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Sennacherib Threatens Jerusalem^(a)

In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah's^(b) reign, Sennacherib^(c) king of Assyria attacked all the fortified cities of Judah and captured them.^(d)

Then the king of Assyria sent his field commander with a large army from Lachish^(e) to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem. When the commander stopped at the aqueduct of the Upper Pool, on the road to the Launderer's Field,^(f)

Eliakim^(g) son of Hilkiah the palace administrator,^(h) Shebna⁽ⁱ⁾ the secretary,^(j) and Joah^(k) son of Asaph the recorder^(l) went out to him.

The field commander said to them, "Tell Hezekiah: "‘This is what the great king, the king of Assyria, says: On what are you basing this confidence of yours?

You say you have counsel and might for war—but you speak only empty words. On whom are you depending, that you rebel^(m) against me?

Look, I know you are depending⁽ⁿ⁾ on Egypt,^(o) that splintered reed^(p) of a staff, which pierces the hand of anyone who leans on it! Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who depend on him.

But if you say to me, "We are depending^(q) on the Lord our God"—isn't he the one whose high places and altars Hezekiah removed,^(r) saying to Judah and Jerusalem, "You must worship before this altar"?^(s)

"‘Come now, make a bargain with my master, the king of Assyria: I will give you two thousand horses^(t)—if you can put riders on them!

How then can you repulse one officer of the least of my master's officials, even though you are depending on Egypt^(u) for chariots^(v) and horsemen^[a]?^(w)

Furthermore, have I come to attack and destroy this land without the Lord ? The Lord himself told^(x) me to march against this country and destroy it.'"

Then Eliakim, Shebna and Joah^(y) said to the field commander, "Please speak to your servants in Aramaic,^(z) since we understand it. Don't speak to us in Hebrew in the hearing of the people on the wall."

But the commander replied, "Was it only to your master and you that my master sent me to say these things, and not to the people sitting on the wall—who, like you, will have to eat their own excrement and drink their own urine?^(aa)"

Then the commander stood and called out in Hebrew,^(ab) "Hear the words of the great king, the king of Assyria!^(ac)

This is what the king says: Do not let Hezekiah deceive^(ad) you. He cannot deliver you!

Do not let Hezekiah persuade you to trust in the Lord when he says, ‘The Lord will surely deliver^(ae) us; this city will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.'^(af)

"Do not listen to Hezekiah. This is what the king of Assyria says: Make peace with me and come out to me. Then each of you will eat fruit from your own vine and fig tree^(ag) and drink water from your own cistern,^(ah)

until I come and take you to a land like your own^(ai)—a land of grain and new wine,^(aj) a land of bread and vineyards.

"Do not let Hezekiah mislead you when he says, ‘The Lord will deliver us.' Have the gods of any nations ever delivered their lands from the hand of the king of Assyria?

Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad?^(ak) Where are the gods of Sepharvaim?^(al) Have they rescued Samaria^(am) from my hand?

Who of all the gods^(an) of these countries have been able to save their lands from me? How then can the Lord deliver Jerusalem from my hand?"^(ao)

But the people remained silent and said nothing in reply, because the king had commanded, "Do not answer him."^(ap)

Then Eliakim^(aq) son of Hilkiah the palace administrator, Shebna the secretary and Joah son of Asaph the recorder^(ar) went to Hezekiah, with their clothes torn,^(as) and told him what the field commander had said.

Jerusalem's Deliverance Foretold^(a)

When King Hezekiah heard this, he tore his clothes^(b) and put on sackcloth^(c) and went into the temple^(d) of the Lord .

He sent Eliakim^(e) the palace administrator, Shebna^(f) the secretary, and the leading priests, all wearing sackcloth, to the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz.^(g)

They told him, "This is what Hezekiah says: This day is a day of distress^(h) and rebuke and disgrace, as when children come to the moment of birth⁽ⁱ⁾ and there is no strength to deliver them.

It may be that the Lord your God will hear the words of the field commander, whom his master, the king of Assyria, has sent to ridicule^(j) the living God,^(k) and that he will rebuke him for the words the Lord your God has heard.^(l) Therefore pray^(m) for the remnant⁽ⁿ⁾ that still survives."

