TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

Chapter 36

Translation and Transliteration of 

1In the fourteenth year of King Chizkiyahu, King Sennacherib of Assyria marched against all the fortified towns of Yehuda and seized them.

vai-HI b'-ar-BA es-ray SHA-na l'-me-LEKH khiz-ki-YA-hu, a-LAH san-KHE-reev me-lekh a-SHUUR al kol a-REI y'-hu-DAH ha-b'-tzu-ROT va-yit-p'-SEM

אוַיְהִ֡י בְּאַרְבַּע֩ עֶשְׂרֵ֨ה שָׁנָ֜ה לַמֶּ֣לֶךְ חִזְקִיָּ֗הוּ עָלָ֞ה סַנְחֵרִ֤יב מֶֽלֶךְ־אַשּׁוּר֙ עַ֣ל כׇּל־עָרֵ֧י יְהוּדָ֛ה הַבְּצֻר֖וֹת וַֽיִּתְפְּשֵֽׂם׃

2From Lachish, the king of Assyria sent the Rabshakeh, with a large force, to King Chizkiyahu in Yerushalayim. [The Rabshakeh] took up a position near the conduit of the Upper Pool, by the road of the Fuller's Field;

vai-yish-LAKH me-lekh a-SHUR et rav-sha-KEH mil-la-KHEESH ye-ru-sha-LA-ma el ha-me-lekh khiz-ki-YA-hu b'-khayl ka-VED va-ya-a-MOD bi-ta-a-LAT ha-b'-RE-kha ha-e-lyo-NAH b'-mi-si-LAT se-DEH ko-VES

בוַיִּשְׁלַ֥ח מֶֽלֶךְ־אַשּׁ֣וּר ׀ אֶת־רַבְשָׁקֵ֨ה מִלָּכִ֧ישׁ יְרוּשָׁלַ֛͏ְמָה אֶל־הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ חִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ בְּחֵ֣יל כָּבֵ֑ד וַֽיַּעֲמֹ֗ד בִּתְעָלַת֙ הַבְּרֵכָ֣ה הָעֶלְיוֹנָ֔ה בִּמְסִלַּ֖ת שְׂדֵ֥ה כוֹבֵֽס׃

3and Eliakim son of Chilkiyahu who was in charge of the palace, Shebna the scribe, and Joah son of Asaf the recorder went out to him.

vai-YAY-tzay ay-LA-yu el-yah-KEEM ben-khil-kee-YA-hu a-SHER al ha-BA-yit, v'-shev-NA ha-so-FAYR, v'-yo-AKH ben-a-SAF ha-maz-KIR

גוַיֵּצֵ֥א אֵלָ֛יו אֶלְיָקִ֥ים בֶּן־חִלְקִיָּ֖הוּ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עַל־הַבָּ֑יִת וְשֶׁבְנָא֙ הַסֹּפֵ֔ר וְיוֹאָ֥ח בֶּן־אָסָ֖ף הַמַּזְכִּֽיר׃

4The Rabshakeh said to them, “You tell Chizkiyahu: Thus said the Great King, the king of Assyria: What makes you so confident?

vai-YO-mer a-LAY-hem rav-sha-KEH im-ru-NA el khiz-ki-YA-hu, ko-a-MAR ha-ME-lekh ha-ga-DOL, ME-lekh a-SHUUR, ma ha-bi-ta-KHON ha-ZEH a-SHER ba-ta-KHA-ta

דוַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֲלֵיהֶם֙ רַבְשָׁקֵ֔ה אִמְרוּ־נָ֖א אֶל־חִזְקִיָּ֑הוּ כֹּֽה־אָמַ֞ר הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ הַגָּדוֹל֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ אַשּׁ֔וּר מָ֧ה הַבִּטָּח֛וֹן הַזֶּ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר בָּטָֽחְתָּ׃

5I suppose mere talk makes counsel and valor for war! Look, on whom are you relying, that you have rebelled against me?

a-ma-RTI akh d'-vaR-sfa-TA-yim, ay-TZA u-g'-vu-RAH la-mi-l'-kha-MAH, a-TAH al-mi va-TAKH-ta, KI ma-RA-d'-TA bi

