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Hezekiah (king of Judah)

Hezekiah is the son of Ahaz. He became king at the age of 25 years old (715BC) and reigned 29 years (until 686BC). He was the 12th king of Judah. He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father David had done (2 Chr 29:2).1 God repeats much of the story of Hezekiah in 3 different parts of the Bible (2 Kings 18-20, 2 Chr 29-31, Isaiah 36-39).

 

Good things that he did

We are told in 2 Kings 18:5 -- Hezekiah trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him.2

In the 1st month of his reign he goes to the Temple and speaks to the priests and starts reforming the Temple. 2 Chr 29:3

After they finish removing all the pagan things that Ahaz had placed in the Temple and restored the articles which had been removed, they report back to Hezekiah. He proceeds to have them offer sacrifices. Then after the offering everyone present knelt down and worshiped. 2 Chr 29:29

Hezekiah sends word throughout Israel and Judah in preparation for Passover. 2 Chr 30:1-27

He assigns priests and levites duties and has the people start bring sacrifices and supplying the priest & levites their share. 2 Chr 31

He removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke into pieces the bronze snake Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it.2 Kings 18:43

 

 

Challenges for Hezekiah

In the 4th year of his reign the Assyrians start their siege on Samaria and 3 years later the northern kingdom falls. 2 Kings 18:9-12

In the 14th year of his reign the Assyrians begin attaching fortified cities in Judah. To stave them off he strips gold & silver from the Temple and send it as a bribe to Sennacherib who is at Lachish. 2 Kings 18:13-16
Sometime later Sennacherib sends some of his commanders and a large army to threaten Hezekiah that he is going to destroy Jerusalem and deport the people. Sennacherib blashpems the God of Israel. Hezekiah becomes scared and sends people to seek Isaiah's word from the Lord. Hezekiah also goes into the Temple and prays to God. 2 Kings 18:17-37 and 2 Kings 19
God sends word through Isaiah that Sennacherib will not invaid the city. 2 Kings 19:20-34
God sends an Angel of the Lord and kills 185,000 of the assyrians during the night. Then Sennacherib pulls his troops and returns to Nineveh. Where he is killed by 2 of his sons (as predicated by God) while he is in his temple worshiping. 2 King 19:35-37

 

 

God sends word through Isaiah that Hezekiah will die
God sends word through Isaiah to get his house in order because he is going to die. 2 Kings 20:1
Hezekiah prays and weeps bitterly. 2 Kings 20:2-3
As Isaiah is on his way out of the court, God tells Isaiah to return to Hezekiah and tell him that He will add 15 years to his life. 2 Kings 20:4-6
Hezekiah asks for a sign and God gives him a sign by making the shadow move backwards. 2 Kings 20:7-11

 

 

Hezekiah boast to Babylonian visitors
After Hezekiah's recovery, the king of Babylon sends letters and gifts to Hezekiah. 2 Kings 20:12
Hezekiah shows the messengers all his wealth and treasures in all his store houses. 2 Kings 20:13
Isaiah goes to Hezekiah and inquires who the vistors were and what did he show them. Then Isaiah tells Hezekiah that the Lord says that all the wealth & treasure of Judah will be carried off to Babylon as well as some of his decendants. 2 Kings 20:16-20

 

 

Reference

1  The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996 (electronic ed.) (2 Ch 29:2). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.
2  The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996 (electronic ed.) (2 Ki 18:5). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.
3  The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996 (electronic ed.) (2 Ki 18:4). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

 

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Content provided by: sclark. Last Modification: Saturday 19 of Feb, 2011 16:15 CDT