Now it came to passin the thirdyearof Hosheasonof Elahkingof Israel, that Hezekiahthe sonof Ahazkingof Judahbegan to reign. Twentyand fiveyearsoldwashe when he began to reign; and he reignedtwentyand nineyearsin Jerusalem. His mother's namealso was Abi, the daughterof Zachariah. And he did that which was rightin the sightof the LORD, according to allthatDavidhis fatherdid. Heremovedthe high places, and brokethe images, and cut downthe groves, and broke in piecesthe brazenserpentthatMoseshad made: foruntothosedaysthe childrenof Israeldidburn incenseto it: and he calledit Nehushtan. He trustedin the LORDGodof Israel; so that afterhim wasnonelike himamong allthe kingsof Judah, nor any thatwerebeforehim. For he cleavedto the LORD, and departednotfrom followinghim, but kepthis commandments, whichthe LORDcommandedMoses. And the LORDwaswithhim; and he prosperedwhithersoeverhe went forth: and he rebelledagainst the kingof Assyria, and servedhim not. Hesmotethe Philistines, even untoGaza, and the bordersthereof, from the towerof the watchmentothe fencedcity. And it came to passin the fourthyearof kingHezekiah, which was the seventhyearof Hosheasonof Elahkingof Israel, that Shalmaneserkingof Assyriacame upagainstSamaria, and besiegedit. And at the endof threeyearsthey tookit: even in the sixthyearof Hezekiah, that is the ninthyearof Hosheakingof Israel, Samariawas taken. And the kingof Assyriadid carry awayIsraelunto Assyria, and putthem in Halahand in Habor by the riverof Gozan, and in the citiesof the Medes: Becausethey obeyednotthe voiceof the LORDtheir God, but transgressedhis covenant, and allthatMosesthe servantof the LORDcommanded, and would nothear them , nordo them . Now in the fourteenthyearof kingHezekiahdid Sennacheribkingof Assyriacome upagainstallthe fencedcitiesof Judah, and tookthem. And Hezekiahkingof Judahsenttothe kingof Assyriato Lachish, saying, I have offended; returnfromme: that whichthou puttestonme will I bear. And the kingof AssyriaappointeduntoHezekiahkingof Judahthreehundredtalentsof silverand thirtytalentsof gold. And Hezekiahgave him allthe silverthat was foundin the houseof the LORD, and in the treasuresof the king's house. At thattimedid Hezekiahcut off the gold from the doorsof the templeof the LORD, and from the pillarswhichHezekiahkingof Judahhad overlaid, and gaveit to the kingof Assyria. And the kingof AssyriasentTartanand Rabsarisand Rab-shakeh fromLachishtokingHezekiahwith a greathostagainst Jerusalem. And they went upand cameto Jerusalem. And when they were come up, they cameand stoodby the conduitof the upperpool, which is in the highwayof the fuller's field. And when they had calledtothe king, there came outtothem Eliakimthe sonof Hilkiah, which was overthe household, and Shebnathe scribe, and Joahthe sonof Asaphthe recorder. And Rab-shakeh saiduntothem, Speakye nowtoHezekiah, Thussaiththe greatking, the kingof Assyria, Whatconfidence is thiswhereinthou trustest? Thou sayest, ( but they are but vainwords,) I have counseland strengthfor the war. Nowonwhomdost thou trust, thatthou rebellestagainst me? Now, behold, thou trustestuponthe staffof thisbruisedreed, even uponEgypt, onwhichif a manlean, it will gointo his hand, and pierceit: so is Pharaohkingof Egyptunto allthat trustonhim. But ifye sayuntome, We trustinthe LORDour God: is notthat he, whosehigh placesand whose altarsHezekiahhath taken away, and hath saidto Judahand Jerusalem, Ye shall worshipbeforethisaltarin Jerusalem? Nowtherefore, I pray thee, give pledgestomy lordthe kingof Assyria, and I will deliverthee two thousandhorses, ifthou be ableon thy part to setridersuponthem. Howthen wilt thou turn awaythe faceof onecaptainof the leastof my master's servants, and put thy trustonEgyptfor chariotsand for horsemen? Am I nowcome upwithoutthe LORDagainstthisplaceto destroyit? The LORDsaidtome, Go upagainstthisland, and destroyit. Then saidEliakimthe sonof Hilkiah, and Shebna, and Joah, untoRab-shakeh, Speak, I pray thee, tothy servantsin the Syrian language; forweunderstand it : and talknotwithus in the Jews' languagein the earsof the peoplethat are onthe wall. But Rab-shakeh saiduntothem, Hath my mastersentme tothy master, and tothee, to speakthesewords? hath he not sent me tothe menwhich sitonthe wall, that they may eattheir own dung, and drinktheir own pisswithyou? Then Rab-shakeh stoodand criedwith a loudvoicein the Jews' language, and spoke, saying, Hearthe wordof the greatking, the kingof Assyria: Thussaiththe king, Let notHezekiahdeceiveyou: forhe shall notbe ableto deliveryou out of his hand: Neitherlet Hezekiahmake you trustinthe LORD, saying, The LORDwill surely deliverus, and thiscityshall notbe deliveredinto the handof the kingof Assyria. HearkennottoHezekiah: forthussaiththe kingof Assyria, Make an agreement withme by a present, and come outtome, and then eatye every manof his own vine, and every oneof his fig tree, and drinkye every onethe watersof his cistern: UntilI comeand take you awaytoa landlike your own land, a landof cornand wine, a landof breadand vineyards, a landof oiloliveand of honey, that ye may live, and notdie: and hearkennotuntoHezekiah, whenhe persuadethyou, saying, The LORDwill deliverus. Hath anyof the godsof the nationsdelivered at allhis landout of the handof the kingof Assyria? Where are the godsof Hamath, and of Arpad? where are the godsof Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah? have they deliveredSamariaout of mine hand? Who are they among allthe godsof the countries, thathave deliveredtheir countryout of mine hand, thatthe LORDshould deliverJerusalemout of mine hand? But the peopleheld their peace, and answeredhim nota word: forthe king's commandmentwas, saying, Answerhim not. Then cameEliakimthe sonof Hilkiah, which was overthe household, and Shebnathe scribe, and Joahthe sonof Asaphthe recorder, toHezekiahwith their clothesrent, and toldhim the wordsof Rab-shakeh.