When King Hezekiah's officials came to Isaiah,

Isaiah said to them, "Tell your master, ‘This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid^(o) of what you have heard—those words with which the underlings of the king of Assyria have blasphemed^(p) me.

Listen! When he hears a certain report,^(q) I will make him want^(r) to return to his own country, and there I will have him cut down^(s) with the sword.'"

When the field commander heard that the king of Assyria had left Lachish,^(t) he withdrew and found the king fighting against Libnah.^(u)

Now Sennacherib^(v) received a report^(w) that Tirhakah, the king of Cush,^[a](x) was marching out to fight against him. When he heard it, he sent messengers to Hezekiah with this word:

"Say to Hezekiah king of Judah: Do not let the god you depend on deceive^(y) you when he says, ‘Jerusalem will not be given into the hands of the king of Assyria.'^(z)

Surely you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all the countries, destroying them completely. And will you be delivered?^(aa)

Did the gods of the nations that were destroyed by my predecessors^(ab) deliver them—the gods of Gozan, Harran,^(ac) Rezeph and the people of Eden^(ad) who were in Tel Assar?

Where is the king of Hamath or the king of Arpad?^(ae) Where are the kings of Lair, Sepharvaim,^(af) Hena and Ivvah?"^(ag)

Hezekiah received the letter^(ai) from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple^(aj) of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord .

And Hezekiah prayed^(ak) to the Lord :

" Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, enthroned^(al) between the cherubim,^(am) you alone are God^(an) over all the kingdoms^(ao) of the earth. You have made heaven and earth.^(ap)

Give ear, Lord , and hear;^(aq) open your eyes, Lord , and see;^(ar) listen to all the words Sennacherib^(as) has sent to ridicule^(at) the living God.^(au)

"It is true, Lord , that the Assyrian kings have laid waste all these peoples and their lands.^(av)

They have thrown their gods into the fire^(aw) and destroyed them,^(ax) for they were not gods^(ay) but only wood and stone, fashioned by human hands.^(az)

Now, Lord our God, deliver^(ba) us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth^(bb) may know that you, Lord , are the only God.^[b](bc)"

Then Isaiah son of Amoz^(be) sent a message to Hezekiah: "This is what the Lord , the God of Israel, says: Because you have prayed to me concerning Sennacherib king of Assyria,

this is the word the Lord has spoken against him: "Virgin Daughter^(bf) Zion^(bg) despises and mocks you. Daughter Jerusalem tosses her head^(bh) as you flee.

Who is it you have ridiculed and blasphemed?^(bi) Against whom have you raised your voice^(bj) and lifted your eyes in pride?^(bk) Against the Holy One^(bl) of Israel!

By your messengers you have ridiculed the Lord. And you have said, ‘With my many chariots^(bm) I have ascended the heights of the mountains, the utmost heights^(bn) of Lebanon.^(bo) I have cut down its tallest cedars, the choicest of its junipers.^(bp) I have reached its remotest heights, the finest of its forests.

I have dug wells in foreign lands^[c] and drunk the water there. With the soles of my feet I have dried up^(bq) all the streams of Egypt.^(br)'

"Have you not heard? Long ago I ordained^(bs) it. In days of old I planned^(bt) it; now I have brought it to pass, that you have turned fortified cities into piles of stone.^(bu)

Their people, drained of power, are dismayed and put to shame. They are like plants in the field, like tender green shoots, like grass^(bv) sprouting on the roof,^(bw) scorched^[d] before it grows up.

"But I know where you are and when you come and go^(bx) and how you rage^(by) against me.

Because you rage against me and because your insolence^(bz) has reached my ears, I will put my hook^(ca) in your nose^(cb) and my bit in your mouth, and I will make you return by the way you came.^(cc)

"This will be the sign^(cd) for you, Hezekiah: "This year^(ce) you will eat what grows by itself, and the second year what springs from that. But in the third year^(cf) sow and reap, plant vineyards^(cg) and eat their fruit.^(ch)

Once more a remnant of the kingdom of Judah will take root^(ci) below and bear fruit^(cj) above.

For out of Jerusalem will come a remnant,^(ck) and out of Mount Zion a band of survivors.^(cl) The zeal^(cm) of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

"Therefore this is what the Lord says concerning the king of Assyria: "He will not enter this city^(cn) or shoot an arrow here. He will not come before it with shield or build a siege ramp^(co) against it.

