He also wrotelettersto insultthe LORDGodof Israel,and to speakagainstHim, saying,"As the godsof the nationsof the landshave not deliveredtheir peoplefrom my hand,sothe Godof Hezekiahwill not deliverHis peoplefrom my hand."
Behold,you have heardwhatthe kingsof Assyriahave doneto allthe lands,destroyingthem completely.So will you be spared?
Did the godsof those nationswhichmy fathersdestroyeddeliverthem, [even] Gozanand Haranand Rezephand the sonsof Edenwho[were] in Telassar?
Then Hezekiahtookthe letterfrom the handof the messengersand readit, and he wentup to the houseof the LORDand spreadit out beforethe LORD.
Whomhave you reproachedand blasphemed?And againstwhomhave you raised[your] voice,And haughtilyliftedup your eyes?Againstthe HolyOneof Israel!
Becauseof your ragingagainstMe, And because your arrogancehas comeup to My ears,Therefore I will putMy hookin your nose,And My bridlein your lips,And I will turnyou backby the waywhichyou came.
When he heard[them] sayconcerningTirhakahkingof Cush,"Behold,he has comeout to fightagainstyou," he sentmessengersagainto Hezekiahsaying,
Who[was there] among allthe godsof thosenationswhichmy fathersutterlydestroyedwhocoulddeliverhis peopleout of my hand,that your Godshould be ableto deliveryou from my hand?
His servantsspokefurtheragainstthe LORDGodand againstHis servantHezekiah.
Then Sanballatsenthis servantto me in the samemannera fifthtimewith an openletterin his hand.
Is the axeto boastitself overthe one who chopswith it? Is the sawto exaltitself overthe one who wieldsit? [That would be] like a clubwieldingthose who liftit, [Or] like a rodlifting[him who] is not wood.
And he openedhis mouthin blasphemiesagainstGod,to blasphemeHis nameand His tabernacle,[that is], thosewho dwellin heaven.
Then Davidspoketo the menwho were standingby him, saying,"Whatwill be donefor the manwhokillsthisPhilistineand takesawaythe reproachfrom Israel?For whois thisuncircumcisedPhilistine,that he should tauntthe armiesof the livingGod?"
"Your servanthas killedboththe lionand the bear;and thisuncircumcisedPhilistinewill be like oneof them, sincehe has tauntedthe armiesof the livingGod."
