Tanach
Melachim II 18 מלכים ב י״ח
Part of: Petuchah, II Kings 18:1Petuchah, II Kings 18:9Petuchah, II Kings 18:13Petuchah, II Kings 18:17
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וַֽיְהִי בִּשְׁנַת שָׁלֹשׁ לְהוֹשֵׁעַ בֶּן־אֵלָה מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל מָלַךְ חִזְקִיָּה בֶן־אָחָז מֶלֶךְ יְהוּדָֽה׃
Now it came to pass in the third year of Hoshea son of Ela king of Yisra᾽el, that Ḥizqiyya the son of Aĥaz king of Yehuda began to reign.
Now it came to pass in the third year of Hoshea son of Ela king of Yisra᾽el, that Ḥizqiyya the son of Aĥaz king of Yehuda began to reign.
Rashi
בֶּן־עֶשְׂרִים וְחָמֵשׁ שָׁנָה הָיָה בְמׇלְכוֹ וְעֶשְׂרִים וָתֵשַׁע שָׁנָה מָלַךְ בִּירוּשָׁלָ͏ִם וְשֵׁם אִמּוֹ אֲבִי בַּת־זְכַרְיָֽה׃
Twenty five years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty nine years in Yerushalayim. His mother’s name also was Avi, the daughter of Zekharya.
Twenty five years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty nine years in Yerushalayim. His mother’s name also was Avi, the daughter of Zekharya.
וַיַּעַשׂ הַיָּשָׁר בְּעֵינֵי יְהֹוָה כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂה דָּוִד אָבִֽיו׃
And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that David his father did.
And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that David his father did.
הוּא ׀ הֵסִיר אֶת־הַבָּמוֹת וְשִׁבַּר אֶת־הַמַּצֵּבֹת וְכָרַת אֶת־הָֽאֲשֵׁרָה וְכִתַּת נְחַשׁ הַנְּחֹשֶׁת אֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂה מֹשֶׁה כִּי עַד־הַיָּמִים הָהֵמָּה הָיוּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל מְקַטְּרִים לוֹ וַיִּקְרָא־לוֹ נְחֻשְׁתָּֽן׃
He removed the high places, and broke the pillars, and cut down the ashera, and broke in pieces the brazen serpent that Moshe had made: for until that time the children of Yisra᾽el did burn incense to it: and he called it Neĥushtan.
He removed the high places, and broke the pillars, and cut down the ashera, and broke in pieces the brazen serpent that Moshe had made: for until that time the children of Yisra᾽el did burn incense to it: and he called it Neĥushtan.
Rashi
ויקרא לו נחשתן. לשון בזיון, כלומר מה צורך בזה, אינו אלא נחש נחושת:
And he called it Nechushton. A derogatory expression,3The additional “nun” to the word נחשת serves to belittle and mock the subject. See II Shmuel 13:20. as though to say, “Why is this necessary?4The copper serpent was not destroyed before now because it was incorrectly believed that one may not destroy any object that was made as a result of a Divine command. The serpent was originally made to encourage the Bnei Yisroel to pray to God after they were bitten by poisonous snakes. See Bamidbar 21:4-10 and Tosfos in Maseches Chulin 7a. It is also possible that they kept the copper serpent as a remembrance of the great miracle that occurred, just as they kept the jar of manna, in Shemos 16:33-35. It is nothing but a copper serpent.”5Alternatively, the Bnei Yisroel who were worshiping it called it the Nechushton.—Targum
בַּיהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל בָּטָח וְאַחֲרָיו לֹא־הָיָה כָמֹהוּ בְּכֹל מַלְכֵי יְהוּדָה וַאֲשֶׁר הָיוּ לְפָנָֽיו׃
He trusted in the Lord God of Yisra᾽el; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Yehuda, nor among those that were before him.
He trusted in the Lord God of Yisra᾽el; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Yehuda, nor among those that were before him.
וַיִּדְבַּק בַּֽיהֹוָה לֹא־סָר מֵאַֽחֲרָיו וַיִּשְׁמֹר מִצְוֺתָיו אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּה יְהֹוָה אֶת־מֹשֶֽׁה׃
For he held fast to the Lord, and departed not from following him, but kept his commandments, which the Lord commanded Moshe.
For he held fast to the Lord, and departed not from following him, but kept his commandments, which the Lord commanded Moshe.
וְהָיָה יְהֹוָה עִמּוֹ בְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר־יֵצֵא יַשְׂכִּיל וַיִּמְרֹד בְּמֶֽלֶךְ־אַשּׁוּר וְלֹא עֲבָדֽוֹ׃
And the Lord was with him; and he prospered wherever he went out: and he rebelled against the king of Ashshur, and served him not.
