מלכים ב, פרק י״ט, פסוק י׳

Rumors begin to spread that the Assyrian army is abandoning the area around Jerusalem and marching south. In response to these whispers, the king of Assyria sends a direct and threatening message to Hezekiah, the king of Judah. The commentators explain that this communication is meant to clarify the reality on the ground. The Assyrian king wants Hezekiah to understand that the movement of his forces is strictly a tactical maneuver to rearrange the battle lines, rather than a genuine retreat.

To ensure there is no misunderstanding, the Assyrian king issues a sharp warning. He tells Hezekiah not to allow God, in whom he places his trust, to mislead or deceive him. The warning is intended to crush any false hope Hezekiah might have that Jerusalem has been saved from falling to Assyria.