By the way that he came he will return;^(cp) he will not enter this city," declares the Lord .

"I will defend^(cq) this city and save it, for my sake^(cr) and for the sake of David^(cs) my servant!"

Then the angel^(ct) of the Lord went out and put to death^(cu) a hundred and eighty-five thousand in the Assyrian^(cv) camp. When the people got up the next morning—there were all the dead bodies!

So Sennacherib^(cw) king of Assyria broke camp and withdrew. He returned to Nineveh^(cx) and stayed there.

One day, while he was worshiping in the temple^(cy) of his god Nisrok, his sons Adrammelek and Sharezer killed him with the sword, and they escaped to the land of Ararat.^(cz) And Esarhaddon^(da) his son succeeded him as king.^(db)

Hezekiah's Illness^(a)

In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz^(b) went to him and said, "This is what the Lord says: Put your house in order,^(c) because you are going to die; you will not recover."^(d)

Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord ,

"Remember, Lord , how I have walked^(e) before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion^(f) and have done what is good in your eyes.^(g)" And Hezekiah wept^(h) bitterly.

Then the word⁽ⁱ⁾ of the Lord came to Isaiah:

"Go and tell Hezekiah, ‘This is what the Lord , the God of your father David,^(j) says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears;^(k) I will add fifteen years^(l) to your life.

And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend^(m) this city.

"‘This is the Lord 's sign⁽ⁿ⁾ to you that the Lord will do what he has promised:

I 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 gone down.^(o)

A writing of Hezekiah king of Judah after his illness and recovery:

I said, "In the prime of my life^(p) must I go through the gates of death^(q) and be robbed of the rest of my years?^(r)"

I said, "I will not again see the Lord himself^(s) in the land of the living;^(t) no longer will I look on my fellow man, or be with those who now dwell in this world.

Like a shepherd's tent^(u) my house has been pulled down^(v) and taken from me. Like a weaver I have rolled^(w) up my life, and he has cut me off from the loom;^(x) day and night^(y) you made an end of me.

I waited patiently^(z) till dawn, but like a lion he broke^(aa) all my bones;^(ab) day and night^(ac) you made an end of me.

I cried like a swift or thrush, I moaned like a mourning dove.^(ad) My eyes grew weak^(ae) as I looked to the heavens. I am being threatened; Lord, come to my aid!"^(af)

But what can I say?^(ag) He has spoken to me, and he himself has done this.^(ah) I will walk humbly^(ai) all my years because of this anguish of my soul.^(aj)

Lord, by such things people live; and my spirit finds life in them too. You restored me to health and let me live.^(ak)

Surely it was for my benefit^(al) that I suffered such anguish.^(am) In your love you kept me from the pit^(an) of destruction; you have put all my sins^(ao) behind your back.^(ap)

For the grave^(aq) cannot praise you, death cannot sing your praise;^(ar) those who go down to the pit^(as) cannot hope for your faithfulness.

The living, the living—they praise^(at) you, as I am doing today; parents tell their children^(au) about your faithfulness.

The Lord will save me, and we will sing^(av) with stringed instruments^(aw) all the days of our lives^(ax) in the temple^(ay) of the Lord .

Isaiah had said, "Prepare a poultice of figs and apply it to the boil, and he will recover."

Hezekiah had asked, "What will be the sign^(az) that I will go up to the temple of the Lord ?"

Envoys From Babylon^(a)

At that time Marduk-Baladan son of Baladan king of Babylon^(b) sent Hezekiah letters and a gift, because he had heard of his illness and recovery.

Hezekiah received the envoys^(c) gladly and showed them what was in his storehouses—the silver, the gold,^(d) the spices, the fine olive oil—his entire armory and everything found among his treasures.^(e) There was nothing in his palace or in all his kingdom that Hezekiah did not show them.

Then Isaiah the prophet went to King Hezekiah and asked, "What did those men say, and where did they come from?" "From a distant land,^(f)" Hezekiah replied. "They came to me from Babylon."

The prophet asked, "What did they see in your palace?" "They saw everything in my palace," Hezekiah said. "There is nothing among my treasures that I did not show them."

Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, "Hear the word^(g) of the Lord Almighty:

The time will surely come when everything in your palace, and all that your predecessors have stored up until this day, will be carried off to Babylon.^(h) Nothing will be left, says the Lord .