And the Lord was with him; and he prospered wherever he went out: and he rebelled against the king of Ashshur, and served him not.
Rashi
ישכיל. יצליח:
He succeeded. He succeeded.6ישכיל stems from שכל [=intelligence]. Adonoy successful person is conceived by others as one who acts with intelligence.—Metzudas Dovid 7As in, “Dovid was successful [=משכיל] in all his ways,” in I Shmuel 18:14.
הֽוּא־הִכָּה אֶת־פְּלִשְׁתִּים עַד־עַזָּה וְאֶת־גְּבוּלֶיהָ מִמִּגְדַּל נוֹצְרִים עַד־עִיר מִבְצָֽר׃ {פ}
He smote the Pelishtim, as far as ῾Azza and its borders, from the tower of the watchmen to the fortified city.
He smote the Pelishtim, as far as ῾Azza and its borders, from the tower of the watchmen to the fortified city.
וַיְהִי בַּשָּׁנָה הָֽרְבִיעִית לַמֶּלֶךְ חִזְקִיָּהוּ הִיא הַשָּׁנָה הַשְּׁבִיעִית לְהוֹשֵׁעַ בֶּן־אֵלָה מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל עָלָה שַׁלְמַנְאֶסֶר מֶֽלֶךְ־אַשּׁוּר עַל־שֹׁמְרוֹן וַיָּצַר עָלֶֽיהָ׃
And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Ḥizqiyyahu, which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Ela king of Yisra᾽el, that Shalman᾽eser king of Ashshur came up against Shomeron, and besieged it.
And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Ḥizqiyyahu, which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Ela king of Yisra᾽el, that Shalman᾽eser king of Ashshur came up against Shomeron, and besieged it.
וַֽיִּלְכְּדֻהָ מִקְצֵה שָׁלֹשׁ שָׁנִים בִּשְׁנַת־שֵׁשׁ לְחִזְקִיָּה הִיא שְׁנַת־תֵּשַׁע לְהוֹשֵׁעַ מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל נִלְכְּדָה שֹׁמְרֽוֹן׃
And at the end of three years they took it: in the sixth year of Ḥizqiyya, that is the ninth year of Hoshea king of Yisra᾽el, Shomeron was taken.
And at the end of three years they took it: in the sixth year of Ḥizqiyya, that is the ninth year of Hoshea king of Yisra᾽el, Shomeron was taken.
וַיֶּגֶל מֶֽלֶךְ־אַשּׁוּר אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵל אַשּׁוּרָה וַיַּנְחֵם בַּחְלַח וּבְחָבוֹר נְהַר גּוֹזָן וְעָרֵי מָדָֽי׃
And the king of Ashshur did carry away Yisra᾽el to Ashshur, and put them in Ḥalaĥ and in Ḥavor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Maday:
And the king of Ashshur did carry away Yisra᾽el to Ashshur, and put them in Ḥalaĥ and in Ḥavor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Maday:
עַל ׀ אֲשֶׁר לֹֽא־שָׁמְעוּ בְּקוֹל יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵיהֶם וַיַּעַבְרוּ אֶת־בְּרִיתוֹ אֵת כׇּל־אֲשֶׁר צִוָּה מֹשֶׁה עֶבֶד יְהֹוָה וְלֹא שָׁמְעוּ וְלֹא עָשֽׂוּ׃ {פ}
because they obeyed not the voice of the Lord their God, but transgressed his covenant, and all that Moshe the servant of the Lord commanded, and would not hear them, nor do them.
because they obeyed not the voice of the Lord their God, but transgressed his covenant, and all that Moshe the servant of the Lord commanded, and would not hear them, nor do them.
וּבְאַרְבַּע עֶשְׂרֵה שָׁנָה לַמֶּלֶךְ חִזְקִיָּה עָלָה סַנְחֵרִיב מֶֽלֶךְ־אַשּׁוּר עַל כׇּל־עָרֵי יְהוּדָה הַבְּצֻרוֹת וַֽיִּתְפְּשֵֽׂם׃
Now in the fourteenth year of king Ḥizqiyya did Sanĥeriv king of Ashshur come up against all the fortified cities of Yehuda, and took them.
Now in the fourteenth year of king Ḥizqiyya did Sanĥeriv king of Ashshur come up against all the fortified cities of Yehuda, and took them.
