the Fourth Week of Advent
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Hebrew Names Version
2 Chronicles 32
1 After these things, and this faithfulness, Sancheriv king of Ashshur came, and entered into Yehudah, and encamped against the fortified cities, and thought to win them for himself. 2 When Hizkiyahu saw that Sancheriv was come, and that he was purposed to fight against Yerushalayim, 3 he took counsel with his princes and his mighty men to stop the waters of the springs which were outside of the city; and they helped him. 4 So there was gathered much people together, and they stopped all the springs, and the brook that flowed through the midst of the land, saying, Why should the kings of Ashshur come, and find much water? 5 He took courage, and built up all the wall that was broken down, and raised [it] up to the towers, and the other wall outside, and strengthened Millo [in] the city of David, and made weapons and shields in abundance. 6 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 comfortably to them, saying, 7 Be strong and of good courage, don't be afraid nor dismayed for the king of Ashshur, nor for all the multitude who is with him; for there is a greater with us than with him: 8 with him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God to help us, and to fight our battles. The people rested themselves on the words of Hizkiyahu king of Yehudah.
9 After this did Sancheriv king of Ashshur send his servants to Yerushalayim, (now he was before Lakhish, and all his power with him,) to Hizkiyahu king of Yehudah, and to all Yehudah who were at Yerushalayim, saying, 10 Thus says Sancheriv king of Ashshur, Whereon do you trust, that you abide the siege in Yerushalayim? 11 Does not Hizkiyahu persuade you, to give you over to die by famine and by thirst, saying, the LORD our God will deliver us out of the hand of the king of Ashshur? 12 Has not the same Hizkiyahu taken away his high places and his altars, and commanded Yehudah and Yerushalayim, saying, You shall worship before one altar, and on it shall you burn incense? 13 Don't you know what I and my fathers have done to 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? 14 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 God should be able to deliver you out of my hand? 15 Now therefore don't let Hizkiyahu deceive you, nor persuade you after this manner, neither believe you 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 God deliver you out of my hand? 16 His servants spoke yet more against the LORD God, and against his servant Hizkiyahu. 17 He wrote also letters, to rail on the LORD, the God of Yisra'el, 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 the God of Hizkiyahu not deliver his people out of my hand. 18 They cried with a loud voice in the Yehudim' language to the people of Yerushalayim who were on the wall, to frighten them, and to trouble them; that they might take the city. 19 They spoke of the God of Yerushalayim, as of the gods of the peoples of the eretz, which are the work of men's hands. 20 Hizkiyahu the king, and Yesha`yahu the prophet the son of Amotz, prayed because of this, and cried to heaven. 21 The LORD sent an angel, who cut off all the mighty men of valor, and the leaders and captains, in the camp of the king of Ashshur. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. When he was come into the house of his god, those who came forth from his own bowels killed him there with the sword. 22 Thus the LORD saved Hizkiyahu and the inhabitants of Yerushalayim from the hand of Sancheriv the king of Ashshur, and from the hand of all [others], and guided them on every side. 23 Many brought gifts to the LORD to Yerushalayim, and precious things to Hizkiyahu king of Yehudah; so that he was exalted in the sight of all nations from thenceforth.
24 In those days Hizkiyahu was sick even to death: and he prayed to the LORD; and he spoke to him, and gave him a sign. 25 But Hizkiyahu didn't render again according to the benefit done to him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore there was wrath on him, and on Yehudah and Yerushalayim. 26 Notwithstanding Hizkiyahu humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Yerushalayim, so that the wrath of the LORD didn't come on them in the days of Hizkiyahu. 27 Hizkiyahu had exceeding much riches and honor: 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; 28 store-houses also for the increase of grain and new wine and oil; and stalls for all manner of animals, and flocks in folds. 29 Moreover he provided him cities, and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance; for God had given him very much substance. 30 This same Hizkiyahu also stopped the upper spring of the waters of Gichon, and brought them straight down on the west side of the city of David. Hizkiyahu prospered in all his works. 31 However in [the business of] the ambassadors of the princes of Bavel, who sent to him to inquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart. 32 Now the rest of the acts of Hizkiyahu, and his good deeds, behold, they are written in the vision of Yesha`yahu the prophet the son of Amotz, in the book of the kings of Yehudah and Yisra'el. 33 Hizkiyahu slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the ascent of the tombs of the sons of David: and all Yehudah and the inhabitants of Yerushalayim did him honor at his death. Menashsheh his son reigned in his place.