The King Who Opened the Doors.

יְחִזְקִיָּ֣הוּ מָלַ֗ךְ בֶּן־עֶשְׂרִ֤ים וְחָמֵשׁ֙ שָׁנָ֔ה וְעֶשְׂרִ֤ים וָתֵ֙שַׁע֙ שָׁנָ֔ה מָלַ֖ךְ בִּירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם וְשֵׁ֣ם אִמּ֔וֹ אֲבִיָּ֖ה בַּת־זְכַרְיָֽהוּ׃

Hezekiah began to reign when he was twenty-five years old, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Abijah the daughter of Zechariah.

וַיַּ֥עַשׂ הַיָּשָׁ֖ר בְּעֵינֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה כְּכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂ֖ה דָּוִ֥יד אָבִֽיו׃

[2] And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord , according to all that David his father had done.

ה֣וּא בַשָּׁנָה֩ הָרִאשׁוֹנָ֨ה לְמָלְכ֜וֹ בַּחֹ֣דֶשׁ הָרִאשׁ֗וֹן פָּתַ֛ח אֶת־דַּלְת֥וֹת בֵּית־יְהוָ֖ה וַֽיְחַזְּקֵֽם׃

[3] In the first year of his reign, in the first month, he opened the doors of the house of the Lord and repaired them.

וַיָּבֵ֥א אֶת־הַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים וְאֶת־הַלְוִיִּ֑ם וַיַּֽאַסְפֵ֖ם לִרְח֥וֹב הַמִּזְרָֽח׃

[4] He brought in the priests and the Levites and assembled them in the square on the east

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר לָהֶ֖ם שְׁמָע֣וּנִי הַלְוִיִּ֑ם עַתָּ֣ה הִֽתְקַדְּשׁ֗וּ וְקַדְּשׁוּ֙ אֶת־בֵּ֤ית יְהוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י אֲבֹתֵיכֶ֔ם וְהוֹצִ֥יאוּ אֶת־הַנִּדָּ֖ה מִן־הַקֹּֽדֶשׁ׃

[5] and said to them, “Hear me, Levites! Now consecrate yourselves, and consecrate the house of the Lord , the God of your fathers, and carry out the filth from the Holy Place.

כִּֽי־מָעֲל֣וּ אֲבֹתֵ֗ינוּ וְעָשׂ֥וּ הָרַ֛ע בְּעֵינֵ֥י יְהוָֽה־אֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ וַיַּֽעַזְבֻ֑הוּ וַיַּסֵּ֧בּוּ פְנֵיהֶ֛ם מִמִּשְׁכַּ֥ן יְהוָ֖ה וַיִּתְּנוּ־עֹֽרֶף׃

[6] For our fathers have been unfaithful and have done what was evil in the sight of the Lord our God. They have forsaken him and have turned away their faces from the habitation of the Lord and turned their backs.

גַּ֣ם סָֽגְר֞וּ דַּלְת֣וֹת הָאוּלָ֗ם וַיְכַבּוּ֙ אֶת־הַנֵּר֔וֹת וּקְטֹ֖רֶת לֹ֣א הִקְטִ֑ירוּ וְעֹלָה֙ לֹא־הֶעֱל֣וּ בַקֹּ֔דֶשׁ לֵאלֹהֵ֖י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

[7] They also shut the doors of the vestibule and put out the lamps and have not burned incense or offered burnt offerings in the Holy Place to the God of Israel.

וַיְהִי֙ קֶ֣צֶף יְהוָ֔ה עַל־יְהוּדָ֖ה וִירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם וַיִּתְּנֵ֤ם ׳לִזְוָעָה׳ ״לְזַֽעֲוָה֙״ לְשַׁמָּ֣ה וְלִשְׁרֵקָ֔ה כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר אַתֶּ֥ם רֹאִ֖ים בְּעֵינֵיכֶֽם׃

[8] Therefore the wrath of the Lord came on Judah and Jerusalem, and he has made them an object of horror, of astonishment, and of hissing, as you see with your own eyes.

