King Hezekiah of Judah
(2 Chronicles 29.12 22 31.1)1 In the third year of the reign of Hoshea son of Elah as king of Israel, Hezekiah son of Ahaz became king of Judah 2 at the age of twenty-five, and he ruled in Jerusalem for twenty-nine years. His mother was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah. 3 Following the example of his ancestor King David, he did what was pleasing to the Lord. 4 He destroyed the pagan places of worship, broke the stone pillars, and cut down the images of the goddess Asherah. He also broke in pieces the bronze snake that Moses had made, which was called Nehushtan. Up to that time the people of Israel had burned incense in its honor. 5 Hezekiah trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel; Judah never had another king like him, either before or after his time. 6 He was faithful to the Lord and never disobeyed him, but carefully kept all the commands that the Lord had given Moses. 7 So the Lord was with him, and he was successful in everything he did. He rebelled against the emperor of Assyria and refused to submit to him. 8 He defeated the Philistines and raided their settlements, from the smallest village to the largest city, including Gaza and its surrounding territory.
9 In the fourth year of Hezekiah's reign—which was the seventh year of King Hoshea's reign over Israel—Emperor Shalmaneser of Assyria invaded Israel and besieged Samaria. 10 In the third year of the siege Samaria fell; this was the sixth year of Hezekiah's reign and the ninth year of Hoshea's reign. 11 The Assyrian emperor took the Israelites to Assyria as prisoners and settled some of them in the city of Halah, some near the Habor River in the district of Gozan, and some in the cities of Media.
12 Samaria fell because the Israelites did not obey the Lord their God, but broke the covenant he had made with them and disobeyed all the laws given by Moses, the servant of the Lord. They would not listen and they would not obey.
The Assyrians Threaten Jerusalem
(2 Chronicles 32.1-19Isaiah 36.1-22)13 In the fourteenth year of the reign of King Hezekiah, Sennacherib, the emperor of Assyria, attacked the fortified cities of Judah and conquered them. 14 Hezekiah sent a message to Sennacherib, who was in Lachish: “I have done wrong; please stop your attack, and I will pay whatever you demand.” The emperor's answer was that Hezekiah should send him ten tons of silver and one ton of gold. 15 Hezekiah sent him all the silver in the Temple and in the palace treasury; 16 he also stripped the gold from the temple doors and the gold with which he himself had covered the doorposts, and he sent it all to Sennacherib. 17 The Assyrian emperor sent a large army from Lachish to attack Hezekiah at Jerusalem; it was commanded by his three highest officials. When they arrived at Jerusalem, they occupied the road where the cloth makers work by the ditch that brings water from the upper pool. 18 Then they sent for King Hezekiah, and three of his officials went out to meet them: Eliakim son of Hilkiah, who was in charge of the palace; Shebna, the court secretary; and Joah son of Asaph, who was in charge of the records. 19 One of the Assyrian officials told them that the emperor wanted to know what made King Hezekiah so confident. 20 He demanded, “Do you think that words can take the place of military skill and might? Who do you think will help you rebel against Assyria? 21 You are expecting Egypt to help you, but that would be like using a reed as a walking stick—it would break and jab your hand. That is what the king of Egypt is like when anyone relies on him.”
22 The Assyrian official went on, “Or will you tell me that you are relying on the Lord your God? It was the Lord's shrines and altars that Hezekiah destroyed, when he told the people of Judah and Jerusalem to worship only at the altar in Jerusalem. 23 I will make a bargain with you in the name of the emperor. I will give you two thousand horses if you can find that many men to ride them! 24 You are no match for even the lowest ranking Assyrian official, and yet you expect the Egyptians to send you chariots and cavalry! 25 Do you think I have attacked your country and destroyed it without the Lord's help? The Lord himself told me to attack it and destroy it.”
26 Then Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah told the official, “Speak Aramaic to us, sir. We understand it. Don't speak Hebrew; all the people on the wall are listening.”
27 He replied, “Do you think you and the king are the only ones the emperor sent me to say all these things to? No, I am also talking to the people who are sitting on the wall, who will have to eat their excrement and drink their urine, just as you will.”
28 Then the official stood up and shouted in Hebrew, “Listen to what the emperor of Assyria is telling you! 29 He warns you not to let Hezekiah deceive you. Hezekiah can't save you. 30 And don't let him persuade you to rely on the Lord. Don't think that the Lord will save you and that he will stop our Assyrian army from capturing your city. 31 Don't listen to Hezekiah. The emperor of Assyria commands you to come out of the city and surrender. You will all be allowed to eat grapes from your own vines and figs from your own trees, and to drink water from your own wells— 32 until the emperor resettles you in a country much like your own, where there are vineyards to give wine and there is grain for making bread; it is a land of olives, olive oil, and honey. If you do what he commands, you will not die, but live. Don't let Hezekiah fool you into thinking that the Lord will rescue you. 33 Did the gods of any other nations save their countries from the emperor of Assyria? 34 Where are they now, the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah? Did anyone save Samaria? 35 When did any of the gods of all these countries ever save their country from our emperor? Then what makes you think the Lord can save Jerusalem?”
