II - Chapter 34

1Yoshiyahu was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Yerushalayim.

אבֶּן־שְׁמוֹנֶה שָׁנִים יֹאשִׁיָּהוּ בְמָלְכוֹ וּשְׁלֹשִׁים וְאַחַת שָׁנָה מָלַךְ בִּירוּשָׁלָ ִם׃

2He did what was pleasing to Hashem, following the ways of his father David without deviating to the right or to the left.

בוַיַּעַשׂ הַיָּשָׁר בְּעֵינֵי יְהֹוָה וַיֵּלֶךְ בְּדַרְכֵי דָּוִיד אָבִיו וְלֹא־סָר יָמִין וּשְׂמֹאול׃

3In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek the God of his father David, and in the twelfth year he began to purge Yehuda and Yerushalayim of the shrines, the sacred posts, the idols, and the molten images.

גוּבִשְׁמוֹנֶה שָׁנִים לְמָלְכוֹ וְהוּא עוֹדֶנּוּ נַעַר הֵחֵל לִדְרוֹשׁ לֵאלֹהֵי דָּוִיד אָבִיו וּבִשְׁתֵּים עֶשְׂרֵה שָׁנָה הֵחֵל לְטַהֵר אֶת־יְהוּדָה וִירוּשָׁלַ ִם מִן־הַבָּמוֹת וְהָאֲשֵׁרִים וְהַפְּסִלִים וְהַמַּסֵּכוֹת׃

4At his bidding, they demolished the altars of the Baals, and he had the incense stands above them cut down; he smashed the sacred posts, the idols, and the images, ground them into dust, and strewed it onto the graves of those who had sacrificed to them.

דוַיְנַתְּצוּ לְפָנָיו אֵת מִזְבְּחוֹת הַבְּעָלִים וְהַחַמָּנִים אֲשֶׁר־לְמַעְלָה מֵעֲלֵיהֶם גִּדֵּעַ וְהָאֲשֵׁרִים וְהַפְּסִלִים וְהַמַּסֵּכוֹת שִׁבַּר וְהֵדַק וַיִּזְרֹק עַל־פְּנֵי הַקְּבָרִים הַזֹּבְחִים לָהֶם׃

5He burned the bones of Kohanim on their altars and purged Yehuda and Yerushalayim.

הוְעַצְמוֹת כֹּהֲנִים שָׂרַף עַל־מזבחותים [מִזְבְּחוֹתָם] וַיְטַהֵר אֶת־יְהוּדָה וְאֶת־יְרוּשָׁלָ ִם׃

6In the towns of Menashe and Efraim and Shimon, as far as Naftali, [lying] in ruins on every side,

ווּבְעָרֵי מְנַשֶּׁה וְאֶפְרַיִם וְשִׁמְעוֹן וְעַד־נַפְתָּלִי בהר בתיהם [בְּחַרְבֹתֵיהֶם] סָבִיב׃

7he demolished the altars and the sacred posts and smashed the idols and ground them into dust; and he hewed down all the incense stands throughout the land of Yisrael. Then he returned to Yerushalayim.

זוַיְנַתֵּץ אֶת־הַמִּזְבְּחוֹת וְאֶת־הָאֲשֵׁרִים וְהַפְּסִלִים כִּתַּת לְהֵדַק וְכָל־הַחַמָּנִים גִּדַּע בְּכָל־אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיָּשָׁב לִירוּשָׁלָ ִם׃

8In the eighteenth year of his reign, after purging the land and the House, he commissioned Shafan son of Azaliah, Maaseiah the governor of the city, and Joah son of Joahaz the recorder to repair the House of Hashem his God.

