¹² So David’s young men turned on their heels and went back; and they came and told him all these words.

^17 (A)Obey those who ^[a]rule over you, and be submissive, for ^(B)they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.

²¹ But they ^[a]held their peace and answered him not a word; for the king’s commandment was, “Do not answer him.” ²² Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph, the recorder, came to Hezekiah with their clothes torn, and told him the words of the Rabshakeh.

¹³ So Gad came to David and told him; and he said to him, “Shall ^(A)seven^[a] years of famine come to you in your land? Or shall you flee three months before your enemies, while they pursue you? Or shall there be three days’ plague in your land? Now consider and see what answer I should take back to Him who sent me.”