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He sent Eliakim, the official in charge of the palace, Shebna, the court secretary, and the senior priests to the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz. They also were wearing sackcloth.
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This is the message which he told them to give Isaiah: "Today is a day of suffering; we are being punished and are in disgrace. We are like a woman who is ready to give birth, but is too weak to do it.
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The Assyrian emperor has sent his chief official to insult the living God. May the Lord your God hear these insults and punish those who spoke them. So pray to God for those of our people who survive."
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When Isaiah received King Hezekiah's message,
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he sent back this answer: "The Lord tells you not to let the Assyrians frighten you with their claims that he cannot save you.
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The Lord will cause the emperor to hear a rumor that will make him go back to his own country, and the Lord will have him killed there."
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The Assyrian official learned that the emperor had left Lachish and was fighting against the nearby city of Libnah; so he went there to consult him.
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Word reached the Assyrians that the Egyptian army, led by King Tirhakah of Ethiopia, was coming to attack them. When the emperor heard this, he sent a letter to King Hezekiah of Judah
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to tell him, "The god you are trusting in has told you that you will not fall into my hands, but don't let that deceive you.
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You have heard what an Assyrian emperor does to any country he decides to destroy. Do you think that you can escape?
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My ancestors destroyed the cities of Gozan, Haran, and Rezeph, and killed the people of Betheden who lived in Telassar, and none of their gods could save them.