⁹ Now the king heard concerning Tirhakah king of ^(A)Cush,^[a] “He has set out to fight against you.” And when he heard it, he sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying,

⁷ Behold, ^(A)I will put a spirit in him, so that ^(B)he shall hear a rumor and return to his own land, and ^(C)I will make him fall by the sword in his own land.’”

^5 (A)Then they shall be dismayed and ashamed because of Cush their hope and of Egypt their boast.

An Oracle Concerning Cush

²⁷ a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Hurry and come, for the Philistines have made a raid against the land.” ²⁸ So Saul returned from pursuing after David and went against the Philistines. Therefore that place was called the Rock of Escape.^[a]