2 Kings 19:1-9 ▼

1 When King Hezekiah heard Eliakim's report, he tore his clothes, put on a sackcloth covering, entered the LORD's Temple,

2 and sent Eliakim the household supervisor, Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests—all of them covered in sackcloth—to Amoz's son, the prophet Isaiah.

3 They announced to him: |This is what Hezekiah says: 'Today is a day of trouble, rebuke, and blasphemy, because children are about to be born, but there is no strength to bring them to birth.

4 Perhaps the LORD your God will take note of everything that Rab-shakeh has said, whom his master the king of Assyria sent to taunt the living God, and then he will rebuke the words that the LORD your God has heard. Therefore offer a prayer for the survivors who remain.'|

5 That is how the King Hezekiah's servants approached Isaiah.

6 In reply, Isaiah responded to them, |Here's how you're to report to your master: 'This is what the LORD says: |Never be afraid of the words that you have heard by which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me.

7 Look! I'm going to cause an attitude to grow within him so that he'll hear a rumor and return to his own territory, where I'll make him die by the sword in his own land!|'|

8 So Rab-shakeh returned and found the king of Assyria at war with Libnah, because Rab-shakeh had heard that the king had left Lachish.

9 When he heard that it was being said about King Tirhakah of Ethiopia, |Look! He has come out to attack you!| he again sent messengers to Hezekiah. The messengers were told,