19:8 When the chief adviser heard the king of Assyria had departed from Lachish, he left and went to Libnah, where the king was campaigning. 1 19:9 The king 2 heard that King Tirhakah of Ethiopia was marching out to fight him. 3 He again sent messengers to Hezekiah, ordering them: 19:10 “Tell King Hezekiah of Judah this: ‘Don’t let your God in whom you trust mislead you when he says, “Jerusalem will not be handed over 4 to the king of Assyria.” 19:11 Certainly you have heard how the kings of Assyria have annihilated all lands. 5 Do you really think you will be rescued? 6 19:12 Were the nations whom my ancestors destroyed – the nations of Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and the people of Eden in Telassar – rescued by their gods? 7 19:13 Where are the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad, and the king of Lair, 8 Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah?’”
1 tn Heb “and the chief adviser returned and he found the king of Assyria fighting against Libnah, for he heard that he had departed from Lachish.”
2 tn Heb “he”; the referent (the king) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
3 tn Heb “heard concerning Tirhakah king of Cush, ‘Look, he has come out to fight with you.’”
3 tn Heb “will not be given.”
4 tn Heb “Look, you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all the lands, annihilating them.”
5 tn Heb “and will you be rescued?” The rhetorical question expects the answer, “No, of course not!”
5 tn Heb “Did the gods of the nations whom my fathers destroyed rescue them – Gozan and Haran, and Rezeph and the sons of Eden who are in Telassar?”
6 sn Lair is a city located in northeastern Babylon. See M. Cogan and H. Tadmor, II Kings (AB), 235.