1 Now it came to pass in the fourteenth year of king Hezeki´ah, that Sennach´erib king of Assyria came up against all the defensed cities of Judah, and took them.
2 And the king of Assyria sent Rab–sha´keh from Lachish to Jerusalem unto king Hezeki´ah with a great army. And he stood by the conduit of the upper pool in the highway of the fuller's field.
3 Then came forth unto him Eli´akim, Hilki´ah's son, which was over the house, and Shebna the scribe, and Jo´ah, Asaph's son, the recorder.
4 And Rab–sha´keh said unto them, Say ye now to Hezeki´ah, Thus saith the great king, the king of Assyria, What confidence is this wherein thou trustest?
5 I say, sayest thou, (but they are but vain words) I have counsel and strength for war: now on whom dost thou trust, that thou rebellest against me?
6 Lo, thou trustest in the staff of this broken reed, on Egypt; whereon if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all that trust in him.