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1. After Hezekiah had faithfully carried out this work, King Sennacherib of Assyria invaded Judah. He laid siege to the fortified towns, giving orders for his army to break through their walls.
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1. After H310 these H428 things H1697 , and the establishment H571 thereof, Sennacherib H5576 king H4428 of Assyria H804 came H935 , and entered H935 into Judah H3063 , and encamped H2583 against H5921 the fenced H1219 cities H5892 , and thought H559 to win H1234 them for H413 himself.
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2. When Hezekiah realized that Sennacherib also intended to attack Jerusalem,
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2. And when Hezekiah H3169 saw H7200 that H3588 Sennacherib H5576 was come H935 , and that he was purposed H6440 to fight H4421 against H5921 Jerusalem H3389 ,
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3. he consulted with his officials and military advisers, and they decided to stop the flow of the springs outside the city.
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3. He took counsel H3289 with H5973 his princes H8269 and his mighty men H1368 to stop H5640 H853 the waters H4325 of the fountains H5869 which H834 were without H4480 H2351 the city H5892 : and they did help H5826 him.
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4. They organized a huge work crew to stop the flow of the springs, cutting off the brook that ran through the fields. For they said, "Why should the kings of Assyria come here and find plenty of water?"
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4. So there was gathered H6908 much H7227 people H5971 together , who stopped H5640 H853 all H3605 the fountains H4599 , and the brook H5158 that ran H7857 through the midst H8432 of the land H776 , saying H559 , Why H4100 should the kings H4428 of Assyria H804 come H935 , and find H4672 much H7227 water H4325 ?
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5. Then Hezekiah worked hard at repairing all the broken sections of the wall, erecting towers, and constructing a second wall outside the first. He also reinforced the supporting terraces in the City of David and manufactured large numbers of weapons and shields.
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5. Also he strengthened himself H2388 , and built up H1129 H853 all H3605 the wall H2346 that was broken H6555 , and raised it up H5927 to H5921 the towers H4026 , and another H312 wall H2346 without H2351 , and repaired H2388 H853 Millo H4407 in the city H5892 of David H1732 , and made H6213 darts H7973 and shields H4043 in abundance H7230 .
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6. He appointed military officers over the people and assembled them before him in the square at the city gate. Then Hezekiah encouraged them by saying:
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6. And he set H5414 captains H8269 of war H4421 over H5921 the people H5971 , and gathered them together H6908 to H413 him in H413 the street H7339 of the gate H8179 of the city H5892 , and spoke H1696 comfortably H5921 H3824 to them, saying H559 ,
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7. "Be strong and courageous! Don't be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria or his mighty army, for there is a power far greater on our side!
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7. Be strong H2388 and courageous H553 , be not afraid H3372 H408 nor H408 dismayed H2865 for H4480 H6440 the king H4428 of Assyria H804 , nor for H4480 H6440 all H3605 the multitude H1995 that H834 is with H5973 him: for H3588 there be more H7227 with H5973 us than with H4480 H5973 him:
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8. He may have a great army, but they are merely men. We have the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles for us!" Hezekiah's words greatly encouraged the people.
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8. With H5973 him is an arm H2220 of flesh H1320 ; but with H5973 us is the LORD H3068 our God H430 to help H5826 us , and to fight H3898 our battles H4421 . And the people H5971 rested themselves H5564 upon H5921 the words H1697 of Hezekiah H3169 king H4428 of Judah H3063 .
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9. While King Sennacherib of Assyria was still besieging the town of Lachish, he sent his officers to Jerusalem with this message for Hezekiah and all the people in the city:
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9. After H310 this H2088 did Sennacherib H5576 king H4428 of Assyria H804 send H7971 his servants H5650 to Jerusalem H3389 , (but he H1931 himself laid siege against H5921 Lachish H3923 , and all H3605 his power H4475 with H5973 him,) unto H5921 Hezekiah H3169 king H4428 of Judah H3063 , and unto H5921 all H3605 Judah H3063 that H834 were at Jerusalem H3389 , saying H559 ,
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10. "This is what King Sennacherib of Assyria says: What are you trusting in that makes you think you can survive my siege of Jerusalem?
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10. Thus H3541 saith H559 Sennacherib H5576 king H4428 of Assyria H804 , Whereon H5921 H4100 do ye H859 trust H982 , that ye abide H3427 in the siege H4692 in Jerusalem H3389 ?
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11. Hezekiah has said, 'The LORD our God will rescue us from the king of Assyria.' Surely Hezekiah is misleading you, sentencing you to death by famine and thirst!
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11. Doth not H3808 Hezekiah H3169 persuade H5496 you to give over H5414 yourselves to die H4191 by famine H7458 and by thirst H6772 , saying H559 , The LORD H3068 our God H430 shall deliver H5337 us out of the hand H4480 H3709 of the king H4428 of Assyria H804 ?
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12. Don't you realize that Hezekiah is the very person who destroyed all the LORD's shrines and altars? He commanded Judah and Jerusalem to worship only at the altar at the Temple and to offer sacrifices on it alone.