וְהִנֵּ֛ה נָפְל֥וּ אֲבוֹתֵ֖ינוּ בֶּחָ֑רֶב וּבָנֵ֨ינוּ וּבְנוֹתֵ֧ינוּ וְנָשֵׁ֛ינוּ בַּשְּׁבִ֖י עַל־זֹֽאת׃

[9] For behold, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and our daughters and our wives are in captivity for this.

עַתָּה֙ עִם־לְבָבִ֔י לִכְר֣וֹת בְּרִ֔ית לַיהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְיָשֹׁ֥ב מִמֶּ֖נּוּ חֲר֥וֹן אַפּֽוֹ׃

[10] Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with the Lord , the God of Israel, in order that his fierce anger may turn away from us.

בָּנַ֕י עַתָּ֖ה אַל־תִּשָּׁל֑וּ כִּֽי־בָכֶ֞ם בָּחַ֣ר יְהוָ֗ה לַעֲמֹ֤ד לְפָנָיו֙ לְשָׁ֣רְת֔וֹ וְלִהְי֥וֹת ל֖וֹ מְשָׁרְתִ֥ים וּמַקְטִרִֽים׃ ס

[11] My sons, do not now be negligent, for the Lord has chosen you to stand in his presence, to minister to him and to be his ministers and make offerings to him.”

וַיָּקֻ֣מוּ הַ֠לְוִיִּם מַ֣חַת בֶּן־עֲמָשַׂ֞י וְיוֹאֵ֣ל בֶּן־עֲזַרְיָהוּ֮ מִן־בְּנֵ֣י הַקְּהָתִי֒ וּמִן־בְּנֵ֣י מְרָרִ֔י קִ֚ישׁ בֶּן־עַבְדִּ֔י וַעֲזַרְיָ֖הוּ בֶּן־יְהַלֶּלְאֵ֑ל וּמִן־הַגֵּ֣רְשֻׁנִּ֔י יוֹאָח֙ בֶּן־זִמָּ֔ה וְעֵ֖דֶן בֶּן־יוֹאָֽח׃

[12] Then the Levites arose, Mahath the son of Amasai, and Joel the son of Azariah, of the sons of the Kohathites; and of the sons of Merari, Kish the son of Abdi, and Azariah the son of Jehallelel; and of the Gershonites, Joah the son of Zimmah, and Eden the son of Joah;

וּמִן־בְּנֵי֙ אֱלִ֣יצָפָ֔ן שִׁמְרִ֖י ׳וִיעוּאֵל׳ ״וִיעִיאֵ֑ל״ וּמִן־בְּנֵ֣י אָסָ֔ף זְכַרְיָ֖הוּ וּמַתַּנְיָֽהוּ׃ ס

[13] and of the sons of Elizaphan, Shimri and Jeuel; and of the sons of Asaph, Zechariah and Mattaniah;

וּמִן־בְּנֵ֥י הֵימָ֖ן ׳יְחוּאֵל׳ ״יְחִיאֵ֣ל״ וְשִׁמְעִ֑י ס וּמִן־בְּנֵ֣י יְדוּת֔וּן שְׁמַֽעְיָ֖ה וְעֻזִּיאֵֽל׃

[14] and of the sons of Heman, Jehuel and Shimei; and of the sons of Jeduthun, Shemaiah and Uzziel.

וַיַּֽאַסְפ֤וּ אֶת־אֲחֵיהֶם֙ וַיִּֽתְקַדְּשׁ֔וּ וַיָּבֹ֥אוּ כְמִצְוַת־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ בְּדִבְרֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה לְטַהֵ֖ר בֵּ֥ית יְהוָֽה׃

[15] They gathered their brothers and consecrated themselves and went in as the king had commanded, by the words of the Lord , to cleanse the house of the Lord .

וַיָּבֹ֣אוּ הַ֠כֹּהֲנִים לִפְנִ֣ימָה בֵית־יְהוָה֮ לְטַהֵר֒ וַיּוֹצִ֗יאוּ אֵ֤ת כָּל־הַטֻּמְאָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֤ר מָֽצְאוּ֙ בְּהֵיכַ֣ל יְהוָ֔ה לַחֲצַ֖ר בֵּ֣ית יְהוָ֑ה וַֽיְקַבְּלוּ֙ הַלְוִיִּ֔ם לְהוֹצִ֥יא לְנַֽחַל־קִדְר֖וֹן חֽוּצָה׃

[16] The priests went into the inner part of the house of the Lord to cleanse it, and they brought out all the uncleanness that they found in the temple of the Lord into the court of the house of the Lord . And the Levites took it and carried it out to the brook Kidron.

