TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS
II - Chapter 20
Translation and Transliteration of
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1In those days Chizkiyahu fell dangerously ill. The Navi Yeshayahu son of Amotz came and said to him, “Thus said Hashem: Set your affairs in order, for you are going to die; you will not get well.”
ba-ya-MEEM ha-HAYM kha-LAH khiz-ki-YA-hu la-MUT va-ya-VO ay-LAV y'-sha-YA-hu ven a-MOTZ ha-na-VEE va-YO-mer ay-LAV koh a-MAR a-do-NAI TZAV l'-vay-TE-kha KEE MAYT a-TAH v'-LO tikh-YEH
אבַּיָּמִ֣ים הָהֵ֔ם חָלָ֥ה חִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ לָמ֑וּת וַיָּבֹ֣א אֵ֠לָ֠יו יְשַׁעְיָ֨הוּ בֶן־אָמ֜וֹץ הַנָּבִ֗יא וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֵלָ֜יו כֹּֽה־אָמַ֤ר יְהֹוָה֙ צַ֣ו לְבֵיתֶ֔ךָ כִּ֛י מֵ֥ת אַתָּ֖ה וְלֹ֥א תִֽחְיֶֽה׃
20:1 For you are going to die; you will not get well
Rabbi Shlomo Aviner (b. 1943)
King Chizkiyahu is told that he is going to be punished by losing his life in this world and, as Rashi explains, the next world as well. The reason for the punishment is that until now he has refrained from getting married and having children. Chizkiyahu’s intentions are pure, since he has received a prophetic revelation that his son will be evil. As a result, he wishes to refrain from having children, in order to avoid bringing such a person into the world. However, Chizkiyahu is told that his responsibility is to follow Hashem’s commandment to have children, regardless of the consequences. Rabbi Shlomo Aviner notes that Chizkiyahu’s decision to avoid having children could be particularly devastating, because his descendants represent the continuation of the Davidic dynasty. After hearing the rebuke, Chizkiyahu understands that he has erred, prays to God for forgiveness and corrects his mistake. Though his son Menashe is indeed evil, his great-grandson is the righteous King Yoshiyahu, who is responsible for creating a religious renaissance in the kingdom. Yoshiyahu gets rid of all forms of idolatry, including the altar erected by Yerovam (thus fulfilling the prophecy stated in I Kings 13:2), and renews the people’s covenant with Hashem.
2Thereupon Chizkiyahu turned his face to the wall and prayed to Hashem. He said,
vai-YA-sev et-PA-naiv el ha-KIR va-yi-t'-PA-lel el a-do-NAI lay-MOR
בוַיַּסֵּ֥ב אֶת־פָּנָ֖יו אֶל־הַקִּ֑יר וַיִּ֨תְפַּלֵּ֔ל אֶל־יְהֹוָ֖ה לֵאמֹֽר׃
3“Please, Hashem, remember how I have walked before You sincerely and wholeheartedly, and have done what is pleasing to You.” And Chizkiyahu wept profusely.
a-NAH a-do-NAI, z'-KOR-NA eit a-SHER hit-ha-LAkh-TEE l'-fa-NE-kha b'-e-MET u-v'-LE-vav sha-LEM v'-ha-TOV b'-e-NE-kha a-see-TEE, va-YEV-kh'-khe khiz-ki-YA-hu b'-khee ga-DOL. (Selah)
גאָנָּ֣ה יְהֹוָ֗ה זְכׇר־נָ֞א אֵ֣ת אֲשֶׁ֧ר הִתְהַלַּ֣כְתִּי לְפָנֶ֗יךָ בֶּאֱמֶת֙ וּבְלֵבָ֣ב שָׁלֵ֔ם וְהַטּ֥וֹב בְּעֵינֶ֖יךָ עָשִׂ֑יתִי וַיֵּ֥בְךְּ חִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ בְּכִ֥י גָדֽוֹל׃
4Before Yeshayahu had gone out of the middle court, the word of Hashem came to him:
vai-Y'-hee y'-sha-AY-hu lo ya-TZA (ha-IR) [kha-TZER] ha-ti-KHO-na, u-d'-var a-do-NAI ha-YAH ay-LAV lay-MOR
דוַיְהִ֣י יְשַֽׁעְיָ֔הוּ לֹ֣א יָצָ֔א (העיר) [חָצֵ֖ר] הַתִּיכֹנָ֑ה וּ֨דְבַר־יְהֹוָ֔ה הָיָ֥ה אֵלָ֖יו לֵאמֹֽר׃
5“Go back and say to Chizkiyahu, the ruler of My people: Thus said Hashem, the God of your father David: I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears. I am going to heal you; on the third day you shall go up to the House of Hashem.
