruinous heaps.

NoteCities in those days had thick walls all around them. The walls kept enemies out. Assyria knocked them down into piles of stone.

26"The people in those cities had no power left. They were scared and ashamed. They were like grass in a field, like soft green shoots. They were like grass on a roof, burned up before it grows."

Therefore their inhabitants were of small power, they were dismayed and confounded; they were as the grass of the field, and as the green herb, as the grass on the house tops, and as corn blasted before it be grown up.

NoteRoofs then were flat, and a little grass sometimes sprouted on top. There was no deep dirt, so the sun burned it up fast. That is how quickly those people gave up.

27"But I know where you live. I know when you go out and when you come in. I know how angry you are with me."

But I know thy abode, and thy going out, and thy coming in, and thy rage against me.

28"Your anger and shouting against me have reached my ears. So I will put my hook in your nose. I will put my bit in your mouth. I will turn you back the way you came."

Because thy rage against me and thy tumult is come up into mine ears, therefore I will put my hook in thy nose, and my bridle in thy lips, and I will turn thee back by the way by which thou camest.

NotePeople led big animals with a hook or a ring and a rope. A bit is the metal piece in a horse's mouth that steers it. God is saying he will lead this proud king home like an animal.

29"Hezekiah, here is a sign for you. This year you will eat food that grows by itself. Next year you will eat what grows from that. In the third year, plant seeds and gather the crop. Plant grapevines and eat their fruit."

And this shall be a sign unto thee, Ye shall eat this year such things as grow of themselves, and in the second year that which springeth of the same; and in the third year sow ye, and reap, and plant vineyards, and eat the fruits thereof.

NoteWhen enemies came, farmers could not safely plant their fields. So for two years the people would eat whatever grew wild on its own. In the third year they could plant again, which meant the danger was over.

30"Some people of Judah will still be alive. They will be like a plant. They will grow roots down deep and fruit up high."

And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall yet again take root downward, and bear fruit upward.

31"A few people will come out of Jerusalem alive. Some will get away safely from Mount Zion. The strong love of the LORD of Hosts will make this happen. He is the LORD who leads heaven's armies."

For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and they that escape out of mount Zion: the zeal of the LORD of hosts shall do this.

32"So the LORD says this about the king of Assyria. He will not come into this city. He will not shoot even one arrow here. He will not come near it with a shield. He will not pile up dirt against its wall."

Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shield, nor cast a bank against it.

NoteArmies used to pile dirt into a ramp against a city wall. Then soldiers walked up the ramp to get over the wall. God says Assyria will not even get that far.

33"He will go back the way he came. He will not come into this city. That is what the LORD says."

By the way that he came, by the same shall he return, and shall not come into this city, saith the LORD.

34"I will guard this city and save it. I will do it for my own sake. I will do it for my servant David."

For I will defend this city, to save it, for mine own sake, and for my servant David’s sake.

NoteDavid was the great king of Israel long, long before this. Jerusalem was his city. God had promised to care for his family.

35That night the angel of the LORD went out. He struck the camp of the Assyrians. A hundred eighty-five thousand men died. When people got up early the next morning, all those bodies lay there dead.

And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the LORD went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.

NoteThe old words say "an hundred fourscore and five thousand." A score means twenty, so fourscore means eighty. Together it means a hundred eighty-five thousand.

36So Sennacherib, king of Assyria, packed up and left. He went back home to the city of Nineveh and stayed there.

So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh.

NoteNineveh was the biggest city in Assyria. It was where the king lived, like a capital city.

37One day he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch. His sons Adrammelech and Sharezer killed him there with a sword. Then they ran away to the land of Armenia. His son Esarhaddon became king after him.

And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword: and they escaped into the land of Armenia. And Esarhaddon his son reigned in his stead.

NoteNisroch was a god the Assyrians prayed to. His temple was the building where his statue stood. Armenia is also called Ararat, a mountain land far to the north.

1After Hezekiah did all these faithful things, trouble came. Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, brought his army into Judah. He attacked the cities with strong walls. He planned to take them for himself.

After these things, and the establishment thereof, Sennacherib king of Assyria came, and entered into Judah, and encamped against the fenced cities, and thought to win them for himself.

NoteAssyria was a huge, powerful country far to the north. Its army had already taken over many other lands. Judah was the small country where Hezekiah was king. Sennacherib was the Assyrian king.

2Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come. He saw that Sennacherib meant to attack Jerusalem.

And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib was come, and that he was purposed to fight against Jerusalem,

3So Hezekiah talked with his leaders and his best soldiers. They planned to block up the springs of water outside the city. The leaders helped him do it.

He took counsel with his princes and his mighty men to stop the waters of the fountains which were without the city: and they did help him.

