THE FALL OF JUDAH. 803

was to give themselves up to him. Wherever the king
of Assyria had fought before, he had conquered, and
how could they expect to escape? “ Hath any of the
gods of the nations,” exclaimed the blaspheming As-
syrian, “ delivered at all his land out of the hand of the
king of Assyria? Where are the gods of Hamath, Ar-
phad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Henah, and
Ivah? Have they delivered Samaria out of mine hand ?
Who are they among all the gods of the countries that
have delivered their country out of mine hand, that the
Lord should deliver Jerusalem out of mine hand ?”
The people made no reply, as the king had commanded,
and the three commissioners returned to Hezekiah with
their clothes rent in token of sorrow. When Hezekiah
heard it, he also rent. his clothes, and covered himself
with sackcloth. He went to the house of the Lord to
seek comfort there, and sent to ask Isaiah the prophet
how this trouble would end. While Hezekiah was pray-
ing, Isaiah was speaking words of comfort to the dis-
tressed people of Judah. He sent this message to the
king—“ 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.”

Johnnie. A blast upon him ? What was that ? What
happened to the Assyrians ?

Grandfather. You shall hear, but the troubles of Heze-