36 The people kept quiet, just as King Hezekiah had told them to; they did not say a word. 37 Then Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah tore their clothes in grief, and went and reported to the king what the Assyrian official had said.
Hiskija ma rire ombara mOjuda
(2Eku 29:1-22Eku 31:1)1 Mombura oitjatatu youhona wa Hosea, omuzandu wa Ela, ombara ya Israel, Hiskija, omuzandu wa Ahas, otja rira ombara mOjuda, 2 e notjiwondo tjozombura omirongo vivari nandano; neye wa honapara mOjerusalem oure wozombura omirongo vivari na muvyu. Ina wa ri Abi, omusuko wa Sakaria. 3 Hiskija wa tjita imbi mbyaa vi tjata ku Muhona ama horere kotjikaro tjaihe mukururume ombara David. 4 Eye wina wa nyona poṋa apehe pomerikotameneno kovisenginina kozondunda, a haṋa ozongunḓe zomawe na ke ovihenḓe ovizere mbya yapurirwa omukuru wotjisenginina oserekaze Asera. Eye wina wa nyanyaura onyoka yongoporo ndja ungurirwe i Moses, ndjiyai isanewa Nehustan. Ovaisrael ave twimisa ovyomoro omuwa kondjozikiro yayo, nga koruveze ndo. 5 Hiskija we riyameka ku Muhona, Ndjambi wa Israel; ehi ra Juda ka rina pu ra karere nombara yarwe ndja ri tjimuna Hiskija, nangarire komurungu poo kombunda ye. 6 Eye wa kara nouṱakame ku Muhona, a kara nonḓuviro ku ye na ṱakamisa omatwako aehe nawa Muhona nga yandjere ku Moses. 7 Muhona otja kara puna ye; neye wa kara nouṋingandu mu atjihe eye tjaa tjiti. Eye wa pirukira ombara ya Asirie na panḓa okuriyandja ku yo. 8 Eye wa havera Ovafilisti, na taurire momaturiro wawo, okuza kotjirongo otjiṱiṱiṱiṱi nga kotjihuro otjinenenene puna otjihuro Gasa nomahi nge tji kondoroka.
9 Mombura oitjaine youhona wa Hiskija, ndja ri ombura oitjahambombari youhona wa Hosea mOisrael, Salmanasar, ombara ya Asirie otja rwisa Ovaisrael na kovere Samaria. 10 Mombura oitjatatu yomakoverero Samaria otji tja wa; indji ya ri ombura oitjahamboumwe youhona wa Hiskija nombura oitjamuvyu youhona wa Hosea. 11 Ombara ya Asirie ya twara Ovaisrael otja ovahuurwa kOasirie, nai katurisa tjiva motjihuro Halak, na tjiva popezu nonḓonḓu Habor, mehi ra Gosan, na tjiva movihuro vya Medie.
12 Samaria tja wa, Ovaisrael tjinga ave ha ri nonḓuviro ku Muhona, Ndjambi wawo, nu ava teya omerikutiropamwe eye nga tjitire puna wo, nave ha ṱakamisire omatwako aehe, nga yandjerwe i Moses, omukarere wa Muhona. Owo kaave puratene nu kaave kara nonḓuviro ku wo.
Ovaasur mave tanda Jerusalem
(2Eku 32:1-19Jes 36:1-22)13 Mombura oitjamurongo na ine youhona wa Hiskija, Sanherib, ombara ya Asirie, otja rwisa ovihuro avihe ovinamasa vya Juda, ne vi kambura. 14 Hiskija wa hinda ombuze ku Sanherib, ngwa ri mOlakis, na tja: “Ami mba tataiza; arikana, yaruka, pita mehi randje; nami me ku sutu pu movanga.” Ombara ya Asirie ya zira kutja Hiskija e mu hindire osilveri yondjinda yozokirograma 10,000, nongoldo yondjinda yozokirograma 1,000. 15 Hiskija we mu hindira osilveri aihe ndja ri mondjuwo ya Muhona na metuwo rovihuze rondjuwo youhona. 16 Eye wa kakaturura ongoldo komivero vyondjuwo ya Muhona, na indji ongoldo eye omuini ndja twire kozongambezero zomivero, ne i hindi aihe ku Sanherib. 17 Nungwari ombara yOvaasirie ya hinda otjimbumba otjinene tjovita okuza kOlakis okukarwisa Hiskija mOjerusalem. Otjo tja hongorerwa i ovahongore ve ovanene vetatu. Tji ve ya kOjerusalem, owo va kurama mondjira yovaungure vozombanda, meṋe yorurora ndu pupisa omeva okuza kerindi rokombanda. 18 Nu owo va hinda ombuze okukaisana ombara Hiskija; novahongore va Hiskija vetatu va pita okuvetjakanena, okutja oEljakim, omuzandu wa Hiskija, ngwa ri omuṱakamise wondjuwo youhona, na Sebna, omutjangerepo wouhona, na Joak, omuzandu wa Asaf, ngwa ri omuṱakamise wovitjangwa vyouhona. 19 Omuhongore umwe wOvaasirie we ve raera kutja ombara mai vanga okutjiwa kutja ihi otjiṋa tji tja tjita kutja ombara Hiskija e rivare omuini nai, otjikeṋa. 20 Eye wa pura nai: “Mo tjangovasi omambo womotjinyo porwe ongeri ounongo nomasa wokurwa ovita are? Mo ripura kutja owaṋi ngu me ku vatere okupirukira Ovaasirie? 21 Ove mo riyameke kOvaengipte kutja nani mave ku vatere, nungwari owo va sana nokati koruu ku ka teka nake tuvakaṋa eke roye. Notji tji ri ombara ya Engipte ku ngamwa auhe ngu me riyameke ku yo.”
