Chapter 32

1After these deeds of integrity, Sennacherib the king of Assyria came, and he entered into Judah and encamped against the fortified cities, and he planned to make a breach therein for himself.   אאַֽחֲרֵ֨י הַדְּבָרִ֚ים וְהָֽאֱמֶת֙ הָאֵ֔לֶּה בָּ֖א סַנְחֵרִ֣יב מֶֽלֶךְ־אַשּׁ֑וּר וַיָּבֹ֣א בִֽיהוּדָ֗ה וַיִּ֙חַן֙ עַל־הֶֽעָרִ֣ים הַבְּצֻר֔וֹת וַיֹּ֖אמֶר לְבִקְעָ֥ם אֵלָֽיו:
After these deeds of integrity, etc. and planned to make a breach therein. Heb. לְבִקְעָם like לְבָקְעָם like (Amos 2: “For selling (מִכְרָם) [an innocent man] for money,” like (מָכְרָם) and adjacent to that, (ibid. 1:13): “Because they ripped up (בִּקְעָם) the pregnant women of Gilead,” and its meaning and examples of it are (Isa. 7:6): “and let us breach its walls (וְנַבְקְעֶנָה),” and (Gen. 22:3): “Then he split (וַיְבַקַּע) wood for the burnt-offering.”   אחרי הדברים והאמת האלה וגו'.  ויאמר לבקעם כמו לבקעם כמו (עמוס ב') על מכרם בכסף כמו מכרם וסמוך ליה (שם) על בקעם הרות הגלעד ופתרונו ודוגמא (ישעיה ז') ונבקיענה, ויבקע עצי העולה (בראשי' כה):
2And Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come, and his face was directed to wage war against Jerusalem.   בוַיַּרְא֙ יְחִזְקִיָּ֔הוּ כִּי־בָ֖א סַנְחֵרִ֑יב וּפָנָ֕יו לַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה עַל־יְרֽוּשָׁלִָֽם:
3And he took counsel with his officers and his mighty men to stop up the waters of the fountains that were outside the city, and they assisted him.   גוַיִּוָּעַ֗ץ עִם־שָׂרָיו֙ וְגִבֹּרָ֔יו לִסְתּוֹם֙ אֶת־מֵימֵ֣י הָֽעֲיָנ֔וֹת אֲשֶׁ֖ר מִח֣וּץ לָעִ֑יר וַיַּֽעְזְרֻֽהוּ:
4And a large multitude gathered and stopped up all the fountains and the stream that flowed in the midst of the land, saying, "Why should the kings of Assyria come and find much water?"   דוַיִּקָּֽבְצ֣וּ עַם־רָ֔ב וַיִּסְתְּמוּ֙ אֶת־כָּל־הַמַּעְיָנ֔וֹת וְאֶת־הַנַּ֛חַל הַשּׁוֹטֵ֥ף בְּתֽוֹךְ־הָאָ֖רֶץ לֵאמֹ֑ר לָ֚מָּה יָב֙וֹאוּ֙ מַלְכֵ֣י אַשּׁ֔וּר וּמָֽצְא֖וּ מַ֥יִם רַבִּֽים:
5And he strengthened himself and built the whole breached wall, and he raised it to the towers and outward to the other wall, and he reinforced the millo, the City of David, and he made many swords and shields.   הוַיִּתְחַזַּ֡ק וַיִּבֶן֩ אֶת־כָּל־הַֽחוֹמָ֨ה הַפְּרוּצָ֜ה וַיַּ֣עַל עַל־הַמִּגְדָּל֗וֹת וְלַח֙וּצָה֙ הַֽחוֹמָ֣ה אַחֶ֔רֶת וַיְחַזֵּ֥ק אֶת־הַמִּלּ֖וֹא עִ֣יר דָּוִ֑יד וַיַּ֥עַשׂ שֶׁ֛לַח לָרֹ֖ב וּמָֽגִנִּֽים:
and he reinforced the millo. An example is (I Kings 11:27): “built the millo.”   ויחזק את המלוא.  דוגמא (שמואל ב' ה') ויבן את המלוא:
and he made many swords. Heb. שֶׁלַח, weapons, similar to (above 23:10): “each one with his sword (שִׁלְחוֹ) in his hand;” (Neh. 4:17): “each man took his sword (שִׁלְחוֹ) to the water.”   ויעש שלח לרוב.  כלי זיין דוגמת ואיש שלחו בידו (ד"ה ב' כ"ג פ"י כצ"ל יוש"ה) איש שלחו המים (נחמיה ד׳:י״ז):