And some of your descendants, your own flesh and blood who will be born to you, will be taken away, and they will become eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.⁽ⁱ⁾"

"The word of the Lord you have spoken is good,^(j)" Hezekiah replied. For he thought, "There will be peace and security in my lifetime.^(k)"

Comfort, comfort^(a) my people, says your God.

Speak tenderly^(b) to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service^(c) has been completed,^(d) that her sin has been paid for,^(e) that she has received from the Lord 's hand double^(f) for all her sins.

A voice of one calling: "In the wilderness prepare the way^(g) for the Lord ^[a]; make straight^(h) in the desert a highway for our God.^[b](i)

Every valley shall be raised up,^(j) every mountain and hill^(k) made low; the rough ground shall become level,^(l) the rugged places a plain.

And the glory^(m) of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together.⁽ⁿ⁾ For the mouth of the Lord has spoken."^(o)

A voice says, "Cry out." And I said, "What shall I cry?" "All people are like grass,^(p) and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field.

The grass withers^(q) and the flowers fall, because the breath^(r) of the Lord blows^(s) on them. Surely the people are grass.

The grass withers and the flowers^(t) fall, but the word^(u) of our God endures^(v) forever.^(w)"

You who bring good news^(x) to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good news to Jerusalem,^[c](y) lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, "Here is your God!"^(z)

See, the Sovereign Lord comes^(aa) with power,^(ab) and he rules^(ac) with a mighty arm.^(ad) See, his reward^(ae) is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.

He tends his flock like a shepherd:^(af) He gathers the lambs in his arms^(ag) and carries them close to his heart;^(ah) he gently leads^(ai) those that have young.^(aj)

Who has measured the waters^(ak) in the hollow of his hand,^(al) or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens?^(am) Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance?^(an)

Who can fathom the Spirit^[d](ao) of the Lord , or instruct the Lord as his counselor?^(ap)

Whom did the Lord consult to enlighten him, and who taught him the right way? Who was it that taught him knowledge,^(aq) or showed him the path of understanding?^(ar)

Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are regarded as dust on the scales;^(as) he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust.^(at)

Lebanon^(au) is not sufficient for altar fires, nor its animals^(av) enough for burnt offerings.

Before him all the nations^(aw) are as nothing;^(ax) they are regarded by him as worthless and less than nothing.^(ay)

With whom, then, will you compare God?^(az) To what image^(ba) will you liken him?

As for an idol,^(bb) a metalworker casts it, and a goldsmith^(bc) overlays it with gold^(bd) and fashions silver chains for it.

A person too poor to present such an offering selects wood^(be) that will not rot; they look for a skilled worker to set up an idol^(bf) that will not topple.^(bg)

Do you not know? Have you not heard?^(bh) Has it not been told^(bi) you from the beginning?^(bj) Have you not understood^(bk) since the earth was founded?^(bl)

He sits enthroned^(bm) above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers.^(bn) He stretches out the heavens^(bo) like a canopy,^(bp) and spreads them out like a tent^(bq) to live in.^(br)

He brings princes^(bs) to naught and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing.^(bt)

No sooner are they planted, no sooner are they sown, no sooner do they take root^(bu) in the ground, than he blows^(bv) on them and they wither,^(bw) and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff.^(bx)

"To whom will you compare me?^(by) Or who is my equal?" says the Holy One.^(bz)

Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens:^(ca) Who created^(cb) all these? He who brings out the starry host^(cc) one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength,^(cd) not one of them is missing.^(ce)

Why do you complain, Jacob? Why do you say, Israel, "My way is hidden from the Lord ; my cause is disregarded by my God"?^(cf)

Do you not know? Have you not heard?^(cg) The Lord is the everlasting^(ch) God, the Creator^(ci) of the ends of the earth.^(cj) He will not grow tired or weary,^(ck) and his understanding no one can fathom.^(cl)

He gives strength^(cm) to the weary^(cn) and increases the power of the weak.

Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men^(co) stumble and fall;^(cp)

but those who hope^(cq) in the Lord will renew their strength.^(cr) They will soar on wings like eagles;^(cs) they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.^(ct)

"Be silent^(a) before me, you islands!^(b) Let the nations renew their strength!^(c) Let them come forward^(d) and speak; let us meet together^(e) at the place of judgment.

