2 Kings 19:8-13--Sennacherib Defies the LORD

2 Kings 19:8-13
English Standard Version

Sennacherib Defies the LORD
8 The Rabshakeh returned, and found the king of Assyria fighting against Libnah, for he heard that the king had left Lachish. 9 Now the king heard concerning Tirhakah king of Cush, “Behold, he has set out to fight against you.” So he sent messengers again to Hezekiah, saying, 10 “Thus shall you speak to Hezekiah king of Judah: ‘Do not let your God in whom you trust deceive you by promising that Jerusalem will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria. 11 Behold, you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands, devoting them to destruction. And shall you be delivered? 12 Have the gods of the nations delivered them, the nations that my fathers destroyed, Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and the people of Eden who were in Telassar? 13 Where is the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad, the king of the city of Sepharvaim, the king of Hena, or the king of Ivvah?’”

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The false prophet called the Rabshakeh returned to the king of Assyria and found the king at war with an adversary named Libnah.  Just as prophecies by Isaiah, the king of Assyria hears a rumor that Tirhakah, king of Cush, has set out to fight against him.  Facing a potential war on two fronts, the king of Assyria decides to withdraw from his attack on Jerusalem, but not before making threats and boasting telling them to not presume that the LORD has saved them or is even able to save them.  The king of Assyria once again points out all the other nations and people that he and his people have conquered and subjected.  None of those nations exist anymore and the king of Assyria plans to make King Hezekiah just like one of those kings and Judah just like one of those other nations.  The LORD has other plans for his people though and He also has other plans for Assyria.