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18 Ac yn y drydedd flwyddyn i Hosea mab Ela brenin Israel, y teyrnasodd Heseceia mab Ahas brenin Jwda. Mab pum mlwydd ar hugain oedd efe pan aeth yn frenin, a naw mlynedd ar hugain y teyrnasodd efe yn Jerwsalem: ac enw ei fam ef oedd Abi, merch Sachareia. Ac efe a wnaeth yr hyn oedd uniawn yng ngolwg yr Arglwydd, yn ôl yr hyn oll a wnaethai Dafydd ei dad ef.

Efe a dynnodd ymaith yr uchelfeydd, ac a ddrylliodd y delwau, ac a dorrodd y llwyni, ac a faluriodd y sarff bres a wnaethai Moses; canys hyd y dyddiau hynny yr oedd meibion Israel yn arogldarthu iddi hi: ac efe a’i galwodd hi Nehustan. Yn Arglwydd Dduw Israel yr ymddiriedodd efe, ac ar ei ôl ef ni bu ei fath ef ymhlith holl frenhinoedd Jwda, nac ymysg y rhai a fuasai o’i flaen ef. Canys efe a lynodd wrth yr Arglwydd, ni throdd efe oddi ar ei ôl ef, eithr efe a gadwodd ei orchmynion ef, y rhai a orchmynasai yr Arglwydd wrth Moses. A’r Arglwydd fu gydag ef; i ba le bynnag yr aeth, efe a lwyddodd: ac efe a wrthryfelodd yn erbyn brenin Asyria, ac nis gwasanaethodd ef. Efe a drawodd y Philistiaid hyd Gasa a’i therfynau, o dŵr y gwylwyr hyd y ddinas gaerog.

Ac yn y bedwaredd flwyddyn i’r brenin Heseceia, honno oedd y seithfed flwyddyn i Hosea mab Ela brenin Israel, y daeth Salmaneser brenin Asyria i fyny yn erbyn Samaria, ac a warchaeodd arni hi. 10 Ac ymhen y tair blynedd yr enillwyd hi; yn y chweched flwyddyn i Heseceia, honno oedd y nawfed flwyddyn i Hosea brenin Israel, yr enillwyd Samaria. 11 A brenin Asyria a gaethgludodd Israel i Asyria, ac a’u cyfleodd hwynt yn Hala ac yn Habor, wrth afon Gosan, ac yn ninasoedd y Mediaid: 12 Am na wrandawsent ar lais yr Arglwydd eu Duw, eithr troseddu ei gyfamod ef, a’r hyn oll a orchmynasai Moses gwas yr Arglwydd, ac na wrandawent arnynt, ac nas gwnaent hwynt.

13 Ac yn y bedwaredd flwyddyn ar ddeg i’r brenin Heseceia, y daeth Senacherib brenin Asyria i fyny yn erbyn holl ddinasoedd caerog Jwda, ac a’u henillodd hwynt. 14 A Heseceia brenin Jwda a anfonodd at frenin Asyria i Lachis, gan ddywedyd, Pechais, dychwel oddi wrthyf: dygaf yr hyn a roddych arnaf. A brenin Asyria a osododd ar Heseceia brenin Jwda, dri chant o dalentau arian, a deg ar hugain o dalentau aur. 15 A Heseceia a roddodd iddo yr holl arian a gafwyd yn nhŷ yr Arglwydd, ac yn nhrysorau tŷ y brenin. 16 Yn yr amser hwnnw y torrodd Heseceia yr aur oddi ar ddrysau teml yr Arglwydd, ac oddi ar y colofnau a orchuddiasai Heseceia brenin Jwda, ac a’u rhoddes hwynt i frenin Asyria.