6And he appointed officers of war over the people, and he gathered them to him to the square of the gate of the city, and he spoke encouragingly to them, saying:   ווַיִּתֵּ֛ן שָׂרֵ֥י מִלְחָמ֖וֹת עַל־הָעָ֑ם וַיִּקְבְּצֵ֣ם אֵלָ֗יו אֶל־רְחוֹב֙ שַׁ֣עַר הָעִ֔יר וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר עַל־לְבָבָ֖ם לֵאמֹֽר:
7"Be strong and of good courage; do not fear and do not be dismayed because of the king of Assyria and because of all the multitude that is with him, because He Who is with us is greater than those with him.   זחִזְק֣וּ וְאִמְצ֔וּ אַל־תִּֽירְא֣וּ וְאַל־תֵּחַ֗תּוּ מִפְּנֵי֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ אַשּׁ֔וּר וּמִלִּפְנֵ֖י כָּל־הֶֽהָמ֣וֹן אֲשֶׁר־עִמּ֑וֹ כִּֽי־עִמָּ֥נוּ רַ֖ב מֵֽעִמּֽוֹ:
8With him is an arm of flesh, and with us is the Lord our God to help us and to wage our wars," and the people relied on the words of Hezekiah, king of Judah.   חעִמּוֹ֙ זְר֣וֹעַ בָּשָׂ֔ר וְעִמָּ֜נוּ יְהֹוָ֚ה אֱלֹהֵ֙ינוּ֙ לְעָזְרֵ֔נוּ וּלְהִלָּחֵ֖ם מִלְחֲמֹתֵ֑נוּ וַיִּסָּֽמְכ֣וּ הָעָ֔ם עַל־דִּבְרֵ֖י יְחִזְקִיָּ֥הוּ מֶֽלֶךְ־יְהוּדָֽה:
9After this, Sennacherib the king of Assyria sent his servants to Jerusalem- and he was besieging Lachish, and all his staff was with him-to Hezekiah the king of Judah, and to all the Judeans who were in Jerusalem, saying:   טאַ֣חַר זֶ֗ה שָׁ֠לַח סַנְחֵרִ֨יב מֶֽלֶךְ־אַשּׁ֚וּר עֲבָדָיו֙ יְר֣וּשָׁלַ֔יְמָה וְהוּא֙ עַל־לָכִ֔ישׁ וְכָל־מֶמְשַׁלְתּ֖וֹ עִמּ֑וֹ עַל־יְחִזְקִיָּ֙הוּ֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ יְהוּדָ֔ה וְעַל־כָּל־יְהוּדָ֛ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר בִּירֽוּשָׁלַ֖םִ לֵאמֹֽר:
10"So said Sennacherib the king of Assyria: In what do you trust that you stay in the siege in Jerusalem?   יכֹּ֣ה אָמַ֔ר סַנְחֵרִ֖יב מֶ֣לֶךְ אַשּׁ֑וּר עַל־מָה֙ אַתֶּ֣ם בֹּֽטְחִ֔ים וְיֹֽשְׁבִ֥ים בְּמָצ֖וֹר בִּירֽוּשָׁלִָֽם:
In what do you trust. It is written (I Kings 18:5): “He trusted in the Lord God of Israel,” and it is also written there: (verse 7) “and he rebelled against the king of Assyria.” Therefore, he asked, “In what do you trust” that you have rebelled against me?   על מה אתם בוטחים.  לפי שכתוב (במלכים ב' י"א) בה' אלהי ישראל בטח וגם כתיב שם וימרד במלך אשור לכן אמר על מה אתם בוטחים שמרדת בי:
stay in the siege in Jerusalem. as it is written (here): “to die by famine and thirst.”   ויושבים במצור בירושלים.  כדכתיב (כאן) למות ברעב ובצמא:
11Is not Hezekiah enticing you to give you over to die by famine and thirst, saying: The Lord, our God, will save us from the clutches of the king of Assyria?   יאהֲלֹ֚א יְחִזְקִיָּ֙הוּ֙ מַסִּ֣ית אֶתְכֶ֔ם לָתֵ֣ת אֶתְכֶ֔ם לָמ֛וּת בְּרָעָ֥ב וּבְצָמָ֖א לֵאמֹ֑ר יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵ֔ינוּ יַצִּילֵ֕נוּ מִכַּ֖ף מֶ֥לֶךְ אַשּֽׁוּר:
12Did not he - Hezekiah - remove His high places and His altars and say to Judah and to Jerusalem, saying: Before one altar you shall prostrate yourselves, and upon it you shall burn incense?   יבהֲלֹא־הוּא֙ יְחִזְקִיָּ֔הוּ הֵסִ֥יר אֶת־בָּֽמוֹתָ֖יו וְאֶת־מִזְבְּחֹתָ֑יו וַיֹּ֨אמֶר לִֽיהוּדָ֚ה וְלִירֽוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר לִפְנֵ֨י מִזְבֵּ֧חַ אֶחָ֛ד תִּֽשְׁתַּֽחֲו֖וּ וְעָלָ֥יו תַּקְטִֽירוּ:
Did not he - Hezekiah. who trusts in his God, did he not transgress? Now even if He had the ability to help him, He would not help him, because he sinned against Him, for he removed His high places and His altars.   הלא הוא יחזקיהו.  הבוטח באלהיו הלא הוא פשע ואפילו אם היה יכולת לעזור לו לא יהיה עוזרו כי חטא לו שהסיר את במותיו ואת מזבחותיו:
and say to Judah and to Jerusalem, saying: Before one altar you shall prostrate yourselves?. Now is it not preferable that the Judeans prostrate themselves before one altar and the Jerusalemites before one, or two and more? What does one altar avail such a large people? For they thought that all those high places that he had removed, as above (31:1): “and cut off the asherim, etc.” were built in the name of the God of Israel.   ויאמר ליהודה ולירושלים לפני מזבח אחד תשתחוו.  ולא מוטב שיתחוה יהודה לפני מזבח אחד וירושלים לפני אחד או שנים ויותר ומה מועיל אחד לעם רב כזה שהיו סבורים שכל אותן במות שהסיר כדלעיל (ל"ח) ויגדע את האשרה וגו' שהיו בנוים לשם אלהי ישראל:
13Do you not know what I did-I and my forefathers-to all the peoples of the lands? Could the gods of the nations of the lands save their land from my hand?   יגהֲלֹ֣א תֵֽדְע֗וּ מֶ֚ה עָשִׂ֙יתִי֙ אֲנִ֣י וַֽאֲבוֹתַ֔י לְכֹ֖ל עַמֵּ֣י הָֽאֲרָצ֑וֹת הֲיָכ֣וֹל יָֽכְל֗וּ אֱלֹהֵי֙ גּוֹיֵ֣י הָֽאֲרָצ֔וֹת לְהַצִּ֥יל אֶת־אַרְצָ֖ם מִיָּדִֽי:
14Who is it among all the gods of these nations whom my fathers destroyed, that could save his people from my hand, that your God should be able to save you from my hand?   ידמִ֠י בְּֽכָל־אֱלֹהֵ֞י הַגּוֹיִ֚ם הָאֵ֙לֶּה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הֶֽחֱרִ֣ימוּ אֲבוֹתַ֔י אֲשֶׁ֣ר יָכ֔וֹל לְהַצִּ֥יל אֶת־עַמּ֖וֹ מִיָּדִ֑י כִּ֚י יוּכַל֙ אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֔ם לְהַצִּ֥יל אֶתְכֶ֖ם מִיָּדִֽי:
whom my fathers destroyed. Pul, the king of Assyria, and Tiglath-Pilneser.   החרימו אבותי.  פול מלך אשור ותגלת פלאסר:
15And now, let Hezekiah not deceive you, and let him not entice you like this, and do not believe him, for no god of any nation or kingdom could save his people from my hand or from the hand of my fathers; surely your God will not save you from my hand."   טווְעַתָּ֡ה אַל־יַשִּׁיא֩ אֶתְכֶ֨ם חִזְקִיָּ֜הוּ וְאַל־יַסִּ֨ית אֶתְכֶ֣ם כָּזֹאת֘ וְאַל־תַּֽאֲמִ֣ינוּ לוֹ֒ כִּי־לֹ֣א יוּכַ֗ל כָּל־אֱל֙וֹהַּ֙ כָּל־גּ֣וֹי וּמַמְלָכָ֔ה לְהַצִּ֥יל עַמּ֛וֹ מִיָּדִ֖י וּמִיַּ֣ד אֲבוֹתָ֑י אַף כִּ֣י אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֔ם לֹֽא־יַצִּ֥ילוּ אֶתְכֶ֖ם מִיָּדִֽי:
16And his servants spoke further against the Lord God and against Hezekiah His servant.   טזוְעוֹד֙ דִּבְּר֣וּ עֲבָדָ֔יו עַל־יְהֹוָ֖ה הָֽאֱלֹהִ֑ים וְעַ֖ל יְחִזְקִיָּ֥הוּ עַבְדּֽוֹ:
17And he wrote letters to blaspheme the Lord, the God of Israel, and to say about Him, saying, "Like the gods of the nations of the lands, which did not save their people from my hand, so will the God of Hezekiah not save His people from my hand."   יזוּסְפָרִ֣ים כָּתַ֔ב לְחָרֵ֕ף לַֽיהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְלֵאמֹ֨ר עָלָ֜יו לֵאמֹ֗ר כֵּֽאלֹהֵ֞י גּוֹיֵ֚י הָֽאֲרָצוֹת֙ אֲשֶׁ֨ר לֹֽא־הִצִּ֚ילוּ עַמָּם֙ מִיָּדִ֔י כֵּ֣ן לֹֽא־יַצִּ֞יל אֱלֹהֵ֧י יְחִזְקִיָּ֛הוּ עַמּ֖וֹ מִיָּדִֽי:
And he wrote letters to blaspheme the Lord, the God of Israel. And in II Kings (19:14) and in Isaiah (37:14) it is written: “And Hezekiah took the letters from the hand of the messengers and read it; he went up to the House of the Lord, and Hezekiah spread it out before the Lord.”   וספרים כתב לחרף לה' אלהי.  ובמלכי' (ב' י"ט) ובישעיה (ל"ז) כתיב ויקח חזקיהו את הספרים מיד המלאכים ויקראהו ויעל בית ה' ויפרשהו חזקיהו לפני ה':
18And they called out with a loud voice in Judean to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, to frighten them and to terrify them, so that they might seize the city.   יחוַיִּקְרְא֨וּ בְקֽוֹל־גָּד֜וֹל יְהוּדִ֗ית עַל־עַ֚ם יְרֽוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עַל־הַֽחוֹמָ֔ה לְיָֽרְאָ֖ם וּלְבַֽהֲלָ֑ם לְמַ֖עַן יִלְכְּד֥וּ אֶת־הָעִֽיר:
with a loud voice in Judean, etc. to frighten them and to terrify them. Here he relates the matter in generalities, but in II Kings (19) and in Isaiah (37) it is thoroughly elaborated upon.   בקול גדול יהודית וגו'.  ליראם ולבהלם כאן סתם הענין ובמלכים מפורש היטב מה אמר להם וגם בישעיה:
19And they spoke of the God of Jerusalem as of the gods of the peoples of the land, the handiwork of man.   יטוַֽיְדַבְּר֔וּ אֶל־אֱלֹהֵ֖י יְרֽוּשָׁלִָ֑ם כְּעַ֗ל אֱלֹהֵי֙ עַמֵּ֣י הָאָ֔רֶץ מַֽעֲשֵׂ֖ה יְדֵ֥י הָֽאָדָֽם:
And they spoke of the God of Jerusalem. The author of this Book complains about the villain Sennacherib, who blasphemed the living God.   וידברו אל אלהי ירושלים.  מי שכתב ספר זה הוא קובל על נבל זה סנחריב שחירף אלהים חיים:
as of the gods of the peoples of the land. which are the handiwork of man, and they compared the God, our Maker, Who formed everything, to the gods of the peoples, who are their own handiwork, as is written above (v. 14): “Who is it among all the gods of, etc. that your God should be able to save you from my hand?”   כעל אלהי עמי הארץ.  שהם מעשה ידי אדם ודמו את אלהי יוצרנו יוצר הכל לאלהי העמים שהם מעשה ידיהם כמו שאמר לעיל מי בכל אלהי וגו' כי לא יוכל אלהיכם להציל אתכם מידי:
20And King Hezekiah and the prophet, Isaiah the son of Amoz prayed concerning this, and they cried out to Heaven.   כוַיִּתְפַּלֵּ֞ל יְחִזְקִיָּ֣הוּ הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ וִֽישַׁעְיָ֧הוּ בֶן־אָמ֛וֹץ הַנָּבִ֖יא עַל־זֹ֑את וַֽיִּזְעֲק֖וּ הַשָּׁמָֽיִם:
And Hezekiah… prayed. In II Kings (19:15-19) and in Isaiah (37:15-19) the prayer is delineated.   ויתפלל יחזקיהו.  במלכים ובישעיה מפורשת התפילה:
21And the Lord sent an angel, and he destroyed every mighty warrior and ruler and officer in the camp of the king of Assyria, and he returned shamefacedly to his land, and he entered the temple of his god, and some of his own issue felled him there with the sword.   כאוַיִּשְׁלַ֚ח יְהֹוָה֙ מַלְאָ֔ךְ וַיַּכְחֵ֞ד כָּל־גִּבּ֥וֹר חַ֙יִל֙ וְנָגִ֣יד וְשָׂ֔ר בְּמַֽחֲנֵ֖ה מֶ֣לֶךְ אַשּׁ֑וּר וַיָּשָׁב֩ בְּבֹ֨שֶׁת פָּנִ֜ים לְאַרְצ֗וֹ וַיָּבֹא֙ בֵּ֣ית אֱלֹהָ֔יו וּמִֽיצִיאֵ֣י (כתיב וּמִֽיצִיאֵ֣ו) מֵעָ֔יו שָׁ֖ם הִפִּילֻ֥הוּ בֶחָֽרֶב:
and some of his own issue. as it is written (Isa. 37:38): “and his sons slew him with the sword.”   ומיציאי מעיו.  כדכתיב (שם) ובניו הכוהו בחרב:
22And the Lord saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria and from the hand of all, and He led them from roundabout.   כבוַיּוֹשַׁע֩ יְהֹוָ֨ה אֶת־יְחִזְקִיָּ֜הוּ וְאֵ֣ת| יֹֽשְׁבֵ֣י יְרֽוּשָׁלִַ֗ם מִיַּ֛ד סַנְחֵרִ֥יב מֶֽלֶךְ־אַשּׁ֖וּר וּמִיַּד־כֹּ֑ל וַיְנַֽהֲלֵ֖ם מִסָּבִֽיב:
23And many brought an offering to the Lord to Jerusalem and delicacies to Hezekiah the king of Judah, and he was elevated in the eyes of all the nations henceforth.   כגוְ֠רַבִּים מְבִיאִ֨ים מִנְחָ֚ה לַֽיהֹוָה֙ לִיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם וּמִ֨גְדָּנ֔וֹת לִֽיחִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ מֶ֣לֶךְ יְהוּדָ֑ה וַיִּנַּשֵּׂ֛א לְעֵינֵ֥י כָל־הַגּוֹיִ֖ם מֵֽאַֽחֲרֵי־כֵֽן:
24In those days, Hezekiah became ill until he was near death, and he prayed to the Lord, and he spoke to him, and he gave him a sign.   כדבַּיָּמִ֣ים הָהֵ֔ם חָלָ֥ה יְחִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ עַד־לָמ֑וּת וַיִּתְפַּלֵּל֙ אֶל־יְהֹוָ֔ה וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ל֔וֹ וּמוֹפֵ֖ת נָ֥תַן לֽוֹ:
and he prayed to the Lord. as is delineated in II Kings (20:3).   ויתפלל אל ה'.  כדמפורש במלכים:
and he spoke to him. What is the sign?   ויאמר לו.  מה האות:
and he gave him a sign. (ibid. verse 9ff.) “This is your sign, etc.” Everything is delineated there.   ומופת נתן לו.  וזה לך האות הכל מפורש שם:
25But Hezekiah did not repay Him according to that which He had bestowed upon him, for his heart became haughty, and there was wrath upon him and upon Judah and Jerusalem.   כהוְלֹֽא־כִגְמ֚וּל עָלָיו֙ הֵשִׁ֣יב יְחִזְקִיָּ֔הוּ כִּ֥י גָבַ֖הּ לִבּ֑וֹ וַיְהִ֚י עָלָיו֙ קֶ֔צֶף וְעַל־יְהוּדָ֖ה וִירֽוּשָׁלִָֽם:
But… did not repay Him according to that which He had bestowed upon him. Hezekiah did not repay the Holy One, blessed be He in accordance with that which He had bestowed upon him by healing him.   ולא כגמול עליו השיב.  לא כמו שגמל הקב"ה על יחזקיהו שרפאוהו השיב לו יחזקיהו:
for his heart became haughty. as it is written (ibid. 20:13): “and he showed them his entire treasure-house… and in all his kingdom.”   כי גבה לבו.  שהראה את כל בית נכותו וגו' עד ובכל ממשלתו:
and there was wrath upon him and upon Judah and Jerusalem. because of this, and the author of this Book abridged it here because it is described in II Kings (20) and in Isaiah (39).  
