15. UHezekiya wamnika lonke isiliva elalifunyanwa endlini kaJehova nasengcebeni endlini yenkosi.
16. Ngaleso sikhathi uHezekiya wanquma izivalo zethempeli likaJehova nezinsika uHezekiya inkosi yakwaJuda ayezinamekile, wakunika inkosi yase-Asiriya.
17. Inkosi yase-Asiriya yathuma oTharithani, noRabi Sarisi, noRabi Shake ukuba basuke eLakishi, baye enkosini uHezekiya eJerusalema, benempi enkulu. Benyuka bafika eJerusalema. Sebenyukile bafika, bema ngasemseleni wechibi lasenhla elingasendleleni yeNsimu yoMhlanzi.
18. Bayibiza inkosi, kwaphumela kubo u-Eliyakimi indodana kaHilikiya owayephezu kwendlu, noShebina umbhali, noJowa indodana ka-Asafa, umabhalana.
19. Wathi kubo uRabi Shake: “Ake nisho kuHezekiya, nithi: ‘Isho kanje inkosi enkulu, inkosi yase-Asiriya, ithi: Yithemba lini leli olethembayo na?
20. Wena uyakhuluma, kepha kungamazwi angawomlomo nje lana ngesu nangamandla okulwa. Pho, wethemba bani, lokhu ungihlubukile, na?
21. Manje bheka, wethemba udondolo lwalo mhlanga ofecekileyo oyiGibithe; kepha uma umuntu ezimelela ngalo, luyakungena esandleni sakhe, lusihlabe; unjalo uFaro inkosi yaseGibithe kubo bonke abamethembayo.
22. Kepha uma nithi kimi: “Siyamethemba uJehova uNkulunkulu wethu,” akusiye yini ozindawo zakhe eziphakemeyo nama-altare akhe akususile uHezekiya, wathi kuJuda nakulo iJerusalema: “Niyakukhuleka phambi kwaleli altare eJerusalema,” na?
23. “ ‘Ngalokho ake uvumelane nenkosi yami, inkosi yase-Asiriya, ngiyakukunika amahhashi ayizinkulungwane ezimbili, uma ungabeka izinkweli kuwo.
24. Pho, ungaphindisela emuva kanjani nenduna eyodwa ezincekwini ezincane zenkosi yami na? Nokho wethemba iGibithe ukuthola khona izinqola nabamahhashi.
25. Manje ngenyukele yini ngaphandle kukaJehova kule ndawo ukuba ngiyichithe na? UJehova wathi kimi: “Yenyukela kulelo zwe, ulichithe.” ’ ”
26. Base bethi u-Eliyakimi indodana kaHilikiya noShebina noJowa kuRabi Shake: “Ake ukhulume ezincekwini zakho ngesi-Aramu, ngokuba siyaluzwa, ungakhulumi kithi ngolimi lwabaJuda ezindlebeni zabantu abasogangeni.”
27. Kepha uRabi Shake wathi kubo: “Inkosi yami ingithumile yini enkosini yakho nakuwena ukukhuluma lawa mazwi na? Hhayi kulaba bantu yini abahlezi ogangeni ukuba badle amasimba abo, baphuze umshobingo wabo kanye nani, na?”