17 A brenin Asyria a anfonodd Tartan, a Rabsaris, a Rabsace, o Lachis, at y brenin Heseceia, â llu dirfawr yn erbyn Jerwsalem. A hwy a aethant i fyny, ac a ddaethant i Jerwsalem. Ac wedi eu dyfod i fyny, hwy a ddaethant ac a safasant wrth bistyll y llyn uchaf, yr hwn sydd ym mhriffordd maes y pannwr. 18 Ac wedi iddynt alw ar y brenin, daeth allan atynt hwy Eliacim mab Hilceia, yr hwn oedd benteulu, a Sebna yr ysgrifennydd, a Joa mab Asaff y cofiadur. 19 A Rabsace a ddywedodd wrthynt hwy, Dywedwch yn awr wrth Heseceia, Fel hyn y dywedodd y brenin mawr, brenin Asyria, Pa hyder yw hwn yr wyt yn ymddiried ynddo? 20 Dywedyd yr ydwyt, (ond nid ydynt ond geiriau ofer,) Y mae gennyf gyngor a nerth i ryfel. Ar bwy y mae dy hyder, pan wrthryfelaist i’m herbyn i? 21 Wele yn awr, y mae dy hyder ar y ffon gorsen ddrylliedig hon, ar yr Aifft, yr hon pwy bynnag a bwyso arni, hi a â i gledr ei law ef, ac a dylla trwyddi hi: felly y mae Pharo brenin yr Aifft i bawb a hyderant arno ef. 22 Ac os dywedwch wrthyf, Yn yr Arglwydd ein Duw yr ydym ni yn ymddiried; onid efe yw yr hwn y tynnodd Heseceia ymaith ei uchelfeydd, a’i allorau, ac y dywedodd wrth Jwda ac wrth Jerwsalem, O flaen yr allor hon yr ymgrymwch chwi yn Jerwsalem? 23 Yn awr gan hynny dod wystlon, atolwg, i’m harglwydd, brenin Asyria, a rhoddaf i ti ddwy fil o feirch, os gelli di roddi rhai a farchogo arnynt hwy. 24 A pha fodd y troi di ymaith wyneb un capten o’r gweision lleiaf i’m harglwydd, ac yr ymddiriedi yn yr Aifft am gerbydau a gwŷr meirch? 25 Ai heb yr Arglwydd y deuthum i fyny yn erbyn y lle hwn, i’w ddinistrio ef? Yr Arglwydd a ddywedodd wrthyf, Dos i fyny yn erbyn y wlad hon, a dinistria hi. 26 Yna y dywedodd Eliacim mab Hilceia, a Sebna, a Joa, wrth Rabsace, Llefara, atolwg, wrth dy weision yn Syriaeg, canys yr ydym ni yn ei deall hi; ac nac ymddiddan â ni yn iaith yr Iddewon, lle y clywo y bobl sydd ar y mur. 27 Ond Rabsace a ddywedodd wrthynt, Ai at dy feistr di, ac atat tithau, yr anfonodd fy meistr fi, i lefaru y geiriau hyn? onid at y dynion sydd yn eistedd ar y mur, fel y bwytaont eu tom eu hun, ac yr yfont eu trwnc eu hun gyda chwi, yr anfonodd fi? 28 Felly Rabsace a safodd, ac a waeddodd â llef uchel yn iaith yr Iddewon, llefarodd hefyd, a dywedodd, Gwrandewch air y brenin mawr, brenin Asyria. 29 Fel hyn y dywedodd y brenin, Na thwylled Heseceia chwi: canys ni ddichon efe eich gwaredu chwi o’m llaw i. 30 Ac na phared Heseceia i chwi ymddiried yn yr Arglwydd, gan ddywedyd, Yr Arglwydd gan waredu a’n gwared ni, ac ni roddir y ddinas hon yn llaw brenin Asyria. 31 Na wrandewch ar Heseceia: canys fel hyn y dywed brenin Asyria, Gwnewch fwynder â mi, a deuwch allan ataf fi, ac yna bwytewch bob un o’i winwydden ei hun, a phob un o’i ffigysbren, ac yfed pawb ddwfr ei ffynnon ei hun: 32 Nes i mi ddyfod a’ch dwyn chwi i wlad megis eich gwlad eich hun, gwlad ŷd a gwin, gwlad bara a gwinllannoedd, gwlad olew olewydd a mêl, fel y byddoch fyw, ac na byddoch feirw: ac na wrandewch ar Heseceia, pan hudo efe chwi, gan ddywedyd, Yr Arglwydd a’n gwared ni. 33 A lwyr waredodd yr un o dduwiau y cenhedloedd ei wlad o law brenin Asyria? 34 Mae duwiau Hamath ac Arpad? mae duwiau Seffarfaim, Hena, ac Ifa? a achubasant hwy Samaria o’m llaw i? 35 Pwy sydd ymhlith holl dduwiau y gwledydd a waredasant eu gwlad o’m llaw i, fel y gwaredai yr Arglwydd Jerwsalem o’m llaw i? 36 Eithr y bobl a dawsant, ac nid atebasant air iddo: canys gorchymyn y brenin oedd hyn, gan ddywedyd, Nac atebwch ef. 37 Yna y daeth Eliacim mab Hilceia, yr hwn oedd benteulu, a Sebna yr ysgrifennydd, a Joa mab Asaff y cofiadur, at Heseceia, a’u dillad yn rhwygedig, ac a fynegasant iddo eiriau Rabsace.

Hezekiah King of Judah(A)(B)(C)

18 In the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, Hezekiah(D) son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign. He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years.(E) His mother’s name was Abijah[a] daughter of Zechariah. He did what was right(F) in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father David(G) had done. He removed(H) the high places,(I) smashed the sacred stones(J) and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke into pieces the bronze snake(K) Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it. (It was called Nehushtan.[b])

Hezekiah trusted(L) in the Lord, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him. He held fast(M) to the Lord and did not stop following him; he kept the commands the Lord had given Moses. And the Lord was with him; he was successful(N) in whatever he undertook. He rebelled(O) against the king of Assyria and did not serve him. From watchtower to fortified city,(P) he defeated the Philistines, as far as Gaza and its territory.