NoteA spring is a place where water comes up out of the ground. Cities needed springs for drinking water. Blocking them left the enemy army with nothing to drink.

4Many people came together and blocked all the springs. They also blocked the stream that ran through the land. They said, "Why should the kings of Assyria come and find plenty of water?"

So there was gathered much people together, who stopped all the fountains, and the brook that ran through the midst of the land, saying, Why should the kings of Assyria come, and find much water?

5Hezekiah worked hard to make the city strong. He fixed every broken part of the wall. He built towers on it and another wall outside it. He also fixed the terraces that held up the City of David. And he made many weapons and shields.

Also he strengthened himself, and built up all the wall that was broken, and raised it up to the towers, and another wall without, and repaired Millo in the city of David, and made darts and shields in abundance.

NoteThe City of David was the oldest part of Jerusalem. Terraces were flat steps of earth and stone built into the hillside. They held the ground up so buildings would not slide down.

6He chose army leaders to be over the people. He gathered everyone in the open square by the city gate. Then he spoke kind, strong words to them. He said,

And he set captains of war over the people, and gathered them together to him in the street of the gate of the city, and spake comfortably to them, saying,

NoteThe open square by the city gate was where people met. It was the town's gathering place, like a park or a plaza.

7"Be strong and brave. Do not be afraid of the king of Assyria. Do not be afraid of the huge army with him. The One who is with us is greater than the one with him.

Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him:

8The king of Assyria only has men to help him. But the LORD our God is with us. He will help us and fight our battles." The people felt strong because of what King Hezekiah said.

With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.

9Later, Sennacherib was attacking a city called Lachish with his whole army. From there he sent his servants to Jerusalem. They carried a message for King Hezekiah and for all the people of Judah in the city. The message said:

After this did Sennacherib king of Assyria send his servants to Jerusalem, (but he himself laid siege against Lachish, and all his power with him,) unto Hezekiah king of Judah, and unto all Judah that were at Jerusalem, saying,

NoteLachish was another strong city in Judah. When an army surrounds a city so no one can go in or out, that is called a siege. The people inside slowly run out of food and water.

10"This is what Sennacherib, king of Assyria, says. My army has you shut inside Jerusalem. So why do you still feel safe?

Thus saith Sennacherib king of Assyria, Whereon do ye trust, that ye abide in the siege in Jerusalem?

11Hezekiah is fooling you. He says, 'The LORD our God will save us from the king of Assyria.' But he is only leaving you to die from hunger and thirst.

Doth not Hezekiah persuade you to give over yourselves to die by famine and by thirst, saying, The LORD our God shall deliver us out of the hand of the king of Assyria?

12Wasn't it Hezekiah who took away your God's worship places and altars? He told Judah and Jerusalem to worship at only one altar and burn offerings there.

Hath not the same Hezekiah taken away his high places and his altars, and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall worship before one altar, and burn incense upon it?

NoteAn altar was a stone table where people gave gifts to God. The worship places were altars on hills all over the country. Hezekiah closed them so people would worship God at the temple only. An offering was a gift to God, often burned on the altar.

13Don't you know what my fathers and I have done to other lands? Not one of their gods could save their land from me.

Know ye not what I and my fathers have done unto all the people of other lands? were the gods of the nations of those lands any ways able to deliver their lands out of mine hand?

Note"My fathers" means the kings in his family who lived before him. It means his father, his grandfather, and so on.

14My fathers wiped out those nations. Not one of their gods could save its people from me. So how could your God save you from me?

Who was there among all the gods of those nations that my fathers utterly destroyed, that could deliver his people out of mine hand, that your God should be able to deliver you out of mine hand?

15So do not let Hezekiah fool you. Do not let him talk you into this. Do not believe him. No god of any nation has ever saved its people from me or from my fathers. Your God will surely not save you from me!"

Now therefore let not Hezekiah deceive you, nor persuade you on this manner, neither yet believe him: for no god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people out of mine hand, and out of the hand of my fathers: how much less shall your God deliver you out of mine hand?

16Sennacherib's servants said even more against the LORD God. They also said more against his servant Hezekiah.

And his servants spake yet more against the LORD God, and against his servant Hezekiah.

17Sennacherib also wrote letters that made fun of the LORD, the God of Israel. In them he said, "The gods of other nations did not save their people from me. In the same way, Hezekiah's God will not save his people from me."

He wrote also letters to rail on the LORD God of Israel, and to speak against him, saying, As the gods of the nations of other lands have not delivered their people out of mine hand, so shall not the God of Hezekiah deliver his people out of mine hand.

