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本日經文提要(列王紀下 16:1~19:37)

.以色列王何細亞會被亞述王攻取了撒瑪利亞?是因為神要懲罰以色列人做了甚麼事情?
.猶大王希西家行了甚麼耶和華眼中看為正的事,效法他祖大衛一切所行的?
.猶大王希西家因為不肯事奉亞述王,導致於招致亞述王的攻擊,最後,神透過甚麼方式拯救他們脫離亞述王的手?

20150420  


王下16:1利瑪利的兒子比加十七年,猶大王約坦的兒子亞哈斯登基。
王下16:2他登基的時候,年二十歲,在耶路撒冷作王十六年,不像他祖大衛行耶和華他神眼中看為正的事。
王下16:3卻效法以色列諸王所行的,又照著耶和華從以色列人面前趕出的外邦人所行可憎的事,使他的兒子經火。
王下16:4並在邱壇上,山岡上,各青翠樹下,獻祭燒香。
王下16:5亞蘭王利汛和以色列王利瑪利的兒子比加上來攻打耶路撒冷,圍困亞哈斯,卻不能勝他。
王下16:6當時亞蘭王利汛收回以拉他歸與亞蘭,將猶大人從以拉他趕出去,亞蘭人〔有作以東人的〕就來到以拉他,住在那裡,直到今日。
王下16:7亞哈斯差遣使者去見亞述王提革拉毘列色,說:我是你的僕人,你的兒子,現在亞蘭王和以色列王攻擊我,求你來救我脫離他們的手。
王下16:8亞哈斯將耶和華殿裡和王宮府庫裡所有的金銀,都送給亞述王為禮物。
王下16:9亞述王應允了他,就上去攻打大馬色,將城攻取,殺了利汛,把居民擄到吉珥。
王下16:10亞哈斯王上大馬色去迎接亞述王提革拉毘列色,在大馬色看見一座壇,就照壇的規模樣式作法畫了圖樣,送到祭司烏利亞那裡。
王下16:11祭司烏利亞照著亞哈斯王從大馬色送來的圖樣,在亞哈斯王沒有從大馬色回來之先,建築一座壇。
王下16:12王從大馬色回來看見壇,就近前來,在壇上獻祭。
王下16:13燒燔祭素祭,澆奠祭,將平安祭牲的血灑在壇上。
王下16:14又將耶和華面前的銅壇,從耶和華殿和新壇的中間搬到新壇的北邊。
王下16:15亞哈斯王吩咐祭司烏利亞說:早晨的燔祭,晚上的素祭,王的燔祭素祭,國內眾民的燔祭素祭奠祭,都要燒在大壇上,燔祭牲和平安祭牲的血也要灑在這壇上,只是銅壇我要用以求問耶和華。
王下16:16祭司烏利亞就照著亞哈斯王所吩咐的行了。
王下16:17亞哈斯王打掉盆座四面鑲著的心子,把盆從座上挪下來,又將銅海從馱海的銅牛上搬下來,放在鋪石地。
王下16:18又因亞述王的緣故,將耶和華殿為安息日所蓋的廊子,和王從外入殿的廊子,挪移圍繞耶和華的殿。
王下16:19亞哈斯其餘所行的事,都寫在猶大列王記上。
王下16:20亞哈斯與他列祖同睡,葬在大衛城他列祖的墳地裡,他兒子希西家接續他作王。

