Study Desk

^(C1)Now when King Hezekiah heard the report, he ^(C2)tore his clothes, ^(C3)covered himself with sackcloth, and entered the house of the LORD.

Then he sent Eliakim, who was in charge of the household, with Shebna the scribe and the elders of the priests, ^(C1)covered with sackcloth, to ^(C2)Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz.

And they said to him, "This is what Hezekiah says: 'This day is a day of distress, rebuke, and humiliation; for children have come to the point of birth, and there is no strength to deliver them.

'^(C1)Perhaps the LORD your God will hear all the words of Rabshakeh, whom his master the king of Assyria has sent ^(C2)to taunt the living God, and will avenge the words which the LORD your God has heard. Therefore, offer a prayer for ^(C3)the remnant that is ^(F1)left.'"

So the servants of King Hezekiah came to Isaiah.

And Isaiah said to them, "This is what you shall say to your master: 'The LORD says this: "Do not be fearful because of the words that you have heard, with which the ^(C1)servants of the king of Assyria ^(C2)have blasphemed Me.

"Behold, I am going to put a spirit in him so that ^(C1)he will hear news and return to his own land. And ^(C2)I will make him fall by the sword in his own land."'"

Then Rabshakeh returned and found the king of Assyria fighting against ^(C1)Libnah, for he had heard that the king had left ^(C2)Lachish.

When he heard them say about Tirhakah king of ^(F1)Cush, "Behold, he has come out to fight you," he sent messengers again to Hezekiah, saying,

"This is what you shall say to Hezekiah king of ^(F1)Judah: 'Do not ^(C1)let your God in whom you trust deceive you by saying, "^(C2)Jerusalem will not be handed over to the king of Assyria."

'Behold, you yourself have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all the lands, destroying them completely. So will you be saved?

'^(C1)Did the gods of the nations which my fathers destroyed save them: ^(C2)Gozan, ^(C3)Haran, Rezeph, and ^(C4)the sons of Eden who were in Telassar?

'^(C1)Where is the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad, the king of the city of Sepharvaim, and of Hena and Ivvah?'"