האָמַ֙רְתִּי֙ אַךְ־דְּבַר־שְׂפָתַ֔יִם עֵצָ֥ה וּגְבוּרָ֖ה לַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה עַתָּה֙ עַל־מִ֣י בָטַ֔חְתָּ כִּ֥י מָרַ֖דְתָּ בִּֽי׃

6You are relying on Egypt, that splintered reed of a staff, which enters and punctures the palm of anyone who leans on it. That's what Pharaoh king of Egypt is like to all who rely on him.

hi-NEH va-TAKH-ta al m'-she-E-net ha-ka-NEH ha-RA-tzUTZ ha-ZEH al mitz-RA-yim, a-SHER yi-SA-mekh EESH a-LAV u-VA v'-ka-PO u-ne-KA-va, KEN par-OH me-lekh mitz-RA-yim l'-KOL ha-bo-t'-KHEEM a-LAV

והִנֵּ֣ה בָטַ֡חְתָּ עַל־מִשְׁעֶ֩נֶת֩ הַקָּנֶ֨ה הָרָצ֤וּץ הַזֶּה֙ עַל־מִצְרַ֔יִם אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִסָּמֵ֥ךְ אִישׁ֙ עָלָ֔יו וּבָ֥א בְכַפּ֖וֹ וּנְקָבָ֑הּ כֵּ֚ן פַּרְעֹ֣ה מֶלֶךְ־מִצְרַ֔יִם לְכׇֽל־הַבֹּטְחִ֖ים עָלָֽיו׃

7And if you tell me that you are relying on Hashem your God, He is the very one whose shrines and altars Chizkiyahu did away with, telling Yehuda and Yerushalayim, ‘You must worship only at this mizbayach!'

v'-khee to-MAR ay-LAI el a-do-NAI e-lo-HAY-nu ba-TAKH-nu ha-LO HU a-SHER hay-SEER khiz-ki-YA-hu et ba-mo-TAV v'-et miz-b'-kho-TAV va-YO-mer lee-hu-DAH v'-lee-ru-sha-LA-im lif-NAY ha-miz-BAY-akh ha-ZEH tish-ta-kha-VU

זוְכִֽי־תֹאמַ֣ר אֵלַ֔י אֶל־יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ בָּטָ֑חְנוּ הֲלוֹא־ה֗וּא אֲשֶׁ֨ר הֵסִ֤יר חִזְקִיָּ֙הוּ֙ אֶת־בָּמֹתָ֣יו וְאֶת־מִזְבְּחֹתָ֔יו וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לִיהוּדָה֙ וְלִיר֣וּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם לִפְנֵ֛י הַמִּזְבֵּ֥חַ הַזֶּ֖ה תִּֽשְׁתַּחֲוֽוּ׃

36:7   Whose shrines and altars Chizkiyahu did away with

Chapters 36-39 describe the most important event of Yeshayahu’s career — the Assyrian invasion of Yehuda and siege on Yerushalyim in 701 BCE. Chapter 36 describes how the Assyrian envoy Rabshakeh taunts the trust that Chizkiyahu and the people place in Hashem. He points to the seeming contradiction between their trust in God and Chizkiyahu’s recent religious reforms, in which the king had removed the shrines and broken down the altars outside the Beit Hamikdash, at which the people had improperly worshipped Hashem for centuries. What he did not understand, though, is that God does not require a multitude of sacrifices to please Him. Instead, He desires a just and righteous society centered around the Temple.

8Come now, make this wager with my master, the king of Assyria: I'll give you two thousand horses, if you can produce riders to mount them.

v'-a-TAH hit-a-REV NA et a-do-NEE ha-ME-lekh a-SHUR v'-et-NAH le-KHA al-FA-yim su-SEEM im tu-KHAL la-TET le-KHA ro-k'-VEEM a-LE-hem

חוְעַתָּה֙ הִתְעָ֣רֶב נָ֔א אֶת־אֲדֹנִ֖י הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ אַשּׁ֑וּר וְאֶתְּנָ֤ה לְךָ֙ אַלְפַּ֣יִם סוּסִ֔ים אִם־תּוּכַ֕ל לָ֥תֶת לְךָ֖ רֹכְבִ֥ים עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃

9So how could you refuse anything, even to the deputy of one of my master's lesser servants, relying on Egypt for chariots and horsemen?

v'-AYKH ta-SHEEV AYT p'-NAY fa-KHAT a-KHAD av-DAY a-do-NEE ha-ke-ta-NEEM va-TIV-takh LE-kha al mitz-RA-yim l'-RE-khev u-l'-fa-ra-SHEEM

טוְאֵ֣יךְ תָּשִׁ֗יב אֵ֠ת פְּנֵ֨י פַחַ֥ת אַחַ֛ד עַבְדֵ֥י אֲדֹנִ֖י הַקְּטַנִּ֑ים וַתִּבְטַ֤ח לְךָ֙ עַל־מִצְרַ֔יִם לְרֶ֖כֶב וּלְפָרָשִֽׁים׃

10And do you think I have marched against this land to destroy it without Hashem? Hashem Himself told me: Go up against that land and destroy it.”

v'-a-TAH ha-mi-ba-la-dei a-do-NAI a-li-TI al ha-A-retz ha-ZOT l'-ha-sh'-KHI-tah, a-do-NAI a-MAR e-LAI, a-l'-EH el ha-A-retz ha-ZOT v'-ha-sh'-KHI-tah.

יוְעַתָּה֙ הֲמִבַּלְעֲדֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה עָלִ֛יתִי עַל־הָאָ֥רֶץ הַזֹּ֖את לְהַשְׁחִיתָ֑הּ יְהֹוָה֙ אָמַ֣ר אֵלַ֔י עֲלֵ֛ה אֶל־הָאָ֥רֶץ הַזֹּ֖את וְהַשְׁחִיתָֽהּ׃

11Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah replied to the Rabshakeh, “Please, speak to your servants in Aramaic, since we understand it; do not speak to us in Judean in the hearing of the people on the wall.”

vai-YO-mer el-ya-KIM v'-shev-NA v'-yo-AKH el rav-sha-KEH, da-BER-na el-a-va-DE-kha a-ra-MEET, KEE shom-EE-IM a-naKH-nu, v'-al-t'-da-BER e-LE-nu ye-hu-DEET, b'-o-Z'-nay ha-AHM a-SHER al ha-KHO-mah.

יאוַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֶלְיָקִים֩ וְשֶׁבְנָ֨א וְיוֹאָ֜ח אֶל־רַבְשָׁקֵ֗ה דַּבֶּר־נָ֤א אֶל־עֲבָדֶ֙יךָ֙ אֲרָמִ֔ית כִּ֥י שֹׁמְעִ֖ים אֲנָ֑חְנוּ וְאַל־תְּדַבֵּ֤ר אֵלֵ֙ינוּ֙ יְהוּדִ֔ית בְּאׇזְנֵ֣י הָעָ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֖ר עַל־הַחוֹמָֽה׃

12But the Rabshakeh replied, “Was it to your master and to you that my master sent me to speak those words? It was precisely to the men who are sitting on the wall—who will have to eat their dung and drink their urine with you.”

vai-YO-mer rav-sha-KEH ha-EL a-do-NE-kha v'-e-LE-kha sh'-la-KHA-nee a-do-NEE l'-da-BAYR et ha-d'-va-REEM ha-E-leh ha-LO al ha-a-na-SHEEM ha-YO-sh'-VEEM al ha-KHO-ma l'-e-KHOL et-tzo-A-tam v'-lish-TOT et-m'-MEY rag-LAY-hem i-ma-KHEM

יבוַיֹּ֣אמֶר רַבְשָׁקֵ֗ה הַאֶ֨ל אֲדֹנֶ֤יךָ וְאֵלֶ֙יךָ֙ שְׁלָחַ֣נִי אֲדֹנִ֔י לְדַבֵּ֖ר אֶת־הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֑לֶּה הֲלֹ֣א עַל־הָאֲנָשִׁ֗ים הַיֹּשְׁבִים֙ עַל־הַ֣חוֹמָ֔ה לֶאֱכֹ֣ל אֶת־[צוֹאָתָ֗ם] (חראיהם) וְלִשְׁתּ֛וֹת אֶת־[מֵימֵ֥י רַגְלֵיהֶ֖ם] (שיניהם) עִמָּכֶֽם׃