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12. Hath not H3808 the same H1931 Hezekiah H3169 taken away H5493 H853 his high places H1116 and his altars H4196 , and commanded H559 Judah H3063 and Jerusalem H3389 , saying H559 , Ye shall worship H7812 before H6440 one H259 altar H4196 , and burn incense H6999 upon H5921 it?
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13. "Surely you must realize what I and the other kings of Assyria before me have done to all the people of the earth! Were any of the gods of those nations able to rescue their people from my power?
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13. Know H3045 ye not H3808 what H4100 I H589 and my fathers H1 have done H6213 unto all H3605 the people H5971 of other lands H776 ? were the gods H430 of the nations H1471 of those lands H776 any ways able H3201 H3201 to deliver H5337 H853 their lands H776 out of mine hand H4480 H3027 ?
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14. Which of their gods was able to rescue its people from the destructive power of my predecessors? What makes you think your God can rescue you from me?
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14. Who H4310 was there among all H3605 the gods H430 of those H428 nations H1471 that H834 my fathers H1 utterly destroyed H2763 , that H834 could H3201 deliver H5337 H853 his people H5971 out of mine hand H4480 H3027 , that H3588 your God H430 should be able H3201 to deliver H5337 you out of mine hand H4480 H3027 ?
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15. Don't let Hezekiah deceive you! Don't let him fool you like this! I say it again-- no god of any nation or kingdom has ever yet been able to rescue his people from me or my ancestors. How much less will your God rescue you from my power!"
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15. Now H6258 therefore let not H408 Hezekiah H2396 deceive H5377 you, nor H408 persuade H5496 you on this manner H2063 , neither H408 yet believe H539 him: for H3588 no H3808 H3605 god H433 of any H3605 nation H1471 or kingdom H4467 was able H3201 to deliver H5337 his people H5971 out of mine hand H4480 H3027 , and out of the hand H4480 H3027 of my fathers H1 : how much less H637 H3588 shall your God H430 deliver H5337 you out of mine hand H4480 H3027 ?
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16. And Sennacherib's officers further mocked the LORD God and his servant Hezekiah, heaping insult upon insult.
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16. And his servants H5650 spoke H1696 yet H5750 more against H5921 the LORD H3068 God H430 , and against H5921 his servant H5650 Hezekiah H3169 .
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17. The king also sent letters scorning the LORD, the God of Israel. He wrote, "Just as the gods of all the other nations failed to rescue their people from my power, so the God of Hezekiah will also fail."
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17. He wrote H3789 also letters H5612 to rail H2778 on the LORD H3068 God H430 of Israel H3478 , and to speak H559 against H5921 him, saying H559 , As the gods H430 of the nations H1471 of other lands H776 have not H3808 delivered H5337 their people H5971 out of mine hand H4480 H3027 , so H3651 shall not H3808 the God H430 of Hezekiah H3169 deliver H5337 his people H5971 out of mine hand H4480 H3027 .
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18. The Assyrian officials who brought the letters shouted this in Hebrew to the people gathered on the walls of the city, trying to terrify them so it would be easier to capture the city.
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18. Then they cried H7121 with a loud H1419 voice H6963 in the Jews' speech H3066 unto H5921 the people H5971 of Jerusalem H3389 that H834 were on H5921 the wall H2346 , to frighten H3372 them , and to trouble H926 them; that H4616 they might take H3920 H853 the city H5892 .
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19. These officers talked about the God of Jerusalem as though he were one of the pagan gods, made by human hands.
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19. And they spoke H1696 against H413 the God H430 of Jerusalem H3389 , as against H5921 the gods H430 of the people H5971 of the earth H776 , which were the work H4639 of the hands H3027 of man H120 .
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20. Then King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz cried out in prayer to God in heaven.
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20. And for H5921 this H2063 cause Hezekiah H3169 the king H4428 , and the prophet H5030 Isaiah H3470 the son H1121 of Amoz H531 , prayed H6419 and cried H2199 to heaven H8064 .
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21. And the LORD sent an angel who destroyed the Assyrian army with all its commanders and officers. So Sennacherib was forced to return home in disgrace to his own land. And when he entered the temple of his god, some of his own sons killed him there with a sword.
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21. And the LORD H3068 sent H7971 an angel H4397 , which cut off H3582 all H3605 the mighty men H1368 of valor H2428 , and the leaders H5057 and captains H8269 in the camp H4264 of the king H4428 of Assyria H804 . So he returned H7725 with shame H1322 of face H6440 to his own land H776 . And when he was come into H935 the house H1004 of his god H430 , they that came forth H4480 H3329 of his own bowels H4578 slew H5307 him there H8033 with the sword H2719 .
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22. That is how the LORD rescued Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem from King Sennacherib of Assyria and from all the others who threatened them. So there was peace throughout the land.
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22. Thus the LORD H3068 saved H3467 H853 Hezekiah H3169 and the inhabitants H3427 of Jerusalem H3389 from the hand H4480 H3027 of Sennacherib H5576 the king H4428 of Assyria H804 , and from the hand H4480 H3027 of all H3605 other , and guided H5095 them on every side H4480 H5439 .
