Hezekiah (2 Kings 18:1–8; 2 Kings 18:13–16; 2 Kings 18:17–37; 2 Kings 19:1–7; 2 Kings 19:14–19; 2 Kings 19:20–37; 2 Kings 20:1–11; 2 Kings 20:12–19; 2 Chronicles 29:1–3; 2 Chronicles 30:1–27; 2 Chronicles 31:20–21; 2 Chronicles 32:7–8; 2 Chronicles 32:20–26; 2 Chronicles 32:31; Proverbs 25:1; Isaiah 38:9–20; Jeremiah 26:18–19; Matthew 1:9–10)

King of Judah Who Trusted in the LORD

The son of Ahaz, who began to reign in Judah at twenty-five, removed the high places, opened and repaired the house of the LORD, kept a passover, prayed over Sennacherib's letter, was healed of a sickness unto death, and showed the envoys of Babylon all his treasures.

Hezekiah was the son of Ahaz (2 Kings 16:20). “Twenty and five years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem: and his mother’s name was Abi the daughter of Zechariah” (2 Kings 18:2); Chronicles gives her name as “Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah” (2 Chronicles 29:1). Kings says that “he did that which was right in the eyes of Jehovah, according to all that David his father had done” (2 Kings 18:3), and that “He trusted in Jehovah, the God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor among them that were before him” (2 Kings 18:5). Chronicles tells that he “in the first year of his reign, in the first month, opened the doors of the house of Jehovah, and repaired them” (2 Chronicles 29:3), that he sent letters to keep the passover, and that “he wrought that which was good and right and faithful before Jehovah his God” (2 Chronicles 31:20).

When Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against the fortified cities of Judah, Hezekiah sent to him at Lachish, “I have offended; return from me: that which thou puttest on me will I bear” (2 Kings 18:14), and cut off the gold from the doors of the temple of the LORD to give to the king of Assyria (2 Kings 18:16). Later, when Sennacherib's letter came, “Hezekiah went up unto the house of Jehovah, and spread it before Jehovah” (2 Kings 19:14), and prayed. Isaiah the prophet sent him word, “I have heard thee” (2 Kings 19:20), and “the angel of Jehovah went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred fourscore and five thousand” (2 Kings 19:35).

Kings goes on: “In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death” (2 Kings 20:1). He prayed and wept, and the LORD added fifteen years to his days (2 Kings 20:5-6). When envoys came from Babylon he “showed them all the house of his precious things” (2 Kings 20:13), and Isaiah told him that it would all be carried to Babylon (2 Kings 20:17). Chronicles says that “his heart was lifted up” (2 Chronicles 32:25) and that he “humbled himself for the pride of his heart” (2 Chronicles 32:26). “And Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the ascent of the sepulchres of the sons of David” (2 Chronicles 32:33). Matthew lists him in the line of Jesus: “and Hezekiah begat Manasseh” (Matthew 1:10).

Strengths

• He trusted in the LORD
• Clave to the LORD and kept his commandments
• Removed the high places
• Opened the doors of the house of the LORD
• Spread the letter before the LORD
• Prayed for the unclean at the passover
• Spake comfortably to the people
• Humbled himself for the pride of his heart

Weaknesses

• Rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him
• His heart was lifted up

Themes

• Trust in the LORD
• Reform of worship
• The passover
• Prayer in distress
• Sickness and added years
• Pride and humbling

Trusts in the LORD and removes the high places (2 Kings 18:1–8)

Hezekiah begins to reign at twenty-five, does right as David his father did, removes the high places, breaks the pillars and the brazen serpent, and trusts and cleaves to the LORD.

Trusts in the LORD and removes the high places

“And he did that which was right in the eyes of Jehovah, according to all that David his father had done. He removed the high places, and brake the pillars, and cut down the Asherah: and he brake in pieces the brazen serpent that Moses had made; for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it; and he called it Nehushtan” (2 Kings 18:3-4).

“He trusted in Jehovah, the God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor among them that were before him. For he clave to Jehovah; he departed not from following him, but kept his commandments, which Jehovah commanded Moses” (2 Kings 18:5-6).

“And Jehovah was with him; whithersoever he went forth he prospered: and he rebelled against the king of Assyria, and served him not” (2 Kings 18:7). Years later, Manasseh his son “built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed” (2 Kings 21:3).

