7. I’m going to put a spirit in him so that he will hear a rumor and return to his own country. I’ll have him assassinated in his own country.’ ”
8. The field commander returned and found the king of Assyria fighting against Libnah. He had heard that the king left Lachish.
9. Now, Sennacherib heard that King Tirhakah of Sudan was coming to fight him.When he heard this, he again sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying,
10. “Tell King Hezekiah of Judah, ‘Don’t let the god whom you trust deceive you by saying that Jerusalem will not be put under the control of the king of Assyria.
11. You heard what the kings of Assyria did to all countries, how they totally destroyed them. Will you be rescued?
12. Did the gods of the nations which my ancestors destroyed rescue Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and the people of Eden who were in Telassar?
13. Where is the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad, and the king of the cities of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah?’ ”
14. Hezekiah took the letter from the messengers, read it, and went to the Lord’s temple. He spread it out in front of the Lord
15. and prayed to the Lord,
16. “Lord of Armies, God of Israel, you are enthroned over the angels. You alone are God of the kingdoms of the world. You made heaven and earth.
17. Turn your ear toward me, Lord, and listen. Open your eyes, Lord, and see. Listen to the entire message that Sennacherib sent to defy the living God.
18. It is true, Lord, that the kings of Assyria have leveled every country.