In King Hezekiah’s fourth year,(Q) which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, Shalmaneser king of Assyria marched against Samaria and laid siege to it. 10 At the end of three years the Assyrians took it. So Samaria was captured in Hezekiah’s sixth year, which was the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel. 11 The king(R) of Assyria deported Israel to Assyria and settled them in Halah, in Gozan on the Habor River and in towns of the Medes.(S) 12 This happened because they had not obeyed the Lord their God, but had violated his covenant(T)—all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded.(U) They neither listened to the commands(V) nor carried them out.

13 In the fourteenth year(W) of King Hezekiah’s reign, Sennacherib king of Assyria attacked all the fortified cities of Judah(X) and captured them. 14 So Hezekiah king of Judah sent this message to the king of Assyria at Lachish:(Y) “I have done wrong.(Z) Withdraw from me, and I will pay whatever you demand of me.” The king of Assyria exacted from Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents[c] of silver and thirty talents[d] of gold. 15 So Hezekiah gave(AA) him all the silver that was found in the temple of the Lord and in the treasuries of the royal palace.

16 At this time Hezekiah king of Judah stripped off the gold with which he had covered the doors(AB) and doorposts of the temple of the Lord, and gave it to the king of Assyria.

Sennacherib Threatens Jerusalem(AC)(AD)

17 The king of Assyria sent his supreme commander,(AE) his chief officer and his field commander with a large army, from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem. They came up to Jerusalem and stopped at the aqueduct of the Upper Pool,(AF) on the road to the Washerman’s Field. 18 They called for the king; and Eliakim(AG) son of Hilkiah the palace administrator, Shebna(AH) the secretary, and Joah son of Asaph the recorder went out to them.

19 The field commander said to them, “Tell Hezekiah:

“‘This is what the great king, the king of Assyria, says: On what are you basing this confidence(AI) of yours? 20 You say you have the counsel and the might for war—but you speak only empty words. On whom are you depending, that you rebel against me? 21 Look, I know you are depending on Egypt,(AJ) that splintered reed of a staff,(AK) which pierces the hand of anyone who leans on it! Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who depend on him. 22 But if you say to me, “We are depending on the Lord our God”—isn’t he the one whose high places and altars Hezekiah removed, saying to Judah and Jerusalem, “You must worship before this altar in Jerusalem”?

23 “‘Come now, make a bargain with my master, the king of Assyria: I will give you two thousand horses—if you can put riders on them! 24 How can you repulse one officer(AL) of the least of my master’s officials, even though you are depending on Egypt for chariots and horsemen[e]? 25 Furthermore, have I come to attack and destroy this place without word from the Lord?(AM) The Lord himself told me to march against this country and destroy it.’”

26 Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah, and Shebna and Joah said to the field commander, “Please speak to your servants in Aramaic,(AN) since we understand it. Don’t speak to us in Hebrew in the hearing of the people on the wall.”

27 But the commander replied, “Was it only to your master and you that my master sent me to say these things, and not to the people sitting on the wall—who, like you, will have to eat their own excrement and drink their own urine?”

28 Then the commander stood and called out in Hebrew, “Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria! 29 This is what the king says: Do not let Hezekiah deceive(AO) you. He cannot deliver you from my hand. 30 Do not let Hezekiah persuade you to trust in the Lord when he says, ‘The Lord will surely deliver us; this city will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.’

31 “Do not listen to Hezekiah. This is what the king of Assyria says: Make peace with me and come out to me. Then each of you will eat fruit from your own vine and fig tree(AP) and drink water from your own cistern,(AQ) 32 until I come and take you to a land like your own—a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of olive trees and honey. Choose life(AR) and not death!

“Do not listen to Hezekiah, for he is misleading you when he says, ‘The Lord will deliver us.’ 33 Has the god(AS) of any nation ever delivered his land from the hand of the king of Assyria? 34 Where are the gods of Hamath(AT) and Arpad?(AU) Where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena and Ivvah? Have they rescued Samaria from my hand? 35 Who of all the gods of these countries has been able to save his land from me? How then can the Lord deliver Jerusalem from my hand?”(AV)

36 But the people remained silent and said nothing in reply, because the king had commanded, “Do not answer him.”

37 Then Eliakim(AW) son of Hilkiah the palace administrator, Shebna the secretary, and Joah son of Asaph the recorder went to Hezekiah, with their clothes torn,(AX) and told him what the field commander had said.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 18:2 Hebrew Abi, a variant of Abijah
  2. 2 Kings 18:4 Nehushtan sounds like the Hebrew for both bronze and snake.
  3. 2 Kings 18:14 That is, about 11 tons or about 10 metric tons
  4. 2 Kings 18:14 That is, about 1 ton or about 1 metric ton
  5. 2 Kings 18:24 Or charioteers