The previous chapters have been constructed as prophecy and contain many poetic elements. This chapter switches to a narrative and is a discussion between the officials from Assyria and Judah. To make the meaning clear here, it may be helpful to set apart the extended quotations by setting them farther to the right on the page than the rest of the text. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/prophet]])
The people of Judah were to trust in Yahweh because only he could provide them with protection. The people of Jerusalem were protected because they trusted in Yahweh. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/trust]])
The Assyrian commanders use rhetorical questions in this chapter to mock or insult Judah and their God, Yahweh. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion]])