2 Kings 18:1-12

1Now it was in the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel that Hezekiah son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign.

2He was 25 years old when he became king and he reigned for 29 years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Abi daughter of Zechariah.

3He did what was right in Adonai’s eyes, according to all his ancestor David had done.

4He removed the high places, smashed the pillars and cut down the Asherah poles. He also broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made—for up to those days Bnei-Yisrael were still burning incense to it—it was called Nehushtan .

5He trusted in Adonai, the God of Israel. Indeed, none of all the kings of Judah after him was like him—and none before him.

6For he clung to Adonai. He did not turn away from following Him, but kept His mitzvot, which Adonai had commanded Moses.

7So Adonai was with him. Wherever he went he prospered. He rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him.

8He defeated the Philistines as far as Gaza and its territories, from watchtower to fortified city.

9Now it came to pass in the fourth year of King Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of King Elah of Israel, that King Shalmaneser of Assyria marched against Samaria and besieged it,

10and at the end of three years they captured it. So Samaria was captured in the sixth year of Hezekiah, which was the ninth year of King Hoshea of Israel.

11The king of Assyria deported Israel to Assyria and placed them in Halah and Habor on the Gozan River, and in the towns of the Medes.

12For they had not listened to the voice of Adonai their God, but transgressed His covenant—all that Moses the servant of Adonai had commanded—they neither listened nor did it.