Sennacherib Warns Jerusalem
1Hezekiah had been completely faithful to the Lord. However, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and marched into Judah. Sennacherib surrounded the cities that had high walls around them. He got ready to attack them. He thought he could win the battle over them. He thought he could take them for himself. 2Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come to Jerusalem to fight against it. 3So he asked his officials and military leaders for advice. He asked them about blocking off the water from the springs outside the city. They gave him the advice he asked for. 4They gathered together a large group of people. They blocked all the springs. They also blocked the stream that flowed through the land. “Why should the kings of Assyria come and find plenty of water?” they asked. 5Then Hezekiah worked hard repairing all the broken parts of the wall. He built towers on it. He built another wall outside that one. He built up the areas that had been filled in around the City of David. He also made large numbers of weapons and shields.
6He appointed military officers over the people. He gathered the officers together in front of him in the open area at the city gate. He gave them words of hope. He said, 7“Be strong. Be brave. Don’t be afraid. Don’t lose hope. The king of Assyria has a huge army with him. But there’s a greater power with us than there is with him. 8The only thing he has is human strength. But the Lord our God is with us. He will help us. He’ll fight our battles.” The people had great faith in what Hezekiah, the king of Judah, said.
9Later Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, and all his forces surrounded Lachish. They prepared to attack it. At that time, Sennacherib sent his officers to Jerusalem. They went there with a message for Hezekiah, the king of Judah. The message was also for all the people of Judah who were there. The message said,
10“Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, says, ‘Why are you putting your faith in what your king says? Why do you remain in Jerusalem when you are surrounded? 11Hezekiah says, “The Lord our God will save us from the power of the king of Assyria.” But he isn’t telling you the truth. If you listen to him, you will die of hunger and thirst. 12Didn’t Hezekiah himself remove your god’s high places and altars? Didn’t Hezekiah say to the people of Judah and Jerusalem, “You must worship at one altar. You must burn sacrifices on it”?
13“ ‘Don’t you know what I and the kings who ruled before me have done? Don’t you know what we’ve done to all the peoples of the other lands? Were the gods of those nations ever able to save their lands from my power? 14The kings who ruled before me destroyed many nations. Which one of the gods of those nations has been able to save his people from me? So how can your god save you from my power? 15Don’t let Hezekiah trick you. He’s telling you lies. Don’t believe him. No god of any nation or kingdom has been able to save his people from my power. No god has been able to save his people from the power of the kings who ruled before me. So your god won’t save you from my power either!’ ”
16Sennacherib’s officers spoke even more things against the Lord God and his servant Hezekiah. 17The king also wrote letters against the Lord. His letters made fun of the God of Israel. They said, “The peoples of other lands have their gods. But those gods didn’t save their people from my power. So the god of Hezekiah won’t save his people from my power either.” 18Then the officers called out in the Hebrew language to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall. They were trying to scare them and make them afraid. That’s because they wanted to capture the city. 19They were comparing the God of Jerusalem to the gods of the other nations of the world. But those gods were only statues. They had been made by human hands.
20King Hezekiah cried out in prayer to God in heaven. He prayed about the problem Jerusalem was facing. So did Isaiah the prophet. He was the son of Amoz. 21The Lord sent an angel. The angel wiped out all the enemy’s fighting men, commanders and officers. He put an end to them right there in the camp of the Assyrian king. So Sennacherib went back to his own land in shame. He went into the temple of his god. There some of his own sons, the people closest to him, killed him with their swords.
22So the Lord saved Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem. He saved them from the power of Sennacherib, the king of Assyria. He also saved them from all their other enemies. He took care of them on every side. 23Many people brought offerings to Jerusalem for the Lord. They brought expensive gifts for Hezekiah, the king of Judah. From then on, all the nations thought well of him.
Hezekiah’s Pride, Success and Death
24In those days Hezekiah became sick. He knew he was about to die. So he prayed to the Lord. And the Lord answered him. He gave him a miraculous sign. 25But Hezekiah’s heart was proud. He didn’t give thanks for the many kind things the Lord had done for him. So the Lord became angry with him. He also became angry with Judah and Jerusalem. 26Then Hezekiah had a change of heart. He was sorry he had been proud. The people of Jerusalem were also sorry they had sinned. So the Lord wasn’t angry with them as long as Hezekiah was king.
