And he sent Eliakim, who was over the household, and Shebna the secretary, and the senior priests, covered with sackcloth, to the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Notice that Hezekiah doesn't send his warriors or advisors, but his top three officials: the one managing the palace, the chief administrator, and the senior priests—all of whom are dressed in sackcloth. This shows the king understood this wasn't a political or military problem to solve, but a spiritual crisis requiring God's intervention through His prophet.
And he sent Eliakim, who was over the household, and Shebna the secretary, and the senior priests, covered with sackcloth, to the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz.
English Standard Version (ESV)
King Hezekiah's kingdom is under immense threat from the Assyrian army, led by Sennacherib, who has already conquered many surrounding cities and is now boasting about his power. In a moment of profound crisis, Hezekiah doesn't try to negotiate militarily or rely on his own strength, but instead turns to God's prophet, Isaiah, seeking divine intervention. This delegation, draped in the symbols of mourning and repentance, is sent to plead for God's mercy and guidance in their desperate hour.
When faced with overwhelming threats, who do you send? King Hezekiah sent his top officials, but their appearance told a different story.
King Hezekiah of Judah was in a terrifying situation. Sennacherib, the powerful king of Assyria, had already conquered many of Judah's cities and was now threatening Jerusalem itself.
In this moment of crisis, Hezekiah didn't send just anyone. He sent his chief administrator, Eliakim, the secretary Shebna, and the senior priests. These were the people in charge of the nation's household, its records, and its spiritual life. They represented the very best of Judah's leadership.
Yet, their attire was one of profound distress: "covered with sackcloth." Sackcloth was coarse, uncomfortable material worn as a public sign of mourning, repentance, or extreme grief and fear. This wasn't a delegation of bravado; it was a delegation broadcasting their deep anxiety and the gravity of their mission.
In the face of impossible odds, Hezekiah turned not just to his leaders, but to a man who spoke for God.
Hezekiah's choice to send this delegation to Isaiah is crucial. Isaiah wasn't just another wise advisor; he was a prophet, someone called and empowered by God to communicate His will and His word.
Sending this delegation to Isaiah signified that Hezekiah recognized the limits of human power and political maneuvering. The Assyrian army was a human force, but the solution, Hezekiah understood, needed to come from a divine source. Isaiah was the conduit for that divine word.
This highlights a vital truth: during times of immense pressure, our first recourse shouldn't just be to earthly solutions or our own strategies. It should be to seek the voice of God through prayer and His appointed means, like Scripture and His prophetic messengers (as Isaiah was in his time).
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Understand the original words
nabi' · Hebrew Noun
An authorized spokesperson for God who receives direct revelation or messages from the Lord to deliver to His people. Prophets serve as intermediaries, calling the nation to repentance, warning of judgment, or offering hope based on God's covenant promises.
This passage unfolds during a moment of extreme peril for Jerusalem. The Assyrian empire, under Sennacherib, was a military superpower, and their advance into Judah, marked by the destruction of Lachish, presented an existential threat. The mission described here—sending officials and priests to seek divine counsel through Isaiah—highlights the desperate state of King Hezekiah and the people as they faced the might of Assyria.
705 BC
Death of Sargon II
King Sargon II of Assyria, a formidable conqueror, died. His son Sennacherib succeeded him, facing internal challenges and a restive empire.
701 BC
Sennacherib's Campaign
Assyrian King Sennacherib launched a massive campaign into the Levant, targeting Phoenicia, Philistia, and Judah, aiming to quell rebellion.
701 BC
Siege of Lachish
Sennacherib conquered and brutally sacked the Judean fortress city of Lachish. This event served as a terrifying display of Assyrian power.
701 BC— this verse
Assyrian Threat to Jerusalem
After destroying Lachish, Sennacherib's army advanced toward Jerusalem, demanding surrender and imposing heavy tribute on King Hezekiah.
c. 701 BC
Divine Intervention and Assyrian Withdrawal
An unexplained disaster struck the Assyrian army outside Jerusalem, causing Sennacherib to withdraw. This event was seen by the Judeans as direct divine intervention.
This passage tells the same story from Isaiah's perspective, highlighting that the same message of divine intervention was delivered to both King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah.
Jeremiah 36:14This shows another instance where officials are sent to the prophet, this time to seek the Lord's word regarding a king's decree, demonstrating a recurring pattern of seeking prophetic counsel in times of crisis.
2 Chronicles 32:20This parallel account emphasizes that King Hezekiah and Isaiah the prophet prayed to God about the situation, underscoring the spiritual dimension of the crisis beyond the political and military aspects.
1 Samuel 9:9This verse explains that in older times, someone who was called a 'seer' (a role similar to a prophet) was previously called a 'visionary,' providing historical context for how prophets were viewed and consulted in ancient Israel.
Notice that Hezekiah doesn't send his warriors or advisors, but his top three officials: the one managing the palace, the chief administrator, and the senior priests—all of whom are dressed in sackcloth. This shows the king understood this wasn't a political or military problem to solve, but a spiritual crisis requiring God's intervention through His prophet.
King Hezekiah's kingdom is under immense threat from the Assyrian army, led by Sennacherib, who has already conquered many surrounding cities and is now boasting about his power. In a moment of profound crisis, Hezekiah doesn't try to negotiate militarily or rely on his own strength, but instead turns to God's prophet, Isaiah, seeking divine intervention. This delegation, draped in the symbols of mourning and repentance, is sent to plead for God's mercy and guidance in their desperate hour.
King Hezekiah's kingdom is under immense threat from the Assyrian army, led by Sennacherib, who has already conquered many surrounding cities and is now boasting about his power. In a moment of profound crisis, Hezekiah doesn't try to negotiate militarily or rely on his own strength, but instead turns to God's prophet, Isaiah, seeking divine intervention. This delegation, draped in the symbols of mourning and repentance, is sent to plead for God's mercy and guidance in their desperate hour.
"And he sent Eliakim, who was over the household, and Shebna the secretary, and the senior priests, covered with sackcloth, to the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz." — Notice that Hezekiah doesn't send his warriors or advisors, but his top three officials: the one managing the palace, the chief administrator, and the senior priests—all of whom are dressed in sackcl…
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Last reviewed October 2026