2 Kings 19:1–10

Hezekiah Seeks Isaiah’s Counsel

19When King Hezekiah heard their report, he tore his clothes, covered himself with sackcloth, ^dand went into the Lord’s temple. ^e2Then he sent Eliakim, who was in charge of the palace, Shebna the court secretary, ^fand the leading priests, who were wearing sackcloth, ^gto the prophet Isaiah ^hson 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, ⁱbut there is no strength to deliver them. ⁴Perhaps Yahweh your God ^jwill hear ^kall the words of the Rabshakeh, whom his master the king of Assyria sent to mock the living God, and will rebuke ^lhim for the words that Yahweh your God has heard. Therefore, offer a prayer for the surviving remnant.’ ” ^m

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

Sennacherib’s Departing Threat

⁸When ^sthe Rabshakeh heard that the king of Assyria had left Lachish, ^the returned and found him fighting against Libnah. ^u9The king had heard this about Tirhakah king of Cush: “Look, he has set out to fight against you.” So he again sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying, ¹⁰“Say this to Hezekiah king of Judah: ‘Don’t let your God, whom you trust, ^vdeceive you by promising that Jerusalem will not be handed over to the king of Assyria. ^w