1And it came to pass, when king Hezekiah heard it, that he rent his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the LORD. 2And he sent Eliakim, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests covered with sackcloth, unto Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz. 3And they said unto him, Thus saith Hezekiah, This day is a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and of blasphemy: for the children are come to the birth, and there is not strength to bring forth.37.3 blasphemy: or, provocation 4It may be the LORD thy God will hear the words of Rabshakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master hath sent to reproach the living God, and will reprove the words which the LORD thy God hath heard: wherefore lift up thy prayer for the remnant that is left.37.4 left: Heb. found 5So the servants of king Hezekiah came to Isaiah.
6¶ And Isaiah said unto them, Thus shall ye say unto your master, Thus saith the LORD, Be not afraid of the words that thou hast heard, wherewith the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me. 7Behold, I will send a blast upon him, and he shall hear a rumour, and return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land.37.7 send…: or, put a spirit into him
8¶ So Rabshakeh returned, and found the king of Assyria warring against Libnah: for he had heard that he was departed from Lachish. 9And he heard say concerning Tirhakah king of Ethiopia, He is come forth to make war with thee. And when he heard it, he sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying, 10Thus shall ye speak to Hezekiah king of Judah, saying, Let not thy God, in whom thou trustest, deceive thee, saying, Jerusalem shall not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria. 11Behold, thou hast heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands by destroying them utterly; and shalt thou be delivered? 12Have the gods of the nations delivered them which my fathers have destroyed, as Gozan, and Haran, and Rezeph, and the children of Eden which were in Telassar? 13Where is the king of Hamath, and the king of Arphad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah?
14¶ And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it: and Hezekiah went up unto the house of the LORD, and spread it before the LORD. 15And Hezekiah prayed unto the LORD, saying, 16O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, that dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth: thou hast made heaven and earth. 17Incline thine ear, O LORD, and hear; open thine eyes, O LORD, and see: and hear all the words of Sennacherib, which hath sent to reproach the living God. 18Of a truth, LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations, and their countries,37.18 nations: Heb. lands 19And have cast their gods into the fire: for they were no gods, but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone: therefore they have destroyed them.37.19 cast: Heb. given 20Now therefore, O LORD our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the LORD, even thou only.
21¶ Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent unto Hezekiah, saying, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Whereas thou hast prayed to me against Sennacherib king of Assyria: 22This is the word which the LORD hath spoken concerning him; The virgin, the daughter of Zion, hath despised thee, and laughed thee to scorn; the daughter of Jerusalem hath shaken her head at thee. 23Whom hast thou reproached and blasphemed? and against whom hast thou exalted thy voice, and lifted up thine eyes on high? even against the Holy One of Israel. 24By thy servants hast thou reproached the Lord, and hast said, By the multitude of my chariots am I come up to the height of the mountains, to the sides of Lebanon; and I will cut down the tall cedars thereof, and the choice fir trees thereof: and I will enter into the height of his border, and the forest of his Carmel.37.24 By thy…: Heb. By the hand of thy servants37.24 the tall…: Heb. the tallness of the cedars thereof and the choice of the fir trees thereof37.24 the forest…: or, the forest and his fruitful field 25I have digged, and drunk water; and with the sole of my feet have I dried up all the rivers of the besieged places.37.25 besieged: or, fenced and closed 26Hast thou not heard long ago, how I have done it; and of ancient times, that I have formed it? now have I brought it to pass, that thou shouldest be to lay waste defenced cities into ruinous heaps.37.26 Hast…: or, Hast thou not heard how I have made it long ago, and formed it of ancient times? should I now bring it to be laid waste, and defenced cities to be ruinous heaps? 27Therefore their inhabitants were of small power, they were dismayed and confounded: they were as the grass of the field, and as the green herb, as the grass on the housetops, and as corn blasted before it be grown up.37.27 of small…: Heb. short of hand 28But I know thy abode, and thy going out, and thy coming in, and thy rage against me.37.28 abode: or, sitting 29Because thy rage against me, and thy tumult, is come up into mine ears, therefore will I put my hook in thy nose, and my bridle in thy lips, and I will turn thee back by the way by which thou camest. 30And this shall be a sign unto thee, Ye shall eat this year such as groweth of itself; and the second year that which springeth of the same: and in the third year sow ye, and reap, and plant vineyards, and eat the fruit thereof. 31And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall again take root downward, and bear fruit upward:37.31 the remnant…: Heb. the escaping of the house of Judah that remaineth 32For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and they that escape out of mount Zion: the zeal of the LORD of hosts shall do this.37.32 they…: Heb. the escaping 33Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shields, nor cast a bank against it. 34By the way that he came, by the same shall he return, and shall not come into this city, saith the LORD. 35For I will defend this city to save it for mine own sake, and for my servant David’s sake. 36Then the angel of the LORD went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.
