When King Hezekiah heard it; rather, heard them; i.e. the "words of Rabshakeh," which his officials reported to him. He rent his clothes. He did as they had done (Isaiah 36:22; see the comment on that verse).
But he went further, showing a deeper sense of horror and affliction than the officials had shown by being covered with sackcloth (on the combination of the two modes of showing grief or horror, see Genesis 37:34; 2 Samuel 3:31; 1 Kings 21:27; Esther 4:1, etc.
). And went into the house of the Lord. The temple was not only a place for offering praise and sacrifice, but also a "house of prayer". Hezekiah can, on this occasion, have gone up to the house of the Lord only to pray.