The Reforms of Hezekiah

31 Now when all this was finished, all Israel who were present went out to the cities of Judah and abroke the sacred pillars in pieces, cut down the wooden images, and threw down the 1high places and the altars—from all Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh—until they had utterly destroyed them all. Then all the children of Israel returned to their own cities, every man to his possession.

2 And Hezekiah appointed bthe divisions of the priests and the Levites according to their divisions, each man according to his service, the priests and Levites cfor burnt offerings and peace offerings, to serve, to give thanks, and to praise in the gates of the 2camp of the Lord. 3 The king also appointed a 3portion of his dpossessions 4for the burnt offerings: for the morning and evening burnt offerings, the burnt offerings for the Sabbaths and the New Moons and the set feasts, as it is written in the eLaw of the Lord.

4 Moreover he commanded the people who dwelt in Jerusalem to contribute fsupport 5for the priests and the Levites, that they might devote themselves to gthe Law of the Lord.

5 As soon as the commandment was circulated, the children of Israel brought in abundance hthe firstfruits of grain and wine, oil and honey, and of all the produce of the field; and they brought in abundantly the itithe of everything. 6 And the children of Israel and Judah, who dwelt in the cities of Judah, brought the tithe of oxen and sheep; also the jtithe of holy things which were consecrated to the Lord their God they laid in heaps.

7 In the third month they began laying them in heaps, and they finished in the seventh month. 8 And when Hezekiah and the leaders came and saw the heaps, they blessed the Lord and His people Israel. 9 Then Hezekiah questioned the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps. 10 And Azariah the chief priest, from the khouse of Zadok, answered him and said, l“Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the Lord, we have had enough to eat and have plenty left, for the Lord has blessed His people; and what is left is this great mabundance.”

11 Now Hezekiah commanded them to prepare nrooms 6in the house of the Lord, and they prepared them. 12 Then they faithfully brought in the offerings, the tithes, and the dedicated things; oCononiah the Levite had charge of them, and Shimei his brother was the next. 13 Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismachiah, Mahath, and Benaiah were overseers under the hand of Cononiah and Shimei his brother, at the commandment of Hezekiah the king and Azariah the pruler of the house of God. 14 Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, the keeper of the East Gate, was over the qfreewill offerings to God, to distribute the offerings of the Lord and the most holy things. 15 And under him were rEden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah, his faithful assistants in sthe cities of the priests, to distribute tallotments to their brethren by divisions, to the great as well as the small.

16 Besides those males from three years old and up who were written in the genealogy, they distributed to everyone who entered the house of the Lord his daily portion for the work of his service, by his division, 17 and to the priests who were written in the genealogy according to their father’s house, and to the Levites ufrom twenty years old and up according to their work, by their divisions, 18 and to all who were written in the genealogy—their little ones and their wives, their sons and daughters, the whole company of them—for in their faithfulness they 7sanctified themselves in holiness.

19 Also for the sons of Aaron the priests, who were in vthe fields of the common-lands of their cities, in every single city, there were men who were wdesignated by name to distribute portions to all the males among the priests and to all who were listed by genealogies among the Levites.

20 Thus Hezekiah did throughout all Judah, and he xdid what was good and right and true before the Lord his God. 21 And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, in the law and in the commandment, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart. So he yprospered.

Sennacherib Boasts Against the Lord

32 After athese deeds of faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and entered Judah; he encamped against the fortified cities, thinking to win them over to himself. 2 And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come, and that his purpose was to make war against Jerusalem, 3 he consulted with his leaders and 1commanders to stop the water from the springs which were outside the city; and they helped him. 4 Thus many people gathered together who stopped all the bsprings and the brook that ran through the land, saying, “Why should the 2kings of Assyria come and find much water?” 5 And che strengthened himself, dbuilt up all the wall that was broken, raised it up to the towers, and built another wall outside; also he repaired 3the eMillo in the City of David, and made 4weapons and shields in abundance. 6 Then he set military captains over the people, gathered them together to him in the open square of the city gate, and fgave them encouragement, saying, 7 g“Be strong and courageous; hdo not be afraid nor dismayed before the king of Assyria, nor before all the multitude that is with him; for ithere are more with us than with him. 8 With him is an jarm of flesh; but kwith us is the Lord our God, to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people were strengthened by the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.

