Chapter 18

1And it was in the third year of Hoshea the son of Elah, the king of Israel, that Hezekiah the son of Ahaz the king of Judah, became king.   אוַֽיְהִי֙ בִּשְׁנַ֣ת שָׁלֹ֔שׁ לְהוֹשֵׁ֥עַ בֶּן־אֵלָ֖ה מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל מָלַ֛ךְ חִזְקִיָּ֥ה בֶן־אָחָ֖ז מֶ֥לֶךְ יְהוּדָֽה:
in the third year. of Hoshea’s rebellion.   בִּשְׁנַת שָׁלשׁ.  לְמִרְדּוֹ שֶל הוֹשֵׁעַ.
2He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Abi the daughter of Zechariah.   בבֶּן־עֶשְׂרִ֨ים וְחָמֵ֚שׁ שָׁנָה֙ הָיָ֣ה בְמָלְכ֔וֹ וְעֶשְׂרִ֚ים וָתֵ֙שַׁע֙ שָׁנָ֔ה מָלַ֖ךְ בִּירוּשָׁלָ֑םִ וְשֵׁ֣ם אִמּ֔וֹ אֲבִ֖י בַּת־זְכַרְיָֽה:
3And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, like all that his father David had done.   גוַיַּ֥עַשׂ הַיָּשָׁ֖ר בְּעֵינֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה כְּכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־עָשָֹ֖ה דָּוִ֥ד אָבִֽיו:
4He abolished the high places, and smashed the monuments, and cut down the asherah, and crushed the copper serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the children of Israel were burning incense to it; and he called it Nehushtan.   דה֣וּא | הֵסִ֣יר אֶת־הַבָּמ֗וֹת וְשִׁבַּר֙ אֶת־הַמַּצֵּבֹ֔ת וְכָרַ֖ת אֶת־הָֽאֲשֵׁרָ֑ה וכִּתַּת֩ נְחַ֨שׁ הַנְּח֜שֶׁת אֲשֶׁר־עָשָֹ֣ה מֹשֶׁ֗ה כִּ֣י עַד־הַיָּמִ֚ים הָהֵ֙מָּה֙ הָי֚וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ מְקַטְּרִ֣ים ל֔וֹ וַיִּקְרָא־ל֖וֹ נְחֻשְׁתָּֽן:
and he called it Nehushtan. a pejorative, as though to say, “Why is this necessary? It is nothing but a copper serpent.”   וַיִּקְרָא לוֹ נְחֻשְׁתָּן.  לְשׁוֹן בִּזָּיוֹן, כְּלוֹמַר מַה צֹּרֶךְ בָּזֶה, אֵינוֹ אֶלָּא נְחַשׁ נְחשֶׁת.
5He trusted in the God of Israel there was none like him among all the kings of Judah who were after him, nor were there before him.   הבַּיהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בָּטָ֑ח וְאַחֲרָ֞יו לֹא־הָיָ֣ה כָּמֹ֗הוּ בְּכֹל֙ מַלְכֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֔ה וַאֲשֶׁ֥ר הָי֖וּ לְפָנָֽיו:
6He cleaved to the Lord; he did not turn away from following Him; he kept His commandments, which He had commanded Moses.   ווַיִּדְבַּק֙ בַּֽיהֹוָ֔ה לֹא־סָ֖ר מֵאַֽחֲרָ֑יו וַיִּשְׁמֹר֙ מִצְו‍ֹתָ֔יו אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּ֥ה יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶת־משֶֽׁה:
7Now the Lord was with him: in everything he ventured he succeeded; and he rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him.   זוְהָיָ֚ה יְהֹוָה֙ עִמּ֔וֹ בְּכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־יֵצֵ֖א יַשְׂכִּ֑יל וַיִּמְרֹ֥ד בְּמֶֽלֶךְ־אַשּׁ֖וּר וְלֹ֥א עֲבָדֽוֹ:
he succeeded. [Heb. יַשְׂכִּיל] He succeeded.   יַשְׂכִּיל.  יַצְלִיחַ.
