2 Kings 19:1–10

HEZEKIAH SEEKS ISAIAH’S COUNSEL

19When King Hezekiah heard their report, he tore his clothes, covered himself with sackcloth,^p and went into the Lord’s temple.^{q 2}He sent Eliakim, who was in charge of the palace, Shebna the court secretary,^r and the leading priests, who were covered with sackcloth,^s to the prophet Isaiah^t son of Amoz. ³They said to him, “This is what Hezekiah says: ‘Today is a day of distress, rebuke, and disgrace, for children have come to the point of birth,^u but there is no strength to deliver them. ⁴Perhaps the Lord your God^v will hear^w all the words of the royal spokesman, whom his master the king of Assyria sent to mock the living God, and will rebuke^x him for the words that the Lord your God has heard. Therefore, offer a prayer for the surviving remnant.’ ”^y

⁵So the servants of King Hezekiah went to Isaiah, ⁶who said to them, “Tell your master, ‘The Lord says this: Don’t be afraid^z because of the words you have heard, with which the king of Assyria’s attendants^aa have blasphemed^ab me. ⁷I am about to put a spirit in him, and he will hear a rumor and return to his own land,^ac where I will cause him to fall by the sword.’ ”^ad

SENNACHERIB’S DEPARTING THREAT

⁸When^ae the royal spokesman heard that the king of Assyria had pulled out of Lachish,^af he left and found him fighting against Libnah.^{ag 9}The king had heard concerning King Tirhakah of Cush, “Look, he has set out to fight against you.” So he again sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying, ¹⁰“Say this to King Hezekiah of Judah: ‘Don’t let your God, on whom you rely,^ah deceive you by promising that Jerusalem will not be handed over to the king of Assyria.^ai