וַיִּשְׁלַח חִזְקִיָּה מֶלֶךְ־יְהוּדָה אֶל־מֶֽלֶךְ־אַשּׁוּר ׀ לָכִישָׁה ׀ לֵאמֹר ׀ חָטָאתִי שׁוּב מֵֽעָלַי אֵת אֲשֶׁר־תִּתֵּן עָלַי אֶשָּׂא וַיָּשֶׂם מֶלֶךְ־אַשּׁוּר עַל־חִזְקִיָּה מֶלֶךְ־יְהוּדָה שְׁלֹשׁ מֵאוֹת כִּכַּר־כֶּסֶף וּשְׁלֹשִׁים כִּכַּר זָהָֽב׃
And Ḥizqiyya king of Yehuda sent to the king of Ashshur to Lakhish, saying, I have offended; withdraw from me: that which thou wilt impose on me I will bear. And the king of Ashshur imposed on Ḥizqiyya king of Yehuda a payment of three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold.
And Ḥizqiyya king of Yehuda sent to the king of Ashshur to Lakhish, saying, I have offended; withdraw from me: that which thou wilt impose on me I will bear. And the king of Ashshur imposed on Ḥizqiyya king of Yehuda a payment of three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold.
וַיִּתֵּן חִזְקִיָּה אֶת־כׇּל־הַכֶּסֶף הַנִּמְצָא בֵית־יְהֹוָה וּבְאֹצְרוֹת בֵּית הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃
And Ḥizqiyya gave him all the silver that was in the house of the Lord, and in the treasures of the king’s house.
And Ḥizqiyya gave him all the silver that was in the house of the Lord, and in the treasures of the king’s house.
בָּעֵת הַהִיא קִצַּץ חִזְקִיָּה אֶת־דַּלְתוֹת הֵיכַל יְהֹוָה וְאֶת־הָאֹמְנוֹת אֲשֶׁר צִפָּה חִזְקִיָּה מֶלֶךְ יְהוּדָה וַֽיִּתְּנֵם לְמֶלֶךְ אַשּֽׁוּר׃ {פ}
At that time did Ḥizqiyya cut off the doors of the temple of the Lord, and the pilasters which Ḥizqiyya king of Yehuda had overlaid with gold, and gave them to the king of Ashshur.
At that time did Ḥizqiyya cut off the doors of the temple of the Lord, and the pilasters which Ḥizqiyya king of Yehuda had overlaid with gold, and gave them to the king of Ashshur.
Rashi
קצץ. את הדלתות שהיה של זהב:
Removed. The doors, which were gold [plated].
ואת האומנות. תרגם יונתן: וית סקופיא, איסקופות:
And the thresholds. [Targum] Yonoson rendered the סקופיא, [i.e.,] the thresholds.8Alternately, אמנות are pillars, or it is a term used to include both the threshold and the lintel.—Ralbag
וַיִּשְׁלַח מֶלֶךְ־אַשּׁוּר אֶת־תַּרְתָּן וְאֶת־רַב־סָרִיס ׀ וְאֶת־רַבְשָׁקֵה מִן־לָכִישׁ אֶל־הַמֶּלֶךְ חִזְקִיָּהוּ בְּחֵיל כָּבֵד יְרוּשָׁלָ͏ִם וַֽיַּעֲלוּ וַיָּבֹאוּ יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם וַיַּעֲלוּ וַיָּבֹאוּ וַיַּֽעַמְדוּ בִּתְעָלַת הַבְּרֵכָה הָעֶלְיוֹנָה אֲשֶׁר בִּמְסִלַּת שְׂדֵה כֹבֵֽס׃
And the king of Ashshur sent Tartan and Rav-saris and Ravshaqe from Lakhish to king Ḥizqiyyahu with a great host against Yerushalayim. And they went up and came to Yerushalayim. And when they were come up, they came and stood by the aqueduct of the upper pool, which is in the highway of the washers’ field.
And the king of Ashshur sent Tartan and Rav-saris and Ravshaqe from Lakhish to king Ḥizqiyyahu with a great host against Yerushalayim. And they went up and came to Yerushalayim. And when they were come up, they came and stood by the aqueduct of the upper pool, which is in the highway of the washers’ field.