8He slew the Philistines up to Gaza and its boundaries, from watchtower to fortified city.   חהֽוּא־הִכָּ֧ה אֶת־פְּלִשְׁתִּ֛ים עַד־עַזָּ֖ה וְאֶת־גְּבוּלֶ֑יהָ מִמִּגְדַּ֥ל נוֹצְרִ֖ים עַד־עִ֥יר מִבְצָֽר:
9And it was in the fourth year of King Hezekiah-that is the seventh year of Hoshea the son of Elah, king of Israel-that Shalmaneser the king of Assyria went up to Samaria and laid siege to it.   טוַֽיְהִ֞י בַּשָׁנָ֚ה הָֽרְבִיעִית֙ לַמֶּ֣לֶךְ חִזְקִיָּ֔הוּ הִיא הַשָּׁנָ֣ה הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔ית לְהוֹשֵׁ֥עַ בֶּן־אֵלָ֖ה מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל עָלָ֞ה שַׁלְמַנְאֶ֧סֶר מֶֽלֶךְ־אַשּׁ֛וּר עַל־שֹׁמְר֖וֹן וַיָּ֥צַר עָלֶֽיהָ:
10And they captured it at the end of three years; in the sixth year of Hezekiah, which is the ninth year of Hoshea, king of Israel, Samaria was captured.   יוַֽיִּלְכְּדֻ֗הָ מִקְצֵה֙ שָׁל֣שׁ שָׁנִ֔ים בִּשְׁנַת־שֵׁ֖שׁ לְחִזְקִיָּ֑ה הִ֣יא שְׁנַת־תֵּ֗שַׁע לְהוֹשֵׁ֙עַ֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל נִלְכְּדָ֖ה שֹׁמְרֽוֹן:
11And the king of Assyria exiled Israel to Assyria, and he settled them in Halah and in Habor, the Gozan River, and the cities of Media.   יאוַיֶּ֧גֶל מֶֽלֶךְ־אַשּׁ֛וּר אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל אַשּׁ֑וּרָה וַיַּנְחֵ֞ם בַּחְלַ֧ח וּבְחָב֛וֹר נְהַ֥ר גּוֹזָ֖ן וְעָרֵ֥י מָדָֽי:
12Because they did not obey the Lord their God and transgressed His covenant, all that He had commanded Moses the servant of the Lord, and they did not obey nor did they do [His will].   יבעַ֣ל | אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹֽא־שָׁמְע֗וּ בְּקוֹל֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵיהֶ֔ם וַיַּעַבְרוּ֙ אֶת־בְּרִית֔וֹ אֵת כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר צִוָּ֔ה משֶׁ֖ה עֶ֣בֶד יְהֹוָ֑ה וְלֹ֥א שָׁמְע֖וּ וְלֹ֥א עָשֹֽוּ:
13And in the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, Sennacherib the king of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah and seized them.   יגוּבְאַרְבַּע֩ עֶשְׂרֵ֨ה שָׁנָ֜ה לַמֶּ֣לֶךְ חִזְקִיָּ֗ה עָלָ֞ה סַנְחֵרִ֚יב מֶֽלֶךְ־אַשּׁוּר֙ עַ֣ל כָּל־עָרֵ֧י יְהוּדָ֛ה הַבְּצֻר֖וֹת וַֽיִּתְפְּשֵֹֽם:
14And Hezekiah the king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria to Lachish, saying, "I have sinned, withdraw from me; whatever you impose upon me, I will bear." And the king of Assyria imposed upon Hezekiah, king of Judah, three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold.   ידוַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח חִזְקִיָּ֣ה מֶֽלֶךְ־יְהוּדָ֣ה אֶל־מֶֽלֶךְ־אַשּׁוּר | לָכִ֨ישָׁה | לֵאמֹ֚ר | חָטָ֙אתִי֙ שׁ֣וּב מֵֽעָלַ֔י אֵ֛ת אֲשֶׁר־תִּתֵּ֥ן עָלַ֖י אֶשָּׂ֑א וַיָּ֨שֶׂם מֶֽלֶךְ־אַשּׁ֜וּר עַל־חִזְקִיָּ֣ה מֶֽלֶךְ־יְהוּדָ֗ה שְׁלֹ֚שׁ מֵאוֹת֙ כִּכַּר־כֶּ֔סֶף וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֖ים כִּכַּ֥ר זָהָֽב:
15And Hezekiah gave all the silver that was found in the house of the Lord and in the treasuries of the king's palace.   טווַיִּתֵּן֙ חִזְקִיָּ֔ה אֶת־כָּל־הַכֶּ֖סֶף הַנִּמְצָ֣א בֵית־יְהֹוָ֑ה וּבְאוֹצְר֖וֹת בֵּ֥ית הַמֶּֽלֶךְ:
16At that time, Hezekiah stripped the doors of the temple of the Lord, and the thresholds which Hezekiah the king of Judah had overlaid, and he gave them to the king of Assyria.   טזבָּעֵ֣ת הַהִ֗יא קִצַּ֨ץ חִזְקִיָּ֜ה אֶת־דַּלְת֨וֹת הֵיכַ֚ל יְהֹוָה֙ וְאֶת־הָאֹ֣מְנ֔וֹת אֲשֶׁ֣ר צִפָּ֔ה חִזְקִיָּ֖ה מֶ֣לֶךְ יְהוּדָ֑ה וַֽיִּתְּנֵ֖ם לְמֶ֥לֶךְ אַשּֽׁוּר:
stripped. the doors, which were of gold.   קִצַּץ.  אֶת הַדְּלָתוֹת שֶׁהָיָה שֶל זָהָב.