וַ֠יָּחֵלּוּ בְּאֶחָ֞ד לַחֹ֣דֶשׁ הָרִאשׁוֹן֮ לְקַדֵּשׁ֒ וּבְי֧וֹם שְׁמוֹנָ֣ה לַחֹ֗דֶשׁ בָּ֚אוּ לְאוּלָ֣ם יְהוָ֔ה וַיְקַדְּשׁ֥וּ אֶת־בֵּית־יְהוָ֖ה לְיָמִ֣ים שְׁמוֹנָ֑ה וּבְי֨וֹם שִׁשָּׁ֥ה עָשָׂ֛ר לַחֹ֥דֶשׁ הָרִאשׁ֖וֹן כִּלּֽוּ׃ ס

[17] They began to consecrate on the first day of the first month, and on the eighth day of the month they came to the vestibule of the Lord . Then for eight days they consecrated the house of the Lord , and on the sixteenth day of the first month they finished.

וַיָּב֤וֹאוּ פְנִ֙ימָה֙ אֶל־חִזְקִיָּ֣הוּ הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ טִהַ֖רְנוּ אֶת־כָּל־בֵּ֣ית יְהוָ֑ה אֶת־מִזְבַּ֤ח הָעוֹלָה֙ וְאֶת־כָּל־כֵּלָ֔יו וְאֶת־שֻׁלְחַ֥ן הַֽמַּעֲרֶ֖כֶת וְאֶת־כָּל־כֵּלָֽיו׃

[18] Then they went in to Hezekiah the king and said, “We have cleansed all the house of the Lord , the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and the table for the showbread and all its utensils.

וְאֵ֣ת כָּל־הַכֵּלִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר הִזְנִיחַ֩ הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ אָחָ֧ז בְּמַלְכוּת֛וֹ בְּמַעֲל֖וֹ הֵכַ֣נּוּ וְהִקְדָּ֑שְׁנוּ וְהִנָּ֕ם לִפְנֵ֖י מִזְבַּ֥ח יְהוָֽה׃ ס

[19] All the utensils that King Ahaz discarded in his reign when he was faithless, we have made ready and consecrated, and behold, they are before the altar of the Lord .”

וַיַּשְׁכֵּם֙ יְחִזְקִיָּ֣הוּ הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וַיֶּאֱסֹ֕ף אֵ֖ת שָׂרֵ֣י הָעִ֑יר וַיַּ֖עַל בֵּ֥ית יְהוָֽה׃

[20] Then Hezekiah the king rose early and gathered the officials of the city and went up to the house of the Lord .

וַיָּבִ֣יאוּ פָרִים־שִׁבְעָה֩ וְאֵילִ֨ים שִׁבְעָ֜ה וּכְבָשִׂ֣ים שִׁבְעָ֗ה וּצְפִירֵ֨י עִזִּ֤ים שִׁבְעָה֙ לְחַטָּ֔את עַל־הַמַּמְלָכָ֥ה וְעַל־הַמִּקְדָּ֖שׁ וְעַל־יְהוּדָ֑ה וַיֹּ֗אמֶר לִבְנֵ֤י אַהֲרֹן֙ הַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים לְהַעֲל֖וֹת עַל־מִזְבַּ֥ח יְהוָֽה׃

[21] And they brought seven bulls, seven rams, seven lambs, and seven male goats for a sin offering for the kingdom and for the sanctuary and for Judah. And he commanded the priests, the sons of Aaron, to offer them on the altar of the Lord .

