Isaiah 37:11-18, 29-36

You have heard what the kings of Assyria have done. They have completely defeated every country, so do not think you will be saved. Did the gods of those people save them? My ancestors destroyed them, defeating the cities of Gozan, Haran, and Rezeph, and the people of Eden living in Tel Assar. Where are the kings of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the kings of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah?” When Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it, he went up to the Temple of the LORD. He spread the letter out before the LORD and prayed to the LORD: “LORD All-Powerful, you are the God of Israel, whose throne is between the gold creatures with wings, only you are God of all the kingdoms of the earth. You made the heavens and the earth. Hear, LORD, and listen. Open your eyes, LORD, and see. Listen to all the words Sennacherib has said to insult the living God. “It is true, LORD, that the kings of Assyria have destroyed all these countries and their lands.

Because you rage against me, and because I have heard your proud words, I will put my hook in your nose and my bit in your mouth. Then I will force you to leave my country the same way you came.’ “Then the LORD said, ‘Hezekiah, I will give you this sign: This year you will eat the grain that grows wild, and the second year you will eat what grows wild from that. But in the third year, plant grain and harvest it. Plant vineyards and eat their fruit. Some of the people in the family of Judah will escape. Like plants that take root, they will grow strong and have many children. A few people will come out of Jerusalem alive; a few from Mount Zion will live. The strong love of the LORD All-Powerful will make this happen.’ “So this is what the LORD says about the king of Assyria: ‘He will not enter this city or even shoot an arrow here. He will not fight against it with shields or build a ramp to attack the city walls. He will return to his country the same way he came, and he will not enter this city,’ says the LORD. ‘I will defend and save this city for my sake and for David, my servant.’ ” Then the angel of the LORD went out and killed one hundred eighty-five thousand men in the Assyrian camp. When the people got up early the next morning, they saw all the dead bodies.