חוּבִשְׁנַת שְׁמוֹנֶה עֶשְׂרֵה לְמָלְכוֹ לְטַהֵר הָאָרֶץ וְהַבָּיִת שָׁלַח אֶת־שָׁפָן בֶּן־אֲצַלְיָהוּ וְאֶת־מַעֲשֵׂיָהוּ שַׂר־הָעִיר וְאֵת יוֹאָח בֶּן־יוֹאָחָז הַמַּזְכִּיר לְחַזֵּק אֶת־בֵּית יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהָיו׃

9They came to the Kohen Gadol Chilkiyahu and delivered to him the silver brought to the House of Hashem, which the Leviim, the guards of the threshold, had collected from Menashe and Efraim and from all the remnant of Yisrael and from all Yehuda and Binyamin and the inhabitants of Yerushalayim.

טוַיָּבֹאוּ אֶל־חִלְקִיָּהוּ הַכֹּהֵן הַגָּדוֹל וַיִּתְּנוּ אֶת־הַכֶּסֶף הַמּוּבָא בֵית־אֱלֹהִים אֲשֶׁר אָסְפוּ־הַלְוִיִּם שֹׁמְרֵי הַסַּף מִיַּד מְנַשֶּׁה וְאֶפְרַיִם וּמִכֹּל שְׁאֵרִית יִשְׂרָאֵל וּמִכָּל־יְהוּדָה וּבִנְיָמִן וישבי [וַיָּשֻׁבוּ] יְרוּשָׁלָ ִם׃

10They delivered it into the custody of the overseers who were in charge at the House of Hashem, and the overseers who worked in the House of Hashem spent it on examining and repairing the House.

יוַיִּתְּנוּ עַל־יַד עֹשֵׂה הַמְּלָאכָה הַמֻּפְקָדִים בְּבֵית יְהֹוָה וַיִּתְּנוּ אֹתוֹ עוֹשֵׂי הַמְּלָאכָה אֲשֶׁר עֹשִׂים בְּבֵית יְהֹוָה לִבְדּוֹק וּלְחַזֵּק הַבָּיִת׃

11They paid it out to the artisans and the masons to buy quarried stone and wood for the couplings and for making roof-beams for the buildings that the kings of Yehuda had allowed to fall into ruin.

יאוַיִּתְּנוּ לֶחָרָשִׁים וְלַבֹּנִים לִקְנוֹת אַבְנֵי מַחְצֵב וְעֵצִים לַמְחַבְּרוֹת וּלְקָרוֹת אֶת־הַבָּתִּים אֲשֶׁר הִשְׁחִיתוּ מַלְכֵי יְהוּדָה׃

12The men did the work honestly; over them were appointed the Leviim Jahath and Ovadya, of the sons of Merari, and Zecharya and Meshullam, of the sons of Kehat, to supervise; while other Leviim, all the master musicians,

יבוְהָאֲנָשִׁים עֹשִׂים בֶּאֱמוּנָה בַּמְּלָאכָה וַעֲלֵיהֶם מֻפְקָדִים יַחַת וְעֹבַדְיָהוּ הַלְוִיִּם מִן־בְּנֵי מְרָרִי וּזְכַרְיָה וּמְשֻׁלָּם מִן־בְּנֵי הַקְּהָתִים לְנַצֵּחַ וְהַלְוִיִּם כָּל־מֵבִין בִּכְלֵי־שִׁיר׃

13were over the porters, supervising all who worked at each and every task; some of the Leviim were scribes and officials and gatekeepers.

יגוְעַל הַסַּבָּלִים וּמְנַצְּחִים לְכֹל עֹשֵׂה מְלָאכָה לַעֲבוֹדָה וַעֲבוֹדָה וּמֵהַלְוִיִּם סוֹפְרִים וְשֹׁטְרִים וְשׁוֹעֲרִים׃

14As they took out the silver that had been brought to the House of Hashem, the Kohen Chilkiyahu found a scroll of Hashem's Teaching given by Moshe.

