resolved not to proceed in the war； but to accept of the
proposals that were made him； and if he might receive three
hundred talents of silver； and thirty talents of gold； he
promised that he would depart in a friendly manner； and he gave
security upon oath to the ambassadors that he would then do him
no harm； but go away as he came。 So Hezekiah submitted； and
emptied his treasures； and sent the money； as supposing he should
be freed from his enemy； and from any further distress about his
kingdom。 Accordingly； the Assyrian king took it； and yet had no
regard to what he had promised； but while he himself went to the
war against the Egyptians and Ethiopians； he left his general
Rabshakeh； and two other of his principal commanders； with great
forces； to destroy Jerusalem。 The names of the two other
commanders were Tartan and Rabsaris。
2。 Now as soon as they were come before the walls； they pitched
their camp； and sent messengers to Hezekiah； and desired that
they might speak with him； but he did not himself come out to
them for fear； but he sent three of his most intimate friends；
the name of one was Eliakim； who was over the kingdom； and
Shebna； and Joah the recorder。 So these men came out； and stood
over against the commanders of the Assyrian army； and when
Rabshakeh saw them； he bid them go and speak to Hezekiah in the
manner following： That Sennacherib； the great king； （1） desires
to know of him； on whom it is that he relies and depends； in
flying from his lord； and will not hear him； nor admit his army
into the city？ Is it on account of the Egyptians； and in hopes
that his army would be beaten by them？ Whereupon he lets him
know； that if this be what he expects； he is a foolish man； and
like one who leans on a broken reed； while such a one will not
only fall down； but will have his hand pierced and hurt by it。
That he ought to know he makes this expedition against him by the
will of God； who hath granted this favor to him； that he shall
overthrow the kingdom of Israel； and that in the very same manner
he shall destroy those that are his subjects also。 When Rabshakeh
had made this speech in the Hebrew tongue； for he was skillful in
that language； Eliakim was afraid lest the multitude that heard
him should be disturbed； so he desired him to speak in the Syrian
tongue。 But the general； understanding what he meant； and
perceiving the fear that he was in； he made his answer with a
greater and a louder voice； but in the Hebrew tongue； and said；
that 〃since they all heard what were the king's commands； they
would consult their own advantage in delivering up themselves to
us； for it is plain the both you and your king dissuade the
people from submitting by vain hopes； and so induce them to
resist； but if you be courageous； and think to drive our forces
away； I am ready to deliver to you two thousand of these horses
that are with me for your use； if you can set as many horsemen on
their backs； and show your strength； but what you have not you
cannot produce。 Why therefore do you delay to deliver up
yourselves to a superior force； who can take you without your
consent？ although it will be safer for you to deliver yourselves
up voluntarily； while a forcible capture； when you are beaten；
must appear more dangerous； and will bring further calamities
upon you。〃
3。 When the people； as well as the ambassadors； heard what the
Assyrian commander said； they related it to Hezekiah； who
thereupon put off his royal apparel； and clothed himself with
sackcloth； and took the habit of a mourner； and； after the manner
of his country； he fell upon his face； and besought God； and
entreated him to assist them； now they had no other hope of
relief。 He also sent some of his friends； and some of the
priests； to the prophet Isaiah； and desired that he would pray to
God； and offer sacrifices for their common deliverance； and so
put up supplications to him； that he would have indignation at
the expectations of their enemies； and have mercy upon his
people。 And when the prophet had done accordingly； an oracle came
from God to him； and encouraged the king and his friends that
were about him； and foretold that their enemies should be beaten
without fighting； and should go away in an ignominious manner；
and not with that insolence which they now show； for that God
would take care that they should be destroyed。 He also foretold
that Sennacherib； the king of Assyria； should fail of his purpose
against Egypt； and that when he came home he should perish by the
sword。
4。 About the same time also the king of Assyria wrote an epistle
to Hezekiah； in which he said he was a foolish man； in supposing
that he should escape from being his servant； since he had
already brought under many and great nations； and he threatened；
that when he took him； he would utterly destroy him； unless he
now opened the gates； and willingly received his army into
Jerusalem。 When he read this epistle； he despised it； on account
of the trust that be had in God； but he rolled up the epistle；
and laid it up within the temple。 And as he made his further