"Who has stirred^(f) up one from the east,^(g) calling him in righteousness^(h) to his service^[a]?⁽ⁱ⁾ He hands nations over to him and subdues kings before him. He turns them to dust^(j) with his sword, to windblown chaff^(k) with his bow.^(l)

He pursues them and moves on unscathed,^(m) by a path his feet have not traveled before.

Who has done this and carried it through, calling⁽ⁿ⁾ forth the generations from the beginning?^(o) I, the Lord —with the first of them and with the last^(p)—I am he.^(q)"

The islands^(r) have seen it and fear; the ends of the earth^(s) tremble. They approach and come forward;

they help each other and say to their companions, "Be strong!^(t)"

The metalworker^(u) encourages the goldsmith,^(v) and the one who smooths with the hammer spurs on the one who strikes the anvil. One says of the welding, "It is good." The other nails down the idol so it will not topple.^(w)

"But you, Israel, my servant,^(x) Jacob, whom I have chosen,^(y) you descendants of Abraham^(z) my friend,^(aa)

I took you from the ends of the earth,^(ab) from its farthest corners I called^(ac) you. I said, ‘You are my servant';^(ad) I have chosen^(ae) you and have not rejected you.

So do not fear,^(af) for I am with you;^(ag) do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen^(ah) you and help^(ai) you; I will uphold you^(aj) with my righteous right hand.^(ak)

"All who rage^(al) against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced;^(am) those who oppose^(an) you will be as nothing and perish.^(ao)

Though you search for your enemies, you will not find them.^(ap) Those who wage war against you will be as nothing^(aq) at all.

For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand^(ar) and says to you, Do not fear; I will help^(as) you.

Do not be afraid,^(at) you worm^(au) Jacob, little Israel, do not fear, for I myself will help^(av) you," declares the Lord , your Redeemer,^(aw) the Holy One^(ax) of Israel.

"See, I will make you into a threshing sledge,^(ay) new and sharp, with many teeth. You will thresh the mountains^(az) and crush them, and reduce the hills to chaff.^(ba)

You will winnow^(bb) them, the wind will pick them up, and a gale^(bc) will blow them away.^(bd) But you will rejoice^(be) in the Lord and glory^(bf) in the Holy One^(bg) of Israel.

"The poor and needy search for water,^(bh) but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst.^(bi) But I the Lord will answer^(bj) them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake^(bk) them.

I will make rivers flow^(bl) on barren heights, and springs within the valleys. I will turn the desert^(bm) into pools of water,^(bn) and the parched ground into springs.^(bo)

I will put in the desert^(bp) the cedar and the acacia,^(bq) the myrtle and the olive. I will set junipers^(br) in the wasteland, the fir and the cypress^(bs) together,^(bt)

so that people may see and know,^(bu) may consider and understand,^(bv) that the hand^(bw) of the Lord has done this, that the Holy One^(bx) of Israel has created^(by) it.

"Present your case,^(bz)" says the Lord . "Set forth your arguments," says Jacob's King.^(ca)

"Tell us, you idols, what is going to happen.^(cb) Tell us what the former things^(cc) were, so that we may consider them and know their final outcome. Or declare to us the things to come,^(cd)

tell us what the future holds, so we may know^(ce) that you are gods. Do something, whether good or bad,^(cf) so that we will be dismayed^(cg) and filled with fear.

But you are less than nothing^(ch) and your works are utterly worthless;^(ci) whoever chooses you is detestable.^(cj)

"I have stirred^(ck) up one from the north,^(cl) and he comes— one from the rising sun who calls on my name. He treads^(cm) on rulers as if they were mortar, as if he were a potter treading the clay.

Who told of this from the beginning,^(cn) so we could know, or beforehand, so we could say, ‘He was right'? No one told of this, no one foretold^(co) it, no one heard any words^(cp) from you.

I was the first to tell^(cq) Zion, ‘Look, here they are!' I gave to Jerusalem a messenger of good news.^(cr)

I look but there is no one^(cs)— no one among the gods to give counsel,^(ct) no one to give answer^(cu) when I ask them.

See, they are all false! Their deeds amount to nothing;^(cv) their images^(cw) are but wind^(cx) and confusion.