2 Chronik 32

1 Nach diesen Begebnissen und solcher Treue kam der Assyrerkönig Sanherib. Er kam nach Juda und belagerte die festen Städte. Er gedachte, sie für sich zu erobern.

After King Hezekiah had obeyed Yahweh’s instructions and had done all those things, King Sennacherib of Assyria came [with his army] and invaded Judah. He commanded his soldiers to surround the cities that had walls around them, thinking that they would [break through those walls and] conquer those cities.

2 Als Ezechias sah, daß Sanherib gekommen war und Jerusalem erobern wollte,

When Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come [with his army] and that they intended to attack Jerusalem,

3 beschloß er, mit seinen Obersten und Kriegern die Quellwasser außerhalb der Stadt zu verstopfen. Und sie stimmten ihm bei.

he consulted with his officials and army leaders. They said among themselves, “Why should we allow the king of Assyria [and his army] to come and find plenty of water to drink?” So they decided to stop the water from flowing outside the city. So a large group of men gathered together and blocked all the springs and the stream that flowed through that area.

4 Da sammelte sich viel Volk und verstopfte alle Quellen und den Bach, der die Gegend durchfließt. Sie sagten: "Wozu sollen die Assyrerkönige kommen und soviel Wasser finden?"

5 Dann rüstete er sich. Er baute die ganze geborstene Mauer auf, errichtete darauf Türme und draußen die andere Mauer. Dann befestigte er die Bastei in der Davidsstadt und machte Schleudern und Schilde in Menge.

Then they worked hard to repair all the sections of the city wall that had been broken, and they built watchtowers on the walls. They built another wall outside/around the wall that was already outside the city, and they strengthened the defenses on the sloping terraces [on the east side of the area called ‘The City of David’]. They also made a large number of weapons and shields.

6 Dann setzte er Kriegsoberste über das Volk. Und er versammelte sie zu sich auf den Platz am Stadttore. Er redete ihnen freundlich zu und sprach:

Hezekiah appointed army commanders, and he gathered them in front of him in the square at one of the city gates, and he encouraged them by saying this to them:

7 "Seid mutig und stark! Seid getrost! Erschreckt nicht vor dem Assyrerkönig und nicht vor dem ganzen Haufen, den er mit sich führt! Denn mit uns ist ein Größerer als mit ihm.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged on account of the king of Assyria and the huge army that is with him, because [Yahweh] is with us, and his [power] is greater than their [power].

8 Mit ihm ist ein fleischerner Arm. Mit uns aber der Herr, unser Gott, um uns zu helfen und unsere Kriege zu führen." Da verließ sich das Volk auf die Worte des Judakönigs Ezechias.

They have to rely on the power of humans, but we have Yahweh our God to help us and to fight battles for us.” So the people became more confident because of what Hezekiah, the king of Judah, said.

9 Später hatte der Assyrerkönig Sanherib seine Knechte nach Jerusalem gesandt. Er selbst aber stand vor Lakis mit seiner ganzen Macht. So sandte er zu dem Judakönig Ezechias und zu ganz Juda in Jerusalem und ließ sagen:

Later, when Sennacherib and all his soldiers were surrounding Lachish [city], he sent some officers to Jerusalem to give this message to King Hezekiah and to all the people of Judah who were there:

10 "So spricht Sanherib, Assyriens König: 'Worauf vertraut ihr, daß ihr euch in Jerusalem belagern lasset?

“[I am] Sennacherib, the [great] king of Assyria, [and] this is what I say: 'While you are staying in Jerusalem, my soldiers are surrounding the city. So why [RHQ] are you so confident?

11 Verführt euch nicht Ezechias und läßt euch vor Hunger und Durst sterben, wenn er spricht: "Der Herr, unser Gott, rettet uns aus des Assyrerkönigs Hand?"

Hezekiah says to you, “Yahweh our God will save us from [being defeated by the army of] the king of Assyria,” but he is misleading you. He wants you to die from having no food or water.

12 Hat nicht dieser Ezechias seine Höhen und Altäre beseitigt und zu Juda und Jerusalem gesprochen: "Ihr sollt vor einem Altar anbeten und nur auf ihm räuchern?"