וַֽיִּשְׁחֲטוּ֙ הַבָּקָ֔ר וַיְקַבְּל֤וּ הַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙ אֶת־הַדָּ֔ם וַֽיִּזְרְק֖וּ הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חָה וַיִּשְׁחֲט֣וּ הָאֵלִ֗ים וַיִּזְרְק֤וּ הַדָּם֙ הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חָה וַֽיִּשְׁחֲטוּ֙ הַכְּבָשִׂ֔ים וַיִּזְרְק֥וּ הַדָּ֖ם הַמִּזְבֵּֽחָה׃

[22] So they slaughtered the bulls, and the priests received the blood and threw it against the altar. And they slaughtered the rams, and their blood was thrown against the altar. And they slaughtered the lambs, and their blood was thrown against the altar.

וַיַּגִּ֙ישׁוּ֙ אֶת־שְׂעִירֵ֣י הַֽחַטָּ֔את לִפְנֵ֥י הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ וְהַקָּהָ֑ל וַיִּסְמְכ֥וּ יְדֵיהֶ֖ם עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃

[23] Then the goats for the sin offering were brought to the king and the assembly, and they laid their hands on them,

וַיִּשְׁחָטוּם֙ הַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים וַֽיְחַטְּא֤וּ אֶת־דָּמָם֙ הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חָה לְכַפֵּ֖ר עַל־כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל כִּ֤י לְכָל־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אָמַ֣ר הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ הָעוֹלָ֖ה וְהַחַטָּֽאת׃

[24] and the priests slaughtered them and made a sin offering with their blood on the altar, to make atonement for all Israel. For the king commanded that the burnt offering and the sin offering should be made for all Israel.

וַיַּֽעֲמֵ֨ד אֶת־הַלְוִיִּ֜ם בֵּ֣ית יְהוָ֗ה בִּמְצִלְתַּ֙יִם֙ בִּנְבָלִ֣ים וּבְכִנֹּר֔וֹת בְּמִצְוַ֥ת דָּוִ֛יד וְגָ֥ד חֹזֵֽה־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ וְנָתָ֣ן הַנָּבִ֑יא כִּ֧י בְיַד־יְהוָ֛ה הַמִּצְוָ֖ה בְּיַד־נְבִיאָֽיו׃ ס

[25] And he stationed the Levites in the house of the Lord with cymbals, harps, and lyres, according to the commandment of David and of Gad the king's seer and of Nathan the prophet, for the commandment was from the Lord through his prophets.

וַיַּֽעַמְד֤וּ הַלְוִיִּם֙ בִּכְלֵ֣י דָוִ֔יד וְהַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים בַּחֲצֹצְרֽוֹת׃ ס

[26] The Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets.

וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ חִזְקִיָּ֔הוּ לְהַעֲל֥וֹת הָעֹלָ֖ה לְהַמִּזְבֵּ֑חַ וּבְעֵ֞ת הֵחֵ֣ל הָֽעוֹלָ֗ה הֵחֵ֤ל שִׁיר־יְהוָה֙ וְהַחֲצֹ֣צְר֔וֹת וְעַ֨ל־יְדֵ֔י כְּלֵ֖י דָּוִ֥יד מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

[27] Then Hezekiah commanded that the burnt offering be offered on the altar. And when the burnt offering began, the song to the Lord began also, and the trumpets, accompanied by the instruments of David king of Israel.

וְכָל־הַקָּהָל֙ מִֽשְׁתַּחֲוִ֔ים וְהַשִּׁ֣יר מְשׁוֹרֵ֔ר וְהַחֲצֹצְר֖וֹת ׳מַחֲצֹצְרִים׳ ״מַחְצְרִ֑ים״ הַכֹּ֕ל עַ֖ד לִכְל֥וֹת הָעֹלָֽה׃

[28] The whole assembly worshiped, and the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded. All this continued until the burnt offering was finished.

וּכְכַלּ֖וֹת לְהַעֲל֑וֹת כָּרְע֗וּ הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ וְכָֽל־הַנִּמְצְאִ֥ים אִתּ֖וֹ וַיִּֽשְׁתַּחֲוֽוּ׃

[29] When the offering was finished, the king and all who were present with him bowed themselves and worshiped.