Rashi
את תרתן ואת רב סריס. למדנו בסדר עולם, שלא באו שלשתם יחד, אלא רבשקה לבדו, כמו שכתב בספר ישעיהו (לו ב), ותרתן ורב סריס באו בשליחות שנייה, כשבאה לו שמועה על תרהקה מלך כוש, וישמע וישלח מלאכים אל חזקיהו וגו' (שם לז ט):
Tarton [and] Rav Soris. We learned in Seder Olam that the three of them did not come together,9The king of Ashur dealt falsely with Chizkiyoh because he sent his officers to attack Yerusholayim even though Chizkiyoh paid the tribute that was imposed upon him.—Metzudas Dovid Or, Sancheiriv took the tribute and left. However, in the ensuing years Chizkiyohu failed to meet his demands and he therefore attacked again.—Radak rather but Ravshokei [came] alone, as it is written in the Book of Yeshayohu,1036:2. and Tarton and Rav Soris came on a second mission, when he received word concerning Tirhokoh king of Cush, ”and he heard and sent emissaries to Chizkiyohu … ”11Yeshayohu 37:9.
בתעלת. פוסקיר"ה בלע"ז, בריכה שעושין לביברי דגים:
Near the channel. Fosed, in O.F., [i.e.,] a moat made for schools of fish.
שדה כובס. שדה שהכובסין שוטחין בו בגדים, וכן תרגם יונתן: חקל משטח קצריא:
The washer's field. A field in which the launderers spread out garments, And so did [Targum] Yonoson render, ”a field where the launderers spread out.”12I.e., where the launderers spread out the clothing.
וַֽיִּקְרְאוּ אֶל־הַמֶּלֶךְ וַיֵּצֵא אֲלֵהֶם אֶלְיָקִים בֶּן־חִלְקִיָּהוּ אֲשֶׁר עַל־הַבָּיִת וְשֶׁבְנָה הַסֹּפֵר וְיוֹאָח בֶּן־אָסָף הַמַּזְכִּֽיר׃
And when they had called to the king, there came out to them Elyaqim the son of Ḥilqiyyahu, who was over the household, and Shevna the scribe, and Yo᾽aĥ the son of Asaf, the recorder.
And when they had called to the king, there came out to them Elyaqim the son of Ḥilqiyyahu, who was over the household, and Shevna the scribe, and Yo᾽aĥ the son of Asaf, the recorder.
Rashi
המזכיר. איזה משפט בא לפני המלך ראשון, שיפסקנו ראשון:
The recorder. [Who determines] which judgment came first before the king, that it be adjudicated first.13Rashi in Yeshayohu 36:3 defines מזכיר, as “the writer of the records in the annals.”
וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵיהֶם רַבְשָׁקֵה אִמְרוּ־נָא אֶל־חִזְקִיָּהוּ כֹּה־אָמַר הַמֶּלֶךְ הַגָּדוֹל מֶלֶךְ אַשּׁוּר מָה הַבִּטָּחוֹן הַזֶּה אֲשֶׁר בָּטָֽחְתָּ׃
And Ravshaqe said to them, Speak now to Ḥizqiyyahu, Thus says the great king, the king of Ashshur, What confidence is this in which thou trustest?
And Ravshaqe said to them, Speak now to Ḥizqiyyahu, Thus says the great king, the king of Ashshur, What confidence is this in which thou trustest?
אָמַרְתָּ אַךְ־דְּבַר־שְׂפָתַיִם עֵצָה וּגְבוּרָה לַמִּלְחָמָה עַתָּה עַל־מִי בָטַחְתָּ כִּי מָרַדְתָּ בִּֽי׃
Thou sayst, A mere word with the lips will serve as counsel and strength for the war. Now on whom dost thou trust, that thou rebellest against me?
Thou sayst, A mere word with the lips will serve as counsel and strength for the war. Now on whom dost thou trust, that thou rebellest against me?
Rashi
אמרת אך דבר שפתים וגו'. אמרת עד הנה אעבוד למלך אשור, אך דבר שפתים היה, כל זמן שלא יצא ממקומו לבוא עליך, לא הוצרכת לעצה וגבורה, אבל עכשיו שיצא ובא, עצה וגבורה אתה צריך למלחמה הזאת, עתה אמור על מי בטחת:
You have said but words of the lips, etc. Until now you have said, ”I will (not) pay tribute to the king of Ashur.” 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. But now, that he has left [his place] and marched [upon you], you require counsel and might for this war. Now, tell [me] upon whom you have depended?
עַתָּה הִנֵּה בָטַחְתָּ לְּךָ עַל־מִשְׁעֶנֶת הַקָּנֶה הָרָצוּץ הַזֶּה עַל־מִצְרַיִם אֲשֶׁר יִסָּמֵךְ אִישׁ עָלָיו וּבָא בְכַפּוֹ וּנְקָבָהּ כֵּן פַּרְעֹה מֶלֶךְ־מִצְרַיִם לְכׇֽל־הַבֹּטְחִים עָלָֽיו׃
Now, behold, thou trustest upon the staff of this broken reed, upon Miżrayim, on which if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Par῾o king of Miżrayim to all that trust in him.