and the thresholds. This follows Targum.   וְאֶת הָאֹמְנוֹת.  תִּרְגֵּם יוֹנָתָן: וְיַת סְקוֹפַיָּא, אִיסְקוּפוֹת.
17And the king of Assyria sent Tartan and Rabsaris, and Rabshakeh from Lachish to King Hezekiah with an army of a great [multitude] to Jerusalem, and they went up and came and stood near the conduit of the upper pool, which is on the road of the washer's field.   יזוַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח מֶֽלֶךְ־אַשּׁ֡וּר אֶת־תַּרְתָּ֥ן וְאֶת־רַב־סָרִ֣יס | וְאֶת־רַבְשָׁקֵ֨ה מִן־לָכִ֜ישׁ אֶל־הַמֶּ֧לֶךְ חִזְקִיָּ֛הוּ בְּחֵ֥יל כָּבֵ֖ד יְרוּשָׁלָ֑םִ וַֽיַּעֲלוּ֙ וַיָּבֹ֣אוּ יְרוּשָׁלַ֔םִ וַיַּעֲל֣וּ וַיָּבֹ֗אוּ וַיַּֽעַמְדוּ֙ בִּתְעָלַת֙ הַבְּרֵכָ֣ה הָֽעֶלְיוֹנָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֕ר בִּמְסִלַּ֖ת שְׂדֵ֥ה כוֹבֵֽס:
Tartan and Rabsaris. We learned in Seder Olam (?) that the three of them did not come together, but Rabshakeh came alone, as the prophet wrote in the Book of Isaiah (36:2), and Tartan and Rabsaris came on a second mission, when he received word concerning Tarhakah, king of Cush, “and he heard and sent emissaries to Hezekiah…” (Is. 37:9).   אֶת תַּרְתָּן וְאֶת רַב סָרִיס.  לָמַדְנוּ בְּסֵדֶר עוֹלָם, שֶׁלֹּא בָאוּ שְׁלָשְׁתָּם יַחַד, אֶלָּא רַבְשָׁקֵה לְבַדּוֹ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתַב בְּסֵפֶר יְשַׁעְיָהוּ וְתַרְתָּן וְרַב סָרִיס בָּאוּ בִּשְׁלִיחוּת שְׁנִיָּה, כְּשֶׁבָּאָה לוֹ שְׁמוּעָה עַל תִּרְהָקָה מֶלֶךְ כּוּשׁ, וַיִּשְׁמַע וַיִּשְׁלַח מַלְאָכִים אֶל חִזְקִיָּהוּ וְגוֹ'.
near the conduit. fosed (fosse) in French. A ditch, a trench, a moat.   בִּתְעָלַת.  פוסקיר"ה בְּלַעַ"ז, בְּרֵכָה שֶׁעוֹשִׂין לְבֵיבְרֵי דָגִים.
the washer’s field. A field where the washers stretch out garments. So did Jonathan render, “a field where the washers stretch out.”   שְׂדֵה כוֹבֵס.  שָׂדֶה שֶׁהַכּוֹבְסִין שׁוֹטְחִין בּוֹ בְּגָדִים, וְכֵן תִּרְגֵּם יוֹנָתָן: חֲקָל מַשְׁטַח קַצְרַיָּא.