prayers to God for the city； and for the preservation of all the
people； the prophet Isaiah said that God had heard his prayer；
and that he should not be besieged at this time by the king of
Assyria （2） that for the future he might be secure of not being
at all disturbed by him； and that the people might go on
peaceably； and without fear； with their husbandry and other
affairs。 But after a little while the king of Assyria； when he
had failed of his treacherous designs against the Egyptians；
returned home without success； on the following occasion： He
spent a long time in the siege of Pelusium； and when the banks
that he had raised over against the walls were of a great height；
and when he was ready to make an immediate assault upon them； but
heard that Tirhaka； king of the Ethiopians； was coming and
bringing great forces to aid the Egyptians； and was resolved to
march through the desert； and so to fall directly upon the
Assyrians； this king Sennacherib was disturbed at the news； and；
as I said before； left Pelusium； and returned back without
success。 Now concerning this Sennacherib； Herodotus also says； in
the second book of his histories； how 〃this king came against the
Egyptian king； who was the priest of Vulcan； and that as he was
besieging Pelusium； he broke up the siege on the following
occasion： This Egyptian priest prayed to God； and God heard his
prayer； and sent a judgment upon the Arabian king。〃 But in this
Herodotus was mistaken； when he called this king not king of the
Assyrians； but of the Arabians； for he saith that 〃a multitude of
mice gnawed to pieces in one night both the bows and the rest of
the armor of the Assyrians； and that it was on that account that
the king； when he had no bows left； drew off his army from
Pelusium。〃 And Herodotus does indeed give us this history； nay；
and Berosus； who wrote of the affairs of Chaldea； makes mention
of this king Sennacherib； and that he ruled over the Assyrians；
and that he made an expedition against all Asia and Egypt； and
says thus：
5。 〃Now when Sennacherib was returning from his Egyptian war to
Jerusalem； he found his army under Rabshakeh his general in
danger ＇by a plague＇； for God had sent a pestilential distemper
upon his army； and on the very first night of the siege； a
hundred fourscore and five thousand； with their captains and
generals； were destroyed。 So the king was in a great dread and in
a terrible agony at this calamity； and being in great fear for
his whole army； he fled with the rest of his forces to his own
kingdom； and to his city Nineveh； and when he had abode there a
little while； he was treacherously assaulted； and died by the
hands of his elder sons； （3） Adrammelech and Seraser； and was
slain in his own temple； which was called Araske。 Now these sons
of his were driven away on account of the murder of their father
by the citizens； and went into Armenia； while Assarachoddas took
the kingdom of Sennacherib。〃 And this proved to be the conclusion
of this Assyrian expedition against the people of Jerusalem。
CHAPTER 2。
How Hezekiah Was Sick； And Ready To Die； And How God Bestowed
Upon Him Fifteen Years Longer Life； ＇And Secured That Promise＇ By
The Going Back Of The Shadow Ten Degrees。
1。 Now king Hezekiah being thus delivered； after a surprising
manner； from the dread he was in； offered thank…offerings to God；
with all his people； because nothing else had destroyed some of
their enemies； and made the rest so fearful of undergoing the
same fate that they departed from Jerusalem； but that Divine
assistance。 Yet； while he was very zealous and diligent about the
worship of God； did he soon afterwards fall into a severe
distemper； insomuch that the physicians despaired of him； and
expected no good issue of his sickness； as neither did his
friends： and besides the distemper （4） itself； there was a very
melancholy circumstance that disordered the king； which was the
consideration that he was childless； and was going to die； and
leave his house and his government without a successor of his own
body； so he was troubled at the thoughts of this his condition；
and lamented himself； and entreated of God that he would prolong
his life for a little while till he had some children； and not
suffer him to depart this life before he was become a father。
Hereupon God had mercy upon him； and accepted of his
supplication； because the trouble he was under at his supposed
death was not because he was soon to leave the advantages he
enjoyed in the kingdom； nor did he on that account pray that he
might have a longer life afforded him； but in order to have sons；
that might receive the government after him。 And God sent Isaiah
the prophet； and commanded him to inform Hezekiah； that within
three days' time he should get clear of his distemper； and should
survive it fifteen years； and that he should have children also。
Now； upon the prophet's saying this； as God had commanded him； he
could hardly believe it； both on account of the distemper he was
under； which was very sore； and by reason of the surprising
nature of what was told him； so he desir