SHUV v'-a-MAR-ta el khiz-ki-YA-hu ne-GID a-MI, ko-a-MAR a-do-NAI e-lo-HEI da-VID a-VE-kha, sha-MA-ti et t'-fi-LA-te-kha, ra-I-ti et dim-A-te-kha, hin-NI ro-FEH la-KH bai-YOM ha-sh'-li-SHI, ta-a-LEH beit a-do-NAI.
השׁ֣וּב וְאָמַרְתָּ֞ אֶל־חִזְקִיָּ֣הוּ נְגִיד־עַמִּ֗י כֹּֽה־אָמַ֤ר יְהֹוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵי֙ דָּוִ֣ד אָבִ֔יךָ שָׁמַ֙עְתִּי֙ אֶת־תְּפִלָּתֶ֔ךָ רָאִ֖יתִי אֶת־דִּמְעָתֶ֑ךָ הִנְנִי֙ רֹ֣פֶא לָ֔ךְ בַּיּוֹם֙ הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֔י תַּעֲלֶ֖ה בֵּ֥ית יְהֹוָֽה׃
6And I will add fifteen years to your life. I will also rescue you and this city from the hands of the king of Assyria. I will protect this city for My sake and for the sake of My servant David.”
v'-ho-saf-TEE al ya-ME-kha kha-MAYSH es-ray SHA-na u-mi-KAF me-lekh a-SHU-ar a-tsi-L'-KHA v'-ET ha-IR ha-ZOT v'-ga-NO-tee al ha-IR ha-ZOT l'-ma-a-NEE u-l'-ma-aN da-VEED av-DEE
ווְהֹֽסַפְתִּ֣י עַל־יָמֶ֗יךָ חֲמֵ֤שׁ עֶשְׂרֵה֙ שָׁנָ֔ה וּמִכַּ֤ף מֶֽלֶךְ־אַשּׁוּר֙ אַצִּ֣ילְךָ֔ וְאֵ֖ת הָעִ֣יר הַזֹּ֑את וְגַנּוֹתִי֙ עַל־הָעִ֣יר הַזֹּ֔את לְמַֽעֲנִ֔י וּלְמַ֖עַן דָּוִ֥ד עַבְדִּֽי׃
7Then Yeshayahu said, “Get a cake of figs.” And they got one, and they applied it to the rash, and he recovered.
vai-YO-mer y'-sha-AY-hu, k'-KHU d'-VE-let t'-E-nim, va-yik-KHU va-ya-SEE-mu al ha-sh'-KHEEN va-YE-khi
זוַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְשַׁעְיָ֔הוּ קְח֖וּ דְּבֶ֣לֶת תְּאֵנִ֑ים וַיִּקְח֛וּ וַיָּשִׂ֥ימוּ עַֽל־הַשְּׁחִ֖ין וַיֶּֽחִי׃
8Chizkiyahu asked Yeshayahu, “What is the sign that Hashem will heal me and that I shall go up to the House of Hashem on the third day?”
vai-YO-mer khiz-ki-YA-hu el y'-sha-YA-hu, MAH ot KEE yir-PA a-do-NAI lee, v'-a-lee-TEE ba-YOM ha-sh'-li-SHEE, BAYT a-do-NAI.