18And they summoned the king, and Eliakim the son of Hilkiah who was appointed over the palace, and Shebna the scribe and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder, came out to them.   יחוַֽיִּקְרְאוּ֙ אֶל־הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וַיֵּצֵ֧א אֲלֵהֶ֛ם אֶלְיָקִ֥ים בֶּן־חִלְקִיָּ֖הוּ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עַל־הַבָּ֑יִת וְשֶׁבְנָה֙ הַסֹּפֵ֔ר וְיוֹאָ֥ח בֶּן־אָסָ֖ף הַמַּזְכִּֽיר:
the recorder. which judgment came first before the king, that he should first adjudicate.   הַמַּזְכִּיר.  אֵיזֶה מִשְׁפָּט בָּא לִפְנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ רִאשׁוֹן, שֶׁיִּפְסְקֶנּוּ רִאשׁוֹן.
19And Rabshakeh said to them, "Say now to Hezekiah, 'So has the great king, the king of Assyria, said, "What is this confidence that you have trusted?   יטוַיֹּ֚אמֶר אֲלֵהֶם֙ רַבְשָׁקֵ֔ה אִמְרוּ־נָ֖א אֶל־חִזְקִיָּ֑הוּ כֹּֽה־אָמַ֞ר הַמֶּ֚לֶךְ הַגָּדוֹל֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ אַשּׁ֔וּר מָ֧ה הַבִּטָּח֛וֹן הַזֶּ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר בָּטָֽחְתָּ:
20You have said but words of the lips; counsel and might are needed for war. Now, on whom do you depend that you have rebelled against me?   כאָמַ֙רְתָּ֙ אַךְ־דְּבַר־שְׂפָתַ֔יִם עֵצָ֥ה וּגְבוּרָ֖ה לַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה עַתָּה֙ עַל־מִ֣י בָטַ֔חְתָּ כִּ֥י מָרַ֖דְתָּ בִּֽי:
You have said but words of the lips…. Until now you have said, “I will not pay tribute to the king of Assyria.” It was but words of the lips. As long as he did not leave his place to march upon you, you did not require counsel and might. Now, however, that he has left [his place] and come upon you, you require counsel and might for this war. Now tell upon whom you have depended?   אָמַרְתָּ אַךְ דְּבַר שְׂפָתַיִם וְגוֹ'.  אָמַרְתָּ עַד הֵנָּה לֹא אֶעֱבֹד לְמֶלֶךְ אַשּׁוּר, אַךְ דְּבַר שְׂפָתַיִם הָיָה, כָּל זְמַן שֶׁלֹּא יֵצֵא מִמְּקוֹמוֹ לָבֹא עָלֶיךָ, לֹא הֻצְרַכְתָּ לְעֵצָה וּגְבוּרָה, אֲבָל עַכְשָׁיו שֶׁיָּצָא וּבָא, עֵצָה וּגְבוּרָה אַתָּה צָרִיךְ לַמִּלְחָמָה הַזֹּאת, עַתָּה אֱמֹר עַל מִי בָטַחְתָּ.
21Now, behold you have depended upon the support of this splintered reed, upon Egypt, upon whom a man will lean and it will go into his palm and puncture it; so is Pharaoh the king of Egypt to all those who trust in him.   כאעַתָּ֡ה הִנֵּ֣ה בָטַ֣חְתָּ לְּךָ֡ עַל־מִשְׁעֶנֶת֩ הַקָּנֶ֨ה הָרָצ֚וּץ הַזֶּה֙ עַל־מִצְרַ֔יִם אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִסָּמֵ֥ךְ אִישׁ֙ עָלָ֔יו וּבָ֥א בְכַפּ֖וֹ וּנְקָבָ֑הּ כֵּן פַּרְעֹ֣ה מֶֽלֶךְ־מִצְרַ֔יִם לְכָֽל־הַבֹּטְחִ֖ים עָלָֽיו:
and it will go into his palm. When a person supports himself on a support of a splintered reed, which has broken in his hand, the ends of the scaly envelope will come and puncture his palm.   וּבָא בְּכַפּוֹ.  כְּשֶׁאָדָם נִסְמָךְ עַל מִשְׁעֶנֶת קָנֶה רָצוּץ שֶׁנִּשְׁבַּר בְּיָדוֹ, בָּאִין רָאשֵׁי הַקְּרוּמִיּוֹת וְנוֹקְבִין אֶת כַּפּוֹ.