37¶ So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh. 38And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword; and they escaped into the land of Armenia: and Esar-haddon his son reigned in his stead.37.38 Armenia: Heb. Ararat
Kuokolewa Kwa Yerusalemu Kunatabiriwa
(2 Wafalme 19:1-7)
137:1 2Nya 34:19; Mwa 37:34; 1Fal 8:33; Mt 21:13Mfalme Hezekia aliposikia haya, akararua nguo zake na kuvaa nguo ya gunia, naye akaenda katika Hekalu la Bwana. 237:2 2Fal 22:14; Isa 13:1; 36:3; 2Fal 18:18Akawatuma Eliakimu msimamizi wa nyumba ya mfalme, Shebna mwandishi, na viongozi wa makuhani, wote wakiwa wamevaa nguo za magunia, waende kwa nabii Isaya mwana wa Amozi. 337:3 Isa 66:9; Hos 13:13; 2Fal 19:3; Amu 6:2; Isa 5:30; 26:18Wakamwambia, “Hili ndilo asemalo Hezekia: Siku hii ni siku ya dhiki, ya kukaripiwa na ya aibu, kama wakati watoto wanapofikia karibu kuzaliwa na kumbe hakuna nguvu ya kuwazaa. 437:4 Yak 5:14-15; Isa 36:13, 18-20; Amo 7:2; 2Nya 32:17; Yos 3:10; 1Sam 7:8Yamkini Bwana, Mungu wako atayasikia maneno ya jemadari wa jeshi, ambaye bwana wake, mfalme wa Ashuru, amemtuma kumdhihaki Mungu aliye hai, tena kwamba atamkemea kwa maneno ambayo Bwana, Mungu wako ameyasikia. Kwa hiyo omba kwa ajili ya mabaki ambao bado wako.”
5Maafisa wa Mfalme Hezekia walipofika kwa Isaya, 637:6 Yos 1:9; Isa 7:4; Hes 15:30Isaya akawaambia, “Mwambieni bwana wenu, ‘Hili ndilo asemalo Bwana: Usiogope kwa hayo uliyoyasikia, yale maneno ambayo watumishi wa mfalme wa Ashuru wamenitukana nayo. 737:7 Isa 31:8; 1Nya 5:26Sikiliza! Nitatia roho fulani ndani yake ili kwamba atakaposikia taarifa fulani, atarudi nchi yake mwenyewe, nami huko nitafanya auawe kwa upanga.’ ”
837:8 Hes 33:20; Neh 11:30; Yer 34:7; Yos 10:3Jemadari wa jeshi aliposikia kwamba mfalme wa Ashuru ameondoka Lakishi, alirudi, akamkuta mfalme akipigana na Libna.
937:9 2Nya 32:11; Isa 20:3Basi Senakeribu akapata taarifa kwamba Tirhaka, Mkushi mfalme wa Misri, alikuwa anaenda kupigana naye. Aliposikia jambo hili akatuma wajumbe kwa Hezekia na neno hili: 1037:10 2Nya 32:11, 15; Isa 36:15“Mwambieni Hezekia mfalme wa Yuda: Usikubali huyo Mungu unayemtumainia akudanganye wakati anaposema, ‘Yerusalemu haitatiwa mkononi mwa mfalme wa Ashuru.’ 1137:11 Isa 36:18-20Hakika umesikia yale ambayo wafalme wa Ashuru wametenda kwa nchi zote, wakiwaangamiza kabisa. Je, wewe utaokolewa? 1237:12 Mwa 12:1-4; Mdo 7:2; 2Fal 18:11Je, miungu ya mataifa ambayo yaliangamizwa na baba zangu iliweza kuwaokoa? Yaani miungu ya Gozani, Harani, Resefu, na ya watu wa Edeni waliokuwa Telasari? 1337:13 Isa 10:9; 2Fal 17:24; Isa 36:20Yuko wapi mfalme wa Hamathi, mfalme wa Arpadi, mfalme wa mji wa Sefarvaimu, au wa Hena au wa Iva?”
