2 Kings 19:8-19

Contemporary English Version

⁸ Meanwhile, the commander of the Assyrian forces heard that his king had left the town of Lachish and was now attacking Libnah. So he went there.

⁹ About this same time the king of Assyria learned that King Tirhakah of Ethiopia^[a] was on his way to attack him. Then the king of Assyria sent some messengers with this note for Hezekiah:

¹⁰ Don't trust your God or be fooled by his promise to defend Jerusalem against me. ¹¹ You have heard how we Assyrian kings have completely wiped out other nations. What makes you feel so safe? ¹² The Assyrian kings before me destroyed the towns of Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and everyone from Eden who lived in Telassar. What good did their gods do them? ¹³ The kings of Hamath, Arpad, Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah have all disappeared.

Hezekiah Prays

(Isaiah 37.14-20)

¹⁴ After Hezekiah had read the note from the king of Assyria, he took it to the temple and spread it out for the Lord to see. ^15 (A) He prayed:

Lord God of Israel, your throne is above the winged creatures.^[b] You created the heavens and the earth, and you alone rule the kingdoms of this world. ¹⁶ But just look how Sennacherib has insulted you, the living God.

¹⁷ It is true, our Lord, that Assyrian kings have turned nations into deserts. ¹⁸ They destroyed the idols of wood and stone that the people of those nations had made and worshiped. ¹⁹ But you are our Lord and our God! We ask you to keep us safe from the Assyrian king. Then everyone in every kingdom on earth will know that you are the only God.