חוַיֹּ֤אמֶר חִזְקִיָּ֙הוּ֙ אֶֽל־יְשַׁעְיָ֔הוּ מָ֣ה א֔וֹת כִּֽי־יִרְפָּ֥א יְהֹוָ֖ה לִ֑י וְעָלִ֛יתִי בַּיּ֥וֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֖י בֵּ֥ית יְהֹוָֽה׃
9Yeshayahu replied, “This is the sign for you from Hashem that Hashem will do the thing that He has promised: Shall the shadow advance ten steps or recede ten steps?”
vai-YO-mer y'-sha-YA-hu, zeh-L'-kha ha-OT may-AYT a-do-NAI, KEE ya-a-SEH a-do-NAI et ha-DA-var a-SHER di-BAYR, ha-LAKH ha-TSEL e-SER ma-a-LOT, im ya-SHUV e-SER ma-a-LOT.
טוַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְשַׁעְיָ֗הוּ זֶה־לְּךָ֤ הָאוֹת֙ מֵאֵ֣ת יְהֹוָ֔ה כִּ֚י יַעֲשֶׂ֣ה יְהֹוָ֔ה אֶת־הַדָּבָ֖ר אֲשֶׁ֣ר דִּבֵּ֑ר הָלַ֤ךְ הַצֵּל֙ עֶ֣שֶׂר מַעֲל֔וֹת אִם־יָשׁ֖וּב עֶ֥שֶׂר מַעֲלֽוֹת׃
10Chizkiyahu said, “It is easy for the shadow to lengthen ten steps, but not for the shadow to recede ten steps.”
vai-YO-mer ye-khiz-ki-YA-hu na-KEL la-TSEL lin-TOt e-SEER ma-a-LOT lo KEE ya-SHUV ha-TSEL a-kho-ra-NEET e-SEER ma-a-LOT
יוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ יְחִזְקִיָּ֔הוּ נָקֵ֣ל לַצֵּ֔ל לִנְט֖וֹת עֶ֣שֶׂר מַעֲל֑וֹת לֹ֣א כִ֔י יָשׁ֥וּב הַצֵּ֛ל אֲחֹרַנִּ֖ית עֶ֥שֶׂר מַעֲלֽוֹת׃
11So the Navi Yeshayahu called to Hashem, and He made the shadow which had descended on the dial of Achaz recede ten steps.
vai-YIK-ra y'-sha-YA-hu ha-na-VEE el a-do-NAI va-YA-shev et ha-TSEL ba-ma-a-LOT a-SHER yar-DAH b'-ma-a-LOT a-KHAZ a-KHO-ra-NEET e-SER ma-a-LOT.
יאוַיִּקְרָ֛א יְשַׁעְיָ֥הוּ הַנָּבִ֖יא אֶל־יְהֹוָ֑ה וַיָּ֣שֶׁב אֶת־הַצֵּ֗ל בַּֽ֠מַּעֲל֠וֹת אֲשֶׁ֨ר יָרְדָ֜ה בְּמַעֲל֥וֹת אָחָ֛ז אֲחֹרַנִּ֖ית עֶ֥שֶׂר מַעֲלֽוֹת׃
12At that time, King Berodach-baladan son of Baladan of Babylon sent [envoys with] a letter and a gift to Chizkiyahu, for he had heard about Chizkiyahu's illness.
ba-ET ha-HEE sha-LAKH b'-ro-DACH bal-a-DAN ben bal-a-DAN me-lekh-BA-vel s'-fa-RIM u-min-KHAH el-chiz-ki-YA-hu, ki sha-MA ki kha-LAH chiz-ki-YA-hu.
יבבָּעֵ֣ת הַהִ֡יא שָׁלַ֡ח בְּרֹאדַ֣ךְ בַּ֠לְאֲדָ֠ן בֶּֽן־בַּלְאֲדָ֧ן מֶלֶךְ־בָּבֶ֛ל סְפָרִ֥ים וּמִנְחָ֖ה אֶל־חִזְקִיָּ֑הוּ כִּ֣י שָׁמַ֔ע כִּ֥י חָלָ֖ה חִזְקִיָּֽהוּ׃
13Chizkiyahu heard about them and he showed them all his treasure-house—the silver, the gold, the spices, and the fragrant oil—and his armory, and everything that was to be found in his storehouses. There was nothing in his palace or in all his realm that Chizkiyahu did not show them.
vai-YISH-ma a-LAY-hem khiz-ki-YA-hu, va-YAR-em et-KOL beit ne-KHO-toh, et ha-KE-sef v'-et ha-ZA-hav v'-et ha-b'-SA-meem v'-ET sh'-MEN ha-TOV v'-ET beit ke-LA-yav v'-ET KOL a-SHER nim-TZA b'-o-tz'-ro-TAV, lo-ha-YAH da-VAR a-SHER lo-he-RA-em khiz-ki-YA-hu b'-beit-O u-v'-KOL mem-shal-TO.