27Hezekiah was very rich. He received great honor. He made storerooms for his silver and gold. He also made them for his jewels, spices, shields and all kinds of expensive things. 28He made buildings to store the harvest of grain, fresh wine and olive oil. He made barns for all kinds of cattle. He made sheep pens for his flocks. 29He built villages. He gained large numbers of flocks and herds. God had made him very rich.
30Hezekiah blocked up the upper opening of the Gihon spring. He directed the water to flow down to the west side of the City of David. He had success in everything he did. 31The rulers of Babylon sent messengers to him. They asked him about the miraculous sign that had taken place in the land. Then God left Hezekiah to test him. God wanted to know everything in Hezekiah’s heart.
32Hezekiah did many things that showed he was faithful to the Lord. Those things and the other events of his rule are written down. They are written in the record of the vision of the prophet Isaiah, the son of Amoz. That record is part of the records of the kings of Judah and Israel. 33Hezekiah joined the members of his family who had already died. He was buried on the hill where the tombs of David’s family are. The whole nation of Judah honored him when he died. So did the people of Jerusalem. Hezekiah’s son Manasseh became the next king after him.
Senakeribu Kwĩhĩtĩra Jerusalemu
132:1 Isa 36:1; 37:9, 17, 37Na rĩrĩ, thuutha wa maũndũ marĩa mothe Hezekia ekĩte na wĩhokeku, Senakeribu mũthamaki wa Ashuri agĩũka agĩtharĩkĩra Juda. Nake agĩthiũrũrũkĩria matũũra manene marĩa mairigĩirwo na thingo cia hinya eeciirĩtie kũmahoota matuĩke make. 232:2 Jer 1:15Hĩndĩ ĩrĩa Hezekia onire atĩ Senakeribu nĩoka na atĩ muoroto wake warĩ kũhũũra Jerusalemu, 3magĩciira na anene ake o na atongoria a thigari cia ita ũrĩa mekũhingĩrĩria maaĩ kuuma ithima-inĩ cia nja ya itũũra inene, nao makĩmũteithia. 432:4 2Ath 18:17; Nahu 3:14Kĩrĩndĩ kĩnene kĩa andũ gĩkĩũngana, nakĩo gĩkĩhinga ithima ciothe na tũrũũĩ tũrĩa twathereragĩra bũrũri-inĩ. Makĩũria atĩrĩ, “Athamaki a Ashuri-rĩ, megũka makore maaĩ maingĩ ũũ nĩkĩ?” 5Ningĩ akĩruta wĩra mũingĩ wa gũcookereria rũthingo kũrĩa guothe rwamomoretwo, na agĩaka mĩthiringo mĩraihu na igũrũ rĩa ruo. Agĩaka rũthingo rũngĩ nja ya rũu, nacio ngĩĩka iria ciarũgamĩtie Itũũra rĩa Daudi agĩcinyiitia. O na agĩthondeka indo cia mbaara nyingĩ, o hamwe na ngo.
6Agĩthuura anene a mbũtũ cia ita marũgamĩrĩre andũ, na agĩtũma mongane mbere yake nja-inĩ ya kĩhingo gĩa itũũra inene, nake akĩmomĩrĩria na ciugo ici: 732:7 Gũcook 31:6; 2Ath 6:16“Gĩai na hinya na mũũmĩrĩrie. Mũtigetigĩre, kana mũkue ngoro nĩ ũndũ wa mũthamaki wa Ashuri na mbũtũ nene ya ita ĩrĩa arĩ nayo, nĩgũkorwo tũrĩ na hinya mũnene mũno gũkĩra ũrĩa arĩ naguo. 832:8 Jer 17:5; Thab 20:7Kĩrĩa we arĩ nakĩo no hinya wa mwĩrĩ; no ithuĩ tũrĩ na Jehova Ngai witũ, na nĩegũtũteithia, na arũe mbaara ciitũ.” Nao andũ makĩũmĩrĩria kuumana na ciugo iria Hezekia mũthamaki wa Juda oigire.