Isn’t Hezekiah the one who told his men to get rid of your god Yahweh’s shrines and altars on the hilltops, saying to [you people of] Jerusalem and other places in Judah, “You must worship at only one altar and burn sacrifices on only that altar”?

13 Wißt ihr nicht, was ich und meine Väter allen Völkern der Erde getan haben? Haben der Heiden Götter in den Ländern ihr Land aus meiner Hand retten können?

'Do you people not know what I and my ancestors have done to all the people-groups in other countries? [We destroyed them all, and] none of the gods of those nations were ever able to prevent my [troops] from conquering them! So how can your god prevent my soldiers from conquering you?

14 Wer von all den Göttern dieser Heiden, die meine Väter vertilgten, hat sein Volk aus meiner Hand gerettet? Da sollte euer Gott euch aus meiner Hand retten?

15 So betöre euch jetzt nicht Ezechias und verführe euch nicht auf solche Art! Glaubt ihm nicht! Denn kein Gott irgendeines Volkes oder Reiches konnte sein Volk aus meiner und meiner Väter Hand retten. Auch will euer Gott euch aus meiner Hand gar nicht retten.'"

So do not allow Hezekiah to deceive you like this. Do not believe what he says, because no god of any nation or kingdom has ever been able to rescue his people from being conquered by my army and the armies of my ancestors. So certainly your god will not be able to rescue you from my power'.”

16 Solches und noch mehr redeten seine Knechte wider Gott, den Herrn, und gegen seinen Diener Ezechias.

Sennacherib’s officers said more things to belittle Yahweh the God of the Israelis and Hezekiah, who served God [well].

17 Auch einen Brief schrieb er, um den Herrn, Israels Gott zu lästern und wider ihn zu reden: "Sowenig in den Ländern die Heidengötter ihr Volk aus meiner Hand retteten, ebensowenig kann des Ezechias Gott sein Volk aus meiner Hand retten."

King Sennacherib wrote more letters insulting Yahweh, the God whom the Israelis [belonged to/worshiped]. He said things like this: “The gods [worshiped by] the people-groups in other countries did not rescue their people from my power. Similarly, the god of Hezekiah will not rescue his people from my power.”

18 Sie riefen auch mit lauter Stimme auf jüdisch zum Volke Jerusalems auf der Mauer, um es in Furcht und Schrecken zu setzen und um so die Stadt zu erobern.

Then King Sennachereb’s officers shouted in the Hebrew language to the people who were on the wall, in order to cause them to be terrified, thinking that as a result the army of Assyria could capture the city [without a battle].

19 Sie redeten von dem Gott Jerusalems wie von der Erdenvölker Göttern, dem Werk von Menschenhänden.

They belittled the God [worshiped by the people] of Jerusalem as they belittled the gods of the other people-groups of the world—saying that they were only [idols] made by humans.

20 Nun beteten der König Ezechias und der Prophet Isaias, des Amos Sohn, dieserhalb und schrien zum Himmel.

Then King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah cried out to God, praying about this.

21 Da sandte der Herr einen Engel und tilgte alle Krieger, Heerführer und Obersten im Lager des Assyrerkönigs. Schmachbedeckt kehrte er in sein Land. Als er in das Haus seines Gottes ging, fällten ihn einige leibliche Abkömmlinge dort durch das Schwert.

And [that night] Yahweh sent an angel who killed all the soldiers of Assyria and their leaders and their officers in the place where the king of Assyria and his army had set up their tents. So the king of Assyria left and returned to his own country, very disgraced. And one day when he went into the temple of his god, some of his sons struck him with their swords and killed him.

22 So rettete der Herr den Ezechias und Jerusalems Einwohner aus der Hand des Assyrerkönigs Sanherib und aus der Hand aller anderen und gab ihnen ringsum Ruhe.

That is how Yahweh rescued Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem from the power of Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, and from their other enemies. Yahweh took care of them (OR, gave them peace) everywhere in the country.

23 Viele brachten dem Herrn Gaben nach Jerusalem und dem Judakönig Ezechias Kleinodien, und er wurde danach in aller Heiden Augen hochangesehen.

