Now it came to passin the fourteenthyearof kingHezekiah, that Sennacheribkingof Assyriacame upagainstallthe defensedcitiesof Judah, and tookthem. And the kingof AssyriasentRab-shakeh from Lachishto JerusalemuntokingHezekiahwith a greatarmy. And he stoodby the conduitof the upperpoolin the highwayof the fuller's field. Then came forthuntohim Eliakim, Hilkiah's son, whichwas overthe house, and Shebnathe scribe, and Joah, Asaph's son, the recorder. And Rab-shakeh saiduntothem, Sayye nowtoHezekiah, Thussaiththe greatking, the kingof Assyria, Whatconfidence is thiswhereinthou trustest? I say, sayest thou , ( but they are but vainwords) I have counseland strengthfor war: nowonwhomdost thou trust, thatthou rebellestagainst me? Lo, thou trustestinthe staffof thisbrokenreed, onEgypt; whereonif a manlean, it will gointo his hand, and pierceit: so is Pharaohkingof Egyptto allthat trustinhim. Butif thou saytome, We trustinthe LORDour God: is it nothe, whosehigh placesand whose altarsHezekiahhath taken away, and saidto Judahand to Jerusalem, Ye shall worshipbeforethisaltar? Nowtherefore give pledges, I pray thee, tomy masterthe kingof Assyria, and I will givethee two thousandhorses, ifthou be ableon thy part to setridersuponthem. Howthen wilt thou turn awaythe faceof onecaptainof the leastof my master's servants, and put thy trustonEgyptfor chariotsand for horsemen? And am I nowcome upwithoutthe LORDagainstthislandto destroyit? the LORDsaiduntome, Go upagainstthisland, and destroyit. Then saidEliakimand Shebnaand JoahuntoRab-shakeh, Speak, I pray thee, untothy servantsin the Syrian language; forweunderstand it : and speaknottous in the Jews' language, in the earsof the peoplethat are onthe wall. But Rab-shakeh said, Hath my mastersentme tothy masterand tothee to speakthesewords? hath he not sent me tothe menthat situponthe wall, that they may eattheir own dung, and drinktheir own pisswithyou? Then Rab-shakeh stood, and criedwith a loudvoicein the Jews' language, and said, Hearye the wordsof the greatking, the kingof Assyria. Thussaiththe king, Let notHezekiahdeceiveyou: forhe shall notbe ableto deliveryou. Neitherlet Hezekiahmake you trustinthe LORD, saying, The LORDwill surely deliverus: thiscityshall notbe deliveredinto the handof the kingof Assyria. HearkennottoHezekiah: forthussaiththe kingof Assyria, Make an agreement withme by a present, and come outtome: and eatye every oneof his vine, and every oneof his fig tree, and drinkye every onethe watersof his own cistern; UntilI comeand take you awaytoa landlike your own land, a landof cornand wine, a landof breadand vineyards. Beware lestHezekiahpersuadeyou, saying, The LORDwill deliverus. Hath anyof the godsof the nationsdeliveredhis landout of the handof the kingof Assyria? Where are the godsof Hamathand Arphad? where are the godsof Sepharvaim? andhave they deliveredSamariaout of my hand? Who are they among allthe godsof theselands, thathave deliveredtheir landout of my hand, thatthe LORDshould deliverJerusalemout of my hand? But they held their peace, and answeredhim nota word: forthe king's commandmentwas, saying, Answerhim not. Then cameEliakim, the sonof Hilkiah, that was overthe household, and Shebnathe scribe, and Joah, the sonof Asaph, the recorder, toHezekiahwith their clothesrent, and toldhim the wordsof Rab-shakeh.