26And Hezekiah became humbled when his heart was haughty, he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the wrath of the Lord did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah.   כווַיִּכָּנַ֚ע יְחִזְקִיָּ֙הוּ֙ בְּגֹ֣בַהּ לִבּ֔וֹ ה֖וּא וְיֹֽשְׁבֵ֣י יְרֽוּשָׁלִָ֑ם וְלֹא־בָ֚א עֲלֵיהֶם֙ קֶ֣צֶף יְהֹוָ֔ה בִּימֵ֖י יְחִזְקִיָּֽהוּ:
And Hezekiah became humbled when his heart was haughty. as it is written there: “And Hezekiah said to Isaiah: [The word of the Lord that you have spoken is] good.” And when he became humble, the wrath did not come upon them in his days.   ויכנע יחזקיהו בגובה לבו.  כדכתיב שם ויאמר חזקיה אל ישעיה טוב וגומר וכשנכנע לא בא עליהם הקצף בימיו:
27And Hezekiah had much wealth and honor, and he made himself treasuries for silver, for gold, for precious stones, for spices, for shields, and for all precious vessels.   כזוַיְהִ֧י לִֽיחִזְקִיָּ֛הוּ עֹ֥שֶׁר וְכָב֖וֹד הַרְבֵּ֣ה מְאֹ֑ד וְאֽוֹצָר֣וֹת עָֽשָׂה־ל֠וֹ לְכֶ֨סֶף וּלְזָהָ֜ב וּלְאֶ֣בֶן יְקָרָ֗ה וְלִבְשָׂמִים֙ וּלְמָ֣גִנִּ֔ים וּלְכֹ֖ל כְּלֵ֥י חֶמְדָּֽה:
and for all precious vessels. he made various kinds of treasure-houses.   ולכל כלי חמדה.  עשה מיני אוצרות:
28And storehouses for the increase of corn, wine, and oil, and stalls for all kinds of beasts, and flocks for sheepfolds.   כחוּמִ֨סְכְּנ֔וֹת לִתְבוּאַ֥ת דָּגָ֖ן וְתִיר֣וֹשׁ וְיִצְהָ֑ר וְאֻֽרָו‍ֹת֙ לְכָל־בְּהֵמָ֣ה וּבְהֵמָ֔ה וַֽעֲדָרִ֖ים לַֽאֲוֵרֽוֹת:
And storehouses for the increase. Regarding storehouses of increase [of grain] it is appropriate to use the term מִסְכְּנוֹת, storehouses, in all places, like (Exod. 1:11): “store cities (עָרֵי מִסְכְּנוֹת) for Pharaoh,” and so, (above 8:4): “And he built Tadmor in the desert and all the store cities מִסְכְּנוֹת) (עָרֵי that he built in Hamath,” and perforce, they were for grain, because in the desert he did not have to store gold and silver.   ומסכנות לתבואת.  על אוצרות התבואה נופל לומר מסכנות בכל מקום כמו (שמות א) ערי מסכנות לפרעה וכן לעיל (ב ח) ויבן תדמר במדבר ואת כל ערי מסכנות אשר בנה בחמת ועל כרחך לצורך תבואה שבמדבר לא היה לו לאצור זהב וכסף:
and stalls for all kinds of beasts. Heb. וְאֻרָוֹת, large stables.  