22And if you say to me, 'We trust the Lord our God,' is He not the one Whose high places and altars Hezekiah has removed? He has said to Judah and to Jerusalem, 'Before this altar in Jerusalem shall you prostrate yourselves.'   כבוְכִי־תֹאמְר֣וּן אֵלַ֔י אֶל־יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ בָּטָ֑חְנוּ הֲלוֹא־ה֗וּא אֲשֶׁ֨ר הֵסִ֚יר חִזְקִיָּ֙הוּ֙ אֶת־בָּמֹתָ֣יו וְאֶת־מִזְבְּחֹתָ֔יו וַיֹּ֚אמֶר לִֽיהוּדָה֙ וְלִיר֣וּשָׁלַ֔םִ לִפְנֵי֙ הַמִּזְבֵּ֣חַ הַזֶּ֔ה תִּֽשְׁתַּחֲו֖וּ בִּירוּשָׁלָֽםִ:
Is He not the one Whose high places and altars Hezekiah has removed…. It can be deduced from here that Rabshakeh was an apostate Jew, for he admits that the Holy One, Blessed be He, is God, but His will is that we worship idols.   הֲלוֹא הוּא אֲשֶׁר הֵסִיר חִזְקִיָּהוּ וְגוֹ'.  יֵשׁ לִלְמֹד מִכָּאן, דְּרַבְשָׁקֵה יִשְׂרָאֵל מוּמָר הָיָה, שֶׁהָיָה מוֹדֶה שֶׁהַקָּבָּ"ה אֱלוֹהַּ, אֶלָּא שֶׁרְצוֹנוֹ לַעֲבֹד עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה.
23And now, wager now with my lord the king of Assyria, and I will give you two thousand horses if you are able to supply riders upon them of your men.   כגוְעַתָּה֙ הִתְעָ֣רֶב נָ֔א אֶת־אֲדֹנִ֖י אֶת־מֶ֣לֶךְ אַשּׁ֑וּר וְאֶתְּנָ֚ה לְךָ֙ אַלְפַּ֣יִם סוּסִ֔ים אִם־תּוּכַ֕ל לָ֥תֶת לְךָ֖ רֹכְבִ֥ים עֲלֵיהֶֽם:
wager now. boast over him. Enter a wager on the condition that if you are able to supply riders for two thousand horses.   הִתְעָרֶב נָא.  הִתְפָּאֵר עָלָיו, בּוֹא בְּעֵרָבוֹן, עַל מְנָת אִם תּוּכַל לִתֵּן לְךָ רוֹכְבִים עַל אַלְפַּיִם סוּסִים.
wager. gajjer in O.F.   הִתְעָרֶב.  גיי"ר בְּלַעַ"ז.
24And how can you repulse one captain of the smallest of my master's servants, and you rely on Egypt for chariots and horsemen?   כדוְאֵ֣יךְ תָּשִׁ֗יב אֵ֠ת פְּנֵ֨י פַחַ֥ת אַחַ֛ד עַבְדֵ֥י אֲדֹנִ֖י הַקְּטַנִּ֑ים וַתִּבְטַ֚ח לְךָ֙ עַל־מִצְרַ֔יִם לְרֶ֖כֶב וּלְפָרָשִֽׁים:
And how can you repulse one captain of… my master’s servants. for the smallest of them is captain over two thousand men, and you cannot obtain two thousand men. We deduce from here concerning the heads of the armies, who totaled 185,000, who fell with Sennacherib, that the smallest of them was captain over two thousand men that were with him.   וְאֵיךְ תָּשִׁיב אֵת פְּנֵי פַחַת אַחַד עַבְדֵי אֲדֹנִי.  שֶׁהֲרֵי כָּל הַקָּטָן שֶׁבָּהֶם, שַׂר עַל אַלְפַּיִם אִישׁ, וְאַתָּה אֵינְךָ מַשִּׂיג לְאַלְפַּיִם אִישׁ, לָמַדְנוּ מִכָּאן עַל רָאשֵׁי גְּיָסוֹת מֵאָה וּשְׁמוֹנִים וַחֲמִשָּׁה אֶלֶף שֶׁנָּפְלוּ עִם סַנְחֵרִיב, הַקָּטָן שֶׁבָּהֶם, שַׂר עַל אַלְפַּיִם אִישׁ שֶׁעִמּוֹ.