Now, behold, thou trustest upon the staff of this broken reed, upon Miżrayim, on which if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Par῾o king of Miżrayim to all that trust in him.
Rashi
ובא בכפו. כשאדם נסמך על משענת קנה רצוץ שנשבר בידו, באין ראשי הקרומיות ונוקבין את כפו:
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 splintered edges come and puncture his palm.14Similarly, his reliance on Paroh for support will turn out to be bad for him.
וְכִֽי־תֹאמְרוּן אֵלַי אֶל־יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ בָּטָחְנוּ הֲלוֹא־הוּא אֲשֶׁר הֵסִיר חִזְקִיָּהוּ אֶת־בָּמֹתָיו וְאֶת־מִזְבְּחֹתָיו וַיֹּאמֶר לִֽיהוּדָה וְלִירוּשָׁלַ͏ִם לִפְנֵי הַמִּזְבֵּחַ הַזֶּה תִּֽשְׁתַּחֲווּ בִּירוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃
But if you say to me, We trust in the Lord our God: is not that he, whose high places and whose altars Ḥizqiyyahu has taken away, and has said to Yehuda and Yerushalayim, You shall worship before this altar in Yerushalayim?
But if you say to me, We trust in the Lord our God: is not that he, whose high places and whose altars Ḥizqiyyahu has taken away, and has said to Yehuda and Yerushalayim, You shall worship before this altar in Yerushalayim?
Rashi
הלא הוא אשר הסיר חזקיהו וגו'. יש ללמוד מכאן, דרבשקה ישראל מומר היה (ראה סנהדרין סא), שהיה מודה שהקב"ה אלוה, אלא שרצונו לעבוד עבודה זרה:
Is He not the one Whose high places and altars Chizkiyohu has removed, etc. It can be deduced from here that Ravshokei was an apostate Jew, for he admitted that the Holy One, Blessed Is He, is God, but his desire is to worship idols.15See Maseches Sanhedrin 60a.
וְעַתָּה הִתְעָרֶב נָא אֶת־אֲדֹנִי אֶת־מֶלֶךְ אַשּׁוּר וְאֶתְּנָה לְךָ אַלְפַּיִם סוּסִים אִם־תּוּכַל לָתֶת לְךָ רֹכְבִים עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃
Now therefore, I pray thee, make a wager with my lord the king of Ashshur, and I will deliver thee two thousand horses, if thou be able on thy part to set riders upon them.
Now therefore, I pray thee, make a wager with my lord the king of Ashshur, and I will deliver thee two thousand horses, if thou be able on thy part to set riders upon them.
Rashi
התערב נא. התפאר עליו, בוא בערבון, על מנת אם תוכל ליתן לך רוכבים על אלפים סוסים:
Provide a security. Glorify yourself over him; enter a wager on the condition that if you are able to supply riders for two thousand horses.16Ravshokei implied that Chizkiyohu did not even have enough riders for the two thousand horses, so surely he is unable to mount a rebellion.—Ralbag
התערב. גיי"ר בלע"ז:
Wager. Gajer, in O.F.
וְאֵיךְ תָּשִׁיב אֵת פְּנֵי פַחַת אַחַד עַבְדֵי אֲדֹנִי הַקְּטַנִּים וַתִּבְטַח לְךָ עַל־מִצְרַיִם לְרֶכֶב וּלְפָרָשִֽׁים׃
Why then wilt thou turn away the face of one officer of the least of my master’s servants, and put thy trust in Miżrayim for chariots and for horsemen?
Why then wilt thou turn away the face of one officer of the least of my master’s servants, and put thy trust in Miżrayim for chariots and for horsemen?
Rashi
ואיך תשיב את פני פחת אחד עבדי אדוני. שהרי כל הקטן שבהם, שר על אלפים איש, ואתה אינך משיג לאלפים איש, למדנו מכאן על ראשי גייסות מאה ושמונים וחמשה אלף שנפלו עם סנחריב, הקטן שבהם, שר על אלפים איש שעמו:
How can you turn away 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 one hundred and eighty-five thousand and fell with Sancheiriv, that the smallest of them was captain over two thousand men who were with him.
