מלכים ב, פרק י״ט, פסוק י״ז

The plea directed toward God begins with a sober recognition of a harsh reality. There is no denying the devastating trail of conquests left by the enemy. In addressing God, there is an open admission before Him that the terrifying reputation of the Assyrian kings is entirely true and based on established facts [מצודת דוד]. They have indeed ruined the surrounding nations.

The sheer force of Assyria's destruction cannot be questioned. In their relentless campaigns, they successfully overpowered and leveled fortified cities that possessed even greater strength than Jerusalem [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. As they swept through these territories, the Assyrians did not merely defeat the local populations; they entirely wiped out the nations and threw their gods directly into the fire [רש״י].