25Now is it with other than the Lord that I have come up against this place to destroy it? The Lord said to me, 'Go up against this land and destroy it.' "   כהעַתָּה֙ הֲמִבַּלְעֲדֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה עָלִ֛יתִי עַל־הַמָּק֥וֹם הַזֶּ֖ה לְהַשְׁחִת֑וֹ יְהֹוָה֙ אָמַ֣ר אֵלַ֔י עֲלֵ֛ה עַל־הָאָ֥רֶץ הַזֹּ֖את וְהַשְׁחִיתָֽהּ:
is it with other than the Lord. Did I come without permission? Isaiah already prophesied in the days of Ahaz your father (Is. 7:17), “The Lord shall bring upon you and upon your people… the king of Assyria.”   הֲמִבַּלְעֲדֵי ה'.  וְכִי שֶׁלֹּא בִּרְשׁוּת בָּאתִי, כְּבָר נִתְנַבֵּא יְשַׁעְיָה: בִּימֵי אָחָז אָבִיךָ יָבִיא ה' עָלֶיךָ וְעַל עַמְּךָ וְגוֹ' אֶת מֶלֶךְ אַשּׁוּר.
and destroy it. This he added of his own.   וְהַשְׁחִיתָהּ.  אֶת זוֹ הוֹסִיף מִשֶּׁלּוֹ.
26And Eliakim the son of Hilkiah and Shebnah and Joah said to Rabshakeh, "Please speak to your servants in Aramaic for we understand it; do not speak with us in Judean within the hearing of the people who are on the wall."   כווַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֶלְיָקִ֣ים בֶּן־חִ֠לְקִיָּהוּ וְשֶׁבְנָ֨ה וְיוֹאָ֜ח אֶל־רַבְשָׁקֵ֗ה דַּבֶּר־נָ֚א אֶל־עֲבָדֶ֙יךָ֙ אֲרָמִ֔ית כִּ֥י שֹׁמְעִ֖ים אֲנָ֑חְנוּ וְאַל־תְּדַבֵּ֚ר עִמָּ֙נוּ֙ יְהוּדִ֔ית בְּאָזְנֵ֣י הָעָ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֖ר עַל־הַחֹמָֽה:
for we understand. We are residents of the palace, and understand the Aramaic language and other languages. Do not speak to us Judean, which all the people understand, and we do not want them to hear.   כִּי שֹׁמְעִים אֲנָחְנוּ.  אָנוּ בְּנֵי פַּלָּטִין, וּמַכִּירִין בְּלָשׁוֹן אֲרַמִּית וּבִשְׁאָר לְשׁוֹנוֹת, וְאַל תְּדַבֵּר אֵלֵינוּ יְהוּדִית, שֶׁכָּל הָעָם מַכִּירִין בּוֹ, וְאֵין אָנוּ רוֹצִים שֶׁיִּשְׁמְעוּ.
within the hearing of the people. For all the people understand Judean, and they are frightened by your words. Since he said to them, “Say now to Hezekiah,” they thought that he did not come to frighten the people. Since Rabshakeh was an apostate Jew, they thought that even though his master’s orders were incumbent upon Rabshakeh [to observe], but his heart was attracted to his family and he would take pity upon them.  
27And Rabshakeh said to them, "Did my master send me to speak these words to your master and to you? Is it not to the men who sit on the wall to eat their dung and drink their urine with you?"   כזוַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֲלֵיהֶ֜ם רַבְשָׁקֵ֗ה הַעַ֨ל אֲדֹנֶ֚יךָ וְאֵלֶ֙יךָ֙ שְׁלָחַ֣נִי אֲדֹנִ֔י לְדַבֵּ֖ר אֶת־הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֑לֶּה הֲלֹ֣א עַל־הָאֲנָשִׁ֗ים הַיֹּֽשְׁבִים֙ עַל־הַ֣חֹמָ֔ה לֶאֱכֹ֣ל אֶת־צוֹאָתָ֗ם (כתיב חֹרָיהָ֗ם) וְלִשְׁתּ֛וֹת אֶת־מֵימֵֽי רַגְלֵיהֶ֖ם (כתיב שֵֽׁיַנְיֵהֶ֖ם) עִמָּכֶֽם:
to eat their dung. in the hunger [brought about] by the siege.   לֶאֱכֹל אֶת צוֹאָתָם.  בְּרָעָב הַמָּצוֹר.
their dung. [The] kethib [reads] חֹרֵיהֶם - dung that is excreted through the orifice of the anus. Our Rabbis explained to euphemize and read, צוֹאָתָם, i.e., their dung.   חוֹרֵיהֶם.  רְעִי הַיּוֹצֵא דֶּרֶךְ חוֹר פִּי הַטַּבַּעַת. וְרַבּוֹתֵינוּ פֵּרְשׁוּ: לְכַנּוֹתָם לָשׁוֹן נָאָה צוֹאָתָם.
