The Assyrian envoy had reproached and belittled the great God of heaven, placing Him on a par with the gods of the nations round about. God’s honor was at stake, and for His own name’s sake He might be expected to intervene in behalf of Judah.

 For other instances of this title see, for example, Deut. 5:26; Joshua 3:10; 1 Sam. 17:26; Ps. 42:2; 84:2; Jer. 10:10; 23:36; Dan. 6:26; Hosea 1:10. The expression designates Jehovah as the One in whom is life original, unborrowed, and underived.

Israel was gone, most of Judah was gone. The last remnant in Jerusalem stood in danger of being quickly wiped out.