1Now it came to pass in the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel , that Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign . 2Twenty and five years old was he when he began to reign ; and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem . His mother’s name also was Abi , the daughter of Zachariah . 3And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD , according to all that David his father did . 4He removed the high places , and brake the images , and cut down the groves , and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made : for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan . 5He trusted in the LORD God of Israel ; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah , nor any that were before him. 6For he clave to the LORD , and departed not from following him, but kept his commandments , which the LORD commanded Moses .
Hezekiah's Trust in the Lord
7And the LORD was with him; and he prospered whithersoever he went forth : and he rebelled against the king of Assyria , and served him not. 8He smote the Philistines , even unto Gaza , and the borders thereof, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city .
Assyria's Threat and Hezekiah's Response
9And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Hezekiah , which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel , that Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria , and besieged it. 10And at the end of three years they took it: even in the sixth year of Hezekiah , that is the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel , Samaria was taken . 11And the king of Assyria did carry away Israel unto Assyria , and put them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan , and in the cities of the Medes : 12Because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD their God , but transgressed his covenant , and all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded , and would not hear them , nor do them . 13Now in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah did Sennacherib king of Assyria come up against all the fenced cities of Judah , and took them. 14And Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria to Lachish , saying , I have offended ; return from me: that which thou puttest on me will I bear . And the king of Assyria appointed unto Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold . 15And Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the house of the LORD , and in the treasures of the king’s house . 16At that time did Hezekiah cut off the gold from the doors of the temple of the LORD , and from the pillars which Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid , and gave it to the king of Assyria .
God's Assurance and Deliverance
17And the king of Assyria sent Tartan and Rabsaris and Rab-shakeh from Lachish to king Hezekiah with a great host against Jerusalem . And they went up and came to Jerusalem . And when they were come up , they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool , which is in the highway of the fuller’s field . 18And when they had called to the king , there came out to them Eliakim the son of Hilkiah , which was over the household , and Shebna the scribe , and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder . 19And Rab-shakeh said unto them, Speak ye now to Hezekiah , Thus saith the great king , the king of Assyria , What confidence is this wherein thou trustest ? 20Thou sayest , (but they are but vain words ,) I have counsel and strength for the war . Now on whom dost thou trust , that thou rebellest against me? 21Now, behold, thou trustest upon the staff of this bruised reed , even upon Egypt , on which if a man lean , it will go into his hand , and pierce it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt unto all that trust on him. 22But if ye say unto me, We trust in the LORD our God : is not that he, whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah hath taken away , and hath said to Judah and Jerusalem , Ye shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem ? 23Now therefore, I pray thee, give pledges to my lord the king of Assyria , and I will deliver thee two thousand horses , if thou be able on thy part to set riders upon them. 24How then wilt thou turn away the face of one captain of the least of my master’s servants , and put thy trust on Egypt for chariots and for horsemen ? 25Am I now come up without the LORD against this place to destroy it? The LORD said to me, Go up against this land , and destroy it. 26Then said Eliakim the son of Hilkiah , and Shebna , and Joah , unto Rab-shakeh , Speak , I pray thee, to thy servants in the Syrian language ; for we understand it: and talk not with us in the Jews’ language in the ears of the people that are on the wall . 27But Rab-shakeh said unto them, Hath my master sent me to thy master , and to thee, to speak these words ? hath he not sent me to the men which sit on the wall , that they may eat their own dung , and drink their own piss with you? 28Then Rab-shakeh stood and cried with a loud voice in the Jews’ language , and spake , saying , Hear the word of the great king , the king of Assyria : 29Thus saith the king , Let not Hezekiah deceive you: for he shall not be able to deliver you out of his hand : 30Neither let Hezekiah make you trust in the LORD , saying , The LORD will surely deliver us, and this city shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria . 31Hearken not to Hezekiah : for thus saith the king of Assyria , Make an agreement with me by a present , and come out to me, and then eat ye every man of his own vine , and every one of his fig tree , and drink ye every one the waters of his cistern : 32Until I come and take you away to a land like your own land , a land of corn and wine , a land of bread and vineyards , a land of oil olive and of honey , that ye may live , and not die : and hearken not unto Hezekiah , when he persuadeth you, saying , The LORD will deliver us. 33Hath any of the gods of the nations delivered at all his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria ? 34Where are the gods of Hamath , and of Arpad ? where are the gods of Sepharvaim , Hena , and Ivah ? have they delivered Samaria out of mine hand ? 35Who are they among all the gods of the countries , that have delivered their country out of mine hand , that the LORD should deliver Jerusalem out of mine hand ? 36But the people held their peace , and answered him not a word : for the king’s commandment was, saying , Answer him not. 37Then came Eliakim the son of Hilkiah , which was over the household , and Shebna the scribe , and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder , to Hezekiah with their clothes rent , and told him the words of Rab-shakeh .