19. One of the Assyrian commanders told them:I have a message for Hezekiah from the great king of Assyria. Ask Hezekiah why he feels so sure of himself.
20. Does he think he can plan and win a war with nothing but words? Who is going to help him, now that he has turned against the king of Assyria?
21. Is he depending on Egypt and its king? That's the same as leaning on a broken stick, and it will go right through his hand.
22. Is Hezekiah now depending on the Lord your God? Didn't Hezekiah tear down all except one of the Lord's altars and places of worship? Didn't he tell the people of Jerusalem and Judah to worship at that one place?
23. The king of Assyria wants to make a bet with you people. He will give you two thousand horses, if you have enough troops to ride them.
24. How could you even defeat our lowest ranking officer, when you have to depend on Egypt for chariots and cavalry?
25. Don't forget that it was the Lord who sent me here with orders to destroy your nation!
26. Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah said, “Sir, we don't want the people listening from the city wall to understand what you are saying. So please speak to us in Aramaic instead of Hebrew.”
27. The Assyrian army commander answered, “My king sent me to speak to everyone, not just to you leaders. These people will soon have to eat their own body waste and drink their own urine! And so will the three of you.”
28. Then, in a voice loud enough for everyone to hear, he shouted in Hebrew:Listen to what the great king of Assyria says!
29. Don't be fooled by Hezekiah. He can't save you.
30. Don't trust him when he tells you that the Lord will protect you from the king of Assyria.
31. Stop listening to Hezekiah! Pay attention to my king. Surrender to him. He will let you keep your own vineyards, fig trees, and cisterns
32. for a while. Then he will come and take you away to a country just like yours, where you can plant vineyards, raise your own grain, and have plenty of olive oil and honey. Believe me, you won't starve there.Hezekiah claims the Lord will save you. But don't be fooled by him.
33. Were any other gods able to defend their land against the king of Assyria?
34. What happened to the gods of Hamath and Arpad? What about the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah? Were the gods of Samaria able to protect their land against the Assyrian forces?
35. None of these gods kept their people safe from the king of Assyria. Do you think the Lord your God can do any better?