王下17:1猶大王亞哈斯十二年,以拉的兒子何細亞在撒瑪利亞登基,作以色列王九年。
王下17:2他行耶和華眼中看為惡的事,只是不像在他以前的以色列諸王。
王下17:3亞述王撒縵以色上來攻擊何細亞,何細亞就服事他,給他進貢。
王下17:4何細亞背叛,差人去見埃及王梭,不照往年所行的,與亞述王進貢。亞述王知道了,就把他鎖禁,囚在監裡。
王下17:5亞述王上來攻擊以色列遍地,上到撒瑪利亞,圍困三年。
王下17:6何細亞第九年亞述王攻取了撒瑪利亞,將以色列人擄到亞述,把他們安置在哈臘,與歌散的哈博河邊,並瑪代人的城邑。
王下17:7這是因以色列人得罪那領他們出埃及地,脫離埃及王法老手的耶和華他們的神,去敬畏別神,
王下17:8隨從耶和華在他們面前所趕出外邦人的風俗,和以色列諸王所立的條規。
王下17:9以色列人暗中行不正的事,違背耶和華他們的神,在他們所有的城邑,從瞭望樓直到堅固城,建築邱壇。
王下17:10在各高岡上,各青翠樹下,立柱像和木偶。
王下17:11在邱壇上燒香,效法耶和華在他們面前趕出的外邦人所行的,又行惡事惹動耶和華的怒氣。
王下17:12且事奉偶像,就是耶和華警戒他們不可行的。
王下17:13但耶和華藉眾先知,先見,勸戒以色列人,和猶大人,說:當離開你們的惡行,謹守我的誡命律例,遵行我吩咐你們列祖,並藉我僕人眾先知所傳給你們的律法。
王下17:14他們卻不聽從,竟硬著頸項,效法他們列祖,不信服耶和華他們的神。
王下17:15厭棄他的律例,和他與他們列祖所立的約,並勸戒他們的話,隨從虛無的神,自己成為虛妄,效法周圍的外邦人,就是耶和華囑咐他們不可效法的,
王下17:16離棄耶和華他們神的一切誡命,為自己鑄了兩個牛犢的像,立了亞舍拉,敬拜天上的萬象,事奉巴力。
王下17:17又使他們的兒女經火,用占卜,行法術,賣了自己行耶和華眼中看為惡的事,惹動他的怒氣。
王下17:18所以耶和華向以色列人大大發怒,從自己面前趕出他們,只剩下猶大一個支派。
王下17:19猶大人也不遵守耶和華他們神的誡命,隨從以色列人所立的條規。
王下17:20耶和華就厭棄以色列全族,使他們受苦,把他們交在搶奪他們的人手中,以致趕出他們離開自己面前。
王下17:21將以色列國從大衛家奪回,他們就立尼八的兒子耶羅波安作王。耶羅波安引誘以色列人不隨從耶和華,陷在大罪裡。
王下17:22以色列人犯耶羅波安所犯的一切罪,總不離開。
王下17:23以致耶和華從自己面前趕出他們,正如藉他僕人眾先知所說的。這樣,以色列人從本地被擄到亞述,直到今日。
王下17:24亞述王從巴比倫,古他,亞瓦,哈馬,和西法瓦音遷移人來,安置在撒瑪利亞的城邑,代替以色列人,他們就得了撒瑪利亞,住在其中。
王下17:25他們才住那裡的時候,不敬畏耶和華,所以耶和華叫獅子進入他們中間,咬死了些人。
王下17:26有人告訴亞述王,說:你所遷移安置在撒瑪利亞各城的那些民,不知道那地之神的規矩,所以那神叫獅子進入他們中間,咬死他們。
王下17:27亞述王就吩咐,說:叫所擄來的祭司回去一個,使他住在那裡,將那地之神的規矩指教那些民。
王下17:28於是有一個從撒瑪利亞擄去的祭司回來,住在伯特利,指教他們怎樣敬畏耶和華。
王下17:29然而各族之人在所住的城裡,各為自己製造神像,安置在撒瑪利亞人所造有邱壇的殿中。
王下17:30巴比倫人造疏割比訥像,古他人造匿甲像,哈馬人造亞示瑪像。
王下17:31亞瓦人造匿哈,和他珥他像,西法瓦音人用火焚燒兒女,獻給西法瓦音的神亞得米勒,和亞拿米勒。
王下17:32他們懼怕耶和華,也從他們中間,立邱壇的祭司,為他們在有邱壇的殿中獻祭。
王下17:33他們又懼怕耶和華,又事奉自己的神,從何邦遷移,就隨何邦的風俗。
王下17:34他們直到如今仍照先前的風俗去行,不專心敬畏耶和華,不全守自己的規矩,典章,也不遵守耶和華吩咐雅各後裔的律法,誡命,雅各,就是從前耶和華起名叫以色列的。
王下17:35耶和華曾與他們立約,囑咐他們,說:不可敬畏別神,不可跪拜事奉他,也不可向他獻祭。
王下17:36但那用大能和伸出來的膀臂領你們出埃及地的耶和華,你們當敬畏,跪拜,向他獻祭。
王下17:37他給你們寫的律例,典章,律法,誡命,你們應當永遠謹守遵行,不可敬畏別神。
王下17:38我耶和華與你們所立的約你們不可忘記,也不可敬畏別神。
王下17:39但要敬畏耶和華你們的神,他必救你們脫離一切仇敵的手。
王下17:40他們卻不聽從,仍照先前的風俗去行。
王下17:41如此這些民又懼怕耶和華,又事奉他們的偶像,他們子子孫孫也都照樣行,效法他們的祖宗,直到今日。