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23. From then on King Hezekiah became highly respected among all the surrounding nations, and many gifts for the LORD arrived at Jerusalem, with valuable presents for King Hezekiah, too.
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23. And many H7227 brought H935 gifts H4503 unto the LORD H3068 to Jerusalem H3389 , and presents H4030 to Hezekiah H3169 king H4428 of Judah H3063 : so that he was magnified H5375 in the sight H5869 of all H3605 nations H1471 from thenceforth H4480 H310 H3651 .
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24. About that time Hezekiah became deathly ill. He prayed to the LORD, who healed him and gave him a miraculous sign.
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24. In those H1992 days H3117 Hezekiah H3169 was sick H2470 to H5704 the death H4191 , and prayed H6419 unto H413 the LORD H3068 : and he spoke H559 unto him , and he gave H5414 him a sign H4159 .
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25. But Hezekiah did not respond appropriately to the kindness shown him, and he became proud. So the LORD's anger came against him and against Judah and Jerusalem.
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25. But Hezekiah H3169 rendered not again H7725 H3808 according to the benefit H1576 done unto H5921 him; for H3588 his heart H3820 was lifted up H1361 : therefore there was H1961 wrath H7110 upon H5921 him , and upon H5921 Judah H3063 and Jerusalem H3389 .
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26. Then Hezekiah humbled himself and repented of his pride, as did the people of Jerusalem. So the LORD's anger did not fall on them during Hezekiah's lifetime.
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26. Notwithstanding Hezekiah H3169 humbled himself H3665 for the pride H1363 of his heart H3820 , both he H1931 and the inhabitants H3427 of Jerusalem H3389 , so that the wrath H7110 of the LORD H3068 came H935 not H3808 upon H5921 them in the days H3117 of Hezekiah H3169 .
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27. Hezekiah was very wealthy and highly honored. He built special treasury buildings for his silver, gold, precious stones, and spices, and for his shields and other valuable items.
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27. And Hezekiah H3169 had H1961 exceeding H3966 much H7235 riches H6239 and honor H3519 : and he made H6213 himself treasuries H214 for silver H3701 , and for gold H2091 , and for precious H3368 stones H68 , and for spices H1314 , and for shields H4043 , and for all manner H3605 of pleasant H2532 jewels H3627 ;
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28. He also constructed many storehouses for his grain, new wine, and olive oil; and he made many stalls for his cattle and pens for his flocks of sheep and goats.
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28. Storehouses H4543 also for the increase H8393 of corn H1715 , and wine H8492 , and oil H3323 ; and stalls H723 for all manner H3605 of beasts H929 H929 , and cotes H220 for flocks H5739 .
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29. He built many towns and acquired vast flocks and herds, for God had given him great wealth.
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29. Moreover he provided H6213 him cities H5892 , and possessions H4735 of flocks H6629 and herds H1241 in abundance H7230 : for H3588 God H430 had given H5414 him substance H7399 very H3966 much H7227 .
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30. He blocked up the upper spring of Gihon and brought the water down through a tunnel to the west side of the City of David. And so he succeeded in everything he did.
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30. This same H1931 Hezekiah H3169 also stopped H5640 H853 the upper H5945 watercourse H4161 H4325 of Gihon H1521 , and brought it straight H3474 down H4295 to the west side H4628 of the city H5892 of David H1732 . And Hezekiah H3169 prospered H6743 in all H3605 his works H4639 .
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31. However, when ambassadors arrived from Babylon to ask about the remarkable events that had taken place in the land, God withdrew from Hezekiah in order to test him and to see what was really in his heart.
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31. Howbeit H3651 in the business of the ambassadors H3887 of the princes H8269 of Babylon H894 , who sent H7971 unto H5921 him to inquire of H1875 the wonder H4159 that H834 was H1961 done in the land H776 , God H430 left H5800 him , to try H5254 him , that he might know H3045 all H3605 that was in his heart H3824 .
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32. The rest of the events in Hezekiah's reign and his acts of devotion are recorded in The Vision of the Prophet Isaiah Son of Amoz, which is included in The Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.
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32. Now the rest H3499 of the acts H1697 of Hezekiah H3169 , and his goodness H2617 , behold H2009 , they are written H3789 in the vision H2377 of Isaiah H3470 the prophet H5030 , the son H1121 of Amoz H531 , and in H5921 the book H5612 of the kings H4428 of Judah H3063 and Israel H3478 .
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33. When Hezekiah died, he was buried in the upper area of the royal cemetery, and all Judah and Jerusalem honored him at his death. And his son Manasseh became the next king.
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33. And Hezekiah H3169 slept H7901 with H5973 his fathers H1 , and they buried H6912 him in the chiefest H4608 of the sepulchers H6913 of the sons H1121 of David H1732 : and all H3605 Judah H3063 and the inhabitants H3427 of Jerusalem H3389 did H6213 him honor H3519 at his death H4194 . And Manasseh H4519 his son H1121 reigned H4427 in his stead H8478 .
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