יגוַיִּשְׁמַ֣ע עֲלֵיהֶם֮ חִזְקִיָּ֒הוּ֒ וַיַּרְאֵ֣ם אֶת־כׇּל־בֵּ֣ית נְכֹתֹ֡ה אֶת־הַכֶּ֩סֶף֩ וְאֶת־הַזָּהָ֨ב וְאֶת־הַבְּשָׂמִ֜ים וְאֵ֣ת ׀ שֶׁ֣מֶן הַטּ֗וֹב וְאֵת֙ בֵּ֣ית כֵּלָ֔יו וְאֵ֛ת כׇּל־אֲשֶׁ֥ר נִמְצָ֖א בְּאוֹצְרֹתָ֑יו לֹא־הָיָ֣ה דָבָ֗ר אֲ֠שֶׁ֠ר לֹֽא־הֶרְאָ֧ם חִזְקִיָּ֛הוּ בְּבֵית֖וֹ וּבְכׇל־מֶמְשַׁלְתּֽוֹ׃
14Then the Navi Yeshayahu came to King Chizkiyahu. “What,” he demanded of him, “did those men say to you? Where have they come to you from?” “They have come,” Chizkiyahu replied, “from a far country, from Babylon.”
vai-YA-vo y'-sha-YA-hu ha-na-VEE el ha-ME-lekh khiz-ki-YA-hu va-YO-mer ay-LAV: ma a-M'-RU ha-a-NA-sheem ha-E-leh u-may-A-yin ya-VO-u e-LE-kha? va-YO-mer khiz-ki-YA-hu may-E-retz r'-kho-KAH ba-U mi-ba-VEL
ידוַיָּבֹא֙ יְשַׁעְיָ֣הוּ הַנָּבִ֔יא אֶל־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ חִזְקִיָּ֑הוּ וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֵלָ֜יו מָ֥ה אָֽמְר֣וּ ׀ הָאֲנָשִׁ֣ים הָאֵ֗לֶּה וּמֵאַ֙יִן֙ יָבֹ֣אוּ אֵלֶ֔יךָ וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ חִזְקִיָּ֔הוּ מֵאֶ֧רֶץ רְחוֹקָ֛ה בָּ֖אוּ מִבָּבֶֽל׃
15Next he asked, “What have they seen in your palace?” And Chizkiyahu replied, “They have seen everything that is in my palace. There was nothing in my storehouses that I did not show them.”
vai-YO-mer MA ra-U b'-vay-TE-kha, vai-YO-mer chiz-ki-YA-hu, AYT kol a-SHER b'-vay-TEE ra-U, lo-ha-YAH da-VAR a-SHER lo-hir-ee-TEM b'-otz-ro-TAI
טווַיֹּ֕אמֶר מָ֥ה רָא֖וּ בְּבֵיתֶ֑ךָ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר חִזְקִיָּ֗הוּ אֵ֣ת כׇּל־אֲשֶׁ֤ר בְּבֵיתִי֙ רָא֔וּ לֹא־הָיָ֥ה דָבָ֛ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹֽא־הִרְאִיתִ֖ם בְּאֹצְרֹתָֽי׃
16Then Yeshayahu said to Chizkiyahu, “Hear the word of Hashem:
vai-YO-mer y'-sha-YA-hu el khiz-ki-YA-hu, sh'-MA d'-var a-do-NAI
טזוַיֹּ֥אמֶר יְשַׁעְיָ֖הוּ אֶל־חִזְקִיָּ֑הוּ שְׁמַ֖ע דְּבַר־יְהֹוָֽה׃
17A time is coming when everything in your palace which your ancestors have stored up to this day will be carried off to Babylon; nothing will remain behind, said Hashem.
