2 Kings20

King Hezekiah, facing death, prayed earnestly, and the prophet Isaiah was sent by the LORD to announce his healing and an addition of fifteen years to his life, confirmed by the miraculous reversal of the sundial's shadow. Later, Hezekiah unwisely displayed all his treasures to Babylonian envoys, prompting Isaiah to prophesy that these riches and even his descendants would be carried away to Babylon. Hezekiah accepted the prophecy, finding solace that peace would endure in his own time.

Hezekiah’s Illness and Prayer

Around this time, Hizkiyahu became ill to the point of death. Yesha'yahu the prophet, the son of Amotz, came and said to him, "Here is what ADONAI says: 'Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not live.'"

Hizkiyahu turned his face toward the wall and prayed to ADONAI:

"I plead with you, ADONAI, remember now how I have lived before you truly and wholeheartedly, and how I have done what you see as good." And he cried bitter tears.

Before Yesha'yahu had left the city's middle courtyard, the word of ADONAI came to him:

"Go back, and tell Hizkiyahu the prince of my people, that this is what ADONAI, the God of David your ancestor, says: 'I have heard your prayer and seen your tears, and I will heal you. On the third day, you are to go up to the house of ADONAI.

I will add fifteen years to your life. Also I will rescue you and this city from the power of the king of Ashur; I will defend this city for my own sake and for my servant David's sake.'"

Then Yesha'yahu said, "Prepare a fig-plaster." They brought it and laid it on the inflammation, so that he would recover.

Hizkiyahu said to Yesha'yahu, "What sign will there be that ADONAI will heal me and that I will be able to go up to the house of ADONAI on the third day?"

Yesha'yahu said, "Here is the sign for you from ADONAI that ADONAI will do what he said: do you want the shadow [of the sundial] to go forward ten intervals or backward ten intervals?

Hizkiyahu answered, "It's easy for the shadow to go down ten intervals. No, let the shadow return backward ten intervals."

Yesha'yahu called out to ADONAI, and he brought the shadow on the sundial of Achaz ten intervals backward after it had gone down that far.

Hezekiah Shows Treasures to Babylon

B'rodakh-Bal'adan the son of Bal'adan, king of Bavel, heard that Hizkiyahu had been ill, so he sent a letter and a gift to him.

Hizkiyahu listened to [the messengers] and showed them the building where he kept his treasures, including the silver, gold, spices and precious oils; also the building where he kept his armor; and everything in his treasury - there was nothing in his palace or in his entire domain that Hizkiyahu did not show them.

Then Yesha'yahu the prophet came to King Hizkiyahu and asked him, "What did these men say? Where did they come from?" Hizkiyahu answered, "They came from a distant country, Bavel."

Yesha'yahu asked, "What have they seen in your palace?" "They have seen everything in my palace," said Hizkiyahu. "There isn't a thing among my treasures that I haven't shown them."

Yesha'yahu said to Hizkiyahu, "Hear what ADONAI says:

'The day will come when everything in your palace, along with everything your ancestors stored up until today, will be carried off to Bavel. Nothing will be left,' says ADONAI.

'They will carry off some of your descendants, your own offspring; and they will be made eunuchs serving in the palace of the king of Bavel.'"

Hizkiyahu said to Yesha'yahu, "The word of ADONAI which you have just told me is good." He thought, "Isn't it, though, if peace and truth continue at least through my lifetime?"

Conclusion of Hezekiah’s Reign

Other activities of Hizkiyahu, his power and how he built the pool and aqueduct to bring water into the city are recorded in the Annals of the Kings of Y'hudah.

Then Hizkiyahu slept with his ancestors, and M'nasheh his son took his place as king.

Study Notes for 2 Kings 20

Verse 1

Hezekiah’s sickness likely occurred shortly after the Assyrian siege (c. 701 BC). Isaiah’s command, “Set thine house in order,” was a final, unconditional decree of death, setting the stage for a powerful demonstration of God’s willingness to respond to prayer.

Verse 3

Hezekiah appeals not to his covenant status, but to the integrity of his devotion ('perfect heart') and his loyalty to God’s commands, referencing his extensive religious reforms documented earlier in the book.

Verse 4

The immediate reversal of the prophetic word—before Isaiah left the courtyard—underscores the swiftness and efficacy of genuine, heartfelt prayer in altering even divine decrees.

Verse 5

God identifies Himself as 'the God of David thy father,' grounding the promise of healing and deliverance in the eternal Davidic Covenant, ensuring the continuation of the promised lineage.

Verse 6

The addition of fifteen years is linked directly to the promise of continued protection of Jerusalem from Assyria. This highlights the theological connection between the king’s vitality and the nation's security.

Verse 7

The use of the fig poultice demonstrates that divine healing often works through natural means or remedies, indicating that faith and physical action are not mutually exclusive.

Verse 9

Hezekiah requests a sign not out of doubt, but to confirm the extraordinary nature of the promise. Isaiah offers a choice of two miracles involving the movement of the sun’s shadow.

Verse 11

The sign, an astronomical miracle reversing the shadow’s course on the ‘dial of Ahaz,’ confirms God’s absolute power over time and creation, solidifying the promise of healing and deliverance.

Verse 12

Berodachbaladan (Marduk-apal-iddina II) was a historical Chaldean prince attempting to forge anti-Assyrian alliances. This embassy marks the first appearance of Babylon, the future conqueror, in the narrative of Judah’s decline.

Verse 13

Hezekiah’s action was a display of pride and a strategic blunder. By showing his treasures, he sought an alliance based on wealth rather than relying on the LORD, simultaneously exposing Judah’s riches to a powerful, ambitious nation.

Verse 17

This is the first explicit prophecy in 2 Kings identifying Babylon, not Assyria, as the ultimate instrument of God’s judgment against Judah. This foreshadows the exile that would occur about a century later (586 BC).

Verse 18

The prophecy specifies that Hezekiah's descendants would be taken and forced into servitude as eunuchs in the Babylonian palace, signifying the total subjugation and humiliation of the Davidic line.

Verse 19

Hezekiah’s response shows a tragic failure of leadership; he accepts the judgment because it will not impact his personal lifetime, prioritizing immediate comfort and peace over the long-term fate of his dynasty and people.

Verse 20

Hezekiah is credited with significant civic engineering projects. The 'pool and conduit' refers to the famous Siloam Tunnel, which brought water from the Gihon Spring inside the city walls, an essential defensive measure.

Verse 21

The transition to Manasseh is crucial, as his reign would undo Hezekiah's reforms and lead Judah further toward irreversible judgment.

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2 Kings20

Hezekiah’s Illness and Prayer

Hezekiah Shows Treasures to Babylon

Conclusion of Hezekiah’s Reign

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