Returning to the political situation of Hezekiah, the Jews were threatened by the Assyrian emissaries (see commentary for 2 Nephi 20:9-12). At the time, the Assyrians were much more powerful than the kingdom of Judah. Hezekiah’s response was as follows, ’he rent his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went in the house of the Lord’ (2 Kings 19:1). Hezekiah then did the right thing—he asked the prophet, Isaiah, for advice. Isaiah responded, ’Thus saith the Lord, Be not afraid of the words which thou hast heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me. Behold, I will send a blast upon him, and he shall hear a rumour, and shall return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land’ (2 Kings 19:6-7).
Hezekiah next received another messenger from the Assyrian king, repeating the threats of his servants. Next, ’Hezekiah went up into the house of the Lord, and…prayed…O Lord God of Israel…I beseech thee, save thou us out of his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the Lord God, even thou only’ (2 Kings 19:14-19). That the prophecy of Isaiah was fulfilled and the prayer of Hezekiah was answered will be seen in the next verses.