ידוּבְהוֹצִיאָם אֶת־הַכֶּסֶף הַמּוּבָא בֵּית יְהֹוָה מָצָא חִלְקִיָּהוּ הַכֹּהֵן אֶת־סֵפֶר תּוֹרַת־יְהֹוָה בְּיַד־מֹשֶׁה׃

15Chilkiyahu spoke up and said to the scribe Shafan, “I have found a scroll of the Teaching in the House of Hashem”; and Chilkiyahu gave the scroll to Shafan.

טווַיַּעַן חִלְקִיָּהוּ וַיֹּאמֶר אֶל־שָׁפָן הַסּוֹפֵר סֵפֶר הַתּוֹרָה מָצָאתִי בְּבֵית יְהֹוָה וַיִּתֵּן חִלְקִיָּהוּ אֶת־הַסֵּפֶר אֶל־שָׁפָן׃

16Shafan brought the scroll to the king and also reported to the king, “All that was entrusted to your servants is being done;

טזוַיָּבֵא שָׁפָן אֶת־הַסֵּפֶר אֶל־הַמֶּלֶךְ וַיָּשֶׁב עוֹד אֶת־הַמֶּלֶךְ דָּבָר לֵאמֹר כֹּל אֲשֶׁר־נִתַּן בְּיַד־עֲבָדֶיךָ הֵם עֹשִׂים׃

17they have melted down the silver that was found in the House of Hashem and delivered it to those who were in charge, to the overseers.”

יזוַיַּתִּיכוּ אֶת־הַכֶּסֶף הַנִּמְצָא בְּבֵית־יְהֹוָה וַיִּתְּנוּהוּ עַל־יַד הַמֻּפְקָדִים וְעַל־יַד עוֹשֵׂי הַמְּלָאכָה׃

18The scribe Shafan also told the king, “The Kohen Chilkiyahu has given me a scroll”; and Shafan read from it to the king.

יחוַיַּגֵּד שָׁפָן הַסּוֹפֵר לַמֶּלֶךְ לֵאמֹר סֵפֶר נָתַן לִי חִלְקִיָּהוּ הַכֹּהֵן וַיִּקְרָא־בוֹ שָׁפָן לִפְנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ׃

19When the king heard the words of the Teaching, he tore his clothes.

יטוַיְהִי כִּשְׁמֹעַ הַמֶּלֶךְ אֵת דִּבְרֵי הַתּוֹרָה וַיִּקְרַע אֶת־בְּגָדָיו׃

20The king gave orders to Chilkiyahu, and Achikam son of Shafan, and Avdon son of Micha, and the scribe Shafan, and Asaiah the king's minister, saying,

כוַיְצַו הַמֶּלֶךְ אֶת־חִלְקִיָּהוּ וְאֶת־אֲחִיקָם בֶּן־שָׁפָן וְאֶת־עַבְדּוֹן בֶּן־מִיכָה וְאֵת שָׁפָן הַסּוֹפֵר וְאֵת עֲשָׂיָה עֶבֶד־הַמֶּלֶךְ לֵאמֹר׃

21“Go, inquire of Hashem on my behalf and on behalf of those who remain in Yisrael and Yehuda concerning the words of the scroll that has been found, for great indeed must be the wrath of Hashem that has been poured down upon us because our fathers did not obey the word of Hashem and do all that is written in this scroll.”

כאלְכוּ דִרְשׁוּ אֶת־יְהֹוָה בַּעֲדִי וּבְעַד הַנִּשְׁאָר בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל וּבִיהוּדָה עַל־דִּבְרֵי הַסֵּפֶר אֲשֶׁר נִמְצָא כִּי־גְדוֹלָה חֲמַת־יְהֹוָה אֲשֶׁר נִתְּכָה בָנוּ עַל אֲשֶׁר לֹא־שָׁמְרוּ אֲבוֹתֵינוּ אֶת־דְּבַר יְהֹוָה לַעֲשׂוֹת כְּכָל־הַכָּתוּב עַל־הַסֵּפֶר הַזֶּה׃

22Chilkiyahu and those whom the king [had ordered] went to the Neviah Chulda, wife of Shalum son of Tokhath son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe, who was living in Yerushalayim in the Mishneh, and spoke to her accordingly.

