The boastful threat was accompanied by the message: "Let not thy God in whom thou trustest deceive thee, saying, Jerusalem shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria. Behold, thou hast heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands, by destroying them utterly: and shalt thou be delivered? Have the gods of the nations delivered them which my fathers have destroyed; as Gozan, and Haran, and Rezeph, and the children of Eden which were in Thelasar? Where is the king of Hamath, and the king of Arpad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, of Hena, and Ivah?" 2 Kings 19:10-13.

Den hovmodige trussel var ledsaget af disse ord: "Lad ikke din Gud, som du slår din lid til, vildlede dig med at sige, at Jerusalem ikke skal gives i assyrerkongens hånd! Du har jo dog hørt, hvad assyrerkongerne har gjort ved alle lande, hvorledes de har lagt band på dem og du skulle kunne undslippe! De folk, mine fædre tilintetgjorde, Gozan, Karan, Rezef og folkene fra Eden i Talassar, har deres guder kunnet frelse dem? Hvor er kongen af Hamat, kongen af Arpad eller kongen af Lair, Sefarvajim, Hena og Ivva?" 2Kong. 19,10-13.