8 The Assyrianofficial learned that the emperor had left Lachishand was fighting against the nearby city of Libnah; so he went there to consult him. 9 Word reached the Assyrians that the Egyptian army, led by King Tirhakahof Ethiopia,37.9: Hebrew Cush: Cush is the ancient name of the extensive territory south of the First Cataract of the Nile River. This region was called Ethiopia in Graeco-Roman times, and included within its borders most of modern Sudan and some of present-day Ethiopia (Abyssinia).was coming to attack them. When the emperor heard this, he sent a letter to King Hezekiah10 of Judah 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. 11 You have heard what an Assyrianemperor does to any country he decides to destroy. Do you think that you can escape? 12 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. 13 Where are the kings of the cities of Hamath, Arpad, Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah?"
14 King Hezekiahtook the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went to the Temple, placed the letter there in the presence of the Lord, 15 and prayed, 16 Ex 25.22"Almighty Lord, God of Israel, seated above the winged creatures, you alone are God, ruling all the kingdoms of the world. You created the earth and the sky. 17 Now, Lord, hear us and look at what is happening to us. Listen to all the things that Sennacheribis saying to insult you, the living God. 18 We all know, Lord, that the emperors of Assyriahave destroyed many nations, made their lands desolate, 19 and burned up their gods—which were no gods at all, only images of wood and stone made by human hands. 20 Now, Lordour God, rescue us from the Assyrians, so that all the nations of the world will know that you alone are God."
Assyria is the land whose kings took Galilee and Naphtali, besieged Samaria for three years, and deported Israel to Halah, Habor, and Gozan. Sennacherib, its king, sent servants to Hezekiah in Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 32:9).
Lachish was a city whose king joined four other Amorite kings against Gibeon and which Joshua and all Israel besieged and attacked. Amaziah fled there, but he was pursued and killed there (2 Chronicles 25:27).
Libnah was the city that Joshua attacked after Makkedah, putting to the sword everyone in it; it was also one of the cities given to the descendants of Aaron (Joshua 10:30).
Cush is the land of King Tirhakah, who was marching out to fight against Sennacherib. Upon hearing this report, Sennacherib sent messengers to Hezekiah (Isaiah 37:9).
Hezekiah, king of Judah, did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, destroyed the high places, and trusted in God when Sennacherib, king of Assyria, besieged Jerusalem (2 Kings 18:1).
Assyria is the land whose kings took Galilee and Naphtali, besieged Samaria for three years, and deported Israel to Halah, Habor, and Gozan. Sennacherib, its king, sent servants to Hezekiah in Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 32:9).
Gozan was one of the places where the king of Assyria settled the Israelites after capturing Samaria, along with Halah, the Habor River, and the towns of the Medes (2 Kings 17:6).
Haran is the city where Terah settled with Abram, Sarai, and Lot upon leaving Ur of the Chaldeans, and where he died; from there Abram departed for Canaan at the age of seventy-five (Genesis 12:4).
Hamath is a land where Riblah was located, the place where Zedekiah was brought to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, who pronounced sentence on him (Jeremiah 39:5).
Hezekiah, king of Judah, did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, destroyed the high places, and trusted in God when Sennacherib, king of Assyria, besieged Jerusalem (2 Kings 18:1).
Sennacherib, king of Assyria, took the fortified cities of Judah and besieged Jerusalem in the days of Hezekiah, but the angel of the Lord struck his army, and he returned to Nineveh (2 Kings 18:13).
Assyria is the land whose kings took Galilee and Naphtali, besieged Samaria for three years, and deported Israel to Halah, Habor, and Gozan. Sennacherib, its king, sent servants to Hezekiah in Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 32:9).