Maombi Ya Hezekia
1437:14 2Nya 32:17; 1Fal 8:33Hezekia akapokea barua kutoka kwa wale wajumbe naye akaisoma. Kisha akapanda katika Hekalu la Bwana, akaikunjua mbele za Bwana. 1537:15 2Nya 32:20Naye Hezekia akamwomba Bwana akisema: 1637:16 Kum 10:17; Za 46:10; Kut 25:22; Mwa 3:24; Za 86:10; Dan 4:34; Mdo 4:24“Ee Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote, Mungu wa Israeli, uketiye juu ya kiti cha enzi kati ya makerubi, wewe peke yako ndiwe Mungu juu ya falme zote za dunia. Wewe umeumba mbingu na nchi. 1737:17 Dan 9:18; Yer 25:29; 2Nya 6:40; 1Fal 8:29; 2Nya 32:17Tega sikio, Ee Bwana, usikie; fungua macho yako, Ee Bwana, uone; sikiliza maneno yote ambayo Senakeribu ametuma kumtukana Mungu aliye hai.
1837:18 2Fal 15:29; Nah 2:11-12“Ni kweli, Ee Bwana, kwamba wafalme wa Ashuru wameyaangamiza mataifa haya yote pamoja na nchi zao. 1937:19 Isa 36:20; Yer 2:11; Gal 4:8; Yos 7:15; Isa 26:14; 2Nya 13:9; Isa 40:18-20; 44:9-11Wameitupa miungu yao kwenye moto na kuiangamiza, kwa kuwa haikuwa miungu, bali miti na mawe tu, iliyotengenezwa kwa mikono ya wanadamu. 2037:20 1Sam 17:46; Za 46:10; Mit 20:22; Yos 4:24Sasa basi, Ee Bwana Mungu wetu, tuokoe kutoka mkononi mwake, ili kwamba falme zote duniani zipate kujua kwamba wewe peke yako, Ee Bwana, ndiwe Mungu.”
Kuanguka Kwa Senakeribu
(2 Wafalme 19:20-37)
2137:21 Isa 37:2Kisha Isaya mwana wa Amozi akapeleka ujumbe kwa Hezekia, akasema: “Hili ndilo asemalo Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli: Kwa sababu umeniomba kuhusu Senakeribu mfalme wa Ashuru, 2237:22 Isa 23:12; 10:32; Ay 16:4hili ndilo neno ambalo Bwana amelisema dhidi yake:
“Bikira binti Sayuni anakudharau na kukudhihaki.
Binti Yerusalemu anatikisa kichwa chake unapokimbia.
2337:23 Hes 15:30; Dan 7:25; Isa 2:11; 52:5; Eze 36:20-23; Ay 15:25; Isa 12:6Ni nani uliyemtukana na kumkufuru?
Ni nani uliyeinua sauti yako dhidi yake,
na kumwinulia macho yako kwa kiburi?
Ni dhidi ya yule Aliye Mtakatifu wa Israeli!
2437:24 Isa 14:8; 36:9; 1Fal 5:8-10; Isa 14:5, 13; 41:19; Hos 14:8Kupitia kwa wajumbe wako
umelundika matukano juu ya Bwana.
Nawe umesema,
‘Kwa magari yangu mengi ya vita,
nimepanda juu ya vilele vya milima,
vilele vya juu sana katika Lebanoni.
Nami nimeiangusha mierezi yake mirefu,
misunobari yake iliyo bora sana.
Nimefikia sehemu zake zilizoinuka juu sana,
misitu yake iliyo mizuri sana.