hi-NEH ya-MEEM ba-EEM, v'-ni-SAH kol a-SHER b'-vey-TE-kha va-a-SHER a-tz'-RU a-vo-TE-kha ad ha-YOM ha-ZEH ba-VE-la, lo yi-vu-TAYR da-VAR a-MAR a-do-NAI
יזהִנֵּה֮ יָמִ֣ים בָּאִים֒ וְנִשָּׂ֣א ׀ כׇּל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּבֵיתֶ֗ךָ וַאֲשֶׁ֨ר אָצְר֧וּ אֲבֹתֶ֛יךָ עַד־הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּ֖ה בָּבֶ֑לָה לֹא־יִוָּתֵ֥ר דָּבָ֖ר אָמַ֥ר יְהֹוָֽה׃
18And some of your sons, your own issue, whom you will have fathered, will be taken to serve as eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.”
u-mi-BA-ne-KHA a-SHER ye-tze-U mi-ME-kha, a-SHER to-LEEYD (yi-KACH) [yi-ka-KHA-u] v'-ha-YU sa-REE-SEEM b'-hey-KHAL me-LEKH ba-VEL
יחוּמִבָּנֶ֜יךָ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יֵצְא֧וּ מִמְּךָ֛ אֲשֶׁ֥ר תּוֹלִ֖יד (יקח) [יִקָּ֑חוּ] וְהָיוּ֙ סָרִיסִ֔ים בְּהֵיכַ֖ל מֶ֥לֶךְ בָּבֶֽל׃
19Chizkiyahu declared to Yeshayahu, “The word of Hashem that you have spoken is good.” For he thought, “It means that safety is assured for my time.”
vai-YO-mer khiz-ki-YA-hu el y'-sha-YA-hu, TOV d'-var a-do-NAI a-SHER di-BAR-ta, vai-YO-mer ha-LO im sha-LOM ve-e-MET yi-HE-yeh v'-ya-MAI
יטוַיֹּ֤אמֶר חִזְקִיָּ֙הוּ֙ אֶֽל־יְשַׁעְיָ֔הוּ ט֥וֹב דְּבַר־יְהֹוָ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר דִּבַּ֑רְתָּ וַיֹּ֕אמֶר הֲל֛וֹא אִם־שָׁל֥וֹם וֶאֱמֶ֖ת יִהְיֶ֥ה בְיָמָֽי׃
20The other events of Chizkiyahu's reign, and all his exploits, and how he made the pool and the conduit and brought the water into the city, are recorded in the Annals of the Kings of Yehuda.
v'-ye-TER di-v'-RAY chiz-ki-YA-hu v'-kol g'-vu-RA-to va-a-SHER a-SA et ha-b'-RAY-khah v'-et ha-t'-a-LAH va-ya-VE et ha-MA-yim ha-i-RAH, ha-LO heM k'-tu-VEEM al-s'-FER di-v'-RAY ha-ya-MEEM l'-mal-khay y'-hu-DAH.
כוְיֶ֨תֶר דִּבְרֵ֤י חִזְקִיָּ֙הוּ֙ וְכׇל־גְּב֣וּרָת֔וֹ וַאֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂ֗ה אֶת־הַבְּרֵכָה֙ וְאֶת־הַתְּעָלָ֔ה וַיָּבֵ֥א אֶת־הַמַּ֖יִם הָעִ֑ירָה הֲלֹא־הֵ֣ם כְּתוּבִ֗ים עַל־סֵ֛פֶר דִּבְרֵ֥י הַיָּמִ֖ים לְמַלְכֵ֥י יְהוּדָֽה׃
21Chizkiyahu slept with his fathers, and his son Menashe succeeded him as king.
vai-YISH-kav chiz-ki-YA-hu im a-vo-TAV, vai-YIM-lokh me-na-SHEH b'-NO ta-kh'-TA-yav.
כאוַיִּשְׁכַּ֥ב חִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ עִם־אֲבֹתָ֑יו וַיִּמְלֹ֛ךְ מְנַשֶּׁ֥ה בְנ֖וֹ תַּחְתָּֽיו׃