9 lAfter this Sennacherib king of Assyria sent his servants to Jerusalem (but he and all the forces with him laid siege against Lachish), to Hezekiah king of Judah, and to all Judah who were in Jerusalem, saying, 10 m“Thus says Sennacherib king of Assyria: ‘In what do you trust, that you remain under siege in Jerusalem? 11 Does not Hezekiah persuade you to give yourselves over to die by famine and by thirst, saying, n“The Lord our God will deliver us from the hand of the king of Assyria”? 12 oHas not the same Hezekiah taken away His high places and His altars, and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, saying, “You shall worship before one altar and burn incense on pit”? 13 Do you not know what I and my fathers have done to all the peoples of other lands? qWere the gods of the nations of those lands in any way able to deliver their lands out of my hand? 14 Who was there among all the gods of those nations that my fathers utterly destroyed that could deliver his people from my hand, that your God should be able to deliver you from my rhand? 15 Now therefore, sdo not let Hezekiah deceive you or persuade you like this, and do not believe him; for no god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people from my hand or the hand of my fathers. How much less will your God deliver you from my hand?’ ”

16 Furthermore, his servants spoke against the Lord God and against His servant Hezekiah.

17 He also wrote letters to revile the Lord God of Israel, and to speak against Him, saying, t“As the gods of the nations of other lands have not delivered their people from my hand, so the God of Hezekiah will not deliver His people from my uhand.” 18 vThen they called out with a loud voice in 5Hebrew to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, to frighten them and trouble them, that they might take the city. 19 And they spoke against the God of Jerusalem, as against the gods of the people of the earth—wthe work of men’s hands.

Sennacherib’s Defeat and Death

20 xNow because of this King Hezekiah and ythe prophet Isaiah, the son of Amoz, prayed and cried out to heaven. 21 zThen the Lord sent an angel who cut down every mighty man of valor, leader, and captain in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned ashamefaced to his own land. And when he had gone into the temple of his god, some of his own offspring struck him down with the sword there.

22 Thus the Lord saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and from the hand of all others, and 6guided them on every side. 23 And many brought gifts to the Lord at Jerusalem, and bpresents 7to Hezekiah king of Judah, so that he was cexalted in the sight of all nations thereafter.

Hezekiah Humbles Himself

24 dIn those days Hezekiah was sick and near death, and he prayed to the Lord; and He spoke to him and gave him a sign. 25 But Hezekiah edid not repay according to the favor shown him, for fhis heart was lifted up; gtherefore wrath was looming over him and over Judah and Jerusalem. 26 hThen Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the Lord did not come upon them iin the days of Hezekiah.

Hezekiah’s Wealth and Honor

27 Hezekiah had very great riches and honor. And he made himself treasuries for silver, for gold, for precious stones, for spices, for shields, and for all kinds of desirable items; 28 storehouses for the harvest of grain, wine, and oil; and stalls for all kinds of livestock, and 8folds for flocks. 29 Moreover he provided cities for himself, and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance; for jGod had given him very much property. 30 kThis same Hezekiah also stopped the water outlet of Upper Gihon, and 9brought the water by tunnel to the west side of the City of David. Hezekiah lprospered in all his works.

31 However, regarding the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, whom they msent to him to inquire about the wonder that was done in the land, God withdrew from him, in order to ntest him, that He might know all that was in his heart.

Death of Hezekiah

32 Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and his goodness, indeed they are written in othe vision of Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, and in the pbook of the kings of Judah and Israel. 33 qSo Hezekiah 1rested with his fathers, and they buried him in the upper tombs of the sons of David; and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem rhonored him at his death.