עַתָּה הֲמִבַּלְעֲדֵי יְהֹוָה עָלִיתִי עַל־הַמָּקוֹם הַזֶּה לְהַשְׁחִתוֹ יְהֹוָה אָמַר אֵלַי עֲלֵה עַל־הָאָרֶץ הַזֹּאת וְהַשְׁחִיתָֽהּ׃
Am I now come up without the Lord against this place to destroy it? It is the Lord who said to me, Go up against this land, and destroy it.
Am I now come up without the Lord against this place to destroy it? It is the Lord who said to me, Go up against this land, and destroy it.
Rashi
המבלעדי ה'. וכי שלא ברשות באתי, כבר נתנבא ישעיה (ז יז) בימי אחז אביך יביא ה' עליך ועל עמך וגו' את מלך אשור:
Is it with other than Adonoy. Did I come without permission? Yeshayohu already prophesied in the days of Achaz your father, ”Adonoy shall bring upon you and upon your people, etc., the king of Ashur.”17Yeshayohu 7:17. Radak cites another verse from Yeshayohu's prophecy, “and therefore the LRD is bringing upon them the mighty and abundant waters of the river, the king of Ashur, etc.,” in Yeshayohu 8:7. Sancheiriv therefore believed that he was acting with Divine approval.
והשחיתה. את זו הוסיף משלו:
And to destroy it. This he added of his own accord.
וַיֹּאמֶר אֶלְיָקִים בֶּן־חִלְקִיָּהוּ וְשֶׁבְנָה וְיוֹאָח אֶל־רַבְשָׁקֵה דַּבֶּר־נָא אֶל־עֲבָדֶיךָ אֲרָמִית כִּי שֹׁמְעִים אֲנָחְנוּ וְאַל־תְּדַבֵּר עִמָּנוּ יְהוּדִית בְּאׇזְנֵי הָעָם אֲשֶׁר עַל־הַחֹמָֽה׃
Then said Elyaqim the son of Ḥilqiyyahu, and Shevna, and Yo᾽aĥ, to Ravshaqe, Speak, I pray thee, to thy servants in the tongue of Aram; for we understand it: and talk not with us in the language of Yehuda in the hearing of the people that are on the wall.
Then said Elyaqim the son of Ḥilqiyyahu, and Shevna, and Yo᾽aĥ, to Ravshaqe, Speak, I pray thee, to thy servants in the tongue of Aram; for we understand it: and talk not with us in the language of Yehuda in the hearing of the people that are on the wall.
Rashi
כי שומעים אנחנו. אנו בני פלטין, ומכירין בלשון ארמית ובשאר לשונות, ואל תדבר אלינו יהודית, שכל העם מכירין בו, ואין אנו רוצים שישמעו:
For we understand it. We are residents of the palace, and understand Aramaic and other languages. But do not speak Hebrew to us, which all the people understand,18They were concerned about the morale of the people and therefore wanted to keep the conversation private. and we do not want them to hear.19It is not proper to reveal matters of war to the general public.—Metzudas Dovid
וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵיהֶם רַבְשָׁקֵה הַעַל אֲדֹנֶיךָ וְאֵלֶיךָ שְׁלָחַנִי אֲדֹנִי לְדַבֵּר אֶת־הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה הֲלֹא עַל־הָאֲנָשִׁים הַיֹּֽשְׁבִים עַל־הַחֹמָה לֶאֱכֹל אֶת־[צוֹאָתָם] (חריהם) וְלִשְׁתּוֹת אֶת־[מֵימֵי רַגְלֵיהֶם] (שניהם) עִמָּכֶֽם׃
But Ravshaqe said to them, Has my master sent me to thy master, and to thee, to speak these words? has he not sent me to the men who sit on the wall, that they may eat their own dung, and drink their own urine with you?
But Ravshaqe said to them, Has my master sent me to thy master, and to thee, to speak these words? has he not sent me to the men who sit on the wall, that they may eat their own dung, and drink their own urine with you?
Rashi
לאכול את צואתם. ברעב המצור:
To eat their own excrement. In the hunger [caused] by the siege.20If they continue guarding the wall to prevent Ashur's army from entering, they will lay a prolonged siege to the city that will be so severe that the people will starve during the siege, causing them to “eat their own, etc.”—Ralbag
חוריהם. רעי היוצא דרך חור פי הטבעת ורבותינו פירשו (מגילה כה ב): לכנותם לשון נאה צואתם:
Their dung. Dung that is excreted through the orifice of the anus. Our Rabbis explained to euphemize and read, “צואתם” [instead of חריהם].21See Maseches Megillah 25b.
מימי שניהם. צואה לחה, שיני דכרכשא דקיימא אתלת שיני או לשון גלל, שבא על ידי לעיסת השינים:
Their own urine. 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 [=שניהם].
