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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.
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Where are the kings of the cities of Hamath, Arpad, Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah?"
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King Hezekiah took the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went to the Temple, placed the letter there in the presence of the Lord,
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and prayed, "O Lord, the God of Israel, seated on your throne above the winged creatures, you alone are God, ruling all the kingdoms of the world. You created the earth and the sky.
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Now, Lord, look at what is happening to us. Listen to all the things that Sennacherib is saying to insult you, the living God.
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We all know, Lord, that the emperors of Assyria have destroyed many nations, made their lands desolate,
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and burned up their gods - which were no gods at all, only images of wood and stone made by human hands.