their urine. [According to] kethib, שִׁינֵיהֶם, [however, we explain it as] loose excrement, the glands of the rectum, which is held by three glands. Alternatively, an expression of excrement which comes about through the chewing of the teeth.   מֵימֵי שִׁינֵיהֵם.  צוֹאָה לֶחָה, שִׁנֵּי דְּכַרְכְּשָׁא דְּקַיְמָא אַתְּלַת שִנֵּי. אוֹ לְשׁוֹן גָּלָל, שֶׁבָּא עַל יְדֵי לְעִיסַת הַשִּׁנַּיִם.
28And Rabshakeh stood and called out in a loud voice in Judean, and he spoke and said, "Listen to the word of the great king, the king of Assyria!   כחוַֽיַּעֲמֹד֙ רַבְשָׁקֵ֔ה וַיִּקְרָ֥א בְקוֹל־גָּד֖וֹל יְהוּדִ֑ית וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר וַיֹּ֔אמֶר שִׁמְע֛וּ דְּבַר־הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ הַגָּד֖וֹל מֶ֥לֶךְ אַשּֽׁוּר:
29So has the king said, 'Let not Hezekiah deceive you, for he will not be able to deliver you from his hand.   כטכֹּה אָמַ֣ר הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ אַל־יַשִּׁ֥יא לָכֶ֖ם חִזְקִיָּ֑הוּ כִּי־לֹ֣א יוּכַ֔ל לְהַצִּ֥יל אֶתְכֶ֖ם מִיָּדֽוֹ:
30And let not Hezekiah make you rely on the Lord, saying, 'The Lord will save us, and this city will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.'   לוְאַל־יַבְטַ֨ח אֶתְכֶ֚ם חִזְקִיָּ֙הוּ֙ אֶל־יְהֹוָ֣ה לֵאמֹ֔ר הַצֵּ֥ל יַצִּילֵ֖נוּ יְהֹוָ֑ה וְלֹ֚א תִנָּתֵן֙ אֶת־הָעִ֣יר הַזֹּ֔את בְּיַ֖ד מֶ֥לֶךְ אַשּֽׁוּר:
31Do not listen to Hezekiah, for so has the king of Assyria said, "Make peace with me, and come out to me, and each man will eat of his vine and each man of his fig tree, and each man will drink the water of his cistern.   לאאַֽל־תִּשְׁמְע֖וּ אֶל־חִזְקִיָּ֑הוּ כִּי֩ כֹ֨ה אָמַ֜ר מֶ֣לֶךְ אַשּׁ֗וּר עֲשֹֽוּ־אִתִּ֚י בְרָכָה֙ וּצְא֣וּ אֵלַ֔י וְאִכְל֚וּ אִישׁ־גַּפְנוֹ֙ וְאִ֣ישׁ תְּאֵֽנָת֔וֹ וּשְׁת֖וּ אִ֥ישׁ מֵֽי־בֹרֽוֹ:
Make peace with me. [Lit. make a blessing with me - an expression of] a greeting, like (Gen. 47:7) “and Jacob greeted Pharaoh.”   עֲשׂוּ אִתִּי בְרָכָה.  שְׁאִילַת שָׁלוֹם, כְּמוֹ: וַיְבָרֶךְ יַעֲקֹב אֶת פַּרְעֹה.
32Until I come and take you to a land like your land, a land of grain and wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of oil yielding olives and honey, and you may live and not die, and do not heed Hezekiah for he will mislead you, saying, 'The Lord will save us.'   לבעַד־בֹּאִי֩ וְלָקַחְתִּ֨י אֶתְכֶ֜ם אֶל־אֶ֣רֶץ כְּאַרְצְכֶ֗ם אֶרֶץ֩ דָּגָ֨ן וְתִיר֜וֹשׁ אֶ֧רֶץ לֶ֣חֶם וּכְרָמִ֗ים אֶ֣רֶץ זֵ֚ית יִצְהָר֙ וּדְבַ֔שׁ וִֽחְי֖וּ וְלֹ֣א תָמֻ֑תוּ וְאַֽל־תִּשְׁמְעוּ֙ אֶל־חִזְקִיָּ֔הוּ כִּֽי־יַסִּ֚ית אֶתְכֶם֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר יְהֹוָ֖ה יַצִּילֵֽנוּ:
to a land like your land. So is my wont to repatriate the nations from province to province. He should have said, “to a land better than yours,” since he came to entice them, but he knew that they would recognize that his statement was false.   אֶל אֶרֶץ כְּאַרְצְכֶם.  כֵּן דַּרְכִּי, לְהַעֲבִיר אֶת הָאֻמּוֹת מִמְּדִינָה לִמְדִינָה, הָיָה לוֹ לוֹמַר אֶל אֶרֶץ טוֹבָה מִשֶּׁלָּכֶם, שֶׁהֲרֵי לְפַתּוֹתָם בָּא, אֶלָּא שֶׁיָּדַע שֶׁיַּכִּירוּ שֶׁדְּבָרָיו שֶׁקֶר.