וַ֠יֹּאמֶר יְחִזְקִיָּ֨הוּ הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ וְהַשָּׂרִים֙ לַלְוִיִּ֔ם לְהַלֵּל֙ לַֽיהוָ֔ה בְּדִבְרֵ֥י דָוִ֖יד וְאָסָ֣ף הַחֹזֶ֑ה וַֽיְהַלְלוּ֙ עַד־לְשִׂמְחָ֔ה וַֽיִּקְּד֖וּ וַיִּֽשְׁתַּחֲוֽוּ׃ פ

[30] And Hezekiah the king and the officials commanded the Levites to sing praises to the Lord with the words of David and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed down and worshiped.

וַיַּ֨עַן יְחִזְקִיָּ֜הוּ וַיֹּ֗אמֶר עַתָּ֨ה מִלֵּאתֶ֤ם יֶדְכֶם֙ לַיהוָ֔ה גֹּ֧שׁוּ וְהָבִ֛יאוּ זְבָחִ֥ים וְתוֹד֖וֹת לְבֵ֣ית יְהוָ֑ה וַיָּבִ֤יאוּ הַקָּהָל֙ זְבָחִ֣ים וְתוֹד֔וֹת וְכָל־נְדִ֥יב לֵ֖ב עֹלֽוֹת׃

[31] Then Hezekiah said, “You have now consecrated yourselves to the Lord . Come near; bring sacrifices and thank offerings to the house of the Lord .” And the assembly brought sacrifices and thank offerings, and all who were of a willing heart brought burnt offerings.

וַיְהִ֞י מִסְפַּ֣ר הָעֹלָה֮ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הֵבִ֣יאוּ הַקָּהָל֒ בָּקָ֣ר שִׁבְעִ֔ים אֵילִ֥ים מֵאָ֖ה כְּבָשִׂ֣ים מָאתָ֑יִם לְעֹלָ֥ה לַיהוָ֖ה כָּל־אֵֽלֶּה׃

[32] The number of the burnt offerings that the assembly brought was 70 bulls, 100 rams, and 200 lambs; all these were for a burnt offering to the Lord .

וְֽהַקֳּדָשִׁ֑ים בָּקָר֙ שֵׁ֣שׁ מֵא֔וֹת וְצֹ֖אן שְׁלֹ֥שֶׁת אֲלָפִֽים׃

[33] And the consecrated offerings were 600 bulls and 3,000 sheep.

רַ֤ק הַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙ הָי֣וּ לִמְעָ֔ט וְלֹ֣א יָֽכְל֔וּ לְהַפְשִׁ֖יט אֶת־כָּל־הָעֹל֑וֹת וַֽיְּחַזְּק֞וּם אֲחֵיהֶ֣ם הַלְוִיִּ֗ם עַד־כְּל֤וֹת הַמְּלָאכָה֙ וְעַ֣ד יִתְקַדְּשׁ֣וּ הַכֹּֽהֲנִ֔ים כִּ֤י הַלְוִיִּם֙ יִשְׁרֵ֣י לֵבָ֔ב לְהִתְקַדֵּ֖שׁ מֵֽהַכֹּהֲנִֽים׃

[34] But the priests were too few and could not flay all the burnt offerings, so until other priests had consecrated themselves, their brothers the Levites helped them, until the work was finished—for the Levites were more upright in heart than the priests in consecrating themselves.

וְגַם־עֹלָ֨ה לָרֹ֜ב בְּחֶלְבֵ֧י הַשְּׁלָמִ֛ים וּבַנְּסָכִ֖ים לָעֹלָ֑ה וַתִּכּ֖וֹן עֲבוֹדַ֥ת בֵּית־יְהוָֽה׃

[35] Besides the great number of burnt offerings, there was the fat of the peace offerings, and there were the drink offerings for the burnt offerings. Thus the service of the house of the Lord was restored.

וַיִּשְׂמַ֤ח יְחִזְקִיָּ֙הוּ֙ וְכָל־הָעָ֔ם עַ֛ל הַהֵכִ֥ין הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים לָעָ֑ם כִּ֥י בְּפִתְאֹ֖ם הָיָ֥ה הַדָּבָֽר׃ פ

[36] And Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced because God had provided for the people, for the thing came about suddenly.