כבוַיֵּלֶךְ חִלְקִיָּהוּ וַאֲשֶׁר הַמֶּלֶךְ אֶל־חֻלְדָּה הַנְּבִיאָה אֵשֶׁת שַׁלֻּם בֶּן־תוקהת [תָּקְהַת] בֶּן־חַסְרָה שׁוֹמֵר הַבְּגָדִים וְהִיא יוֹשֶׁבֶת בִּירוּשָׁלַ ִם בַּמִּשְׁנֶה וַיְדַבְּרוּ אֵלֶיהָ כָּזֹאת׃

23She responded to them: “Thus said God of Yisrael: Say to the man who sent you to Me,

כגוַתֹּאמֶר לָהֶם כֹּה־אָמַר יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אִמְרוּ לָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר־שָׁלַח אֶתְכֶם אֵלָי׃

24‘Thus said Hashem: I am going to bring disaster upon this place and its inhabitants—all the curses that are written in the scroll that was read to the king of Yehuda—

כדכֹּה אָמַר יְהֹוָה הִנְנִי מֵבִיא רָעָה עַל־הַמָּקוֹם הַזֶּה וְעַל־יוֹשְׁבָיו אֵת כָּל־הָאָלוֹת הַכְּתוּבוֹת עַל־הַסֵּפֶר אֲשֶׁר קָרְאוּ לִפְנֵי מֶלֶךְ יְהוּדָה׃

25because they forsook Me and made offerings to other gods in order to vex Me with all the works of their hands; My wrath shall be poured out against this place and not be quenched.'

כהתַּחַת אֲשֶׁר עֲזָבוּנִי ויקטירו [וַיְקַטְּרוּ] לֵאלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים לְמַעַן הַכְעִיסֵנִי בְּכֹל מַעֲשֵׂי יְדֵיהֶם וְתִתַּךְ חֲמָתִי בַּמָּקוֹם הַזֶּה וְלֹא תִכְבֶּה׃

26But say this to the king of Yehuda who sent you to inquire of Hashem: ‘Thus said God of Yisrael: As for the words which you have heard,

כווְאֶל־מֶלֶךְ יְהוּדָה הַשֹּׁלֵחַ אֶתְכֶם לִדְרוֹשׁ בַּיהֹוָה כֹּה תֹאמְרוּ אֵלָיו כֹּה־אָמַר יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל הַדְּבָרִים אֲשֶׁר שָׁמָעְתָּ׃

27since your heart was softened and you humbled yourself before Hashem when you heard His words concerning this place and its inhabitants, and you humbled yourself before Me and tore your clothes and wept before Me, I for My part have listened, declares Hashem.

YA-an rakh l'-va-v'-KHA va-ti-ka-NA mi-lif-NAY e-lo-HEEM b'-shom-a-KHA et di-va-RAV al-ha-ma-KOM ha-ZEH v'-al yo-sh'-VAV va-ti-ka-NA l'-fa-NAI va-tik-RA et b'-ga-DE-kha va-TAYVK l'-fa-NAI v'-gam a-NEE sha-MA-tee n'-UM a-do-NAI

כזיַעַן רַךְ־לְבָבְךָ וַתִּכָּנַע מִלִּפְנֵי אֱלֹהִים בְּשָׁמְעֲךָ אֶת־דְּבָרָיו עַל־הַמָּקוֹם הַזֶּה וְעַל־יֹשְׁבָיו וַתִּכָּנַע לְפָנַי וַתִּקְרַע אֶת־בְּגָדֶיךָ וַתֵּבְךְּ לְפָנָי וְגַם־אֲנִי שָׁמַעְתִּי נְאֻם־יְהֹוָה׃

28Assuredly, I will gather you to your fathers, and you will be laid in your grave in peace; your eyes shall see nothing of the disaster that I will bring upon this place and its inhabitants.'” They reported this back to the king.