18Then the Assyrians shouted loudly in the Hebrew language. They called out to the people of Jerusalem standing on the wall. They wanted to scare them, so the city would be easy to take.

Then they cried with a loud voice in the Jews’ speech unto the people of Jerusalem that were on the wall, to affright them, and to trouble them; that they might take the city.

NoteHebrew was the language the people of Jerusalem spoke every day. The soldiers shouted in it so everyone on the wall would understand.

19They talked about the God of Jerusalem the same way they talked about other gods. But those other gods were only things people had made with their hands.

And they spake against the God of Jerusalem, as against the gods of the people of the earth, which were the work of the hands of man.

NoteMany countries back then prayed to statues of wood, stone, or gold. People called those statues their gods.

20Because of this, King Hezekiah prayed. So did the prophet Isaiah, the son of Amoz. They both cried out to heaven.

And for this cause Hezekiah the king, and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz, prayed and cried to heaven.

NoteA prophet was someone who told people what God said. Isaiah was a prophet who lived in Jerusalem at this time.

21The LORD sent an angel to the camp of the king of Assyria. The angel killed all the strong soldiers, the leaders, and the officers. So Sennacherib went back to his own land in shame. Later he went into the temple of his god. There some of his own sons killed him with a sword.

And the LORD sent an angel, which cut off all the mighty men of valour, and the leaders and captains in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he was come into the house of his god, they that came forth of his own bowels slew him there with the sword.

NoteAn angel is a messenger sent by God. A temple was a big building where people went to pray to their god.

22So the LORD saved Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem. He saved them from Sennacherib, king of Assyria, and from all their other enemies. He guided them on every side.

Thus the LORD saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and from the hand of all other, and guided them on every side.

23Many people brought gifts to Jerusalem for the LORD. They also brought fine gifts to King Hezekiah of Judah. From that time on, all the nations looked up to him.

And many brought gifts unto the LORD to Jerusalem, and presents to Hezekiah king of Judah: so that he was magnified in the sight of all nations from thenceforth.

1It was the fourteenth year that Hezekiah was king of Judah. Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, attacked all the strong walled cities of Judah. He captured them.

Now it came to pass in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah, that Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the defenced cities of Judah, and took them.

NoteAssyria was a huge, powerful country far to the north. Its army had beaten many other lands. Judah was the small country where God's people lived. Cities back then had thick stone walls to keep enemies out.

2The king of Assyria sent an officer called the Rabshakeh from the town of Lachish to Jerusalem. He came with a big army to speak to King Hezekiah. He stopped by the water channel of the upper pool. That was on the road by the field where people washed cloth.

And the king of Assyria sent Rabshakeh from Lachish to Jerusalem unto king Hezekiah with a great army. And he stood by the conduit of the upper pool in the highway of the fuller’s field.

NoteRabshakeh was a job title, not a man's name. He was one of the Assyrian king's top officers. Lachish was a strong city in Judah that Assyria was attacking. The field on that road was where workers washed and whitened wool cloth.

3Three men came out to meet him. One was Eliakim son of Hilkiah, who ran the king's palace. One was Shebna the scribe, the man who wrote things down. One was Joah son of Asaph, who kept the records.

Then came forth unto him Eliakim, Hilkiah’s son, which was over the house, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah, Asaph’s son, the recorder.

4The Rabshakeh said to them, "Take this message to Hezekiah. The great king, the king of Assyria, asks you this. What makes you feel so safe?

And Rabshakeh said unto them, Say ye now to Hezekiah, Thus saith the great king, the king of Assyria, What confidence is this wherein thou trustest?

Note"The great king" was a title the Assyrian kings gave themselves. It was a way of saying every other king was smaller.

5You say you have plans and strength for war. But those are only empty words. Who are you really trusting, that you dare to turn against me?

I say, sayest thou, (but they are but vain words) I have counsel and strength for war: now on whom dost thou trust, that thou rebellest against me?

NoteJudah had been paying money to Assyria every year to be left alone. Hezekiah stopped paying. That is what "turn against me" means here.

6Look, you are trusting Egypt. Egypt is like a cracked walking stick. If you lean on it, it breaks and cuts your hand. Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, is like that to everyone who trusts him.

Lo, thou trustest in the staff of this broken reed, on Egypt; whereon if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all that trust in him.

NoteA reed is a tall plant that grows near water. It is hollow inside and snaps easily. A broken one would jab your hand if you leaned on it.

7Maybe you will tell me, 'We trust the LORD our God.' But he is the same God whose hilltop worship places and altars Hezekiah took away. Hezekiah told Judah and Jerusalem to worship before this altar.

But if thou say to me, We trust in the LORD our God: is it not he, whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah hath taken away, and said to Judah and to Jerusalem, Ye shall worship before this altar?