13And the Rabshakeh stood and called out in a loud voice in Judean:

vai-ya-a-MOD rav-sha-KEH va-yik-RA b'-KOL ga-DOL y'-hu-DEET va-YO-mer shim-U et di-v'-RAY ha-ME-lekh ha-ga-DOL ME-lekh a-SHU-ar

יגוַֽיַּעֲמֹד֙ רַבְשָׁקֵ֔ה וַיִּקְרָ֥א בְקוֹל־גָּד֖וֹל יְהוּדִ֑ית וַיֹּ֕אמֶר שִׁמְע֗וּ אֶת־דִּבְרֵ֛י הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ הַגָּד֖וֹל מֶ֥לֶךְ אַשּֽׁוּר׃

14“Hear the words of the Great King, the king of Assyria! Thus said the king: Don't let Chizkiyahu deceive you, for he will not be able to save you.

KO a-MAR ha-ME-lekh, al ya-SH'-I la-KHEM khiz-ki-YA-hu, KI lo-yu-KHAL l'-ha-TZIL et-KHEM.

ידכֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ אַל־יַשִּׁ֥א לָכֶ֖ם חִזְקִיָּ֑הוּ כִּ֥י לֹֽא־יוּכַ֖ל לְהַצִּ֥יל אֶתְכֶֽם׃

15Don't let Chizkiyahu make you rely on Hashem, saying, ‘Hashem will surely save us; this city will not fall into the hands of Assyria!'

v'-al ya-v'-TAKH et-KHEM khiz-ki-YA-hu el a-do-NAI lay-MOR ha-TSAYL ya-tsi-LAY-nu a-do-NAI, lo ti-NA-ten ha-IR ha-ZOT b'-yad me-LEKH a-SHU-AR

טווְאַל־יַבְטַ֨ח אֶתְכֶ֤ם חִזְקִיָּ֙הוּ֙ אֶל־יְהֹוָ֣ה לֵאמֹ֔ר הַצֵּ֥ל יַצִּילֵ֖נוּ יְהֹוָ֑ה לֹ֤א תִנָּתֵן֙ הָעִ֣יר הַזֹּ֔את בְּיַ֖ד מֶ֥לֶךְ אַשּֽׁוּר׃

16Don't listen to Chizkiyahu. For thus said the king of Assyria: Make your peace with me and come out to me, so that you may all eat from your vines and your fig trees and drink water from your cisterns,

al-tish-m'u el-chiz-ki-YA-hu, ki koh a-MAR ha-me-LEKH a-SHUR, a-su-i-TI b'-ra-KHA, u-tze-U e-LAI, v'-ikh-LU ish-gaf-NO, v'-ish te-e-NA-to, u-she-tu ish mei-BO-ro

טזאַֽל־תִּשְׁמְע֖וּ אֶל־חִזְקִיָּ֑הוּ כִּי֩ כֹ֨ה אָמַ֜ר הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ אַשּׁ֗וּר עֲשֽׂוּ־אִתִּ֤י בְרָכָה֙ וּצְא֣וּ אֵלַ֔י וְאִכְל֤וּ אִישׁ־גַּפְנוֹ֙ וְאִ֣ישׁ תְּאֵנָת֔וֹ וּשְׁת֖וּ אִ֥ישׁ מֵֽי־בוֹרֽוֹ׃

17until I come and take you away to a land like your own, a land of bread and wine, of grain [fields] and vineyards.

ad-BO-i v'-la-ka-KH'-ti et-KHEM el E-rets k'-ar-t'-KHEM, E-rets da-GAN v'-ti-ROSH, E-rets LE-khem u-k'-ra-MEEM

יזעַד־בֹּאִ֕י וְלָקַחְתִּ֥י אֶתְכֶ֖ם אֶל־אֶ֣רֶץ כְּאַרְצְכֶ֑ם אֶ֤רֶץ דָּגָן֙ וְתִיר֔וֹשׁ אֶ֥רֶץ לֶ֖חֶם וּכְרָמִֽים׃