932:9 Josh 10:3, 13Thuutha ũcio, rĩrĩa Senakeribu mũthamaki wa Ashuri na mbũtũ ciake ciothe maathiũrũrũkĩirie Lakishi, agĩtũma anene ake Jerusalemu matwarĩre Hezekia mũthamaki wa Juda, o na andũ othe a Juda arĩa maarĩ kuo, ndũmĩrĩri ĩno:
1032:10 Ezek 29:16“Ũũ nĩguo Senakeribu mũthamaki wa Ashuri ekuuga: Mũrutĩte ũmĩrĩru wanyu kũ, nĩguo mũikare Jerusalemu, kũndũ gũthiũrũrũkĩrie? 1132:11 Isa 37:10Rĩrĩa Hezekia ekuuga atĩrĩ, ‘Jehova Ngai witũ nĩegũtũhonokia guoko-inĩ kwa mũthamaki wa Suriata,’ nĩaramũhĩtithia, atũme mũkue nĩ ngʼaragu na nyoota. 1232:12 2Maũ 31:1Githĩ Hezekia we mwene ndeheririe kũndũ kũrĩa gũtũũgĩru kwa ngai ĩyo, o na akĩeheria igongona ciayo, na akĩĩra Juda na Jerusalemu atĩrĩ, ‘No nginya mũhooere kĩgongona-inĩ kĩmwe na mũcinagĩre magongona ho’?
13“Kaĩ mũtooĩ ũrĩa niĩ na maithe maitũ twĩkĩte andũ othe a mabũrũri marĩa mangĩ? Nacio ngai cia ndũrĩrĩ icio-rĩ, nĩciakĩhotire o na rĩ kũgitĩra bũrũri wao kuuma moko-inĩ makwa? 14Nĩ ngai ĩrĩkũ ya icio cia ndũrĩrĩ iria cianangirwo nĩ maithe makwa yahotire kũhonokia andũ ayo kuuma kũrĩ niĩ? Gwakĩhoteka atĩa ngai yanyu ĩmũgitĩre kuuma guoko-inĩ gwakwa? 1532:15 Dan 3:15; Thaam 5:2Tondũ ũcio-rĩ, mũtigetĩkĩrie Hezekia amũheenie na amũhĩtithie ũguo. Mũtikamwĩtĩkie, nĩgũkorwo gũtirĩ ngai ya rũrĩrĩ kana ũthamaki o na ũrĩkũ ĩrĩ yahota kũhonokia andũ ayo kuuma guoko-inĩ gwakwa kana kuuma guoko-inĩ kwa maithe makwa! To ngai yanyu ĩngĩkĩhota kũmũhonokia kuuma guoko-inĩ gwakwa!”
16Ndungata cia Senakeribu igĩthiĩ o na mbere kwaria mĩario ya gũũkĩrĩra Jehova Ngai o na gũũkĩrĩra ndungata yake Hezekia. 1732:17 Thab 74:22; 2Ath 19:12Ningĩ mũthamaki akĩandĩka marũa ma kũruma Jehova, Ngai wa Isiraeli akĩmũũkĩrĩra, akiuga atĩrĩ, “O ta ũrĩa ngai cia ndũrĩrĩ cia mabũrũri marĩa mangĩ itaahotire kũhonokia andũ acio kuuma guoko-inĩ gwakwa-rĩ, noguo ngai ya Hezekia ĩtekũhota kũhonokia andũ ayo kuuma moko-inĩ makwa.” 18Ningĩ makĩanĩrĩra na Kĩhibirania kũrĩ andũ a Jerusalemu arĩa maarĩ rũthingo igũrũ, nĩguo mamamakie na mamekĩre guoya nĩgeetha menyiitĩre itũũra rĩu inene. 1932:19 Thab 115:4-8; Jer 1:16Magĩkĩaria ũhoro wa Ngai wa Jerusalemu o ta ũrĩa maaragia ũhoro wa ngai cia andũ arĩa angĩ a thĩ, o iria ciathondeketwo na moko ma andũ.
2032:20 Isa 1:15; 37:15Mũthamaki Hezekia na mũnabii Isaia mũrũ wa Amozu makĩhooya manĩrĩire magĩkaĩra ũrĩa ũrĩ igũrũ nĩ ũndũ wa ũhoro ũcio. 2132:21 Kĩam 19:13; Jer 41:2Nake Jehova agĩtũma mũraika ũrĩa waniinire thigari ciothe cia mbaara na atongoria na anene arĩa maarĩ kambĩ-inĩ ya mũthamaki wa Ashuri. Nĩ ũndũ ũcio Senakeribu akĩinũka gwake aconokete. Na rĩrĩa aatoonyire hekarũ ya ngai yake-rĩ, ariũ ake amwe makĩmũtemanga na rũhiũ rwa njora.