וַֽיַּעֲמֹד רַבְשָׁקֵה וַיִּקְרָא בְקוֹל־גָּדוֹל יְהוּדִית וַיְדַבֵּר וַיֹּאמֶר שִׁמְעוּ דְּבַר־הַמֶּלֶךְ הַגָּדוֹל מֶלֶךְ אַשּֽׁוּר׃
Then Ravshaqe stood and cried with a loud voice in the language of Yehuda, and spoke, saying, Hear the word of the great king, the king of Ashshur:
Then Ravshaqe stood and cried with a loud voice in the language of Yehuda, and spoke, saying, Hear the word of the great king, the king of Ashshur:
כֹּה אָמַר הַמֶּלֶךְ אַל־יַשִּׁא לָכֶם חִזְקִיָּהוּ כִּי־לֹא יוּכַל לְהַצִּיל אֶתְכֶם מִיָּדֽוֹ׃
thus says the king, Let not Ḥizqiyyahu deceive you: for he shall not be able to deliver you out of his hand:
thus says the king, Let not Ḥizqiyyahu deceive you: for he shall not be able to deliver you out of his hand:
וְאַל־יַבְטַח אֶתְכֶם חִזְקִיָּהוּ אֶל־יְהֹוָה לֵאמֹר הַצֵּל יַצִּילֵנוּ יְהֹוָה וְלֹא תִנָּתֵן אֶת־הָעִיר הַזֹּאת בְּיַד מֶלֶךְ אַשּֽׁוּר׃
neither let Ḥizqiyyahu make you trust in the Lord, saying, The Lord will surely deliver us, and this city shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Ashshur.
neither let Ḥizqiyyahu make you trust in the Lord, saying, The Lord will surely deliver us, and this city shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Ashshur.
אַֽל־תִּשְׁמְעוּ אֶל־חִזְקִיָּהוּ כִּי כֹה אָמַר מֶלֶךְ אַשּׁוּר עֲשֽׂוּ־אִתִּי בְרָכָה וּצְאוּ אֵלַי וְאִכְלוּ אִישׁ־גַּפְנוֹ וְאִישׁ תְּאֵנָתוֹ וּשְׁתוּ אִישׁ מֵי־בֹרֽוֹ׃
Hearken not to Ḥizqiyyahu: for thus says the king of Ashshur, Make an agreement with me and come out to me, and then you may eat every man of his own vine, and every one of his fig tree, and drink every one the waters of his cistern:
Hearken not to Ḥizqiyyahu: for thus says the king of Ashshur, Make an agreement with me and come out to me, and then you may eat every man of his own vine, and every one of his fig tree, and drink every one the waters of his cistern:
Rashi
עשו אתי ברכה. שאילת שלום, כמו (בראשית מז ז): ויברך יעקב את פרעה:
”Make peace with me.” A greeting, as in, “And Yaakov greeted [=ויברך] Paroh.”22Bereishis 47:7. 23See Rashi in Bereishis 33:10 and above, in II Melochim 5:15.
עַד־בֹּאִי וְלָקַחְתִּי אֶתְכֶם אֶל־אֶרֶץ כְּאַרְצְכֶם אֶרֶץ דָּגָן וְתִירוֹשׁ אֶרֶץ לֶחֶם וּכְרָמִים אֶרֶץ זֵית יִצְהָר וּדְבַשׁ וִֽחְיוּ וְלֹא תָמֻתוּ וְאַֽל־תִּשְׁמְעוּ אֶל־חִזְקִיָּהוּ כִּֽי־יַסִּית אֶתְכֶם לֵאמֹר יְהֹוָה יַצִּילֵֽנוּ׃
until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of corn and wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of oil olive and of honey, that you may live, and not die; and do not hearken to Ḥizqiyyahu when he entices you, saying, The Lord will deliver us.
until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of corn and wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of oil olive and of honey, that you may live, and not die; and do not hearken to Ḥizqiyyahu when he entices you, saying, The Lord will deliver us.
Rashi
אל ארץ כארצכם. כן דרכי, להעביר את האומות ממדינה למדינה, היה לו לומר אל ארץ טובה משלכם, שהרי לפתותם בא, אלא שידע שיכירו שדבריו שקר:
To a land like you land. This is my custom to move the nations from province to province. He should have said, “to a land better than yours,” because he came to persuade them, but he knew that they would recognize that his statement was false.24This custom was practiced in order to prevent any future attempts to regain independence. He realized that as long as a conquered nation remained in its own land, the people would ultimately rise up and rebel against their conquerors. 25See Rashi, in Yeshayohu 36:17. The Gemara in Maseches Sanhedrin 94a, states that Sancheiriv did not say “to a land better than yours,” because he did not want to denigrate Eretz Yisroel. As a result he was rewarded with the title “the great and noble Osenapar [=Sancheiriv],” in Ezra 4:10.