2537:25 Kum 11:10; Dan 4:30; Isa 19:6; 44:27; 10:14Nimechimba visima katika nchi za kigeni
na kunywa maji yake.
Kwa nyayo za miguu yangu
nimekausha vijito vyote vya Misri.’
2637:26 Mdo 4:27-28; 1Pet 2:8; Isa 25:1-2; Kum 13:16; Mdo 2:23; Isa 10:6“Je, hujasikia?
Zamani sana niliamuru hili.
Siku za kale nilipanga hili;
sasa nimelifanya litokee,
kwamba umegeuza miji yenye ngome
kuwa malundo ya mawe.
2737:27 Isa 15:6; Za 129:6Watu wa miji hiyo wameishiwa nguvu,
wanavunjika mioyo na kuaibishwa.
Wao ni kama mimea katika shamba,
kama machipukizi mororo ya kijani,
kama majani yachipuayo juu ya paa la nyumba,
ambayo hukauka kabla ya kukua.
2837:28 Za 139:1-3; 2:1“Lakini ninajua mahali ukaapo,
kutoka kwako na kuingia kwako,
na jinsi unavyoghadhibika dhidi yangu.
2937:29 Isa 10:12; Ay 41:2; 40:24; Eze 38:4; Amo 4:2; 2Nya 33:11Kwa sababu unaghadhibika na ufidhuli dhidi yangu,
na kwa sababu ufidhuli wako umefika masikioni mwangu,
nitaweka ndoana yangu puani mwako
na hatamu yangu kinywani mwako,
nami nitakufanya urudi kwa njia ile uliyoijia.
3037:30 Isa 20:3; 32:10; 16:14; Law 25:4; Yer 31:5; Za 107:37“Hii ndiyo itakuwa ishara kwako, ee Hezekia:
“Mwaka huu utakula kile kiotacho chenyewe,
na mwaka wa pili utakula kutoka machipukizi yake.
Lakini katika mwaka wa tatu panda na uvune,
panda mashamba ya mizabibu na ule matunda yake.
3137:31 Isa 27:6; 11:10Mara nyingine tena mabaki ya nyumba ya Yuda
wataeneza mizizi chini na kuzaa matunda juu.
3237:32 Isa 11:11; 1:9; 9:7Kwa kuwa kutoka Yerusalemu watakuja mabaki,
na kutoka Mlima Sayuni kundi la walionusurika.
Wivu wa Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote,
ndio utatimiza jambo hili.
3337:33 Isa 32:18; 2Sam 20:15“Kwa hiyo hili ndilo asemalo Bwana kuhusu mfalme wa Ashuru:
“Hataingia katika mji huu
wala hatapiga mshale hapa.
Hatakuja mbele yake na ngao
wala kupanga majeshi kuuzingira.
3437:34 Isa 37:29Kwa njia ile aliyoijia ndiyo atakayorudi;
hataingia katika mji huu,”
asema Bwana.
3537:35 Isa 31:5; 38:6; Eze 48:9-11; 36:21-22; 2Fal 20:6; 1Nya 17:19“Nitaulinda mji huu na kuuokoa,
kwa ajili yangu mwenyewe,
na kwa ajili ya Daudi mtumishi wangu!”
3637:36 Kut 12:12, 23; Isa 10:12Ndipo malaika wa Bwana akaenda, akawaua wanajeshi 185,000 katika kambi ya Waashuru. Wenzao walipoamka asubuhi yake, walikuta maiti kila mahali! 3737:37 Mwa 10:11; Nah 1:1; 2Nya 32:1Basi Senakeribu mfalme wa Ashuru akavunja kambi na kuondoka. Akarudi Ninawi na kukaa huko.
3837:38 Mwa 8:4; Yer 51:27; 2Fal 17:24; Isa 14:25; 9:4; 10:26Siku moja, alipokuwa akiabudu katika hekalu la mungu wake Nisroki, wanawe Adrameleki na Shareza wakamuua kwa upanga, nao wakakimbilia nchi ya Ararati. Naye Esar-Hadoni mwanawe akawa mfalme badala yake.