18Beware of letting Chizkiyahu mislead you by saying, ‘Hashem will save us.' Did any of the gods of the other nations save his land from the king of Assyria?

pen-ya-SIT et-KHEM khiz-ki-YA-hu lay-MOR: a-do-NAI ya-tzi-LE-nu ha-hi-tzi-LO e-lo-HAY ha-go-YIM, eesh et-ar-TZO mi-YAD me-LEKH a-SHUR

יחפֶּן־יַסִּ֨ית אֶתְכֶ֤ם חִזְקִיָּ֙הוּ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר יְהֹוָ֖ה יַצִּילֵ֑נוּ הַהִצִּ֜ילוּ אֱלֹהֵ֤י הַגּוֹיִם֙ אִ֣ישׁ אֶת־אַרְצ֔וֹ מִיַּ֖ד מֶ֥לֶךְ אַשּֽׁוּר׃

19Where were the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where were the gods of Sepharvaim? And did they save Shomron from me?

a-YAY e-lo-HAY kha-MAT v'-ar-PAHD a-YAY e-lo-HAY s'-far-VA-yim v'-khee-hi-TZI-lu et shom-RON mi-YA-dee

יטאַיֵּ֞ה אֱלֹהֵ֤י חֲמָת֙ וְאַרְפָּ֔ד אַיֵּ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֣י סְפַרְוָ֑יִם וְכִֽי־הִצִּ֥ילוּ אֶת־שֹׁמְר֖וֹן מִיָּדִֽי׃

20Which among all the gods of those countries saved their countries from me, that Hashem should save Yerushalayim from me?”

mi b'-KOL e-lo-HAY ha-a-ra-TZOT ha-EL-leh a-SHER hi-TZI-lu et-ar-TZAM mi-YA-di, ki-ya-TZIL a-do-NAI et-y'-ru-sha-LA-im mi-YA-di

כמִ֗י בְּכׇל־אֱלֹהֵ֤י הָאֲרָצוֹת֙ הָאֵ֔לֶּה אֲשֶׁר־הִצִּ֥ילוּ אֶת־אַרְצָ֖ם מִיָּדִ֑י כִּֽי־יַצִּ֧יל יְהֹוָ֛ה אֶת־יְרוּשָׁלַ֖͏ִם מִיָּדִֽי׃

21But they were silent and did not answer him with a single word; for the king's order was: “Do not answer him.”

vai-ya-kha-REE-shu v'-lo a-NU o-TO da-VAR, kee mitz-VAT ha-ME-lekh hee lay-MOR: lo ta-a-NU-hu

כאוַֽיַּחֲרִ֔ישׁוּ וְלֹא־עָנ֥וּ אֹת֖וֹ דָּבָ֑ר כִּֽי־מִצְוַ֨ת הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ הִ֛יא לֵאמֹ֖ר לֹ֥א תַעֲנֻֽהוּ׃

22And so Eliakim son of Chilkiyahu who was in charge of the palace, Shebna the scribe, and Joah son of Asaf the recorder came to Chizkiyahu with their clothes rent, and they reported to him what the Rabshakeh had said.

vai-YA-vo el-ya-KIM ben-khil-ki-YA-hu a-SHER-al ha-BA-yit, v'-shev-NA ha-so-FER, v'-yo-AKH ben-a-SAF ha-maz-KIR el-khiz-ki-YA-hu, k'-ru-EI ve-ga-DIM, vai-ya-GI-du LO et div-RAY rav-sha-KEH. (s)

כבוַיָּבֹ֣א אֶלְיָקִ֣ים בֶּן־חִלְקִיָּ֣הוּ אֲשֶׁר־עַל־הַ֠בַּ֠יִת וְשֶׁבְנָ֨א הַסֹּפֵ֜ר וְיוֹאָ֨ח בֶּן־אָסָ֧ף הַמַּזְכִּ֛יר אֶל־חִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ קְרוּעֵ֣י בְגָדִ֑ים וַיַּגִּ֣ידוּ ל֔וֹ אֵ֖ת דִּבְרֵ֥י רַבְשָׁקֵֽה׃