Opens the house of the LORD (2 Chronicles 29:1–36)

In the first month of his first year Hezekiah opens and repairs the doors of the house of the LORD, calls the priests and Levites to cleanse it, and restores the offerings; he and the people rejoice.

The passover at Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 30:1–27)

Hezekiah sends letters through Israel and Judah to keep the passover in the second month; some mock, some come, he prays for those not cleansed, and the feast runs another seven days with great joy.

The passover at Jerusalem

“And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of Jehovah at Jerusalem, to keep the passover unto Jehovah, the God of Israel” (2 Chronicles 30:1). The reply was mixed: “the posts passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, even unto Zebulun: but they laughed them to scorn, and mocked them. Nevertheless certain men of Asher and Manasseh and of Zebulun humbled themselves, and came to Jerusalem” (2 Chronicles 30:10-11).

Many of those who came had not cleansed themselves. “For Hezekiah had prayed for them, saying, The good Jehovah pardon every one that setteth his heart to seek God, Jehovah, the God of his fathers, though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary. And Jehovah hearkened to Hezekiah, and healed the people” (2 Chronicles 30:18-20).

“So there was great joy in Jerusalem; for since the time of Solomon the son of David king of Israel there was not the like in Jerusalem” (2 Chronicles 30:26).

Idols broken and the work set in order (2 Chronicles 31:1–21)

When the feast ends, all Israel that were present break the pillars, Asherim and high places throughout Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim and Manasseh, and the tithes are brought in; Hezekiah wrought what was good and right and faithful.

Pays the king of Assyria at Lachish (2 Kings 18:13–16)

In his fourteenth year Sennacherib takes the fortified cities of Judah; Hezekiah sends to him at Lachish, saying, I have offended, and gives him the silver of the house of the LORD and of the king's house and the gold cut from the temple doors.

Prepares Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 32:1–8)

When Sennacherib is purposed to fight against Jerusalem, Hezekiah stops the fountains, builds up the wall, makes weapons, and tells the people that with them is the LORD their God.

Spreads Sennacherib's letter before the LORD (2 Kings 18:17–37; 2 Kings 19:1–19; Isaiah 36:1–37:20; 2 Chronicles 32:9–19)

After Rabshakeh mocks his trust in the LORD, Hezekiah rends his clothes, goes into the house of the LORD, and sends to Isaiah; when Sennacherib sends messengers again with a letter, he spreads it before the LORD and prays.

Spreads Sennacherib's letter before the LORD

When Hezekiah heard the words of Rabshakeh, he “rent his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of Jehovah” (2 Kings 19:1). He sent Eliakim, Shebna and the elders of the priests to Isaiah the prophet, saying, “This day is a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and of contumely” (2 Kings 19:3). Isaiah answered, “Be not afraid of the words that thou hast heard” (2 Kings 19:6).

Then came Sennacherib's letter. “And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it; and Hezekiah went up unto the house of Jehovah, and spread it before Jehovah. And Hezekiah prayed before Jehovah, and said, O Jehovah, the God of Israel, that sittest above the cherubim, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; thou hast made heaven and earth” (2 Kings 19:14-15).

“Now therefore, O Jehovah our God, save thou us, I beseech thee, out of his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou Jehovah art God alone” (2 Kings 19:19).

Isaiah's word and the angel of the LORD (2 Kings 19:20–37; Isaiah 37:21–38; 2 Chronicles 32:20–23)

Isaiah sends word that the LORD has heard the prayer; the angel of the LORD smites the camp of the Assyrians in the night, and Sennacherib returns to Nineveh; Chronicles adds that Hezekiah and Isaiah cried to heaven.

Sick unto death (2 Kings 20:1–11; Isaiah 38:1–22; 2 Chronicles 32:24)

Isaiah tells the sick Hezekiah to set his house in order; he turns his face to the wall and prays, and is told that fifteen years will be added, with the shadow on the dial of Ahaz going back ten steps as the sign.

Sick unto death

“In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith Jehovah, Set thy house in order: for thou shalt die, and not live” (2 Kings 20:1). “Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto Jehovah, saying, Remember now, O Jehovah, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore” (2 Kings 20:2-3).

Before Isaiah was out of the middle part of the city the word of the LORD came to him: “I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee” (2 Kings 20:5). “And I will add unto thy days fifteen years; and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria” (2 Kings 20:6). Asked to choose the sign, Hezekiah said, “It is a light thing for the shadow to decline ten steps: nay, but let the shadow return backward ten steps” (2 Kings 20:10).