ארץ דגן ותירוש. זו אפריקי (ירושלמי שביעית ו א):
A land of grain and wine. This is Africa.
הַהַצֵּל הִצִּילוּ אֱלֹהֵי הַגּוֹיִם אִישׁ אֶת־אַרְצוֹ מִיַּד מֶלֶךְ אַשּֽׁוּר׃
Has any of the gods of the nations delivered his land out of the hand of the king of Ashshur?
Has any of the gods of the nations delivered his land out of the hand of the king of Ashshur?
אַיֵּה אֱלֹהֵי חֲמָת וְאַרְפָּד אַיֵּה אֱלֹהֵי סְפַרְוַיִם הֵנַע וְעִוָּה כִּי־הִצִּילוּ אֶת־שֹׁמְרוֹן מִיָּדִֽי׃
Where are the gods of Ḥamat, and of Arpad? where are the gods Sefarvayim, Hena, and ῾Ivva? have they delivered Shomeron out of my hand?
Where are the gods of Ḥamat, and of Arpad? where are the gods Sefarvayim, Hena, and ῾Ivva? have they delivered Shomeron out of my hand?
Rashi
הנע ועוה. אותם מלך אשור, החריבם והגלם:
He exiled them and twisted them. The King of Ashur, destroyed them and exiled them.26Alternatively, “Heina and Iva” were provinces or deities.—Radak
כי הצילו את שומרון. והשומרונים היו עובדים את אלהי ארם שהיו שכיניהם:
Did they save Shomron. And the inhabitants of Shomron worshiped the gods of the Aromeans, who were their neighbors.
מִי בְּכׇל־אֱלֹהֵי הָאֲרָצוֹת אֲשֶׁר־הִצִּילוּ אֶת־אַרְצָם מִיָּדִי כִּֽי־יַצִּיל יְהֹוָה אֶת־יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם מִיָּדִֽי׃
Which of all the gods of the countries, have delivered their country out of my hand, that the Lord should deliver Yerushalayim out of my hand?
Which of all the gods of the countries, have delivered their country out of my hand, that the Lord should deliver Yerushalayim out of my hand?
וְהֶחֱרִישׁוּ הָעָם וְלֹא־עָנוּ אֹתוֹ דָּבָר כִּֽי־מִצְוַת הַמֶּלֶךְ הִיא לֵאמֹר לֹא תַעֲנֻֽהוּ׃
But the people held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king’s commandment was, saying, Answer him not.
But the people held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king’s commandment was, saying, Answer him not.
וַיָּבֹא אֶלְיָקִים בֶּן־חִלְקִיָּה אֲשֶׁר־עַל־הַבַּיִת וְשֶׁבְנָא הַסֹּפֵר וְיוֹאָח בֶּן־אָסָף הַמַּזְכִּיר אֶל־חִזְקִיָּהוּ קְרוּעֵי בְגָדִים וַיַּגִּדוּ לוֹ דִּבְרֵי רַבְשָׁקֵֽה׃
Then came Elyaqim the son of Ḥilqiyya who was over the household, and Shevna the scribe, and Yo᾽aĥ the son of Asaf the recorder, to Ḥizqiyyahu with their clothes rent, and told him the words of Ravshaqe.
Then came Elyaqim the son of Ḥilqiyya who was over the household, and Shevna the scribe, and Yo᾽aĥ the son of Asaf the recorder, to Ḥizqiyyahu with their clothes rent, and told him the words of Ravshaqe.
Rashi
קרועי בגדים. על ששמעו גידופי השם:
With torn garments. Because they heard blasphemies of the Name [of God].27See Maseches Sanhedrin 60a. One who hears another Jew blaspheme God must rend his clothing. Ravshokei's blasphemy was in comparing God to the pagan deities.—Radak Alternatively, they rend their clothing on account of the terrible news and threats that they just heard, an event similar to II Shmuel 13:31 and II Melochim 5:7.
בשנת שלש. למרדו של הושע:
In the third year. Of Hoshei'a's rebellion.1See above, 17:1, and Rashi there. 2I.e., in the third year of Hoshei'a's rebellion against Ashur and declaring his independence, Chizkiyoh became king.—Metzudas Dovid