Many people brought offerings for Yahweh to Jerusalem, and also brought valuable gifts for King Hezekiah. And from that time, Hezekiah was highly respected/honored by the people of all the other nations.

24 Zu jener Zeit wurde Ezechias todkrank. Da betete er zum Herrn. Und er sprach mit ihm und gab ihm ein Wunderzeichen.

About that time, Hezekiah became very ill. He was about to die. But he prayed to Yahweh, and Yahweh answered his prayer. He performed a miracle [and healed Hezekiah].

25 Aber Ezechias vergalt nicht die Wohltat, die ihm widerfahren war. Denn er ward hochmütig. Darum kam grimmer Zorn über ihn und über Juda und Jerusalem.

But Hezekiah [SYN] was very proud, and he did not thank Yahweh for being kind to him. Therefore Yahweh was angry with him and [and punished him] and [the people of] Jerusalem and other places in Judah.

26 Dann erst demütigte sich Ezechias in seinem Hochmut, er und Jerusalems Bewohner. So war des Herrn grimmer Zorn nicht über sie in Ezechias Tagen gekommen.

Then Hezekiah said that he was sorry for being proud, and the people of Jerusalem also said that they were sorry [for their sins]. So Yahweh did not punish them during the remaining years that Hezekiah [was their king].

27 Ezechias besaß aber sehr großen Reichtum und Prunk. Er legte sich Schatzkammern an für Silber, Gold, Edelsteine, Spezereien, Schilde und allerlei kostbare Geräte

Hezekiah became very rich and was greatly honored. His [workers] made storerooms for his silver and gold, and for his very valuable stones, and for spices and shields and other valuable things.

28 und Speicher für den Ertrag an Korn, Wein und Öl, Ställe für allerlei Vieh und Scharen tüchtiger Leute.

[His workers] also built buildings to store the grain and wine and [olive] oil [that people produced and brought to him]. They also made stalls for various kinds of cattle and pens for his flocks [of sheep and goats].

29 Er beschaffte sich Ställe, dazu großen Besitz an Schafen und Rindern. Denn Gott gab ihm überaus viel Habe.

They built towns and acquired for the king many flocks [of sheep and goats] and herds [of cattle], because God had enabled him to become very rich.

30 Derselbe Ezechias war es auch, der den oberen Ausfluß der Gewässer des Gichon verstopfte und sie westwärts in die Davidsstadt hinableitete. Ezechias hatte bei all seinem Tun Glück.

Hezekiah was the one who told his workers to block the place where the water flows out of the Gihon Spring, and to build a tunnel through which the water flowed to the west side of the area called ‘The City of David’. He was able to do everything that he wanted to do.

31 Nur bei den Gesandten der Babelfürsten, die sie zu ihm geschickt hatten, nach dem Wunder, das im Lande geschehen, zu fragen, verließ ihn Gott, um ihn zu prüfen und sein ganzes Herz zu erkunden.

But when messengers who were sent by the rulers of Babylon came and asked about the miracle that God had performed for him, God allowed Hezekiah to say what he himself wanted to say, in order to test [whether or not Hezekiah would admit that God had performed a miracle].

32 Der Rest der Geschichte des Ezechias und seine tapferen Taten sind in dem Gesicht des Propheten Isaias, des Amossohnes, im Buch der Könige von Juda und Israel aufgezeichnet.

A record of the other things that happened while Hezekiah was ruling, and the things that he did to please God, is on the scroll in which is written the vision that [Yahweh gave to] the prophet Isaiah. It is also written in the scroll called ‘The History of the Kings of Judah and Israel’.

33 Ezechias legte sich zu seinen Vätern, und man begrub ihn am Aufstieg zu den Gräbern der Davidsöhne. Ganz Juda und Jerusalems Einwohner erwiesen ihm bei seinem Tode Ehre. Sein Sohn Manasse ward König an seiner Statt.

When Hezekiah died, he was buried in the tombs where the most respected kings [of Judah] were buried. Everyone in Jerusalem and other places in Judah honored him. Then his son Manasseh became the king.