a land of grain and wine. This is Africa.   אֶרֶץ דָּגָן וְתִירוֹשׁ.  זוֹ אַפְרִיקִי.
33Have the gods of the nations saved each one his land, from the hand of the king of Assyria?   לגהַהַצֵּ֥ל הִצִּ֛ילוּ אֱלֹהֵ֥י הַגּוֹיִ֖ם אִ֣ישׁ אֶת־אַרְצ֑וֹ מִיַּ֖ד מֶ֥לֶךְ אַשּֽׁוּר:
34Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad, where are the gods of Sepharvaim? He exiled them and twisted them. Now, did they save Samaria from my hand?   לדאַיֵּה֩ אֱלֹהֵ֨י חֲמָ֜ת וְאַרְפָּ֗ד אַיֵּ֛ה אֱלֹהֵ֥י סְפַרְוַ֖יִם הֵנַ֣ע וְעִוָּ֑ה כִּֽי־הִצִּ֥ילוּ אֶת־שֹׁמְר֖וֹן מִיָּדִֽי:
He exiled them and twisted them. [Heb. וְעִוָה הֵנַע.] The King of Assyria [exiled them and twisted] them; [i.e.,] he destroyed them and exiled them.   הֵנַע וְעִוָּה.  אוֹתָם מֶלֶךְ אַשּׁוּר, הֶחֱרִיבָם וְהִגְלָם.
Now, did they save Samaria. and the inhabitants of Samaria worshipped the gods of the Arameans, who were their neighbors.   כִּי הִצִּילוּ אֶת שֹׁמְרוֹן.  וְהַשּׁוֹמְרוֹנִים הָיוּ עוֹבְדִים אֶת אֱלֹהֵי אֲרָם שֶׁהָיוּ שְׁכֵנֵיהֶם.
35Who are they among all the gods of the lands who saved their land from my hand, that the Lord should save Jerusalem from my hand?' "   להמִי בְּכָל־אֱלֹהֵ֣י הָֽאֲרָצ֔וֹת אֲשֶׁר־הִצִּ֥ילוּ אֶת־אַרְצָ֖ם מִיָּדִ֑י כִּי־יַצִּ֧יל יְהֹוָ֛ה אֶת־יְרוּשָׁלַ֖םִ מִיָּדִֽי:
36And the people remained silent and did not answer him even one word, for it was the king's order, saying, "Do not answer him."   לווְהֶחֱרִ֣ישׁוּ הָעָ֔ם וְלֹֽא־עָנ֥וּ אֹת֖וֹ דָּבָ֑ר כִּי־מִצְוַ֨ת הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ הִ֛יא לֵאמֹ֖ר לֹ֥א תַעֲנֻֽהוּ:
37And Eliakim the son of Hilkiah who was appointed over the palace and Shebna the scribe and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder, came to Hezekiah, with torn garments, and they related to him the words of Rabshakeh.   לזוַיָּבֹ֣א אֶלְיָקִ֣ים בֶּן־חִלְקִיָּ֣ה אֲשֶׁר־עַל־הַ֠בַּיִת וְשֶׁבְנָ֨א הַסֹּפֵ֜ר וְיוֹאָ֨ח בֶּן־אָסָ֧ף הַמַּזְכִּ֛יר אֶל־חִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ קְרוּעֵ֣י בְגָדִ֑ים וַיַּגִּ֣דוּ ל֔וֹ דִּבְרֵ֖י רַבְשָׁקֵֽה:
with torn garments. because they heard blasphemies of the Name of God.   קְרוּעֵי בְגָדִים.  עַל שֶׁשָּׁמְעוּ גִּדּוּפֵי הַשֵּׁם.