¹⁷ Then the king of Assyria sent the field marshal,^(A) the chief of staff, and his royal spokesman, along with a massive army, from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem.^(B) They advanced and came to Jerusalem, and^[a] they took their position by the aqueduct of the upper pool, by the road to the Launderer’s Field.^(C)

⁴ Perhaps the Lord your God^(A) will hear^(B) all the words of the royal spokesman, whom his master the king of Assyria sent to mock the living God, and will rebuke^(C) him for the words that the Lord your God has heard. Therefore, offer a prayer for the surviving remnant.’”^(D)