Book 39 : KETUVIM - 2 CHRONICLES - Chapter 032
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After these things, and this faithfulness, Sennacherib king
of Assyria came, and entered into Judah, and encamped against the fortified
cities, and thought to make a breach therein for himself
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And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib was come, and that
he was purposed to fight against Jerusalem
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he took counsel with his princes and his mighty men to stop
the waters of the fountains which were without the city; and they helped him
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So there was gathered much people together, and they
stopped all the fountains, and the brook that flowed through the midst of the
land, saying: 'Why should the kings of Assyria come, and find much water?
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And he took courage, and built up all the wall that was
broken down, and raised it up to the towers, and another wall without, and
strengthened Millo in the city of David, and made weapons and shields in
abundance
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And he set captains of war over the people, and gathered
them together to him in the broad place at the gate of the city, and spoke
encouragingly to them, saying
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'Be strong and of good courage, be not afraid nor dismayed
for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him; for there
is a Greater with us than with him
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with him is an arm of flesh; but with us is HaShem our G-d
to help us, and to fight our battles.' And the people rested themselves upon the
words of Hezekiah king of Judah
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After this did Sennacherib king of Assyria send his
servants to Jerusalem--now he was before Lachish, and all his power with
him--unto Hezekiah king of Judah, and unto all Judah that were at Jerusalem,
saying
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`Thus saith Sennacherib king of Assyria: Whereon do ye
trust, that ye abide the siege in Jerusalem
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Doth not Hezekiah persuade you, to give you over to die by
famine and by thirst, saying: HaShem our G-d will deliver us out of the hand of
the king of Assyria
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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 upon it shall ye offer
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Know ye not what I and my fathers have done unto all the
peoples of the lands? Were the gods of the nations of the lands in any wise able
to deliver their land out of my hand
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Who was there among all the gods of those nations which my
fathers utterly destroyed, that could deliver his people out of my hand, that
your G-d should be able to deliver you out of my hand
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Now therefore let not Hezekiah beguile you, nor persuade
you after this manner, neither believe ye him; for no god of any nation or
kingdom was able to deliver his people out of my hand, and out of the hand of my
fathers; how much less shall your G-d deliver you out of my hand?
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And his servants spoke yet more against HaShem G-d, and
against His servant Hezekiah
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He wrote also a letter, to taunt HaShem, the G-d of
Israel, and to speak against Him, saying: 'As the gods of the nations of the
lands, which have not delivered their people out of my hand, so shall not the
G-d of Hezekiah deliver His people out of my hand.
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And they cried with a loud voice in the Jews' language
unto the people of Jerusalem that were on the wall, to terrify them, and to
affright them; that they might take the city
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And they spoke of the G-d of Jerusalem, as of the gods of
the peoples of the earth, which are the work of men's hands
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And Hezekiah the king, and Isaiah the prophet the son of
Amoz, prayed because of this, and cried to heaven
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And HaShem sent an angel, who 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
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Thus HaShem saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of
Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and from the hand of
all, and guided them on every side
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And many brought gifts unto HaShem to Jerusalem, and
precious things to Hezekiah king of Judah; so that he was exalted in the sight
of all nations from thenceforth
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In those days Hezekiah was sick even unto death; and he
prayed unto HaShem; and He spoke unto him, and gave him a sign
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But Hezekiah rendered not according to the benefit done
unto him; for his heart was lifted up; therefore there was wrath upon him, and
upon Judah and Jerusalem
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Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of
his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of HaShem
came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah
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And Hezekiah had exceeding much riches and honour; and he
provided him treasuries for silver, and for gold, and for precious stones, and
for spices, and for shields, and for all manner of goodly vessels
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store-houses also for the increase of corn, and wine, and
oil; and stalls for all manner of beasts, and flocks in folds
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Moreover he provided him cities, and possessions of flocks
and herds in abundance; for G-d had given him very much substance
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This same Hezekiah also stopped the upper spring of the
waters of Gihon, and brought them straight down on the west side of the city of
David. And Hezekiah prospered in all his works
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Howbeit in the business of the ambassadors of the princes
of Babylon, who sent unto him to inquire of the wonder that was done in the
land, G-d left him, to try him, that He might know all that was in his heart
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Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and his good deeds,
behold, they are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz,
and in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel
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And Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him
in the ascent of the sepulchres of the sons of David; and all Judah and the
inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honour at his death. And Manasseh his son
reigned in his stead
Book 39 : KETUVIM - 2 CHRONICLES - Chapter 032
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