2 Chronicles 32:9-19 - Sennacherib's Servant's Speech

⁹ Sennacherib and his troops were camped at the town of Lachish. He sent a message to Hezekiah and the people in Jerusalem. It said: ¹⁰ I am King Sennacherib of Assyria. I have Jerusalem surrounded. Do you think you can survive my attack? ¹¹ Hezekiah your king is telling you that Jehovah your God will save you from me. But he is lying! You will die of hunger and thirst. ¹² Did Hezekiah not tear down all except one of Jehovah's altars and places of worship? And did he not tell you people of Jerusalem and Judah to worship at that one place?

¹³ You have heard what my ancestors and I have done to other nations. Were the gods of those nations able to defend their land against us? ¹⁴ None of those gods kept their people safe from the kings of Assyria. Do you really think your God can do any better? ¹⁵ Do not be fooled by Hezekiah! No god of any nation has been able to stand up to Assyria. Believe me, your God cannot keep you safe!'

¹⁶ Sennacherib's officers said more against Jehovah God and his servant Hezekiah. ¹⁷ Sennacherib wrote letters cursing Jehovah the God of Israel. These letters said: The gods of the nations in other countries could not rescue their people from me. Hezekiah's God cannot rescue his people from me.

¹⁸ Sennacherib's officers shouted loudly in the Judean language to the troops who were on the wall of Jerusalem. They tried to frighten and terrify the troops so that they could capture the city. ¹⁹ They spoke against the God of Jerusalem as if he were one of the gods of the peoples of the earth, the work of the hands of man.