22Nĩ ũndũ ũcio Jehova akĩhonokia Hezekia na andũ a Jerusalemu kuuma guoko-inĩ kwa Senakeribu mũthamaki wa Ashuri, o na kuuma guoko-inĩ kwa andũ arĩa angĩ othe. Akĩmamenyerera mĩena-inĩ yothe. 2332:23 2Maũ 9:24; Zef 3:10Andũ aingĩ magĩtwarĩra Jehova indo cia maruta kũu Jerusalemu, na magĩtwarĩra Hezekia mũthamaki wa Juda iheo cia goro. Kuuma hĩndĩ ĩyo agĩtuĩka mũndũ mũtĩĩku mũno nĩ ndũrĩrĩ ciothe.
Mwĩtĩĩo wa Hezekia, Kũgaacĩra Gwake, na Gĩkuũ Gĩake
24Matukũ-inĩ macio-rĩ, Hezekia akĩrwara hakuhĩ akue. Akĩhooya Jehova, nake Jehova akĩmũigua na akĩmuonia kĩmenyithia kĩa mwanya. 2532:25 2Maũ 19:2No rĩrĩ, ngoro ya Hezekia ĩkĩiyũrwo nĩ mwĩtĩĩo na akĩaga kũrũmbũiya ũtugi ũcio oonetio; nĩ ũndũ ũcio mangʼũrĩ ma Jehova makĩmũkora o na magĩkora Juda na Jerusalemu. 2632:26 Jer 26:18-19; Isa 39:8Hĩndĩ ĩyo Hezekia akĩĩrira mehia ma mwĩtĩĩo wa ngoro yake, o ta ũrĩa andũ a Jerusalemu meekire, nĩ ũndũ ũcio mangʼũrĩ ma Jehova makĩaga kũmakinyĩrĩra matukũ-inĩ ma Hezekia.
27Hezekia aarĩ na ũtonga mũingĩ mũno o na agatĩĩka, nake agĩaka makũmbĩ ma kũiga betha na thahabu, o na ma tũhiga twake twa goro, na mahuti manungi wega, na ngo, na indo ciothe cia bata. 28O na ningĩ agĩaka makũmbĩ ma kũiga ngano yagethwo, na ma kũiga ndibei ya mũhihano, na maguta; na agĩaka ciugũ nĩ ũndũ wa ngʼombe na ndũũru cia ngʼondu. 29Nĩaakire tũtũũra na akĩgĩa na ndũũru nene cia ngʼondu na cia ngʼombe, nĩgũkorwo Ngai nĩamũheete ũtonga mũnene.
3032:30 1Ath 1:33; 2Sam 5:8Hezekia nĩwe wahingĩrĩirie Gĩthima kĩa Gihoni mwena wa rũgongo, na akĩroria maaĩ makĩo mwena wa ithũĩro wa Itũũra Inene rĩa Daudi. Akĩgaacĩra maũndũ-inĩ marĩa mothe eekire. 3132:31 Isa 13:1; Gũcook 8:16No rĩrĩa abarũthi maatũmirwo kũrĩ we nĩ aathani a Babuloni mamũũrie ũhoro wa rũũri rwa kĩmenyithia rũrĩa ruonekete bũrũri-inĩ-rĩ, Ngai akĩmũtiganĩria nĩguo amũgerie amenye maũndũ marĩa mothe maarĩ ngoro-inĩ yake.
32Maũndũ marĩa mangĩ makoniĩ wathani wa Hezekia na wĩrutĩri wake nĩmandĩkĩtwo kĩoneki-inĩ kĩa mũnabii Isaia mũrũ wa Amozu, thĩinĩ wa ibuku rĩa athamaki a Juda na Isiraeli. 33Hezekia akĩhurũka hamwe na maithe make na agĩthikwo kĩrĩma-inĩ kũrĩa mbĩrĩra cia andũ a rũciaro rwa Daudi ciarĩ. Nakuo Juda guothe na andũ a Jerusalemu makĩmũhe gĩtĩĩo aarĩkia gũkua. Nake mũriũ Manase agĩtuĩka mũthamaki ithenya rĩake.