29And he made himself cities and possessions of small cattle and large cattle in abundance, for God gave him exceedingly abundant possessions.   כטוְעָרִים֙ עָ֣שָׂה ל֔וֹ וּמִקְנֵה־צֹ֥אן וּבָקָ֖ר לָרֹ֑ב כִּ֚י נָֽתַן־לוֹ֙ אֱלֹהִ֔ים רְכ֖וּשׁ רַ֥ב מְאֹֽד:
30And he-Hezekiah-stopped up the source of the waters of the upper Gihon, and he led them straight down on the west to the City of David, and Hezekiah prospered in all his works.   לוְה֣וּא יְחִזְקִיָּ֗הוּ סָתַם֙ אֶת־מוֹצָ֞א מֵימֵ֚י גִיחוֹן֙ הָֽעֶלְי֔וֹן וַֽיַּישְּׁרֵ֥ם לְמַֽטָּה־מַּעְרָ֖בָה לְעִ֣יר דָּוִ֑יד וַיַּצְלַ֥ח יְחִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ בְּכָל־מַֽעֲשֵֽׂהוּ:
and he led them straight down on the west. He led them along a straight way down on the west to the City of David.   ויישרם למטה מערבה.  הנהיגם דרך ישר למטה מערבה לעיר דוד:
31And so, because of the emissaries of the officers of Babylon, who sent to him to seek the sign that was in the land, God forsook him to test him to know all that was in his heart.   לאוְכֵ֞ן בִּמְלִיצֵ֣י| שָׂרֵ֣י בָבֶ֗ל הַֽמְשַׁלְּחִ֚ים עָלָיו֙ לִדְרֹ֔שׁ הַמּוֹפֵת֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הָיָ֣ה בָאָ֔רֶץ עֲזָב֖וֹ הָֽאֱלֹהִ֑ים לְנַ֨סּוֹת֔וֹ לָדַ֖עַת כָּל־בִּלְבָבֽוֹ:
And so, because of the emissaries of. Heb. בִּמְלִיצֵי, messengers, similar to (Gen. 42:23): “for the interpreter (הַמֵּלִיץ) was between them” because the messenger is the liaison between the sender and the one to whom he is sent. This is related to the verse that states: “and Hezekiah prospered in all his work,” and after all this good, which the Holy One, blessed be He, had bestowed on him, God forsook him to test him, to know what was in his heart through the emissaries of the officers of Babylon, who were sent to him.   וכן במליצי.  שלוחי דוגמא (ראשית מ"ב) כי המליץ בינותם על שם שהשליח מליץ בין השולח למשתלח ונופל על פסוק שאמר ויצלח יחזקיהו בכל מעשיו ואחר כל הטוב הזה שהצליחו הקב"ה עזבו האלהים לנסותו לדעת כל בלבבו ביד מליצי שרי בבל המשלחים אליו:
to seek the sign that was in the land. He did not stand up to the test, and he showed them the weakness of his whole house. The verse is to be explained as if the phrases are reversed.   לדרוש המופת אשר היה בארץ.  לא עמד בנסיון והראה להם את כל בית נכותו ומסיפיה לרישיה נדרש:
32And the rest of the affairs of Hezekiah and his kind acts-behold they are written in the vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz the prophet, in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.   לבוְיֶ֛תֶר דִּבְרֵ֥י יְחִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ וַֽחֲסָדָ֑יו הִנָּ֣ם כְּתוּבִ֗ים בַּֽחֲז֞וֹן יְשַׁעְיָ֚הוּ בֶן־אָמוֹץ֙ הַנָּבִ֔יא עַל־סֵ֥פֶר מַלְכֵֽי־יְהוּדָ֖ה וְיִשְׂרָאֵֽל:
33And Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the best of the sepulchres of the sons of David, and all of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem bestowed honor upon him at his death, and Manasseh his son reigned in his stead.   לגוַיִּשְׁכַּ֨ב יְחִזְקִיָּ֜הוּ עִם־אֲבֹתָ֗יו וַיִּקְבְּרֻהוּ֘ בְּֽמַֽעֲלֵה֘ קִבְרֵ֣י בְנֵֽי־דָוִיד֒ וְכָבוֹד֙ עָֽשׂוּ־ל֣וֹ בְמוֹת֔וֹ כָּל־יְהוּדָ֖ה וְיֹֽשְׁבֵ֣י יְרֽוּשָׁלִָ֑ם וַיִּמְלֹ֛ךְ מְנַשֶּׁ֥ה בְנ֖וֹ תַּחְתָּֽיו:
in the best. Heb. בְּמַעֲלֵה, in the best, as is explained at the end of the first chapter of Baba Kamma (16b).   במעלה.  במיטב כמפורש בסוף פרק קמא דבבא קמא: