And it came to pass, when king Hezekiah heard it, that he rent his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the LORD.
When King Hezekiah heard this news, he tore his clothes, put on rough sackcloth, and went into the Lord's temple.
King Hezekiah responded to devastating news by mourning deeply and immediately turning to God in prayer.
📚 Historical Context
In the historical context of 2 Kings, King Hezekiah of Judah was facing a dire threat from the Assyrian empire, as their king Sennacherib had sent envoys to demand surrender and mock the God of Israel. Tearing one's clothes and wearing sackcloth were common ancient Near Eastern practices symbolizing deep mourning, repentance, and humility before God in times of crisis. Hezekiah's immediate response was to go to the Temple, the house of the LORD, to seek divine guidance and intercession.
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