2 Kings 18:17-37

2 Kings 18:17-37

[17] And the king  of Assyria  sent  Tartan  and Rabsaris  and Rabshakeh  from Lachish  to king  Hezekiah  with a great  host  against Jerusalem.  And they went up  and came  to Jerusalem.  And when they were come up,  they came  and stood  by the conduit  of the upper  pool,  which is in the highway  of the fuller's  field.  [18] And when they had called  to the king,  there came out  to them Eliakim  the son  of Hilkiah,  which was over the household,  and Shebna  the scribe,  and Joah  the son  of Asaph  the recorder.  [19] And Rabshakeh  said  ye now to Hezekiah,  Thus saith  the great  king,  of Assyria,  What confidence  is this wherein thou trustest?  [20] Thou sayest,  (but they are but vain  words,)  I have counsel  and strength  for the war.  Now on whom dost thou trust,  that thou rebellest  against me? [21] Now, behold, thou trustest  upon the staff  of this bruised  reed,  even upon Egypt,  on which if a man  lean,  it will go  into his hand,  and pierce  it: so is Pharaoh  king  of Egypt  unto all that trust  on him. [22] But if ye say  unto me, We trust  in the LORD  our God:  is not that he, whose high places  and whose altars  Hezekiah  hath taken away,  and hath said  to Judah  and Jerusalem,  Ye shall worship  before  this altar  in Jerusalem?  [23] Now therefore, I pray thee, give pledges  to my lord  the king  of Assyria,  and I will deliver  thee two thousand  horses,  if thou be able  on thy part to set  riders  upon them. [24] How then wilt thou turn away  the face  of one  captain  of the least  of my master's  servants,  and put thy trust  on Egypt  for chariots  and for horsemen?  [25] Am I now come up  without  the LORD  against this place  to destroy  it? The LORD  said  to me, Go up  against this land,  and destroy  [26] Then said  Eliakim  the son  of Hilkiah,  and Shebna,  and Joah,  unto Rabshakeh,  Speak,  I pray thee, to thy servants  in the Syrian language;  for we understand  it: and talk  not with us in the Jews' language  in the ears  of the people  that are on the wall.  [27] But Rabshakeh  said  unto them, Hath my master  sent  me to thy master,  and to thee, to speak  these words?  which sit  on the wall,  that they may eat  and drink  with you? [28] Then Rabshakeh  stood  and cried  with a loud  voice  in the Jews' language,  and spake,  saying,  Hear  the word  of the great  king,  of Assyria:  [29] Thus saith  the king,  Let not Hezekiah  deceive  you: for he shall not be able  to deliver  you out of his hand:  [30] Neither let Hezekiah  make you trust  in the LORD,  saying,  The LORD  will surely  us, and this city  shall not be delivered  into the hand  of the king  of Assyria.  [31] Hearken  not to Hezekiah:  for thus saith  the king  of Assyria,  Make  an agreement with me by a present,  and come out  to me, and then eat  ye every man  of his own vine,  and every one  of his fig tree,  and drink  ye every one  the waters  of his cistern:  [32] Until I come  and take you away  to a land  of corn  and wine,  a land  of bread  and vineyards,  a land  of oil  olive  and of honey,  that ye may live,  and not die:  and hearken  not unto Hezekiah,  when he persuadeth  you, saying,  The LORD  will deliver  [33] Hath any  of the gods  of the nations  delivered  his land  out of the hand  of the king  of Assyria?  [34] Where are the gods  of Hamath,  and of Arpad?  where are the gods  of Sepharvaim,  Hena,  and Ivah?  have they delivered  Samaria  out of mine hand?  [35] Who are they among all the gods  of the countries,  that have delivered  their country  out of mine hand,  that the LORD  should deliver  Jerusalem  out of mine hand?  [36] But the people  held their peace,  and answered  him not a word:  for the king's  commandment  was, saying,  Answer  [37] Then came  Eliakim  the son  of Hilkiah,  which was over the household,  and Shebna  the scribe,  and Joah  the son  of Asaph  the recorder,  to Hezekiah  with their clothes  rent,  and told  him the words  of Rabshakeh.