22 Nu ingwi omuhongore Omuasirie wa ryamisa ehungi re komurungu na tja: “Poo mamu ndji raere kutja mamu riyameke ku Muhona, Ndjambi weṋu? Hiskija wa haṋa poṋa apehe pomerikotameneno ku Muhona novipunguhiro vye, nu tjazumba a raere otjiwaṋa tja Juda notja Jerusalem kutja tji rikotamenene potjipunguhiro ihi porwatjo tji tji ri mOjerusalem. 23 Ngatu tye ozombata mena rombara ya Asirie komuhingo mbwi: Me ku pe oukambe omayovi yevari, tji mo munu ovandu ovengi mbe ṱeki mbo okuukavira. 24 Ove komoo ṱeki nangarire pomuhongore Omuasirie wotjihako tjokehi! Nungwari ingee mo undju kutja Ovaengipte ve ku hindire omatemba wovita novakavire! 25 Mo tjangovasi ami mba rwisa ehi reṋu ne nyono ro nokuhinombatero ya Muhona are? Muhona omuini ongwe ndji raera okurwisa ehi reṋu nokunyona ro.”
26 Nu ooEljakim na Sebna na Joak va ravaera komuhongore ngwi nave tja: “Hungira Otjiaramei ku eṱe, muhona! Eṱe matu zuu. O hungire Otjiheberi; ovandu avehe mbe ri korumbo mave zuu.”
27 Ingwi omuhongore wa zira a tja: “Mamu tjangovasi eṋe nombara yeṋu oweṋe amuyerike ombara yandje ku ye ndji hinda kutja mbi kahungire ko oviṋa mbi avihe are? Kako, ami wina me hungire kovandu mba mba haama korumbo, mbu mave ri ombonḓi yawo, nu mbu mave nu omaṱuta wawo.”
28 Omuhongore wa sekama na ravaere mOtjiheberi a tja: “Purateneye ku imbi ombara ya Asirie mbi mai mu raere! 29 Oyo mai mu rongo kutja amu ha wovisiwa i Hiskija. Hiskija kemee mu yama. 30 Nu amu popwa i ye kutja mu riyameke ku Muhona. Amu tjangovasi Muhona me mu yama nokutja ma tjaere otjimbumba tjetu tjovita tjova Asirie kutja atji ha huura otjihuro tjeṋu. 31 Amu puratene ku Hiskija! Ombara ya Asirie mai mu rakiza kutja mu pite motjihuro nu mu riyandje. Eṋe amuhe mamu yandjerwa okurya omapunda womivite vyeṋu oveni nomakuyu komiti vyeṋu oveni, nokunwa omeva mozondjombo zeṋu oveni, 32 nga ombara tji ye mu turisa rukwao mehi nda sana na indi oreṋu oveni, mu mu novikunino vyomivite, mbi eta omandjembere womavinu, nu mu mu novikokotwa vyokutereka ozomboroto; oro ehi romiṋinga nomaze womiṋinga nouitji wokuti. Eṋe tji mamu tjiti imbi eye mbi me mu rakiza, kamu nokukoka, nungwari mamu kara nomuinyo. Amu wovisiwa i Hiskija mokutjangovasi Muhona me mu yama. 33 Oomukuru voviwaṋa vyarwe ve na pu va yamene omahi wawo kombara ya Asirie are? 34 Imba oomukuru votjihuro Hamat na Arpad nambano ve ri pi? Imba oomukuru votjihuro Sefarwajim na Hena na Iwa ve ri pi? Pena umwe ngwa yamene Samaria are? 35 Oomukuru vomahi nga aehe va yamene ruṋe omahi wawo kombara yetu? Notjikeṋa tji matji mu tjiti okuripura kutja Muhona ma sora okuyama Jerusalem?”
36 Notjiwaṋa tja mwina otja ombara Hiskija pe tji raera; novandu kave zirire ko embo nangarire rimwe. 37 Nu ooEljakim na Sebna na Joak va nyondorora ozombanda zawo moruhoze nave kaserekarera kombara imbi omuhongore wOvaasirie mbya hungire.