Isaiah's book keeps “The writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick, and was recovered of his sickness” (Isaiah 38:9): “Behold, it was for my peace that I had great bitterness: But thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption; For thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back” (Isaiah 38:17).

Kings and Chronicles both tell of the sickness after the deliverance from Sennacherib and introduce it only with “In those days” (2 Kings 20:1), yet in Kings the deliverance from the king of Assyria is still promised (2 Kings 20:6). Scripture does not give the order more exactly. Of the cure it says only, “Take a cake of figs. And they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered” (2 Kings 20:7).

The envoys from Babylon (2 Kings 20:12–19; Isaiah 39:1–8; 2 Chronicles 32:25–26; 2 Chronicles 32:31)

Babylon's king sends letters and a present, Hezekiah shows the envoys all his treasures, and Isaiah tells him it will be carried to Babylon; Hezekiah answers that the word is good.

The envoys from Babylon

“At that time Berodach-baladan the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present unto Hezekiah; for he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick. And Hezekiah hearkened unto them, and showed them all the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious oil, and the house of his armor, and all that was found in his treasures” (2 Kings 20:12-13).

Isaiah came and asked, “What have they seen in thy house?” (2 Kings 20:15) Hezekiah answered, “All that is in my house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not showed them” (2 Kings 20:15). Isaiah said, “Hear the word of Jehovah. Behold, the days come, that all that is in thy house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store unto this day, shall be carried to Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith Jehovah” (2 Kings 20:16-17).

“Then said Hezekiah unto Isaiah, Good is the word of Jehovah which thou hast spoken. He said moreover, Is it not so, if peace and truth shall be in my days?” (2 Kings 20:19).

Chronicles says of Hezekiah, “rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him; for his heart was lifted up” (2 Chronicles 32:25), but also “Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem” (2 Chronicles 32:26). Of the Babylonian ambassadors it says, “God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart” (2 Chronicles 32:31).

Sleeps with his fathers (2 Kings 20:20–21; 2 Chronicles 32:27–33)

The rest of his acts, his pool and conduit, and his good deeds are said to be written elsewhere; he sleeps with his fathers, is buried in the ascent of the sepulchres of the sons of David, and Manasseh his son reigns.

The LORD (2 Kings 18:5–6; 2 Kings 19:15–19; 2 Chronicles 32:22)

He trusted in the LORD and clave to him, prayed to him in the house of the LORD, and was saved by him from the hand of Sennacherib.

Isaiah (2 Kings 19:2–7; 2 Kings 20:1–19; 2 Chronicles 32:20; Isaiah 36–39)

The prophet, son of Amoz, to whom Hezekiah sent in distress, who prayed with him, brought him the LORD's word of death and of healing, and told him his treasures would be carried to Babylon.

David (2 Kings 18:3; 2 Kings 19:34; 2 Kings 20:5–6; 2 Chronicles 29:2)

He did right according to all that David his father had done, and the LORD says he will defend the city for David's sake.

Ahaz (2 Kings 16:20; 2 Chronicles 29:19)

His father, whom he succeeded as king; Chronicles speaks of the trespass of Ahaz in his reign.

Abi / Abijah (2 Kings 18:2; 2 Chronicles 29:1)

His mother, the daughter of Zechariah, named Abi in Kings and Abijah in Chronicles.

Manasseh (2 Kings 20:21; 2 Kings 21:3; Matthew 1:10)

His son, who reigned in his stead and built again the high places that Hezekiah had destroyed.

Sennacherib (2 Kings 18:13; 2 Kings 19:14–16; 2 Kings 19:35–37)

The king of Assyria who came up against the fortified cities of Judah, sent letters defying the living God, and returned to Nineveh.

Berodach-baladan (2 Kings 20:12–13; Isaiah 39:1)

The king of Babylon who sent letters and a present to Hezekiah, having heard that he had been sick.

The people of Judah and the northern tribes (2 Chronicles 30:10–12; 2 Chronicles 32:8)

The people rested themselves upon his words, and some from Asher, Manasseh and Zebulun humbled themselves and came to his passover.

Major sections

• 2 Kings 18–20
• 2 Chronicles 29–32
• Isaiah 36–39

More illuminations · Harbinger's Lamp