Note"The LORD" in capital letters stands for God's own special name. An altar is a stone table where people burned gifts to God. High places were worship spots built on hilltops. Hezekiah had closed them so people worshiped at the temple in Jerusalem instead.

8So make a deal now with my master, the king of Assyria. I will even hand you two thousand horses. But could you find enough riders to sit on them?

Now therefore give pledges, I pray thee, to my master the king of Assyria, and I will give thee two thousand horses, if thou be able on thy part to set riders upon them.

NoteJudah was small and owned very few war horses. It had few trained riders too. The officer is making fun of them for that.

9You could not even push back one small officer of my master's servants. Yet you count on Egypt to send you chariots and horsemen.

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?

NoteA chariot was a light cart pulled by fast horses. Soldiers rode in it to fight. Only rich, strong countries had many of them.

10Do you think I came to destroy this land without the LORD? The LORD himself told me to come up and destroy it."

And am I now come up without the LORD against this land to destroy it? the LORD said unto me, Go up against this land, and destroy it.

11Then Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah said to the Rabshakeh, "Please speak to us in Aramaic. We understand that language. Do not speak Hebrew. The people on the wall can hear you."

Then said Eliakim and Shebna and Joah unto Rabshakeh, Speak, I pray thee, unto thy servants in the Syrian language; for we understand it: and speak not to us in the Jews’ language, in the ears of the people that are on the wall.

NoteAramaic was the language kings and officers used with other countries. Ordinary people in Jerusalem spoke Hebrew. The three men did not want the soldiers on the wall to understand.

12But the Rabshakeh said, "My master did not send me to talk only to you and your king. He sent me to the men sitting on the wall too. They will have to eat their own waste and drink their own urine, just like you."

But Rabshakeh said, Hath my master sent me to thy master and to thee to speak these words? hath he not sent me to the men that sit upon the wall, that they may eat their own dung, and drink their own piss with you?

NoteAn army could surround a city and let nothing come in. Then the food and water inside ran out. He is warning them that the hunger will get that bad.

13Then the Rabshakeh stood up and shouted in Hebrew so all could hear. He said, "Listen to the words of the great king, the king of Assyria!

Then Rabshakeh stood, and cried with a loud voice in the Jews’ language, and said, Hear ye the words of the great king, the king of Assyria.

14The king says this. Do not let Hezekiah fool you. He cannot save you.

Thus saith the king, Let not Hezekiah deceive you: for he shall not be able to deliver you.

15Do not let Hezekiah talk you into trusting the LORD. He says the LORD will surely save you. He says this city will never be handed to the king of Assyria.

Neither let Hezekiah make you trust in the LORD, saying, The LORD will surely deliver us: this city shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria.

16Do not listen to Hezekiah. The king of Assyria says this. Make peace with me and come out to me. Then each of you will eat from your own grapevine and your own fig tree. Each of you will drink water from your own well.

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 eat ye every one of his vine, and every one of his fig tree, and drink ye every one the waters of his own cistern;

Note"Come out to me" meant open the gates and give up. Having your own grapevine and fig tree was a picture of living safely at home. A cistern was a hole cut in rock to catch and hold rainwater.

17You will live that way until I come and take you away. I will bring you to a land like your own. It has grain and new wine, bread and vineyards.

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.

NoteAssyria moved beaten people far away to other lands. That way they could not gather together and fight back. New wine means fresh juice from grapes.

18Watch out, so Hezekiah does not trick you by saying the LORD will save you. Has any nation's god ever saved his land from the king of Assyria?

Beware lest Hezekiah persuade you, saying, The LORD will deliver us. Hath any of the gods of the nations delivered his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria?

19Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim? Did they save the city of Samaria from me?

Where are the gods of Hamath and Arphad? where are the gods of Sepharvaim? and have they delivered Samaria out of my hand?

NoteHamath, Arpad, and Sepharvaim were cities Assyria had already beaten. Samaria was the main city of Israel, the land just north of Judah. Assyria had captured it a few years before this day.

20Which god of all these lands ever saved his land from me? So how could the LORD save Jerusalem from me?"

Who are they among all the gods of these lands, that have delivered their land out of my hand, that the LORD should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?

21But the people stayed quiet. They did not answer him one word. King Hezekiah had told them, "Do not answer him."

But they held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king’s commandment was, saying, Answer him not.

22Then Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah went back to Hezekiah. Their clothes were torn, the way people showed deep sadness. They told him everything the Rabshakeh had said.

Then came Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah, that 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 Rabshakeh.

NoteTearing your own clothes was how people showed great sadness. Anyone who saw the torn cloth knew something terrible had happened.