כחהִנְנִי אֹסִפְךָ אֶל־אֲבֹתֶיךָ וְנֶאֱסַפְתָּ אֶל־קִבְרֹתֶיךָ בְּשָׁלוֹם וְלֹא־תִרְאֶינָה עֵינֶיךָ בְּכֹל הָרָעָה אֲשֶׁר אֲנִי מֵבִיא עַל־הַמָּקוֹם הַזֶּה וְעַל־יֹשְׁבָיו וַיָּשִׁיבוּ אֶת־הַמֶּלֶךְ דָּבָר׃

29Then the king sent word and assembled all the elders of Yehuda and Yerushalayim.

כטוַיִּשְׁלַח הַמֶּלֶךְ וַיֶּאֱסֹף אֶת־כָּל־זִקְנֵי יְהוּדָה וִירוּשָׁלָ ִם׃

30The king went up to the House of Hashem with all the men of Yehuda and the inhabitants of Yerushalayim and the Kohanim and the Leviim—all the people, young and old—and he read to them the entire text of the covenant scroll that was found in the House of Hashem.

לוַיַּעַל הַמֶּלֶךְ בֵּית־יְהֹוָה וְכָל־אִישׁ יְהוּדָה וְיֹשְׁבֵי יְרוּשָׁלַ ִם וְהַכֹּהֲנִים וְהַלְוִיִּם וְכָל־הָעָם מִגָּדוֹל וְעַד־קָטָן וַיִּקְרָא בְאָזְנֵיהֶם אֶת־כָּל־דִּבְרֵי סֵפֶר הַבְּרִית הַנִּמְצָא בֵּית יְהֹוָה׃

31The king stood in his place and solemnized the covenant before Hashem: to follow Hashem and observe His commandments, His injunctions, and His laws with all his heart and soul, to fulfill all the terms of the covenant written in this scroll.

לאוַיַּעֲמֹד הַמֶּלֶךְ עַל־עָמְדוֹ וַיִּכְרֹת אֶת־הַבְּרִית לִפְנֵי יְהֹוָה לָלֶכֶת אַחֲרֵי יְהֹוָה וְלִשְׁמוֹר אֶת־מִצְוׂתָיו וְעֵדְוׂתָיו וְחֻקָּיו בְּכָל־לְבָבוֹ וּבְכָל־נַפְשׁוֹ לַעֲשׂוֹת אֶת־דִּבְרֵי הַבְּרִית הַכְּתוּבִים עַל־הַסֵּפֶר הַזֶּה׃

32He obligated all the men of Yerushalayim and Binyamin who were present; and the inhabitants of Yerushalayim acted in accord with the Covenant of Hashem, God of their fathers.

לבוַיַּעֲמֵד אֵת כָּל־הַנִּמְצָא בִירוּשָׁלַ ִם וּבִנְיָמִן וַיַּעֲשׂוּ יֹשְׁבֵי יְרוּשָׁלַ ִם כִּבְרִית אֱלֹהִים אֱלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵיהֶם׃

33Yoshiyahu removed all the abominations from the whole territory of the Israelites and obliged all who were in Yisrael to worship Hashem their God. Throughout his reign they did not deviate from following God of their fathers.

לגוַיָּסַר יֹאשִׁיָּהוּ אֶת־כָּל־הַתּוֹעֵבוֹת מִכָּל־הָאֲרָצוֹת אֲשֶׁר לִבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיַּעֲבֵד אֵת כָּל־הַנִּמְצָא בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל לַעֲבוֹד אֶת־יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵיהֶם כָּל־יָמָיו לֹא סָרוּ מֵאַחֲרֵי יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵיהֶם׃