王下18:1以色列王以拉的兒子何細亞第三年,猶大王亞哈斯的兒子希西家登基。
王下18:2他登基的時候,年二十五歲,在耶路撒冷作王二十九年,他母親名叫亞比,是撒迦利雅的女兒。
王下18:3希西家行耶和華眼中看為正的事,效法他祖大衛一切所行的。
王下18:4他廢去邱壇,毀壞柱像,砍下木偶,打碎摩西所造的銅蛇,因為到那時以色列人仍向銅蛇燒香,希西家叫銅蛇為銅塊。〔或作人稱銅蛇為銅像〕
王下18:5希西家倚靠耶和華以色列的神,在他前後的猶大列王中沒有一個及他的。
王下18:6因為他專靠耶和華,總不離開,謹守耶和華所吩咐摩西的誡命。
王下18:7耶和華與他同在,他無論往何處去,盡都亨通,他背叛,不肯事奉亞述王。
王下18:8希西家攻擊非利士人,直到迦薩,並迦薩的四境,從瞭望樓到堅固城。
王下18:9希西家王第四年,就是以色列王以拉的兒子何細亞第七年,亞述王撒縵以色上來圍困撒瑪利亞。
王下18:10過了三年就攻取了城。希西家第六年,以色列王何細亞第九年,撒瑪利亞被攻取了。
王下18:11亞述王將以色列人擄到亞述,把他們安置在哈臘,與歌散的哈博河邊,並瑪代人的城邑。
王下18:12都因他們不聽從耶和華他們神的話,違背他的約,就是耶和華僕人摩西吩咐他們所當守的。
王下18:13希西家王十四年,亞述王西拿基立上來攻擊猶大的一切堅固城,將城攻取。
王下18:14猶大王希西家差人往拉吉去,見亞述王,說:我有罪了,求你離開我,凡你罰我的,我必承當。於是亞述王罰猶大王希西家銀子三百他連得,金子三十他連得。
王下18:15希西家就把耶和華殿裡,和王宮府庫裡所有的銀子,都給了他。
王下18:16那時猶大王希西家將耶和華殿門上的金子,和他自己包在柱上的金子,都刮下來,給了亞述王。
王下18:17亞述王從拉吉差遣他珥探,拉伯撒利,和拉伯沙基率領大軍,往耶路撒冷,到希西家王那裡去。他們上到耶路撒冷,就站在上池的水溝旁,在漂布地的大路上。
王下18:18他們呼叫王的時候,就有希勒家的兒子家宰以利亞敬,並書記舍伯那,和亞薩的兒子史官約亞,出來見他們。
王下18:19拉伯沙基說:你們去告訴希西家說:亞述大王如此說:你所倚靠的,有甚麼可仗賴的呢。
王下18:20你說:有打仗的計謀和能力,我看不過是虛話。你到底倚靠誰,才背叛我呢。
王下18:21看哪,你所倚靠的埃及,是那壓傷的葦杖,人若靠這杖,就必刺透他的手,埃及王法老向一切倚靠他的人,也是這樣。
王下18:22你們若對我說:我們倚靠耶和華我們的神,希西家豈不是將神的邱壇和祭壇廢去,且對猶大和耶路撒冷的人說:你們當在耶路撒冷這壇前敬拜麼。
王下18:23現在你把當頭給我主亞述王,我給你二千匹馬,看你這一面騎馬的人夠不夠。
王下18:24若不然,怎能打敗我主臣僕中最小的軍長呢,你竟倚靠埃及的戰車馬兵麼。
王下18:25現在我上來攻擊毀滅這地,豈沒有耶和華的意思麼。耶和華吩咐我說:你上去攻擊毀滅這地罷。
王下18:26希勒家的兒子以利亞敬,和舍伯那,並約亞,對拉伯沙基說:求你用亞蘭言語和僕人說話,因為我們懂得,不要用猶大言語和我們說話,達到城上百姓的耳中。
王下18:27拉伯沙基說:我主差遣我來,豈是單對你和你的主說這些話麼,不也是對這些坐在城上,要與你們一同吃自己糞,喝自己尿的人說麼。
王下18:28於是拉伯沙基站著,用猶大言語大聲喊著說:你們當聽亞述大王的話。
王下18:29王如此說:你們不要被希西家欺哄了,因他不能救你們脫離我的手。
王下18:30也不要聽希西家,使你們倚靠耶和華,說:耶和華必要拯救我們,這城必不交在亞述王的手中。
王下18:31不要聽希西家的話,因亞述王如此說:你們要與我和好,出來投降我,各人就可以吃自己葡萄樹和無花果樹的果子,喝自己井裡的水。
王下18:32等我來領你們到一個地方與你們本地一樣,就是有五榖和新酒之地,有糧食和葡萄園之地,有橄欖樹和蜂蜜之地,好使你們存活,不至於死,希西家勸導你們,說:耶和華必拯救我們,你們不要聽他的話。
王下18:33列國的神,有那一個救他本國脫離亞述王的手呢。
王下18:34哈馬亞珥拔的神在那裡呢,西法瓦音希拿以瓦的神在那裡呢,他們曾救撒瑪利亞脫離我的手麼。
王下18:35這些國的神有誰曾救自己的國脫離我的手呢,難道耶和華能救耶路撒冷脫離我的手麼。
王下18:36百姓靜默不言,並不回答一句,因為王曾吩咐,說:不要回答他。
王下18:37當下希勒家的兒子家宰以利亞敬和書記舍伯那,並亞薩的兒子史官約亞,都撕裂衣服,來到希西家那裡,將拉伯沙基的話告訴了他。

王下19:1希西家王聽見,就撕裂衣服,披上麻布,進了耶和華的殿。
王下19:2使家宰以利亞敬,和書記舍伯那,並祭司中的長老,都披上麻布,去見亞摩斯的兒子先知以賽亞。
王下19:3對他說:希西家如此說:今日是急難責罰凌辱的日子,就如婦人將要生產嬰孩,卻沒有力量生產。
王下19:4或者耶和華你的神聽見拉伯沙基的一切話,就是他主人亞述王打發他來辱罵永生神的話,耶和華你的神聽見這話,就發斥責,故此,求你為餘剩的民,揚聲禱告。
王下19:5希西家王的臣僕就去見以賽亞。
王下19:6以賽亞對他們說:要這樣對你們的主人說:耶和華如此說:你聽見亞述王的僕人褻瀆我的話,不要懼怕。
王下19:7我必驚動〔原文作使靈進入〕他的心,他要聽見風聲,就歸回本地,我必使他在那裡倒在刀下。
王下19:8拉伯沙基回去,正遇見亞述王攻打立拿,原來他早聽見亞述王拔營離開拉吉。
王下19:9亞述王聽見人論古實王特哈加,說:他出來要與你爭戰。於是亞述王又打發使者去見希西家,吩咐他們說:
王下19:10你們對猶大王希西家如此說:不要聽你所倚靠的神欺哄你說:耶路撒冷必不交在亞述王的手中。
王下19:11你總聽說亞述諸王向列國所行的,乃是盡行滅絕,難道你還能得救麼。
王下19:12我列祖所毀滅的,就是歌散,哈蘭,利色,和屬提拉撒的伊甸人,這些國的神何曾拯救這些國呢。
王下19:13哈馬的王,亞珥拔的王,西法瓦音城的王,希拿和以瓦的王都在那裡呢。
王下19:14希西家從使者手裡接過書信來,看完了,就上耶和華的殿,將書信在耶和華面前展開。
王下19:15希西家向耶和華禱告,說:坐在二基路伯上耶和華以色列的神阿,你是天下萬國的神,你曾創造天地。
王下19:16耶和華阿,求你側耳而聽,耶和華阿,求你睜眼而看,要聽西拿基立打發使者來辱罵永生神的話。
王下19:17耶和華阿,亞述諸王果然使列國和列國之地變為荒涼,
王下19:18將列國的神像,都扔在火裡,因為他本不是神,乃是人手所造的,是木頭石頭的,所以滅絕他。
王下19:19耶和華我們的神阿,現在求你救我們脫離亞述王的手,使天下萬國都知道惟獨你耶和華是神。
王下19:20亞摩斯的兒子以賽亞,就打發人去見希西家,說:耶和華以色列的神如此說:你既然求我攻擊亞述王西拿基立,我已聽見了。
王下19:21耶和華論他這樣說:錫安的處女藐視你,嗤笑你,耶路撒冷的女子向你搖頭。
王下19:22你辱罵誰,褻瀆誰,揚起聲來,高舉眼目,攻擊誰呢,乃是攻擊以色列的聖者。
王下19:23你藉你的使者辱罵主,並說:我率領許多戰車上山頂,到利巴嫩極深之處,我要砍伐其中高大的香柏樹,和佳美的松樹,我必上極高之處,進入肥田的樹林。
王下19:24我已經在外邦挖井喝水,我必用腳掌踏乾埃及的一切河。
王下19:25耶和華說:我早先所作的,古時所立的,就是現在藉你使堅固城荒廢,變為亂堆,這事你豈沒有聽見麼。
王下19:26所以其中的居民力量甚小,驚惶羞愧,他們像野草,像青菜,如房頂上的草,又如未長成而枯乾的禾稼。
王下19:27你坐下,你出去,你進來,你向我發烈怒,我都知道。
王下19:28因你向我發烈怒,又因你狂傲的話達到我耳中,我就要用鉤子鉤上你的鼻子,把嚼環放在你口裡,使你從你來的路轉回去。
王下19:29以色列人哪,我賜你們一個證據,你們今年要吃自生的,明年也要吃自長的,至於後年,你們要耕種收割,栽植葡萄園,吃其中的果子。
王下19:30猶大家所逃脫餘剩的,仍要往下扎根,向上結果。
王下19:31必有餘剩的民,從耶路撒冷而出,必有逃脫的人,從錫安山而來,耶和華的熱心,必成就這事。
王下19:32所以耶和華論亞述王如此說:他必不得來到這城,也不在這裡射箭,不得拿盾牌到城前,也不築壘攻城。
王下19:33他從那條路來,必從那條路回去,必不得來到這城,這是耶和華說的。
王下19:34因我為自己的緣故,又為我僕人大衛的緣故,必保護拯救這城。
王下19:35當夜耶和華的使者出去,在亞述營中殺了十八萬五千人,清早有人起來,一看,都是死屍了。
王下19:36亞述王西拿基立就拔營回去,住在尼尼微。
王下19:37一日在他的神尼斯洛廟裡叩拜,他兒子亞得米勒和沙利色用刀殺了他,就逃到亞拉臘地。他兒子以撒哈頓接續他作王。

 

Apr 20,2015-The Journey of Grace (110/365) 2 Kings  16:1~19:37
 
 20150420-1  

2 Kings 16 

Ahaz King of Judah

16 In the seventeenth year of Pekah son of Remaliah, Ahaz son of Jotham king of Judah began to reign. 2 Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. Unlike David his father, he did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord his God. 3 He followed the ways of the kings of Israel and even sacrificed his son in the fire, engaging in the detestable practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites. 4 He offered sacrifices and burned incense at the high places, on the hilltops and under every spreading tree.

5 Then Rezin king of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel marched up to fight against Jerusalem and besieged Ahaz, but they could not overpower him. 6 At that time, Rezin king of Aram recovered Elath for Aram by driving out the people of Judah. Edomites then moved into Elath and have lived there to this day.

7 Ahaz sent messengers to say to Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria, “I am your servant and vassal. Come up and save me out of the hand of the king of Aram and of the king of Israel, who are attacking me.” 8 And Ahaz took the silver and gold found in the temple of the Lord and in the treasuries of the royal palace and sent it as a gift to the king of Assyria. 9 The king of Assyria complied by attacking Damascus and capturing it. He deported its inhabitants to Kir and put Rezin to death.

10 Then King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria. He saw an altar in Damascus and sent to Uriah the priest a sketch of the altar, with detailed plans for its construction. 11 So Uriah the priest built an altar in accordance with all the plans that King Ahaz had sent from Damascus and finished it before King Ahaz returned. 12 When the king came back from Damascus and saw the altar, he approached it and presented offerings[a] on it. 13 He offered up his burnt offering and grain offering, poured out his drink offering, and splashed the blood of his fellowship offerings against the altar. 14 As for the bronze altar that stood before the Lord, he brought it from the front of the temple—from between the new altar and the temple of the Lord—and put it on the north side of the new altar.

15 King Ahaz then gave these orders to Uriah the priest: “On the large new altar, offer the morning burnt offering and the evening grain offering, the king’s burnt offering and his grain offering, and the burnt offering of all the people of the land, and their grain offering and their drink offering. Splash against this altar the blood of all the burnt offerings and sacrifices. But I will use the bronze altar for seeking guidance.” 16 And Uriah the priest did just as King Ahaz had ordered.

17 King Ahaz cut off the side panels and removed the basins from the movable stands. He removed the Sea from the bronze bulls that supported it and set it on a stone base. 18 He took away the Sabbath canopy[b] that had been built at the temple and removed the royal entryway outside the temple of the Lord, in deference to the king of Assyria.

19 As for the other events of the reign of Ahaz, and what he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? 20 Ahaz rested with his ancestors and was buried with them in the City of David. And Hezekiah his son succeeded him as king.
 
2 Kings 17 

Hoshea Last King of Israel

17 In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah, Hoshea son of Elah became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned nine years. 2 He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, but not like the kings of Israel who preceded him.

3 Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up to attack Hoshea, who had been Shalmaneser’s vassal and had paid him tribute. 4 But the king of Assyria discovered that Hoshea was a traitor, for he had sent envoys to So[a] king of Egypt, and he no longer paid tribute to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year. Therefore Shalmaneser seized him and put him in prison. 5 The king of Assyria invaded the entire land, marched against Samaria and laid siege to it for three years. 6 In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria and deported the Israelites to Assyria. He settled them in Halah, in Gozan on the Habor River and in the towns of the Medes.

Israel Exiled Because of Sin

7 All this took place because the Israelites had sinned against the Lord their God, who had brought them up out of Egypt from under the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt. They worshiped other gods 8 and followed the practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before them, as well as the practices that the kings of Israel had introduced. 9 The Israelites secretly did things against the Lord their God that were not right. From watchtower to fortified city they built themselves high places in all their towns. 10 They set up sacred stones and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every spreading tree. 11 At every high place they burned incense, as the nations whom the Lord had driven out before them had done. They did wicked things that aroused the Lord’s anger. 12 They worshiped idols, though the Lord had said, “You shall not do this.”[b] 13 The Lord warned Israel and Judah through all his prophets and seers: “Turn from your evil ways. Observe my commands and decrees, in accordance with the entire Law that I commanded your ancestors to obey and that I delivered to you through my servants the prophets.”

14 But they would not listen and were as stiff-necked as their ancestors, who did not trust in the Lord their God. 15 They rejected his decrees and the covenant he had made with their ancestors and the statutes he had warned them to keep. They followed worthless idols and themselves became worthless. They imitated the nations around them although the Lord had ordered them, “Do not do as they do.”

16 They forsook all the commands of the Lord their God and made for themselves two idols cast in the shape of calves, and an Asherah pole. They bowed down to all the starry hosts, and they worshiped Baal. 17 They sacrificed their sons and daughters in the fire. They practiced divination and sought omens and sold themselves to do evil in the eyes of the Lord, arousing his anger.

18 So the Lord was very angry with Israel and removed them from his presence. Only the tribe of Judah was left, 19 and even Judah did not keep the commands of the Lord their God. They followed the practices Israel had introduced. 20 Therefore the Lord rejected all the people of Israel; he afflicted them and gave them into the hands of plunderers, until he thrust them from his presence.

21 When he tore Israel away from the house of David, they made Jeroboam son of Nebat their king. Jeroboam enticed Israel away from following the Lord and caused them to commit a great sin. 22 The Israelites persisted in all the sins of Jeroboam and did not turn away from them 23 until the Lord removed them from his presence, as he had warned through all his servants the prophets. So the people of Israel were taken from their homeland into exile in Assyria, and they are still there.

Samaria Resettled

24 The king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Kuthah, Avva, Hamath and Sepharvaim and settled them in the towns of Samaria to replace the Israelites. They took over Samaria and lived in its towns. 25 When they first lived there, they did not worship the Lord; so he sent lions among them and they killed some of the people. 26 It was reported to the king of Assyria: “The people you deported and resettled in the towns of Samaria do not know what the god of that country requires. He has sent lions among them, which are killing them off, because the people do not know what he requires.”

27 Then the king of Assyria gave this order: “Have one of the priests you took captive from Samaria go back to live there and teach the people what the god of the land requires.” 28 So one of the priests who had been exiled from Samaria came to live in Bethel and taught them how to worship the Lord.

29 Nevertheless, each national group made its own gods in the several towns where they settled, and set them up in the shrines the people of Samaria had made at the high places. 30 The people from Babylon made Sukkoth Benoth, those from Kuthah made Nergal, and those from Hamath made Ashima; 31 the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire as sacrifices to Adrammelek and Anammelek, the gods of Sepharvaim. 32 They worshiped the Lord, but they also appointed all sorts of their own people to officiate for them as priests in the shrines at the high places. 33 They worshiped the Lord, but they also served their own gods in accordance with the customs of the nations from which they had been brought.

34 To this day they persist in their former practices. They neither worship the Lord nor adhere to the decrees and regulations, the laws and commands that the Lord gave the descendants of Jacob, whom he named Israel. 35 When the Lord made a covenant with the Israelites, he commanded them: “Do not worship any other gods or bow down to them, serve them or sacrifice to them. 36 But the Lord, who brought you up out of Egypt with mighty power and outstretched arm, is the one you must worship. To him you shall bow down and to him offer sacrifices. 37 You must always be careful to keep the decrees and regulations, the laws and commands he wrote for you. Do not worship other gods. 38 Do not forget the covenant I have made with you, and do not worship other gods. 39 Rather, worship the Lord your God; it is he who will deliver you from the hand of all your enemies.”

40 They would not listen, however, but persisted in their former practices. 41 Even while these people were worshiping the Lord, they were serving their idols. To this day their children and grandchildren continue to do as their ancestors did.
 
2 Kings 18

Hezekiah King of Judah

18 In the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, Hezekiah son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign. 2 He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother’s name was Abijah[a] daughter of Zechariah. 3 He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father David had done. 4 He removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke into pieces the bronze snake Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it. (It was called Nehushtan.[b])

5 Hezekiah trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him. 6 He held fast to the Lord and did not stop following him; he kept the commands the Lord had given Moses. 7 And the Lord was with him; he was successful in whatever he undertook. He rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him. 8 From watchtower to fortified city, he defeated the Philistines, as far as Gaza and its territory.

9 In King Hezekiah’s fourth year, which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, Shalmaneser king of Assyria marched against Samaria and laid siege to it. 10 At the end of three years the Assyrians took it. So Samaria was captured in Hezekiah’s sixth year, which was the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel. 11 The king of Assyria deported Israel to Assyria and settled them in Halah, in Gozan on the Habor River and in towns of the Medes. 12 This happened because they had not obeyed the Lord their God, but had violated his covenant—all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded. They neither listened to the commands nor carried them out.

13 In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah’s reign, Sennacherib king of Assyria attacked all the fortified cities of Judah and captured them. 14 So Hezekiah king of Judah sent this message to the king of Assyria at Lachish: “I have done wrong. Withdraw from me, and I will pay whatever you demand of me.” The king of Assyria exacted from Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents[c] of silver and thirty talents[d] of gold. 15 So Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the temple of the Lord and in the treasuries of the royal palace.

16 At this time Hezekiah king of Judah stripped off the gold with which he had covered the doors and doorposts of the temple of the Lord, and gave it to the king of Assyria.

Sennacherib Threatens Jerusalem
17 The king of Assyria sent his supreme commander, his chief officer and his field commander with a large army, from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem. They came up to Jerusalem and stopped at the aqueduct of the Upper Pool, on the road to the Washerman’s Field. 18 They called for the king; and Eliakim son of Hilkiah the palace administrator, Shebna the secretary, and Joah son of Asaph the recorder went out to them.

19 The field commander said to them, “Tell Hezekiah:

“‘This is what the great king, the king of Assyria, says: On what are you basing this confidence of yours? 20 You say you have the counsel and the might for war—but you speak only empty words. On whom are you depending, that you rebel against me? 21 Look, I know you are depending on Egypt, that splintered reed of a staff, which pierces the hand of anyone who leans on it! Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who depend on him. 22 But if you say to me, “We are depending on the Lord our God”—isn’t he the one whose high places and altars Hezekiah removed, saying to Judah and Jerusalem, “You must worship before this altar in Jerusalem”?

23 “‘Come now, make a bargain with my master, the king of Assyria: I will give you two thousand horses—if you can put riders on them! 24 How can you repulse one officer of the least of my master’s officials, even though you are depending on Egypt for chariots and horsemen[e]? 25 Furthermore, have I come to attack and destroy this place without word from the Lord? The Lord himself told me to march against this country and destroy it.’”

26 Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah, and Shebna and Joah said to the field commander, “Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, since we understand it. Don’t speak to us in Hebrew in the hearing of the people on the wall.”

27 But the commander replied, “Was it only to your master and you that my master sent me to say these things, and not to the people sitting on the wall—who, like you, will have to eat their own excrement and drink their own urine?”

28 Then the commander stood and called out in Hebrew, “Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria! 29 This is what the king says: Do not let Hezekiah deceive you. He cannot deliver you from my hand. 30 Do not let Hezekiah persuade you to trust in the Lord when he says, ‘The Lord will surely deliver us; this city will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.’

31 “Do not listen to Hezekiah. This is what the king of Assyria says: Make peace with me and come out to me. Then each of you will eat fruit from your own vine and fig tree and drink water from your own cistern, 32 until I come and take you to a land like your own—a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of olive trees and honey. Choose life and not death!

“Do not listen to Hezekiah, for he is misleading you when he says, ‘The Lord will deliver us.’ 33 Has the god of any nation ever delivered his land from the hand of the king of Assyria? 34 Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena and Ivvah? Have they rescued Samaria from my hand? 35 Who of all the gods of these countries has been able to save his land from me? How then can the Lord deliver Jerusalem from my hand?”

36 But the people remained silent and said nothing in reply, because the king had commanded, “Do not answer him.”

37 Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah the palace administrator, Shebna the secretary, and Joah son of Asaph the recorder went to Hezekiah, with their clothes torn, and told him what the field commander had said.
 
2 Kings 19 

Jerusalem’s Deliverance Foretold

19 When King Hezekiah heard this, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and went into the temple of the Lord. 2 He sent Eliakim the palace administrator, Shebna the secretary and the leading priests, all wearing sackcloth, to the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz. 3 They told him, “This is what Hezekiah says: This day is a day of distress and rebuke and disgrace, as when children come to the moment of birth and there is no strength to deliver them. 4 It may be that the Lord your God will hear all the words of the field commander, whom his master, the king of Assyria, has sent to ridicule the living God, and that he will rebuke him for the words the Lord your God has heard. Therefore pray for the remnant that still survives.”

5 When King Hezekiah’s officials came to Isaiah, 6 Isaiah said to them, “Tell your master, ‘This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid of what you have heard—those words with which the underlings of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me. 7 Listen! When he hears a certain report, I will make him want to return to his own country, and there I will have him cut down with the sword.’”

8 When the field commander heard that the king of Assyria had left Lachish, he withdrew and found the king fighting against Libnah.

9 Now Sennacherib received a report that Tirhakah, the king of Cush,[a] was marching out to fight against him. So he again sent messengers to Hezekiah with this word: 10 “Say to Hezekiah king of Judah: Do not let the god you depend on deceive you when he says, ‘Jerusalem will not be given into the hands of the king of Assyria.’ 11 Surely you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all the countries, destroying them completely. And will you be delivered? 12 Did the gods of the nations that were destroyed by my predecessors deliver them—the gods of Gozan, Harran, Rezeph and the people of Eden who were in Tel Assar? 13 Where is the king of Hamath or the king of Arpad? Where are the kings of Lair, Sepharvaim, Hena and Ivvah?”

Hezekiah’s Prayer

14 Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord. 15 And Hezekiah prayed to the Lord: “Lord, the God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. 16 Give ear, Lord, and hear; open your eyes, Lord, and see; listen to the words Sennacherib has sent to ridicule the living God.

17 “It is true, Lord, that the Assyrian kings have laid waste these nations and their lands. 18 They have thrown their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods but only wood and stone, fashioned by human hands. 19 Now, Lord our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone, Lord, are God.”

Isaiah Prophesies Sennacherib’s Fall
20 Then Isaiah son of Amoz sent a message to Hezekiah: “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I have heard your prayer concerning Sennacherib king of Assyria. 21 This is the word that the Lord has spoken against him:

“‘Virgin Daughter Zion
    despises you and mocks you.
Daughter Jerusalem
    tosses her head as you flee.
22 Who is it you have ridiculed and blasphemed?
    Against whom have you raised your voice
and lifted your eyes in pride?
    Against the Holy One of Israel!
23 By your messengers
    you have ridiculed the Lord.
And you have said,
    “With my many chariots
I have ascended the heights of the mountains,
    the utmost heights of Lebanon.
I have cut down its tallest cedars,
    the choicest of its junipers.
I have reached its remotest parts,
    the finest of its forests.
24 I have dug wells in foreign lands
    and drunk the water there.
With the soles of my feet
    I have dried up all the streams of Egypt.”
25 “‘Have you not heard?
    Long ago I ordained it.
In days of old I planned it;
    now I have brought it to pass,
that you have turned fortified cities
    into piles of stone.
26 Their people, drained of power,
    are dismayed and put to shame.
They are like plants in the field,
    like tender green shoots,
like grass sprouting on the roof,
    scorched before it grows up.
27 “‘But I know where you are
    and when you come and go
    and how you rage against me.
28 Because you rage against me
    and because your insolence has reached my ears,
I will put my hook in your nose
    and my bit in your mouth,
and I will make you return
    by the way you came.’
29 “This will be the sign for you, Hezekiah:

“This year you will eat what grows by itself,
    and the second year what springs from that.
But in the third year sow and reap,
    plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
30 Once more a remnant of the kingdom of Judah
    will take root below and bear fruit above.
31 For out of Jerusalem will come a remnant,
    and out of Mount Zion a band of survivors.
“The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

32 “Therefore this is what the Lord says concerning the king of Assyria:

“‘He will not enter this city
    or shoot an arrow here.
He will not come before it with shield
    or build a siege ramp against it.
33 By the way that he came he will return;
    he will not enter this city,
declares the Lord.
34 I will defend this city and save it,
    for my sake and for the sake of David my servant.’”
35 That night the angel of the Lord went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand in the Assyrian camp. When the people got up the next morning—there were all the dead bodies! 36 So Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp and withdrew. He returned to Nineveh and stayed there.

37 One day, while he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisrok, his sons Adrammelek and Sharezer killed him with the sword, and they escaped to the land of Ararat. And Esarhaddon his son succeeded him as king.
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